1902.] BALCH — THE FIR.-T "ASSEMBLY ACCOUNT." 261 



It is a small, thin book, and Mr. Swift used it originally for some 

 of his own accounts, and for some land transactions for his younger 

 brother Joseph. On one cover he wrote: ''Account book 1746." 

 When the Assemblies were instituted and his fellow-managers chose 

 him the Treasurer, he turned to the other end of this little book and 

 there kept the "Assembly Account." Owing to age and neglect 

 — indeed, had it not been for the keen antiquarian eye of Charles 

 Hildeburn, it would probably long ago have gone to the paper mill 

 — the Account Book is much worn and somewhat injured. But 

 now it has been treated by an expert, and every sheet covered with 

 silk so as to guard it against any future weathering of -time. 



An examination of the account shows that the six Assemblies of 

 1748 were far less costly than the two large balls that are now given 

 annually at the Academy of Music ; or, for that matter, even the 

 three balls that were held each season about fifty years ago at 

 Musical Fund Hall. In one respect, however, those old worthies 

 were not behind the present generation, for taking all things in 

 proportion they provided rum liberally. The record kept by Mr 

 Swift is somewhat injured, so that it is impossible to state exactly 

 how much he disbursed, but the whole cost of the six dances seems 

 to have amounted to a little more than ;£i^o. As there were only 

 fifty-nine subscribers at forty shillings each, which gave a total of 

 ;^ii8, the Managers doubtless, as so often happens nowadays in 

 all sorts of social and philanthropic undertakings, had to put their 

 hands in their own pockets. A few extracts from the expenses show 

 the modest and simple character of the entertainments : 



" pd Mary Dicas for China 

 & Candles as per 

 Acct ending y^^ March 



pd Mr. Inglis for Sundries 



1 6th [March] pd for Bisket 



pd Musick 



pd Diana 



And again : 



" pd for 2 Gallons Spirit 

 pd Sharper 5 nights 



attendance 

 pd. Greek for attendance 

 pd. Mr Inglis for rent 



£. s. 



