DORY. 165 



first discovered the real merit of tlie Doree ; and we believe 

 from him originated the familiar, and we may say national, 

 epithet of John Dory, as a special mark of his esteem for 

 this fish ; a name by which it is usually known in some 

 parts, especially at Bath, where Quin's celebrity as the 

 prince of epicures was well known, and where his palate 

 finished its voluptuous career." 



" Notwithstanding the numerous anecdotes recorded of this 

 gentleman, as famous for his love of good living as for his 

 excellence as a comedian, and who equally shone as a bon- 

 vivant or in the character of FalstafF, we may be allowed 

 to record one more in honour of both the person who 

 brought the Doree into such high estimation and of the fish 

 itself. 



" An ancestor of ours, a Mr. Hedges, was an intimate 

 friend of Quin's, and was induced by him to take a journey 

 from Bath to Plymouth, on purpose to eat John Dory in the 

 highest perfection, — not only from procuring it fresh, but 

 with the additional advantage of having it boiled in sea- 

 water, a matter of very great importance to the palate of 

 Quin. 



" As this journey was purposely taken to feast on fish, 

 their stay at Plymouth was not intended to exceed a week, 

 by which time they expected to have their skins full of 

 Doree ; but that no opportunity might be lost, Quin left 

 strict charge with the host at Ivybridge to procure some of 

 the finest Doree he could get, for his dinner on his return, 

 fixing the day. Whether our celebrated epicure was disap- 

 pointed in his expectations at Plymouth, is not recollected ; 

 but that he might have the provided fish at Ivybridge in the 

 highest perfection, and remarking that the place was too 

 remote from the coast to obtain sea-water for dressing the 

 Dorees anticipated, he ordered a cask of sea-water lo be 



