53 



' To walk from dinner in a rectiliar direction, is a crime. 

 ' Any person mixing water with his wine, must he sent 

 to finish his repast in the Dog-kennel. 

 In the Porch of the Town-hall, is the following inscrip- 

 tion : — 



" Haec domus est lseta semper honitate repleta ; 



" Hie pax — hie recpiies — hie gaudia semper honesta."* — 

 Our Traveller being desirous of witnessing the proceed- 

 ings at one of their grand Carousals, got stealthily intro- 

 duced by a friend, although at considerable risk. After the 

 Priest had made a Libation to Bacchus, whose statue was 

 erected at the head of the Table, the guests were served 

 with Salted Cajtes, Anchovies, Herrings, Westphalia Hams, 

 &c, but little meat of any other description was introduced. 

 Now, the bottles fly round — glasses are no sooner filled 

 than they are emptied — all become gloriously drunk. One 

 begins to sing — another to speechify — a third to divulge 

 family secrets, or to ridicule his absent Mends. Some with 

 tears in their eyes are professing the greatest affection for 

 those who chance to sit near them, whilst others are hic- 

 coughing out the most horrid oaths, because more wine is 

 not immediately brought. To the enquiries of our travel- 

 ler, how these drunkards get home, he receives for answer 

 that a cord is fastened by one end to each man's door, and 

 the other end is carried to the Hall, and attached to a ring 

 in the wall. This, like the clue of Ariadne, generally con- 

 ducts them in safety. Instances, however, have been known 

 where the cords have been moved — a guest has gone to 

 another man's house and wife ; and the wife being herself 

 in a fuddled state, neither of the parties has known what they 

 were about until the following day, when they laughed and 

 laid all the blame on the Jolly God of Wine. For it 



• This Hall is dedicated to Wassail sweet, 



Here Pea^e — and Miss — and rest oblivions meet. 



