CONVIVIAL REMINISCKNCBS. 271 



18 falling oft' — that the increasing morality of the age, with the vast in- 

 crease of Temperance Societies', have played the deuce with this once 

 celebrated domicile of Bacchus and Apollo. We believe it not — nor 

 from what we ourselves have been able to see of the excellent arrange- 

 ments of the Coal-Hole, and the suavity and attention of the Messrs. 

 Rhodes, its proprietors, do we expect, that for many a year to come, 

 will this classic retreat — the legitimate successor of the Boar's Head, 

 of East Cheap, to the disgrace ot London, be suffered to lapse into decay. 

 It is a crying shame, that of all the literary frequenters of the Coal Hole, 

 no Frofessor Wilson has been found to immortalize the "snuggery," 

 of the Wen, or make the name of Rhodes shine forth like his who 

 rejoiceth in that of Ambrose. The Coal-Hole is, above all other places, 

 the receptacle of literary men, especially of those who are connected 

 with the newspaper press. It is no uncommon thing during the sitting 

 of Parliament, about midnight, in one of its comfortable boxes, to dis- 

 cover the Tory Editor, vvhose " leader," wherein he describes the Whigs 

 as all that is faithless, mean, and dishonourable, is just in the hands of 

 the printer, discussing a Welsh rabbit, and quaffing his share of a 

 couple of pints of stout and a bottle of Madeira with " a best possible 

 instructor" of the Whig party. The Tioo Kings of Brentford, never 

 smelt their rose more lovingly than do these amiable scribes empty their 

 bottle ; notwithstanding, the next morning will find them engaged in a 

 wordy warfare, where sometimes not only the courtesies but the 

 decencies of civilized society are forgotten. 



" But if 3 ou would visit Melrose rig'if; 

 You must see it by the pale moonlight ;" 



and to behold the Coal-Hole to advantage, you must see it about twelve 

 o'clock of a Saturday night. Then it is in its glory; — the boxes stuffed 

 to repletion — the room enveloped in a cloud of smoke, and thrilling 

 with " melody sweetly put in tUne." Here do congregate on that 

 night the finished rake — the truant husband — " the glorious company" 

 of shop-boys, about to squander the treasure which their hebdomadal 

 lar>;eny has enabled them to amass from their master's till. The 

 attorney and bailiff here do mark their victim, and are perhaps too blind 

 to recognize him. 



