The Merry Past 



wine was consumed. Stevens' was one of Byron's 

 haunts. 



Close by, in Cork Street, was the " Blue Posts," a 

 favourite dining-place for bachelors in old days. 

 Certain hostelries, instead of the customary signboard, 

 adopted different coloured posts as distinguishing 

 signs of the good cheer to be found within, and this 

 originated the name of the place. 



Hatchett's, much frequented by country gentlemen, 

 was a bustling, crowded, noisy hotel. Visitors were 

 furnished with the accommodation which their funds 

 and social position seemed to warrant. A bachelor, 

 for instance, without a servant, who arrived at the 

 " White Horse Cellars " on the outside of a coach, 

 would be shown up into a miserable little dirty attic, 

 the best rooms being reserved for the county squires, 

 who arrived in a post-chaise, or in their own carriage. 



Blake's Hotel, afterwards the " Brunswick," in 

 Jermyn Street, was a favourite bachelor resort. 



Louis Napoleon took up his residence here under 

 the name of the Comte d'Arenenberg, after his 

 escape from the fortress of Ham in 1846. The 

 " Brunswick " continued to be frequented by the 

 sporting world up to its demolition a short time ago. 



Other popular hotels in the early years of the 

 nineteenth century were Limmers', Long's, Fladong's, 

 Stephens', Grillon's, and Mivart's, which afterwards 

 became Claridge's. 



Limmers', though much frequented by rich sport- 

 ing squires, was generally said to be the dirtiest hotel 

 in London. It was famous for its gin punch and old 



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