The Merry Past 



mode de Paris. It was frequented by the superior 

 classes of foreigners in London, who were desirous 

 of living there in the same manner as they were ac- 

 customed to live in Paris, and as nearly as might be 

 upon the same terms as they did in the capital of 

 France. It was likewise frequented by English gentle- 

 men, who, as men about town, were fond of a tavern 

 life, and officers in the army and navy, willing to 

 enjoy good company upon moderate terms. 



The whole length of the house, on the ground floor, 

 was laid out as a coffee-room in the usual way, and 

 opening into Castle Street, behind the house, was a 

 more select coffee-room, for parties who wished to dine 

 in privacy ; over that, on the first floor, was a large 

 room fitted up for the table d'hote, or ordinary as the 

 " John Bulls " called it. For the convenience of the 

 company dining a large table filled much of the room, 

 surrounded by chairs numbered and fixed in regular 

 order, and upon the wall were rows of pegs, fixed and 

 numbered to correspond with the seats. A suitable 

 seat was placed at the head of the table for the presi- 

 dent, and another at the bottom for his deputy. 



It was the rule of the house that the first gentleman 

 who entered the room when the time for dinner was 

 near should take the president's chair, and be president 

 for that day ; the next became vice-president for 

 the day, in the same manner ; the other company 

 as they arrived seated themselves regularly in the 

 vacancy nearest to the president. Each gentleman 

 hung his hat and sword (all gentlemen wore swords 

 whenever they were absent from home in those days) 



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