The Merry Past 



trates ; in consequence of which, notice was privately 

 sent from Sir John Fielding to the lady, acquainting 

 her that an application of a serious nature had been 

 made respecting the impropriety and unlawfulness 

 of her amusements, and advising her to regulate 

 her conduct in future, or she would hear from Bow 

 Street in another way. From this condescension on 

 the side of the magistrate, the lady concluded she 

 might with safety play a card which she deemed to 

 be a trump. A purse was delivered to a trusty friend, 

 with a letter addressed to Sir John Fielding, Knight, 

 requesting his acceptance of the sum within, and that 

 his worship would be pleased not to be too severe in 

 looking into the conduct of a defenceless woman, who 

 only endeavoured to gratify the wealthy, the high, 

 and the fashionable, and from whose amusements 

 the lower orders of society were wholly excluded. 

 Fielding, however, was incorruptible ; and, instead 

 of accepting the purse, sent his myrmidons at a 

 most unfortunate moment. On the evening in 

 question a fete had just begun, the lamps for that 

 night had been doubled, and in the middle of the 

 promenade was raised a capacious bower, composed 

 of vine leaves and artificial roses, in the centre of 

 which stood an altar with a flame thereon. At a 

 signal from the band, a large group of maskers, com- 

 posed of gentlemen performers from the theatres, 

 and others, entered like Comus and his crew. Mr. 

 Vernon sang an Anacreontic composed for the oc- 

 casion, the rest the chorus ; thus ended the first scene. 

 The visitors were fashionable and numerous, the 



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