ESSAYS. 



ESSAY I. 



J- HERE are some acquaintances whom it 

 is no easy matter to shake off My little beau 

 yesterday overtook me again in one of the 

 public walks, and slapping me on the shoul- 

 der, saluted me with an air of the most per- 

 fect familiarity. His dress was the same as 

 usual, except that he had more powder in his 

 hair, wore a dirtier shirt, and had on a pair 

 of temple spectacles, with his hat under his 

 arm. 



As I knew him to be an harmless amusing 

 little thing, I could not return his smiles with 

 any degree of severity; so we walked for- 

 ward on terms of the utmost intimacy, and in 

 a few minutes discussed all the usual topics 

 of a general conversation. 



The oddities that marked his character, 

 however, soon began to appear : he bowed to 

 several well-dressed persons, who, by their 

 manner of returning the compliment, appear- 

 ed perfect strangers. At intervals he drew 

 out a pocket-book, seeming to take memo- 

 randums before all the company, with much 

 importance and assiduity. In this manner he 

 led me through the length of the whole Mall, 

 fretting at his absurdities, and fancying my- 

 self laughed at, as well as he, by every spec- 

 tator. 



When we were got to the end of our 

 procession, he cried, with an air of vivacity, 

 ' I never saw the Park so thin in my life be- 

 fore ; there's no company at all to-day. Not 

 a single face to be seen.' 'No company!' 

 interrupted I, peevishly ; ' no company, 

 where there is such a crowd ! Why, man, 

 there is too much. What are the thousands 

 that have been laughing at us but company !' 

 'Lord, my dear,' returned he, with the utmost 

 No. 73 & 74. 



good humour, 'you seem immensely cha- 

 grined ; when the world laughs at me, I laugh 

 at the world, and so we are even. My lord 

 Trip, Bill Squash the Creolian, and I, some- 

 times make a party at being ridiculous. But 

 I see you are grave ; so if you are for a fine 

 grave sentimental companion, you shall dine 

 with my wife; I must insist on't; I'll intro- 

 duce you to Mrs. Tibbs, a lady of as elegant 

 qualifications as any in nature ; she was bred, 

 but that's between ourselves, under the in- 

 spection of the countess of Shoreditch. A 

 charming body of voice ! But no more of that, 

 she shall, give us a song. You shall see my 

 little girl too, Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia 

 Tibbs, a sweet pretty creature ! I design her 

 for my lord Drumstick's eldest son; but that's 

 in friendship, let it go no farther; she's but 

 six years old, and yet she walks a minuet 

 and plays on the guittar immensely al- 

 ready. I intend she shall be as perfect as 

 possible in every accomplishment. In the 

 first place, I'll make her a scholar; I'll teach 

 her Greek myself, and I intend to learn that 

 language purposely to instruct her; but let 

 that be a secret.' 



Thus saying, without waiting for a reply, 

 he took me by the arm, and hauled me along. 

 We passed through many dark alleys and 

 winding ways. From some motives to me 

 unknown, he seemed to have a particular 

 aversion to every frequented street ; but, at 

 last, we got to the door of a dismal looking 

 house in the outlets of the town, where he 

 informed me he chose to reside for the bene- 

 fit of the air. 



We entered the lower door, which seemed 

 ever to lie most hospitably open ; and began 

 6C 



