FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES 79 



of that, Master Brook — a Kidney pudding! and perhaps a bit 

 of steak or a Sausage or two, perhaps three : only two of us — 

 the padding and // no weggibles, to take up the room the 

 pudding ought to occupy! Oh no! And then the ale — think 

 of the ale — a fresh Cask — Nine Gallons, a shilling a Gallon! 

 goes down your throat like a wheel-barrow, washing out the 

 Corners preparatory to a fresh plate of pudding — the idea is 

 enchanting, and would, if set to Music, be overpowering! 

 Talk of quartettes and quintettes; what are they to a Solo 

 upon a Kidney pudding? Answer me that! No, you can't; 

 it is unanswerable ! So with our blessing upon thee and thine, 

 I remain ' pretty much as usual/ 



" Yours, 



"T. PlJRLAND." 



I presume the " cold greens " refers to some delicacy (per- 

 haps lobster-salad) I had tempted him with, while "alcohol' 

 in the next line must imply an invitation to a " spiritual ' 

 seance with some friends, which were very frequent about this 

 period. In like manner, he puts " university ' for " anniver- 

 sary," and "collection " for " election " — all in the exuberance 

 of his spirits, which forbids his writing like other people. But 

 the frank, open, animal enjoyment of it all is equal to Falstafr" 

 or Dumas's fat monk, Gorenflot, in " Chicot the Jester." 



The next is all about family matters, but illustrated, and in 

 his best style. 



" In obedience to thy orders we proceed to indicate the 

 positions of our satellites — 12 — exact time; Thomas Theodo- 

 shis Constantine is at Bryckden — a place seven miles from 

 everywhere. T. T. C. will make his triumphal entry into the 

 Victoria Station at 4.20 p.m., followed by all the game he hath 

 shot with his cross-bow, which we hope will not be more than 

 the porters can conveniently carry. 



"Mary Ellen, commonly called Nell, is at Gravesend, 

 whacking into and keeping in order some juvenile cousins — 

 the progeny of the Rev. Sleap, Bp. Designative of Alsatia, 

 but at present holding forth at the parish Church of Ware. 



"Louisa Harriett, commonly called Loo, is with her Aunt 



