xxvui] FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES 79 



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. PURLAND." 



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 " anniversary," 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 Falstaff 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- 

 sius 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 

 Loo, at Gosport, superintending the getting up of the festi- 

 vities necessary on the Marriage of their Cousin the Daughter 

 of Col. Wright (who has been where you tried to get and 

 didn't as mentioned in your Boke), and who has a great 

 desire to hold speech thereon. 



