A GRAND PARTY. 171 



and our fair countrywomen, who eat but 

 very sparingly ; for, on the contrary, the 

 Colombian lady makes a hearty meal, tast- 

 ing of most dishes near her, and not forget- 

 ting a proportional quantity of fluid to aid 

 her digestion. 



They generally, on quitting the table, 

 take with them a basket of bon-bons for 

 the young people at home," as was formerly 

 the custom in England, but has of late years 

 been discontinued, except at some of our 

 civic feasts, where I believe the remaining 

 sweetmeats are conveyed home to the young 

 folk, in the pockets of their papas. After 

 the ladies had retired, the gentlemen sat 

 down, and were not long in despatching the 

 remnants of the feast. Before the ladies 

 rose, the men filled bumpers, and drank 

 their health, with three times three. We 

 likewise called on some of the ladies for 

 toasts, in giving which they acquitted them- 



V 



