D-dsw-ll.

Come and illume my learned page,

Endowed with scientific rage;

For if experience e'er was known,

To rear in mind sound judgment's throne,
Thou may'st dominion justly claim,

And boast the blooming wreath of Fame.

D-dsn-ll with pain I now recall (ƒ),
Fell fate, that robb'd thee of thine all,
I mean those stores that fell a prey,

To raging fire's consuming sway,

long continuance of health to enjoy the collection which he has accumulated with so much industry and perseverance.

(f) Since the fatal event above recorded, which robbed this officer of his superb collection, he seems to have relinquished all idea of recommencing Chalcographian. Should the mania however once more take place, I wish him success in the undertaking,

D-ce.

Whose loss made Catalogus sigh,

While tears distill'd from either eye.

Stor❜d with the reading of the schools, Moves D―ce great chronicler of fools (g),

(g) Mr. D—ce, who has long figured in the annals of collecting, has also rendered himself conspicuous in the literary world, by publishing the work referred to in the above line, and I have only to regret that my absence from England at the period when the work in question was preparing for the press, prevented me from giving Mr. D some information, which might have met his approbation. Perhaps even the loan of the unique cut of Will Summers, from which the plate accompanying the present volume is executed, would not have been inconsequential to Mr. D—e, as affording a complete specimen of the costume of that jester at the period of Henry the Eighth. I certainly have to regret that the pamphlet, which in all probability belonged to the print, does not accompany the plate in question. It is scarcely known that an original picture, painted upon the finest cambric, is now at Althorpe, the seat of Earl Spencer, represent

E. Sp-nc-r, D. of D-sh-re.

And warm'd by Sp-nc-r kindred peer,
Behold his Gr-ce of D▬▬▬▬▬sh—re (h),

ing Henry the Eighth and Catherine of Arragon, with Will Summers the jester, appearing between them, which relating to the Fools of the Great, would have been applicable to Mr. D's purpose. This gentleman is possessed of many very choice and valuable articles, particularly in old French literature; his conduct has uniformly displayed a correctness of judgment and the most refined taste, while his manners, though apparently reserved, evince every characteristic of the complete gentleman.

(h) His grace, who purchased the B-p of E-y's library, as well as that of a foreign nobleman, is reported to have lost very heavy sums to L-d Y--th, a circumstance which created much astonishment in my mind, as I did imagine that this elevated nobleman would have spurned all association with a personage whose delight is to attend Milling-Matches and Cock-Fights, while his society consists of such individuals as L-d B——ym—e, the lately executed Slender Billy, Crib, Molineux, Gulley, and Bill Gibbons. As for the loss of his rib, formerly Mademoiselle F-n-ni, who was claimed by two fathers, and preferred the embraces of G-l J-n-t to those of her fiery-whiskered husband ;

D. of D-sh-e.

Who better merited commending,

While on collections thousands spending,

his L-ds-p makes up for his loss by constantly attending Duke's Place, &c. where he finds all his desires gratified.

As I have made mention of Bill Gibbons, I will now, by way of exposing the degradation of our nobility, subjoin an anecdote which is absolutely a matter of fact: Gibbons having a dog which he wanted to shew to the M-q-s of H-nt-y, son of the D-e of G-rd-n and his late D-ke-catching D-ch-ss, called at the mansion, where he found two very respectable tradesmen attending in the hall. Bill, addressing one of the footmen, said, that he knew the Marquis was at home and wanted to see him, adding, that his name was Bill Gibbons. The tone and manner of this applicant being extremely flippant or kiddyish, the attendant hesitated, when Billy, who was not to be put off, continued thus: " Come, do you choose to go or not; for by G-d "if you keep me waiting, D-me but I'll kick up a hell of a clatter " in the house." The footman accordingly went to his noble master, saying, that a man named Gibbons wanted to see him. "Mr. Gibbons, I suppose you mean," replied his lordship, "show

B-ng.

Than losing weighty sums at play,

With Y-m-th's Lord thus fool'd away.

Lo! hobbling B―ng quite antiquated (i),

Long harbour mind infuriated,

Whene'er he hear of dainty food,
Black-letter tract with cut in wood 1;

« him up immediately." Accordingly up went Bill, who told the M-rq-is what had happened in the hall, when-wonderful to relate the nobleman ordered up his two attendants and discharged them: but, upon the intercession of Gibbons, they were replaced. Well may we exclaim, O tempora! O mores!

(i) The H-nbl― individual here mentioned, who was a Peer of the Realm, possessed a few such choice articles as The Paradise of Dainty Devices, and Walton's Angler, the best edition, with Lombart's plates, for the latter of which he never remembered to pay the dealer from whom he purchased it, so far back as the year 1798.