I think I hear you say, how strange! But everything is so I think in this place. I met Lady Bab Cork-rump the other day: My dear Lady Eliza, said she, I love a comedy of all things; pray let us go to one soon. I am disengaged next Thursday--That is very lucky, returned I; I have _a box that evening: it is our favourite play_; and _Mrs Abington acts_!--That is _delightful_, said she! And, added I, it is a charity play for the dispensary of the infant poor--upwards of twenty-six thousand children have been relieved by this humane institution since its commencement nine years ago. Lady Bab heard the above impatiently.--It is a charity play, you say, madam!--I don't know, I believe my brother expects some friends from the country. I suppose it will be no disappointment to your ladyship if I _don't go_?--O, not in the least, said I--Thus the idea of _Charity_ makes a fine lady shrink (as if it were contagious) into herself, and prevented Lady Bab from going to a place her inclination otherwise induced her to. Lady Bab seems to have a great partiality for Sir Hugh, our neighbour--Since he got his fortune--his riots are generosity--carelessness, the freedom of his soul--his prodigalities, an easiness of mind proportioned to his estate. He quarrelled the other day with Captain Essence on her account; and I was alarmed to the greatest degree for the consequences! she laughed at my fears, assuring me there was no kind of danger in what I apprehended. The gentlemen, said she, have renounced the conduct of heroes. The custom of wagers is the happy succedaneum, and prevents much blood-shed. Thus matters of dispute are left in _tranquil doubt_, until the period arrives for _its_ no less _tranquil decision_. It turned out as she said; Captain Essence wagered with Sir Hugh, that _the new club in Saint James's Street would be the ruin of Lord ----, before the old one vis-à-vis had knocked up General ----_. I have spent so much money on _bagatelles_, that I cannot help regretting the expenditure of what if otherwise applied might have produced such beneficial effects.--But if we commit some follies, we are sufficiently kept in countenance by the other sex. Modern story tells us the late King of Poland was so much captivated with forty-eight china vases, that he purchased them of the late King of Prussia at the price of a _whole regiment of dragoons_.