Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
Squire's was in Fulwood's (now called Fuller's) Rents in Holborn, and
has been rendered historical by Addison, who makes Sir Roger ask
him[308] 'if I would smoak a Pipe with him over a Dish of Coffee at
Squire's. As I love the old Man, I take delight in complying with
everything that is agreeable to him, and accordingly waited on him to
the Coffee House, where his venerable Figure drew upon us the Eyes of
the whole Room. He had no sooner seated himself at the upper End of
the high Table, but he called for a clean Pipe, a Paper of Tobacco, a
Dish of Coffee, a Wax Candle, and the _Supplement_ with such an Air of
Cheerfulness and Goodhumour, that all the Boys in the Coffee room (who
seemed to take pleasure in serving him) were at once employed on his
several Errands, insomuch that no Body else could come at a Dish of
Tea till the knight had got all his Conveniencies about him.' Squire
died in 1717.
[Footnote 308: _Spectator_, No. 269.]
The following note on the Smyrna Coffee House is the best description
possible to give of it.[309] 'This is to give notice to all ingenious
gentlemen in and about the cities of London and Westminster, who have
a mind to be instructed in the noble Sciences of Music, Poetry, and
Politics, that they repair to the Smyrna Coffee in Pall Mall, betwixt
the hours of eight and ten at night, where they may be instructed
gratis, with elaborate ESSAYS _by word of mouth_ on all, or any of the
above mentioned Arts. The disciples are to prepare their bodies with
three dishes of bohea, and purge their brains with two pinches of
snuff. If any young student gives indication of parts, by listening
attentively, or asking a pertinent question, one of the professors
shall distinguish him by taking snuff out of his box in the presence
of the whole audience--
[Footnote 309: _Tatler_, 78.]
'N.B. The seat of learning is now removed from the corner of the
chimney on the left hand towards the window, to the round table in the
middle of the floor over against the fire; a revolution much lamented
by the porters and chairmen, who were much edified through a pane of
glass that remained broken all the last summer.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account