The English Spy: An Original Work Characteristic, Satirical, And Humorous.: Comprising Scenes And Sketches In Every Rank Of Society, Being Portraits Drawn From The LifeWestmacott, C. M. (Charles Molloy)
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The English Spy: An Original Work Characteristic, Satirical, And Humorous.: Comprising Scenes And Sketches In Every Rank Of Society, Being Portraits Drawn From The Life
Westmacott, C. M. (Charles Molloy)
England -- Social life and customs; Satire, English; University of Oxford -- Anecdotes
So thought young Debouchette; for a more wild and giddy fellow.in early
life has seldom figured among the medium order of society. Whether the
mother of the Cyprians was really honoured with the ceremony of the
ritual, I have no means of knowing," said Crony; "but I well remember
the lady, before these her beauteous daughters had trodden the slippery
paths of pleasure: there was a something about her that is undefinable
in language, but conveys to the mind impressions of no very pure
principles of morality; a roving eye, salacious person, and swaggering
carriage, with a most inviting condescension, always particularized the
elder silk-stocking grafter of Chelsea, while yet the fair offspring of
her house were lisping infants, innocent and beautiful as playful lambs.
Debouchette himself was a right jolly fellow, careless of domestic
~40~~happiness, and very fond of his bottle; and indeed that was
excusable, as during a long period of his life he was concerned in the
wine trade. To the conduct and instructions of the mother the daughters
are indebted for their present share of notoriety, with all the
attendant infamy that attaches itself to Harriette and her sisters:--and
this perhaps is the reason why Mrs. Rochford, alias Harriette Wilson, so
liberally eulogises, in her Memoirs, a parent whose purity of principle
is so much in accordance with the exquisite delicacy of her accomplished
daughter. As the girls grew up, they were employed, Amy and Harriette,
at their mother's occupation, the grafting of silk stockings, while the
junior branches of the family were operative clear starchers, as the
old board over the parlour window used to signify, which Brummel would
facetiously translate into getters up of fine linen, when Petersham
did him the honour of driving him past the door, that he might give
his opinion upon the rising merits of the family, who, like fragrant
exotics, were always placed at the window by their judicious parent, to
excite the attention of the curious. But, allons" said Crony, "we shall
be late at the carnival, and I would not miss the treat of such an
assemblage for the honour of knighthood."
A very few minutes brought Transit, Eglantine, Crony, and myself, within
the vortex of this most seductive scene. Waltzing was the order of the
night--
"Endearing waltz! to thy more melting tune
Bow Irish jig and ancient rigadoon;
Scotch reels avaunt! and country dance forego
Your future claims to each fantastic toe.
Waltz--Waltz alone both legs and arms demands,
Liberal of feet and lavish of her hands.
Hands, which may freely range in public sight,
Where ne'er before--but--pray 'put out the light.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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