To aggravate this propensity, Mr. Sperm, the great oil merchant, lives nearly opposite to Mr. Wix, and his principle and his interest coincide exactly with those of his neighbour. Mr. Sperm possesses a very large star,--and, like certain managers, he brings it forward as often as he can. He is quite as lax in his political creed as the chandler, and will light up on the lightest occasions,--for instance, let there be but a peal of bells, and the Genius of the Ring directly invokes the Genius of the Lamp. In short, Mr. Wix and Mr. Sperm both resemble the same thing--a merchant-man getting rid of goods by means of lighters. As the other inhabitants do not always choose to follow the example of these two--I have known our illuminations to be very select--the great oil and tallow establishments blazing all alone in their glory. On other occasions--for instance, the rejoicings for that bill which Lord L. calls a Bill of Panes and Penalties--I have seen our street assume the motley appearance of a chessboard, alternately dark and bright--to say nothing of Mrs. Frampton’s lodging-house, where every tenant was of a different sentiment,--and the several floors afforded a striking example of the Clare Obscure. Among general illuminations, I remember none more so than the one on the accession of his late Majesty--but what so universally brightened the Great Britain might be expected to light the Little one. It was in reality an unrivalled exhibition of its kind, and I propose therefore to give some account of it, the situation of my apartment having afforded unusual opportunities--for it is at the angle of a corner house and thus while its easterly windows stare into those of the Rumbold family, its northern ones squint aside into the sashes of that elderly spinster Miss Winter. It must have been an extreme fit of loyalty that put such a thought into the penurious mind of Miss W., but she resolved for once in her life to illuminate. I could see her at a large dining-table--so called by courtesy, for it never dined--reviewing a regiment of glass custard cups, so called also by courtesy, for they never held custard--and another division of tall jelly glasses, equally unknown to jellies. I might have thought that she meant for once to give a very light supper, had I not seen her fill them all with oil from a little tin can, and afterwards she furnished them with a floating wick. They were then ranged on the window-frame, alternately tall and short; and after this costly preparation, which, by the heaving of her neckerchief, she visibly sighed over, she folded her arms demurely before her, and, by the light of her solitary rush taper, sat down to await the extravagant call of “Light-up!”