| Citation |
CG-NL.780.011
2 Jun 1780:12,13 (17/864)
MASQUERADE INTELLIGENCE. The company that assembled on
Monday night at the Pantheon was not numerous, but exceeding
brilliant. Many persons of distinction were present, and
among the variety of fancy dresses, some of them were superb
and elegant beyond description. The principal character was
a country Hoyden, who by the assistance of an artificial
pair of arms, and a very pretty mask, changed her front into
her rear, and by a variety of the most ingenious tricks,
imitated the human character moving backwards.-- An Irishman
in the character of a Free Trader, with a Dutch doll in his
arms, told the Hoyden that "By Jesus she was the first lady
he ever saw whose back front was better than her facade."
Mr. O'B----- was in the character of Administration, and his
friend Mr. S---- in that of Opposition. The one was painted
with emblems of jollity, laughter and plenty, the other with
those of grief, loquacity, and penury. Their debates were
generally very pithy, but not altogether characteristic.
"You will ruin the empire," says Opposition; "You be d----
d," replies the other. Administration declared he came
there to fight with every man who dared to speak his own
mind. Do you come from Scotland?" says a gentleman;-- "No,"
replied he. "Oh, then you're not qualified for the task you
have undertaken." A pretty young fortune teller applied to
a noble Lord, very famous in the world of gallantry, whose
credit is not on the very best footing, and said she would
tell his Lordship his fortune, if he would pay her for it.
"What must I give you, my pretty dear?"-- "Any thing,"
replies the girl, "but a draught upon your banker." A
Mother Shipton, by a young barrister, who hobbled naturally,
got so drunk, that he lost the use of both legs. A French
friseur[?] was an excellent satire on English folly, and a
French Doctor with a British wife, was truly characteristic.
An Irish Tinker, by Mr. B-----, was a most entertaining
mask, and he possessed so much of the low wit and humour of
his trade, that he had a very apt and quick retort to every
attack.-- Besides these, there were many others both
characteristic and humourous. A beautiful gipsy by the late
Miss H-----r. An inhabitant of Oraheite, a grand Turk, a
Valetudinarian in a self-moving chair, and nuns, haymakers,
shepherdesses, clowns, gardeners, and friars without end.
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