| Citation |
NYM(G.769.054
15 May 1769:14 (916)
London, Jan. 9. An Account of some late distinguished
Dancers.
The performers were the usual set at St. James's: All of
them did not dance at the same time, some pretending to be
tired, sat down; but the real reason was, they were frumpt
at others standing above them. Not one woman was amongst
them. L--- B---l, to give him his due had much the
appearance of one, and footed with a great deal of grace.
At the first striking up of the music they were all in
confusion, but upon one of the dancers (whose name I could
not learn, who danced in the middle without having any
particular partner, and whom they all seemed to flatter)
holding up his hand, they all came to the right about, and
every man endeavoured to get the best place he could. L-- C-
--m got to be the first couple, then they all fell back and
changed sides, G---lle set at him; C---m turned his back and
beckoned, the other followed; they then joined hands,
shuffled, and led up the middle; then set at L--- R---m, but
disappointed him; they served L--- S---ne the same; upon
which
B---ke and B---re went down last couple, then set to L--- T-
--le
turned him, and danced the Hayes. The D. of B---- was
always falling into the cotillion step, thinking nobody saw
him, as he saw nobody. L-- G--re made several faints to sit
down, but always continued one of the set, never ceased
shuffling and looking at the music, in order to keep in
time. L-- B--l and L-- C--m changed places, and danced back
to back. But B---l and L-- G-- S---le had a particular
manner of setting to each other, which diverted me very
much; when ever B--l turned his back, S---le set at him with
the wriggle step, who then turned his back and was set at by
the other in some step he learn'd at Turin; upon which an
Irish gentleman, who stood by me, remarked that it was these
steps which made one of them leave I---d and prevented the
other from going there, as all the world knows the method of
dancing at the Castle of D---n is face to face. L--- C----m
danced like a stage dancer, very high, and kicked about his
heels very much, complained very often of his head, but as
often recovered, and made several cuts to the astonishment
of the company. L--- T---le did better than one should have
imagined from his aukward shambling manner, but was apt to
put the rest out, by insisting to dance a figure of his own.
L--- S--ne danced a step called the Jesuit's Shuffle; you
could never know upon which leg he stood, or how he kept
himself in, or up, except now and then that he supported
himself in these equivocal entrechats on the shoulders of
his friend I---e. R---y always kept the places of two
people, declaring he neither could nor would dance if he had
not elbow room. L---d H--- and L--- H--- made no great
figure in the dance; I only observed that they employed
themselves in taking handkerchiefs, or what they could get
out of other dancers pockets. I suppose out of joke, and it
being Saturday night, they would not dance after twelve
o'clock; C---y thought he was doing wonders while he busied
himself in his little fiddle-fadlle step, which meant
nothing, and neither moved himself or others. L--- R--m
danced the old English steps, with now and then a Yorkshire
shuffle; B---ke endeavoured often to teach him better, but
dancing is not his talent. B--ke was the dog in the dancing
school; he was not used to so good company, and seeing Lord
S---ne set at, and baulked, he was once in his life
confounded, and did not know which way to turn. H---on gave
a few most astonishingly finished cabrioles, but could not
be prevailed on to give any more, although he was encored by
the company, who knew he had more in him if he had let it
out. As to the rest they were no better than chairs or
corner cupboards, and the D--- of G----n [?] took sulk and
sat down; the person whose name I could not find out, they
all in their turns endeavoured to dance round; but he, by
keeping the exact time with the music, prevented them, till
at last they all joined hands and danced round him in the
manner of country bumpkin; all the music this brilliant
company was put in motion by, was a Scotch piper, placed
under a canopy, who played whatever tune he pleased, and
made them dance to it; although G---lle often called for
Yanky Doodle, it was observed, that whenever the person in
the middle turned his back, or was inattentive, the piper
always squeaked, "Over the Water to Charley." I asked at the
door who paid the music, and a well-looking man, sighing,
answered, the public paid the piper.
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