The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-06-26 00:00:00

£0 13 10

An easy arithmetical operation (which has, however,
been found so gravely to trouble senior wranglers, that
the clerk of the desk now performs it) shews that
Surrebutter's indebtedness, in respect of this dinner,
is six shillings and elevenpence. He puts down
seven shillings, receives a postage stamp in change,
and adjourns at once to the library.
Surrebutter has dined like a civilised creature, who
has a fellow feeling for his stomach, and is not laying
up a store of gout, dyspepsia, and apoplexy for his old
age. There are many British lions in the coffee-room
who have dined off a joint and beer, and drunk a pint
of port wine afterwards, and whose bill is but four
shillings and threepence. One great luxury in a
modern club is, that there is no temptation to ostenta-
tious expense. At an hotel there is an inclination in

* This charge includes all the et ceteras, bread, vegetables,
beer, cheese (of every description, whether Cheshire, Gruyere,
Parmesan, or Cottendham), club beer and table service. It
varies from sixpence to a shilling at different clubs. We put
it, therefore, at the medium.

I some natures to be " a good customer." At a club
the best men are generally the most frugal—they are
afraid of being thought like that little snob, Calicot,
who is always surrounded by fine dishes and expensive
wines (even when alone), and is always in loud talk
with the butler, and in correspondence with the com-
mittee about the cook. Calicot is a rich man, with a
large, bottle-nose, and people blackball his friends.
Settled in a very easy-chair in the library, Surre-
butter has his café noir (sixpence) and glances over
the last new French novel, a new book upon Russia,
the latest German system of philosophy, and the day's
batch of political pamphlets. Such an occupation
necessarily induces a sensation of drowsiness. Shaking
this off, he wanders into the smoking-room, where a
very general conversation is going on upon the pro-
minent topic of the day. But as a great parliamen-
tary orator soon afterwards comes in and insists upon
being didactic and dogmatic, the smokers, one by
one, desert the temple of mundungus for the billiard-
room, whither the bore cannot follow them. Here
Surrebutter smokes the remainder of his cigar, perhaps
takes a ball in a shillinc, and half-crown pool, perhaps
plays a game of billiards,' perhaps only looks on. But
about eleven o'clock he generally asks whether any
one is journeying eastwards, and it usually happens
two or three Templars are just then thinking of
strolling home'in the moonlight.
As they go down stairs, Surrebutter suddenly
bethinks him that he has asked two men to dine with
him next day, and has invited a club man to join him.
For, as a member can only ask one guest, if you invite
two, you must get the second a godfather in the club.
Surrebutter must order dinner.

" Stay five minutes for me, old fellows, while I make
out a dinner-bill for to-morrow--or rather come and
let us do it in conclave."

It is to be noted that no man ever yet refused his
counsel in the ordering of a dinner. Ordering a dinner
is the eidolon of eating a dinner.

" Is it a house-dinner ?" asks Grosbois.
" No ! I never dine at house-dinners ; everything is
grand and cold. The money is all spent upon the
eye. The eye has its own particular pleasures ; a
dinner should appeal only to the palate. I hold that
nothing but flowers and fruit should ever appear upon
a dinner-table—every plat should be divided in the
kitchen, and appear through the trap-box only to be
handed round."

" Ah, I see, a partie earre'e. How much do you
intend to stand ?"

" Something under a pound a-head will do it hand-
somely. Waiter bring the large carte. Let me see,
" Huitres trois douzaines"—that, of course ; " Bagra-
tion au petit macaroni," a good soup, and " Bisque
d'ecrevisses" another —one portion of the first and
two of the other will be plenty. Now for fish.
" Filets de sole a la Genevoise" for one, " Saumon a la
Hollandaise" for two. Then a " Vol au vent a la
Toulouse." We must have some entree. There are
only three cooks in Europe who can accomplish a
" Tete de veau en tortue," but as our chef happens to
be one of the three, it is a public duty to keep him in
practice. Some " Supremes de filets de perdreaux
aux truffes," a dish of " cotelettes" for simple tastes,
and a little " Saucisson de Lyons" to correct the palate
will, I think, be enough. The legumes and the salade
I must leave to the chef. A " Poulet aux cressons"
will be a simple roti, and as to sweets, a " Conde glace
a la Neapolitaine," a " Prussienne d'abricots," and a
" Charlotte Russe," the first for two and the two last
for one will wind up. As to drinks, suppose I put
down German Seltzer, one bottle of Claret Cup, two
of Champagne, one of Amontillado Sherry, and two of
Clos Vougeot. It's as well to order these beforehand,
or the Champagne and Claret Cup will not be iced to
the exact turn, and the Burgundy will not be leisurely
placed in its basket."
This " draft of a bill " was not made without some
interference from Surrebutter's counsellors ; but Surre-
butter yielded not a plat, well knowing how easy it is
to spoil a dinner. Having completed the valuable
document, the amphytrion enclosed it in a private note
to the cook, and leaving it with the porter, lights
another cigar, and walks quietly Temple-wards with
his companions.

If any careful mamma has followed Surrebutter in
his club expenditure this day, she will have ascer-
tained that his home disbursement has been some-
thing under ten shillings. If she be a candid woman,
who holds in memory the occasional catastrophes of

;
For some weeks Mrs. Grey was in such alej:lavbel-ti
she could determine on nothing; but Erni tHetlyi:l,l
mind to exertion. Her beloved father haa e;0411,01 t
education that she felt assured she was fullYijel'"bj/j
upon her the important task of communicattll; !11,,
others. She consulted Mr. 'Thompson on oarild j)
fully coincided with her views, and promise
suit'
amongst his mercantile friends in town far t of
in a gentleman's family. aea
ate
It might be about tw.o mouths after the
that they were all seated at breakfast—for 3.1rd:A13413
joined the circle—when the post was delicare..oo
letters to Mr. Thompson was one from a rec
Aop )
in which was the following paragraph r", ,1113's-Off
" I have, I think, found a most eligible ",,Itirl°7l6-7..,,
Grey, whom you so highly recommended ill:the ("rt 0,501;
I trust she may have no scruples regardiarAsb, flde
civilian and his lady returning to Madras,- too Ito
time, to take their three daughters ; theY c:loctior'
taken entirely from their education and iatr ,0 ve .041 j
the eldest is fifteen, the others a year or !Tienied:fs:f
and Mrs Davenport wish to get a highlY'r,,A P
as governess. The salary will be one hulluliler (coo)
end of four years, should she remain so loyfi.,s, 00001
be paid home again. I will answer for it veil 01
the situation. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport !; Deele/0.)
people, and speak highly of Madras, ba„vll'llis 01P,II
more than twelve years; he came home I 0,1", by the 000
three years ago. They leave this next rnenv:i.id theltell
which sails, I think, about the 10th. Sle joie' 01
agree to this, it will be necessary thap ~f 9
to town and make arrangements, Ste into Emily looked at her mother, who burs.

e 4,
,ARD.
a that if' b...N
her own household, she will also adrg,- ba-N
Lord of Lansdowne House, or of ''''
even the recipient' of her own house'''.atte rof kto4
mi ,
could not be better provided in the
comforts, or less bored by attendant ice
ncollsii
I know that Surrebutter is a horridp ,
ce- La
°
and that such are his five hundred - 1)Y
the " Alternative ;" but is it not horn eel
paths of bachelorhood should be rode s°
4t y
taxless ? Ladies, should not these clubs Oreju
by a salutary and severe enactment ?---..Net 14
11
Review.
, 10: v„i4l
A ROMANTIC
At
,
(BY MRS. CLE3IOIO4
TF
IN THREE CHAPTERS---CD-1- at 05,, 104
ON Mrs. Harling's visit to the Greys, sue;voo "to
question : " My dear Emily," said she,
son since he has left this place?—for lam beg' ebe tk
uneasy about him, as we had a few words beiej:id 00v?
I suppose, keeps him from writing, and I she, joioSol, •, 11
know where to direct to him, and what held w; 19 !alb,'
was said so carelessly, that no inference ee`The
the words as to the state of her feelings, or 1-,,siverkaytlr
resolutions. Emily scarcely knew what to fhj
had always been taught to be ingenuous, so Igloo
she replied, " I have heard once, but only 00,eies.00( ao?
ling, during his long absence. I know net kne:if 6A.'
kind to me if I were to show you the letter ;,rlss voi li+t;
has read it, for I placed it in her hands, and1,14,"`0,1,,41
knew of the—that is our—but my dear ranstoA'frAil
the letter." It was accordingly brought; h'sv. avliof
about a fortnight after his leaving Devonshill,r,tte
" My dearest Emily will not think I have Vieb Alt
being thus long in writing ; my mind has heellfiefAie
but noW that my plans are settled, I feel a le-cong'filif.
Live happiness, which, however, will never ble; /
clasp my adored Emily to my breast as MY svl, ye 1° A)
cease to think of you—never will I cease to !eio..rj
4i
.1/4rj
Emily, I beg of you never for a moment to
th
are changed, should it even be months-1011g;,1
.40/OY'
you hear from me again ; nor must you tn,0506001,
you are not informed where I am. I firmly ;64! „
truth ; do you trust in mine. Be kind to OA Presll
know loves me,. though she has shown it ratlVAl,tif 4 !
in wishing to force my inclinations, and in heilforgt. ,
earnest entreaties. Farewell, dearest, belovelh onbc y
will come when I trust we shall be happy ill Voce', 0:.!
your devotedly attached,
" And can you form no idea," said Mrs P"he re'
conversation you may have had previousl3sW-
qand what he intends to do ?" A 0,1 1,141
"None, madam, whatever."
- n-
Mrs. Harling soon after quitted the 1015,;
two left Devonshire for London. On her
found that Henry had never called at 4/
gaTinwaon3y,eianrtes Ipliagsesnedce
autfvahyiminwlh.aiatnevceorn.
ores, .tv,,eoo-004 I,kl
deeply deplored the loss of her son, anu
that, could she bring him back again, she 1/;- e:ereooos
his marriage with Emily. These two years j
to that poor girl.ith
A little more than a year after Harlingleftg"
Grey died suddenly of apoplexy. This was 4
Mrs. Grey and her daughter : added t°
,I;,'-e
971 'I)P(
sorrow for his loss, was the poverty in vv",..,-,llideltfat" -
The widow had a small pension, but very ';4t
maintenance. Mr. Thompson and Laura SO ttAt
them, and begged them to remove to the Os .k:
till their future plans were fixed.
„icIPl,Alf .11