The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-06-25 00:00:00

-FETE AT MAMMON LODGE.

Mrs. CREST. I GNI' gave a grand dejertne on Semi-.
day'at her elegant seat, Champion Lodge, Camber-
well.' The elegant taste of this Lady, the length of
itirriVerit in preparation, and her well known litiera-
flitf; all contributed to excite great expeftatiou in Cie
fax world. This strong preposcssion was
well justified by the result ; the most brilliant fancy
could not conceive a scene of more interesting cad
deversified beauty. It vies not a Fete of a pet ticalei
class, but rather an assemblage of all that is must
excellent and admired, in all the degrees between
the most refined luxury, and nature in her sinip!est
attire. The beautiful lawn, interspersed with the most
beautiful walks, embellished with the most fragrant
shrubs and flowers, formed the grand work of the
scene, which was rendered still more interesting by
the labours of a set of mowers busily employed in cut-
ting down the full-grown grass ; the odours of which
added to the sweetness of the balmy air. already
enriched by the tribute of myriads of fruits and
flowers. So far the scene was all nature. It was
such a lawn, and such an occupation, as fancy
might pourtray for the Golden Age--or which, we
are proud to say, England, amidst the corruption
and desolation of the world, still exhibits around the
happy and romantic scats of its ancient barons. But
the grand work, however charming, was soon lost
in the multitude and variety of its superinduced em-
bellishments, constantly attrafting and relieving,
without fatiguing, the senses. Here a maypole lifts
its lofty head, and stands, a branchless trunk ; while
a merry sylphid set of beauteous form, and elastic
movement, dance around it to the liveliest music.
Passing, from this animated scene, from which the
mind has caught a rapidity of idea congenial with
the quick succession of the merry dance, it gradually
sinks into a contemplative mood, on beholding the
votive tablets suspended from er affixed to the trees.
One branch presents a sickle, another a scythe, an-
other a rake, all resting from their labours, and sug-
gesting the grateful idea of a duty well performed.
Pursuing this pith, we next behold the urn sacred
to the manes of the gallant Admiral KEPPIL, at
once a monument of his worth and of the loyalty of
the patriotic hostess. This part of the scene closes
with the aviary, containing an immense variety of
beautiful birds, some warbling their natural melo-
dies, and others swelling the multiplied harmony
by seeming to imitate the notes of the artificial and
vocal .trains that issued from various parts of this
captivating scene. Chinese temples, awful ruins,
gothic arches, and grottoes of fretted stone,
lay scattered around, and suddenly bursts upon
the view a modern fair. Five booths at once
solicit the attention, vyin:; wick eech other
in the beauty and variety of their merchandise.
They coesis:ed of dolls, 11 iwers, ribbons, bal-
Leis, trinkets, &c. The articles went off well,
and bore good prices. Indeed we never sew a
fair at which the buyers and !Alert appeared so
harpy. Leaving this busy scene, the eye finds ta-
Eel in a quiet domestic circle of gypsies. Sass
boiling their h icon and cabbage for dinner, others
boasting of their thefts in planning new predatory
excursions. Never was sees a more witching groupe ;
nor were charafters ever better supported, wale only
this exception, that the snowy necks and graceful
forms presented a superior order of gypsies to those
we usually see at Norwood. This part of the scene
had entirely the appearance of a masquerade. The
people of fashion, not content with personating these
gy-sies, mixed with the real haymakers as such, or
further diversified the scene AS fortune-tellers, weird
sisters, rustics, Ste. Contrasted with all these scenes
of life and gaiety, with a swing-swong fe- a scat, in
which there were many eager candidates, with the
festive dance, which had many votaries ; and the
charms of music, which occupied not the least share
of the attention of the company ; wets the barn,
which was fitted up as a village:church, and a beau,-
tiful hermitage in a cluster of trees, in the most re-
tired part of the lawn. This charming retreat
was inhabited by A hermit and . his wife,
who, furgettiag the world, anti by the world forgot,
appeared content within themselves, and insensible
to all the pleasures that played around their humble
dwelling. This, as a description, is very incomplete ;
but it may afford some idea of the character of this
delightful fete. From twelve until two, all the
avenues were crowded with carriages conveying their
charge of rank, beauty, and fashion, to this elegant
scene of festivity. A little before two the Prince
of Wales arrived, and was received by the Camber-
well Volunteers. A room was fitted up in the man-
sion for His Royal Highness, and his immediate
party, consisting of the Duchess of Devonshire, kc.
where they breakfasted. His Royal Highness walked
through the lawn, and entered into the spirit of its
various amusements with his usual affability and po-
liteness.lVe do not know of any interruption he met,
except in one instance. In crossing the grounds, he
was beset by a group* of witches, who insisted he
must emu their hands and have his fortune told.
His Royal Highness consented ; and, as he appeared
in excellent spirits, we may presume the fortune
foretold was not a bad one. There was music in
every part of the lawn ; but its favourite temples as
the Turkish room, an apartment fitted up in the
Turkish style : here instrumental music was height.
ened by the vocal powers of Miss MoRTI maa and se-
veral amateurs, who sang many beautiful airs, catches
and glees. Breuktast being over, about five o'clock
the dancing upon the lawn seemed to prevail over
every other Amusement, and so continued until the
company began to disperse. A more elegant ens r-
tninment, or one that displayed :nose taste And
libetality, we never witnessed.

Thestatement which we copied a few days back.
Iraq otfier papers, of a genteel well dressed young
man; being' found with his throat cut, in a ditch
behind White Conduit House, proves, on enquiry,
to bi without foundation.

On Santrdaj• morning, as ore of the Bath
coaches- waVei3nring through Brenttord, one of the
braces of the carriage gave way, by which accident
two wonieft 'and a man, outside passengers, were
thrown froth the roof, and received very material
injury.
• .Friday last, *foreign Captain made an attempt to
assassin's, a Revenue Officer un board his ship, in
the River: He was urged on by a groundless sus-
picion', that the Officer, with other persons, was
consuming his ship's provisions. He was taken into
custody. • -