Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-29

- H.. Town by a GRAND BALL. they, in
~ wise 10 Be daunted, do fortb9HE,sat the
word equip themselves for the ASSAULT, and
IN good faith, truly, it was gracious ana
glorious sight, a most triumphant and IN
Comparable spectacle to behold them gal,
lantly arrayed in glossy and shining SILK
breeches, tied with alundance OF RIBBON
with silken hose of the gorgeous color OF
the salmon, right goodly Morocco pumps,
decorated with clasps or buckles q a most
cunning and secret contr5vance, lnasmuchs
as they did Of themselves grapple 10 the
shoe without any aid Of fuke or tongue,
naryelIously ensembling witehcraft and ne
c,4, NANCY. They had withal, exuberant
cbifter]ipes which pulled out at the neck
and bosom, after most jolly fashion, like
unto the.bsard Of an ancient he-turkey--
and cooked hats, the which they dad carry
not on their heads after the fashion OF the
Gothamites, but under their arms, as a
roasted fowl his glzard.
Thus being equipped and naarsaalled,
thew do attack, assault, batter and belabor
the town With might and lnaln--most gal.
lantlh displaying the vigor OF their legs, and
shaking their heels at it most ernphaiically.
And the manner Of their attack was IN this
sort--first, they did thunder and Gallop for
ward ira coutre ten s-and anon, display
ed column in a cossack dance, a tsndango,
or A aavot.. Whereat the Gothan:tes, IN no
wise understanding this unknown system OF
,ya,.ffa,e roararlled exceedingly, and did O.
Den their mouths incontincntly, the i''ii DIS
lance of a bow shot (neanjng a cross Bow
in sore dismay and apprehension. W here-
upon, saith Rigadoon, aor.flshlng ne left
leo with great expression OF Eaioar, and
most maqnific carriage my coPesn1ates,
for what wait we here--afe not the women
already won 10 our fayor---io rot their wo-
men and young damsels wave to us from
the walls in such sort that albeit theTe IS some
show Of defence, yet it IS nanlfesl y con-
yerted unto our Interests 2 SO saying, he
made no more ado, but leaping into ere air
about Eight shot, and crossing bis feet SIX
times after the manner OF the HoPPingtots,
he gave a short partridge csna, and with
miehfv vigor and swiithess did bolt out
rirnl over The walls with Somerset. The
whole army Of Hoppingtots danced in after
thei, valiant cnrfsan, with an enormous
saucaking Of adde's, AMI a horrifc blasting
and brattling q horns, insomuch that the
dogs did howl il the streets; 50 hldeouSiy
were their ears assailed. The Gothamites
made some semblancc Of defence, but their
women having al been won over into the
interest of the enemy, they were shortly
reduced to make NEST abjeEt submission,
and delivered over to the coercion OF GER
tain professors OF the Hoppingtots, who did
put them under most igromlnlous durance,
for the space Of q long time, until they had
learned TO turn out their toes, and flourish
their legs after the true manner 81 their
conquerors. Aud thus, after the manner
have related, was the mighty and puissant
civ of Gotham circumvented, and taken
bF~a coup de pied, or as itmay be rendered,
by farce of legs.
The conqnerors showed NO mercy, bat
put all ages, sexes, and conditions, to the
fiddle and the dance, and, in a word, COM
PEELED and enforced them to become abso-
iule Hoppingtots. q Habit as the ingenl-
Gus Linlurn F;delus, profoundly aflrmeth,
g is secoad nature" And this original and
inva liable observation, hath been most apt
ly proved and illustrated, by the example
Of the Gothamites, ever since this disastrous
and unlucky mischance. In process Of tir1e
they have waxed ODE most fragrant, outra-
geous, and abandoned dancers they do
pondef. Oh .nought but how to gahantlze It
at balls, routs, and fandangoes, insomuch
that the like was and inno time or place e !
We, observed before. They do, moreover,
pitifully devote their nights to the jo!!lflca-
ton Of the legs. and their days iorsooth, to