Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-11

| dem. "-"the returning officer and mayor VI
Exeter" -Tippoo Saib"- Marshal Soult"-
and ssLouis dix huit:" an incessant accompanl,
ment Of the jingle Of glasses and the clatter OF
plates and spoons, as the servants cleared the
table, preventing more of any one sentence be-
I ing heard, except by the parties to whom IT was
especially addressed.
When the ladies retired, things seemed for
while to mend. That one subject which Sir
r. Walpole thought every man equal to dis
cuss, served TO keep the guests on the gun U'oe;
and Splitter, released from the commissioner
and the plateau, told three good stories; and
made several puns, which many Of the company
had never heard more than once. But
soon, too soon, the gaiety of the party was E.
clipsed One of the M. P.'s fellow, by the
by. who never opened his mouth in the House;
took violent possession of the conversation to
launch out in praise Of joint stock specula-
ton. of which he had recently become dlrec-
tor: and would have pressed on till the end OF the
evening, if Sir Rumpot Row, an experienced old
soldier, had not, by dexterous maneuvre,
worthy to take It's place in the Stratagemato BEL
ii, availed himself Of the moment when the
member was emptying bumper, TO break
through his lines with dialribe on Leaden-
hall politics, especially addressed to the dull
ear Of the drowsy commissioner, but in reality
inflicted on all the society. This led to the re-
counting OF long string OF scandaous anec-
dotes of sundry individuals, very important per-
sonages a, the governor generals In Calcutta,
but unfortunately, in the present instance, "ot
no interest tor any but the narrator" AS the
claret worked the spirits of the elder part OF the
company eobed, and those of the Juniors flowed.
The conversation, if not more amusing, was at
least louder; and after an animated but desulto-
ry dialogue on Pasta, Langan, Melton, Now
BRAY, the Salon, the PaIas Royale, Almack's,
and the Derby Stakes, interspersed with crltl-
cisms on many ID fine girls, clever coach
makers, and famous good shots, the gentlemen
were summoned to coffee; washed their mouts
with glass of Madeira, and separated.
The evening party, like the party below stairs,
was intended to be select: and great efforts had
been made 10 attract divers luminaries OF the
highest orders, out of their resplendent spheres
in the west, into the neither space of Mrs. Stub
shaw's drawing room, which, being considera-
bly eastward Of Hyde Park turnpike, was so far
from fashionable that ii was scarcely London.
Along with these were asked the whole army
of those Dill minorium gentium from the back
settlements of Baker street, who from the con-
shon, and who, being sometimes seen in good
houses, are much more frequently met with In
the parties of bank directors, East India ma
hobs, specializing members OF parliament, and
intriguing widows, persons striving 10 get on
towards better things, or persons tolerated from
habit, and because their entertainments are con-
venent Strange to say, not one OF the e" me-
do1ataQue Thersiochuaogue," Jones, Thoms, Hick-
eoEa thn orfu o6
been made, were more lucky than the party
had been in the matter of the dinner There
we're so many reasons why each and every one
of these friendly serviceables, but undistingulsh-
ed individuals should be excluded, that graft
tude and friendship pro hac rice, were forced to
give ground Still the thing was a failure
The two members went off to the house with
out showing in the drawing room; the Lady
Dustanvlle had a convenient head ache, and re-
tired TO her MOTEL at ten; the younger Rumpot
Rows and the military were little too elevated
to dance Apologies came from those whose
appearance would have given eclat to route,
and all "fugeso ensunaere NAH the Improbable
consumers of ice and fati6es, whom nobody
cares about, were punctual in their attendance.
In short, "the rooms were full, but there was no.
body there's" the direst and most omlnous hint
to all those who happen to be three PAGES near
er the centre Of fashion, to cut the abandonafa
in whose house it occurs. The pretty Mrs.
Jenkinson invited by Mr.. Stubshaw, brought
not only her non preseptable husband, but tall
gawky son fresh from Rugby, and noddlng
ruin OF maiden aunt, a walking memento morl,
blind, vulgar and presumptuous, and, withal,
in dress at once fine and shabby Such agroup
would have spoiled the best assembly in Lon.
don. The old gentleman was quickly spirited
away to remote card table; while, under the
pretence Of making the old lady comfortable,
Mrs Stubshaw endeayored to hide her behind
the folding doors between the two rooms. But
the provoking bag was too 6gety to rest pefdue,
and observing young man on the point OF
committing ma,rimony in the crowd, she broke
loose to seize upon him; and to drag him to all
parts Of the room for the charitable and delicate
purpose of roasting him OH his situation. Mis-
fortunes, they say, never come single. The
lamps. in spite of all entreates to the contrary,
would go out, perhaps because they did not
like their company.
The Gdders mistook their orders, and only
arrived in time to wake the family from their
first sleep on the following evening; the dancing
therefore. was reduced TO cracked square piano
forte. & a performer unconscious OF time, whose
o,orv did M, contain the entire of any one