'
I owned I was not much conversant in high-life, but I had seen
what were called polite assemblies in London and elsewhere; that
those of Bath seemed to be as decent as any; and that, upon the
whole, the individuals that composed it, would not be found
deficient in good manners and decorum. 'But let us have recourse
to experience (said I) -- Jack Holder, who was intended for a
parson, has succeeded to an estate of two thousand a year, by the
death of his elder brother. He is now at the Bath, driving about
in a phaeton and four, with French horns. He has treated with
turtle and claret at all the taverns in Bath and Bristol, till
his guests are gorged with good chear: he has bought a dozen
suits of fine clothes, by the advice of the Master of the
Ceremonies, under whose tuition he has entered himself. He has
lost hundreds at billiards to sharpers, and taken one of the
nymphs of Avon-street into keeping; but, finding all these
channels insufficient to drain him of his current cash, his
counsellor has engaged him to give a general tea-drinking to-morrow
at Wiltshire's room. In order to give it the more eclat,
every table is to be furnished with sweet-meats and nosegays;
which, however, are not to be touched till notice is given by the
ringing of a bell, and then the ladies may help themselves
without restriction.
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