I have dined
with his club at the Three Tuns, and had the honour to sit him
out. At half an hour past eight in the evening, he was carried
home with six good bottles of claret under his belt; and it being
then Friday, he gave orders that he should not be disturbed till
Sunday at noon -- You must not imagine that this dose had any other
effect upon his conversation, but that of making it more
extravagantly entertaining -- He had lost the use of his limbs,
indeed, several hours before we parted, but he retained all his
other faculties in perfection; and as he gave vent to every
whimsical idea as it rose, I was really astonished at the
brilliancy of his thoughts, and the force of his expression. Quin
is a real voluptuary in the articles of eating and drinking; and
so confirmed an epicure, in the common acceptation of the term,
that he cannot put up with ordinary fare. This is a point of such
importance with him, that he always takes upon himself the charge
of catering; and a man admitted to his mess, is always sure of
eating delicate victuals, and drinking excellent wine -- He owns
himself addicted to the delights of the stomach, and often jokes
upon his own sensuality; but there is nothing selfish in this
appetite -- He finds that good chear unites good company,
exhilerates the spirits, opens the heart, banishes all restraint
from conversation, and promotes the happiest purposes of social
life.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122