They frequent the court, the opera, the theatre, and the
masquerade. They hold assemblies at their own houses: they make
sumptuous entertainments, and treat with the richest wines of
Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. The substantial tradesman, who
wont to pass his evenings at the ale-house for fourpence half-penny,
now spends three shillings at the tavern, while his wife
keeps card-tables at home; she must likewise have fine clothes,
her chaise, or pad, with country lodgings, and go three times a
week to public diversions. Every clerk, apprentice, and even
waiter of tavern or coffeehouse, maintains a gelding by himself,
or in partnership, and assumes the air and apparel of a petit
maitre -- The gayest places of public entertainment are filled with
fashionable figures; which, upon inquiry, will be found to be
journeymen taylors, serving-men, and abigails, disguised like
their betters.
In short, there is no distinction or subordination left -- The
different departments of life are jumbled together -- The hod-carrier,
the low mechanic, the tapster, the publican, the
shopkeeper, the pettifogger, the citizen, and courtier, all tread
upon the kibes of one another: actuated by the demons of
profligacy and licentiousness, they are seen every where
rambling, riding, rolling, rushing, justling, mixing, bouncing,
cracking, and crashing in one vile ferment of stupidity and
corruption -- All is tumult and hurry; one would imagine they were
impelled by some disorder of the brain, that will not suffer them
to be at rest.
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