of that, Master Brook- a Kidney pudding! and perhaps a bit of steak or a Sausage or Two, perhaps THREE: only two of us— the pudding and I! no weggibles, to take up the room the pudding ought to occupy! Oh no! And then the ale-think of the ale-a fresh Cask-Nine Gallons, a shilling a Gallon ! goes down your throat like a wheel-barrow, washing out the Corners preparatory to a fresh plate of pudding-the idea is enchanting, and would, if set to Music, be overpowering! Talk of quartettes and quintettes; what are they to a Solo upon a Kidney pudding? Answer me that! No, you can't; it is unanswerable! So with our blessing upon thee and thine, I remain pretty much as usual,' 66 "Yours, "T. PURLAND." I presume the cold greens" refers to some delicacy (perhaps lobster-salad) I had tempted him with, while "alcohol in the next line must imply an invitation to a “spiritual" séance with some friends, which were very frequent about this period. In like manner, he puts "university" for "anniversary," and "collection" for " election "-all in the exuberance of his spirits, which forbids his writing like other people. But the frank, open, animal enjoyment of it all is equal to Falstaff or Dumas's fat monk, Gorenflot, in "Chicot the Jester." The next is all about family matters, but illustrated, and in his best style. "In obedience to thy orders we proceed to indicate the positions of our satellites-12-exact time; Thomas Theodosius Constantine is at Bryckden-a place seven miles from everywhere. T. T. C. will make his triumphal entry into the Victoria Station at 4.20 p.m., followed by all the game he hath shot with his cross-bow, which we hope will not be more than the porters can conveniently carry. "Mary Ellen, commonly called NELL, is at Gravesend, whacking into and keeping in order some juvenile cousinsthe progeny of the Rev. Sleap, Bp. Designative of Alsatia, but at present holding forth at the parish Church of Ware. "Louisa Harriett, commonly called Loo, is with her Aunt Loo, at Gosport, superintending the getting up of the festivities necessary on the Marriage of their Cousin the Daughter of Col. Wright (who has been where you tried to get and didn't as mentioned in your Boke), and who has a great desire to hold speech thereon. "For ourselves we are supposed to be in charge of the house, and Thomas Theodosius Constantine will perhaps be at the Dovers. "Thus much for this week; next week all the Chicks will be beneath our wing, and probably able and willing to demolish, or assist in demolishing, any larder however large. "SECULAR. "We cancel that part relating to Loo and Aunt Loo-there is a screw loose. Nell was to have been one of Six! Bridesmaids; but our hilarity on hearing of the absurdity hath given offence. Nell therefore retires, and we are under a Kibosh! "As soon as we are able to breathe, we will communicate. "Thine, 66 "DENTATUS." The next letter refers chiefly to an eccentric friend of his, Mr. Morgan Kavanaugh, author of a work on "The Origin of Language and of Myths," and always referred to by Purland as The Great O," on account of his fundamental idea that (O) was the sign of the sun, the only permanently circular object in nature, and that the word "O" was the original name of the sun (from making the figure with the lips), and was thus the origin of all language. The book, however, is full of the most ingenious and suggestive derivations from Sanscrit and the Eastern languages. "No! can't be a bigger man than you-19 stone. Will warm the only bed we have-as spare! But the nights are fine, and a walk home after the Jaw won't hurt you. |