ockery, is heard from all parts of the
room.

After a short interval, occupied in singing and toasting, the secretary
puts on his spectacles, and proceeds to read the report and list of
subscriptions, the latter being listened to with great attention. 'Mr.
Smith, one guinea--Mr. Tompkins, one guinea--Mr. Wilson, one guinea--Mr.
Hickson, one guinea--Mr. Nixon, one guinea--Mr. Charles Nixon, one
guinea--[hear, hear!]--Mr. James Nixon, one guinea--Mr. Thomas Nixon, one
pound one [tremendous applause]. Lord Fitz Binkle, the chairman of the
day, in addition to an annual donation of fifteen pounds--thirty guineas
[prolonged knocking: several gentlemen knock the stems off their
wine-glasses, in the vehemence of their approbation]. Lady, Fitz Binkle,
in addition to an annual donation of ten pound--twenty pound' [protracted
knocking and shouts of 'Bravo!'] The list being at length concluded, the
chairman rises, and proposes the health of the secretary, than whom he
knows no more zealous or estimable individual. The secretary, in
returning thanks, observes that _he_ knows no more excellent individual
than the chairman--except the senior officer of the charity, whose health
_he_ begs to propose. The senior officer, in returning thanks, observes
that _he_ knows no more worthy man than the secretary--except Mr. Walker,
the auditor, whose health _he_ begs to propose. Mr. Walker, in returning
thanks, discovers some other estimable individual, to whom alone the
senior officer is inferior--and so they go on toasting and lauding and
thanking: the only other toast of importance being 'The Lady Patronesses
now present!' on which all the gentlemen turn their faces towards the
ladies' gallery, shouting tremendously; and little priggish men, who have
imbibed more wine than usual, kiss their hands and exhibit distressing
contortions of visage.

We have protracted our dinner to so great a length, that we have hardly
time to add one word by way of grace. We can only entreat our readers
not to imagine, because we have attempted to extract some amusement from
a charity dinner, that we are at all disposed to underrate, either the
excellence of the benevolent institutions with which London abounds, or
the estimable motives of those who support them.

CHAPTER XX--THE FIRST OF MAY

'Now ladies, up in the sky-parlour: only once a year, if you please!'

YOUNG LADY WITH BRASS LADLE.