sonne_. They are now at the Garrick Club.

"An imitator of me." P.G. Patmore's _Rejected Articles_, 1826, leads off
with "An Unsentimental Journey" by Elia which is, except for a fitful
superficial imitation of some of Lamb's mannerisms, as unlike him as
could well be. The description of the butterwomen's dress, to which Lamb
refers, will illustrate the divergence between Elia and his parodist:--

Her attire is fashioned as follows: and it differs from all her
tribe only in the relative arrangement of its colours. On the body a
crimson jacket, of a thick, solid texture, and tight to the shape;
but without any pretence at ornament. This is met at the waist
(which is neither long, nor short, but exactly where nature placed
it) by a dark blue petticoat, of a still thicker texture, so that it
hangs in large plaits where it is gathered in behind. Over this, in
front, is tied tightly round the waist, so as to keep all trim and
compact, a dark apron, the string of which passes over the little
fulled skirt of the jacket behind, and makes it stick out smartly
and tastily, while it clips the waist in. The head-gear consists of
a sort of mob cap, nothing of which but the edge round the face can
be seen, on account of the kerchief (of flowered cotton) which is
passed over it, hood fashion, and half tied under the chin. This
head-kerchief is in place of the bonnet--a thing not to be seen
among the whole five hundred females who make up this pleasant show.
Indeed, varying the colours of the different articles, this
description applies to every dress of the whole assembly; except
that in some the fineness of the day has dispensed with the
kerchief, and left the snow-white cap exposed; and in others, the
whole figure (except the head) is coyishly covered and concealed by
a large hooded cloak of black cloth, daintily lined with silk, and
confined close up to the throat by an embossed silver clasp, but
hanging loosely down to the heels, in thick, full folds. The
petticoat is very short; the trim ancles are cased in close-fit hose
of dark, sober, slate colour; and the shoes, though thick and
serviceable like all the rest of the costume, fit the foot as neatly
as those which are not made to walk in.

Patmore tells us that his first meeting with the Lambs was immediately
after they had first seen his book; and they left the house