r," rejoined the Squire, "immaculate may the lady remain in
her person and property, I have no views on either."

"By the powers of charity retract that 'stern decree,'" exclaimed the
baronet, "would you break the heart of the love-sick nymph, by chilling
indifference to the potency of her charms and the magnitude of her
fortune? However, all joking apart, my good friends, will you do my aunt
and your humble servant the honour of calling at our lodgings; we shall
wait your coming and proceed together to the civic entertainment?" This
was agreed to;--the baronet retired, and the two cousins having the best
part of the day still before them, set out on a stroll to Tothill-fields
Fair, with the view of ascertaining Real Life in Westminster, amongst
the middle and lower orders of its extensive population.

~200~~ Crossing St. James's Park, our two observers soon reached the
scene of jollity. Here, as in all the fairs held in London, and its
vicinity, was a vast assemblage of idlers, including both sexes and all
ages. "They talk of the severity of the times," said Dashall, "and the
distress of the lower orders of society; I cannot say, however, that I
have witnessed any semblance of distress or privation amongst such in
this metropolis to the extent represented,1 in the whole course of my
observation. These fairs, for instance, more properly marts of iniquity,
are crammed to excess; and in pursuit of low enjoyment there appears no
deficiency of pecuniary means. In all these resorts of dissipation,
not only the shows are filled with spectators, but the booths and
neighbouring public-houses are crowded with male and female revellers."

The Squire acquiesced in the correctness of his friend's remark, and
both coincided in opinion that the regular daily public places of
amusement in the metropolis afford ample opportunity for rational
recreation, independent of the continuance of fairs, which have no other
tendency than facilitating the progress of licentiousness.

Dashall observed, that on the present occasion, in the midst of so much
alleged distress,-the booths and shows of Tothill-fields Fair were
much more extensive than in former years. "We must, however," said he,
"although the evil continues, do the Magistrates the justice to say
that they have acted meritoriously in preventing the erection of those
dangerous machines named round-abouts, by which, at former fairs, many
serious accidents were occasioned."

[Illustrati