s look
round us; evidently the majority present are respectable mechanics, or
small tradesmen with their wives and daughters and sweethearts there.
Now and then you see a midshipman, or a few fast clerks and warehousemen,
who confidentially inform each other that there is "no end of talent
here," and that Miss --- "is a doosed fine gal;" and here, as elsewhere,
we see a few of the class of unfortunates, whose staring eyes would fain
extort an admiration which their persons do not justify. Every one is
smoking, and every one has a glass before him; but the class that come
here are economical, and chiefly confine themselves to pipes and porter.
The presence of the ladies has also a beneficial effect; I see no
indication of intoxication, and certainly none of the songs are obscene.
I may question the worth of such stanzas as the following, sung by Mr R.
Grover, Miss Pearce, and the whole of the company:--

ALFRED.

We'll drink to the beauty that's beaming around,
Where Nature's own flowers are blooming;
Where none but the voices of happiness sound,
And our pathway the love-light illumes.
We'll drink, too, to the rosy god,
The god of love and beauty,
For all who are his vot'ries
Must tender him their duty.
We'll drink while there's love in the cup which we quaff,
Since't is love o'er the world reigns supreme.

CHORUS.

We'll drink to friendship firm and true,
While love the cup shall crown.

VIOLETTA.

Come, bask in the pleasure that falls to our share,
For Time on the wing's ever flying,
And flowers of love are exotics so rare,
Their odour's scarce shed ere 't is flown.
Be gay, for youth must soon depart,
And even love will vanish,
The brightest scenes, alas! will fade,
And sweetest pleasures pall.
Be gay, then, while youth still untrammell'd by care
Shall invite us to joy and to love.

CHORUS.

Ah! let us join in the toast,
In the song and the revelling,
Passing the night in mirthful pleasure,
While love shall teach us how to treasure
This paradise on earth.

I may think I have heard sublimer compositions than the following, sung
by Mrs