He is now contented with a regular
stand-up fight, and exhibits a fist like a knuckle-bone of mutton--hard,
coarse, and of certain magnitude. The bludgeon hammer-headed whip, or a
vulgar twig, succeeds the clouded and amber-headed cane; and instead
of the snuff-box being rare, and an article of parade, to exhibit a
beauty's miniature bestowed in love, or that of a crowned head, given
for military or diplomatic services, all ranks take snuff out of cheap
and vulgar boxes, mostly of inferior French manufacture, with, not
unfrequently, indecent representations on them; or you have wooden
concerns with stage coaches, fighting-cocks, a pugilistic combat, or an
ill-drawn neck and neck race upon them. The frill of the nobleman and
gentleman's linen once bore jewels of high price, or a conceit, like a
noted beauty's eye, set in brilliants less sparkling than what formed
the centre. Now, a fox, a stag, or a dog, worthily occupies the place of
that enchanting resemblance. In equitation, we had Sir Sydney Meadows,
a pattern and a prototype for gentlemen horsemen. The Melton hunt now is
more in vogue, and the sons of our nobility ride like their own grooms
and postboys--ay, and dress like them too. Autrefois, a man of fashion
might be perceived ere he was seen, from a reunion ~217~~of rich and
costly perfumes. Now, snuff and tobacco, the quid, the pinch, and the
cigar, announce his good taste. The cambric pocket-handkerchief was the
only one known in the olden times. The belcher (what a name! ) supplies
its place, together with the bird's eye, or the colours of some black
or white boxer. An accomplished man was the delight of all companies in
former times. An out and outer, one up to every thing, down as a nail
or the knocker of Newgate, a trump, or a Trojan, now carry the mode
of praise; one that can _patter flash, floor a charley, mill a
coal-heaver_, come coachey in prime style, up to every rig and row in
town, and down to every move upon the board, from a nibble at the club
to a dead hit at a hell; can swear, smoke, take snuff, lush, play at all
games, and throw over both sexes in different ways--he is the finished
man. The attributes of a modern fine gentleman are, to have his address
at his club, and his residence any where; to lounge, laugh, lisp, and
loll away the time from four to eight, when having dressed, eat his
olives, he goes to Almack's if he can, or struts into Fop's Alley at
the Opera in boots, in defiance of decenc