inutes in Williams's library--making very inquisitive remarks upon
the passing singularities--and then the little man most impertinently
whispering to his friend with the Quixotic visage, book him, Bob--when
out comes the note book of both parties, and down goes somebody.
Afterwards see them popping into this shop, and then into the other,
spying and prying about--occasionally nodding perhaps to a London actor,
who shines forth here a star of the first magnitude; John Liston,
for instance, or Tyrone Power--then posting off to the well walks, or
disturbing the peaceful dead by ambling over their graves in search
of humorous epitaphs--making their way down to the Berkeley kennel
in North-street (See Plate), ~226~~or paying a visit to the Paphian
divinities at the Oakland cottages under the Cleigh Hills--trotting here
and there--making notes and sketches until all Cheltenham is in a state
of high excitement, and the rival editors of the Chronicle and Journal,
Messrs. Halpine and Judge, are so much alarmed that they are almost
prepared to become friends, and unite their forces for the time against
the common enemy.

[Illustration: page226]

Imagine such an animated, whispering, gazing, inquiring scene, as I have
here presented you with a slight sketch of, and, reader, you will be
able to form some idea of the first appearance of the English Spy and
his friend the artist, among the ways and walks of merry Cheltenham.
Then here

'At once, I dedicate my lay
To the gay groups that round me swarm,
Like May-bees round the honied hive,
When fields are green, and skies are warm
And all in nature seems alive.'

Time was, a certain amorous colonel carried every thing here, and bore
away the belle from all competitors; the hunt, the ball, the theatre,
and the card-party all owned his sovereign sway; although it must be
admitted, that, in the latter amusement, he seldom or ever hazarded
enough to disturb his financial recollections on the morrow. But time
works wonders--notoriety is of two complexions, and what may render a
man a very agreeable companion to foxhunters and frolicsome lordlings,
is not always the best calculated to recommend him in the eyes of the
accomplished and the rigid in matters of moral propriety. But other
equally celebrated and less worthy predilections have been trumpeted
forth in courts and newspapers, until the fame of the colonel has spread
itself throu