a very constant
tormentor. Mrs. Egan of the theatre, 'who knows what's what,' has
christened him Mr. Dillytouch; while the heroes of the sock and
buskin as invariably describe him by the appellation of Shake, from an
unpleasant action he has both in walking and sitting. The sour-visaged
gentleman at this moment in conversation with him is the renowned Peter
Paul Pallet, esq., otherwise the Reverend Mr. M-----------. Behind them
appears a celebrated dentist and his son, who has attained the rank of
M.D., both well known here by the titles of the Grand Duke of Tusk-aney
and Count Punn-tusk-y, a pair of worthies always on the lookout for
business, and hence very constant attendants at the promenade in the
Pump-room. The old gentleman in the chintz morning-gown hobbling along
on crutches, from the gout, is a retired vinegar merchant, the father of
a Chancery M.P., of whom the Bath wags say, 'that when in business, he
must always have carried a sample of his best vinegar in his face.'"
At this moment old Blackstrap advanced, and requested permission to
introduce to our notice Jack Physick, an honest lawyer, and, as he said,
one of the cleverest fellows and best companions in Bath. Jack had the
good fortune to marry one of the prettiest and most attractive actresses
that ever appeared upon the Bath stage, Miss Jamieson, upon which
occasion, the wags circulated many pleasant _jeux d'esprits_ on
the union of "love, law, and physic." The arrival of a very pompous
gentleman, who appeared to ~314~~excite general observation, gave
my friend Eglantine an opportunity of relating an anecdote of the
eccentric, who figures in Pultney-street under the cognomen of the Bath
bashaw. "There," said Horace, "you may see him every morning decorated
in his flannel _robe de chambre_ and green velvet cap, seated outside in
his balcony, smoking an immensely large German pipe, and sending forth
clouds of fragrant perfume, which are pleasantly wafted right or left as
the wind blows along the breakfast tables of his adjoining neighbours.
This eccentric was originally a foundling discovered on the steps of
a door in Rath, and named by the parochial officers, Parish: by great
perseverance and good fortune he became a Hambro' merchant, and in
process of time realized a handsome property, which, much to his honour
and credit, he retired to spend a portion of among the inhabitants of
this city, thus paying a debt of gratitude to those who had protected
him