planet round whose
orbit move certain other little twinkling luminaries whose attractive
glimmerings are very likely to enlighten your obscure sentimentality.
Bang was the daughter of a bathing-woman at Brighton, from whence she
eloped early in life with a navy lieutenant-has since been well known as
a dasher of the first water upon the pave--regularly sports her carriage
in the drive--and has numbered among her protectors, at various times,
the Marquis W------, Lord A------, Colonel C------, and, lastly, a
descendant of the mighty Wallace, who, in an auto-biographical sketch,
boasts of his intimacy with this fascinating cyprian. She has, however,
one qualification, which is not usually found among those of her
class--she has had the prudence to preserve a great portion of her
liberal allowances, and is now perfectly independent of the world.
We must visit one of her evening parties in the neighbourhood of
Euston-square, when she invites a select circle of her professional
sisters to a ball and supper, to which entertainment her male visitors
are expected to contribute liberally. She has fixed upon the earl, I
should think, more for the honour of the title than with any pecuniary
hopes, his dissipation having left him scarce enough to keep up
appearances." "The amiable who precedes her," said I, "is of the same
class, I ~210~~ presume--precisely, and equally notorious." "That is
the celebrated Mrs. L------, better known as Moll Raffle, from the
circumstance of her being actually raffled for, some years since, by the
officers of the seventh dragoons, when they were quartered at Rochester:
like her female friend, she is a woman of fortune, said to be worth
eighteen hundred per annum, with which she has recently purchased
herself a Spanish cavalier for a husband. A curious anecdote is related
of Moll and her once kind friend, the Marquis of W--------, who is said
to have given her a bond for seven thousand pounds, on a certain great
house, not a mile from Hyde-park corner, which he has since assigned
to a fortunate general, the present possessor; who, thinking his title
complete, proceeded to take possession, but found his entry disputed by
the lady, to whom he was eventually compelled to pay the forfeiture of
the bond. Come along, my boy," said Lionise; "I'll introduce you at
once to the whole party, and then you can make your own selection." "Not
at present: I came here for general observation, not private intrigue,
and