and satire severe. Here too Peter Finnerty, Erin's own
child, Impetuous, frolicsome, witty, and wild, With many a
tale has our reason beguiled: Then wit was triumphant, and
night after night Was the morn usher'd in with a flood of
delight.

* The Eccentrics, a club principally composed of persons
connected with the press or the drama, originally
established at the Swan, in Chandos-street, Covent-garden,
under the name of the Brilliants, and afterwards removed to
the Sutherland Arms, in May's-buildings, St. Martin's-lane;
--here, for many years, it continued the resort of some of
the first wits of the time; the chair was seldom taken till
the theatres were over, and rarely vacated till between four
and five in the morning.

** Sheridan, Charles Fox, Adolphus, and many of the most
eminent men now at the bar, were members or occasional
frequenters.

*** James Whittle, Esq., of Fleet-street, (or, as he was
more generally denominated, the facetious Jemmy Whittle, of
the respectable firm of Laurie and Whittle, booksellers and
publishers) was for some years perpetual president of the
society, and by his quaint manners, and good-humoured
sociality, added much to the felicity of the scene--he is
but recently dead.

~354~~pleasant witticisms which sparkled forth in endless variety among
the choice spirits who frequented the _sanctum sanctorum_ of the _old
Finish_. "There is yet, however, one more place worthy of notice," said
Crony; "not for any amusement we shall derive from its frequenters, but,
simply, that it is the most notorious place in London." Thither it
was agreed we should adjourn; for Crony's description of _Madame and
Messieurs_ the _Conducteurs_ was quite sufficient to produce excitement
in the young and ardent minds by which he was then surrounded. I shall
not pollute this work by a repetition of the circumstances connected
with this place, as detailed by old Crony, lest humanity should start
back with horror and disgust at the bare mention, and charity endeavour
to throw discredit on the true, but black recital. The specious pretence
of selling shell-fish and oysters is a mere trap for the inexperienced,
as every description of expensive wines, liqueurs, coffee, and costly
suppers are in more general request, and the wanton extravagance
exhibited within its vortex is enough to strike the u