these objects to a beneficial purpose, they become only a
load of care; but when used to exalt and refine the national taste, they
confer an immortality upon the possessor, and render him a benefactor to
his species; when used, also, as accessories to the cultivation of kindly
sympathies and the promotion of social enjoyment, they are objects of
public utility. The revival of old-fashioned English cordiality,
especially at Christmas, had been always a favourite idea with the owners
of the Pryor's Bank, and in 1839 they gave an entertainment which, like

"O'Rourke's noble feast, will ne'er be forgot
By those who were there or those who were not."

They were fortunate in securing the aid of Theodore Hook, of pleasant,
and, alas! of painful memory, who was their neighbour, with that of some
other friends and acquaintances, who thoroughly entered into the whim of
recalling olden times by the enactment of masques and other mummeries.

Hook, in his manuscript journal of Thursday, the 26th of December, 1839,
notes that he was engaged to dine with Lady Quentin at Kew:--

"Weather dreadful, so resolved to write her an excuse and came home
in coach early, so up to Baylis's, where I was asked to dine. They
came here, and we walked up together; so to rehearsal, and then back
again to bed."

Hook's letter, in a feigned hand, to Mr. Baylis upon this occasion ran
thus:--

"Sir,--Circumstancis hoeing too the Fox hand wether in Lunnun as
indered me of goen two Q. wherefor hif yew plese i ham reddy to cum
to re-ersal two nite, in ten minnits hif yew wil lett the kal-boy hof
yewer theeter bring me wud--if you kant reed mi riten ax Mister
Kroften Kroker wich his a Hanty queerun like yewerself honly hee as
bin longer hatit yewers two kommand,

"TEE HEE OOK."

"_Master Bailies hesquire_,
_Manger hof thee_,
_T.R.P.B. and halso Proper rioter thereof_."

On Saturday, Hook records in his 'Diary' his having refused his "firmest
friend's command" that he should dine with him--"because," writes Hook,
"I cannot on account of the things to be done at Pryor's Bank."

Of the memorable Monday, the 30th of December, Hook notes:--

"To-day, not to town, up and to Baylis's; saw preparations. So,
back, wrote a little, then to dinner, afterwards to dress; so to
Pryor's Bank, there much peop