Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/113



OMES, this being his Birth-Day, to bid me to go dine with him and a Company of ſome Half-dozen of our Acquaintance, off Whitebait at Blackwall. So we firſt to London Bridge, on Foot, walking for an Appetite, and there took Water, and down the River in a Steam-Boat, with great Pleaſure, enjoying the Breeze, and the View of the Shipping, and alſo the Proſpect of a good Dinner. Landed at the Pier, and as faſt as we could to, where our Table engaged in the large Room. But good Lack! to ſee the Fulneſs of the Place, every Table almoſt crowded with eager Eaters, and Heaps of Whitebait among them, and they with open Mouths and Eyes ſhovelling Spoonful after Spoonful into their Plates and thence thruſting them five or ſix at a Time into their Chaps. Then, here and there, a fat Fellow, ſtopping, out of Breath, to put down his Knife and Fork, and gulp a Goblet of iced Punch, was mighty droll: alſo to hear others ſpeaking with their Mouths full. But Dinner coming, I cared not to look about me, there being on Table ſome dozen different Dimes of him, whereof the Sight did at firſt bewilder me, like the Donkey between the I Hayſtacks, not knowing which to chooſe; and do lament that at a Feaſt with Plenty of Things he never was able to eat his Fill of every one. A Diſh of Salmon with India-