Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/21



HIS Day to the Ring in Hyde Park for a Walk to get me an Appetite, and look at the fine Folks and People of Faſhion riding in their Carriages, which it do much delight me to behold. But, good Lack! what a ſtrange Notion of the Pleaſure of a Drive; with the Carriages in a cloſe Line jammed all together, and ſometimes coming to a dead Stop like the Omnibuſes in Fleet Street of an Afternoon, and ſeldom moving on faſter than Mourning Coaches at a Funeral. Did ſee many mighty pretty young Ladies; and one ſitting in a Landau with a Coronet on the Panel, upon whom I did ſmile, but perceiving that ſhe did turn up her Nose at me, I did look glum; howbeit, another comely Damſel that I ſmiled at did bluſh and ſimper, which gave me Joy. It was as good as a Play to watch the young Guardſmen, with their Tufts and Muſtaches, riding ſtraight-legged, and them and the other Bucks taking off their Hats and kiſſing their Hands to the charming Belles as they paſſed them by. But it was rarer ſtill to behold a Snob that ſtrove to do the ſame Sort of Thing, and did get laughed at for his Pains. Then what Sport to obſerve the fat Coachmen, in their Wigs, ſomething like Biſhops', sitting on their Boxes, and the Footmen behind with their parti-coloured Liveries of drab and green, and red and yellow Pluſh, and gold-laced Hats, Shoulderknots and Cockades, bearing their Canes,