A Walk from London to Fulham Part 16

All onward rush in one perpetual ferment, No rest for mortals till they find interment; Old England is not what it once has been, Dogs have their days, and we've had ours, I ween.

The country's gone! cut up by cruel railroads, They'll prove to many nothing short of jail-roads.

The spirit vile of restless innovation At Fulham e'en has taken up his station.

I landed here, on Father Thames's banks, To seek repose, and rest my wearied shanks; Here, on the gra.s.s, where once I could recline, Like a huge mushroom springs this mansion fine.

Astounding work! but yesterday 'twas building; And now what armour, carving, painting, gilding!

Vexed as I am, yet loth to be uncivil, I only wish the owner at the ---!"

Father Thames (Mr. Giffard), who had been slumbering between two painted boards, respectively inscribed "MIDDLEs.e.x COUNTY BANK" and "SURREY BANK,"

and surrounded by flower-pots filled with bulrushes and sedge, roused by the intended imprecation upon their host, here interrupted Egomet, and entered into a long dialogue with him, in which he detailed all his grievances so far as gas and steam were concerned. At length he feels the influence of Hook as "the Great Frost," who turns

"The old blackguard to solid ice."

Upon which Egomet's remark was, that-

"The scene to Oxford s.h.i.+fted in a trice is, This river-G.o.d-no longer Thames, but Isis."

Father Christmas (Mr. Crofton Croker) then appeared with a long speech about eating, drinking, and making merry, and the wondrous power that a good fire and a cheerful gla.s.s have upon the heart. Beholding "poor Thames a-cold"-"an icy, heartless river"-the question follows, what

"Do I the matter see?

I'll thaw you soon-begone to Battersea, There let thy icebergs float in Chelsea Reach."

The Great Frost, too, after much buffoonery, turns himself into

"A pleasant fall of fleecy snow,"

which he effected by the vigorous use of the kitchen dredging-box, and an ample supply of flour, therewith bepowdering Jolly Christmas, Father Thames, and Egomet, so plentifully as to leave no doubt upon the minds of the audience respecting the transformation.

Another Christmas revel followed, and then came "a Grand Tournament," in which a contest between "the Blue Knight" (Mr. Lechmere Whitmore), and "the Yellow Knight" (Mr. Baylis), each mounted upon hobby-horses, was most fiercely executed. Nor was the Giant Cormoran (fourteen feet in height), nor the Queen of Beauty, nor the Dragon Queen wanted to complete the chivalry of this burlesque upon the memorable meeting at Eglinton.

The fun which now became

"fast and furious,"

and to which an impudent but most amusing jester (Mr. Jerdan) mainly contributed, was checked only by the announcement of supper; and as the guests descended the stairs from the gallery, or a.s.sembled on the lobby, they beheld their cheer borne in procession from the kitchen, headed by a military band and a herald-at-arms. A cook, with his cap and ap.r.o.n of snowy whiteness, placed a boar's head

"Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary,"

upon the table; then came two ancient halberdiers, followed by a serving-man in olden livery, carrying the wa.s.sail-bowl; then another herald in his tabard, and servitors with Christmas-pie, and brawn, and soup, and turkey, and sirloin of beef, and collared brawn, whereof was an abundant supply, and of the most magnificent dimensions. Father Christmas, carving-knife in hand, and belted with mincepies, and his attendant Egomet, with followers bearing holly, ivy, and mistletoe, brought up the rear. Then was sung "beautifully," as Hook notes, by four voices, the Oxford chant of

"The boar's head in hand bear I."

And here we must drop the curtain, but not without stating that several of the guests felt the enjoyment of the evening so warmly, that it was in long debate among them what suitable acknowledgment in recollection of it should be made to Mr. Baylis and Mr. Whitmore; and, that the actors in the masque presented these gentlemen with an ancient charter horn, which had belonged to the Pickard family, and which they were fortunate enough to secure. The height of this horn, which is supposed to be that of the Highland buffalo-an animal said to be extinct nearly three hundred years-is one foot two inches, its length is one foot six inches, its width at the top five and a half inches; and it is capable of containing one gallon.

Upon this most gratifying memorial to the owners of the Pryor's Bank, of the esteem created by their hospitality, suitable inscriptions were placed by the donors, with the motto:-

"While Thames doth flow, or wine is drank, par-hael to all at Pryor's Bank.

++unc-hael."

The remembrance of the pleasant hours pa.s.sed within the walls of the Pryor's Bank will not easily be forgotten, though the character of the interior is changed since this was written. The first sale took place on the 3rd May, 1841, and five following days: and there was a subsequent sale on the 25th May, 1854, and four following days. Both these sales took place on the premises, and the Auctioneer, on both occasions, was Mr. Deacon.

Pryor's Bank is now let to Mr. E. T. Smith, of Her Majesty's and Drury Lane Theatres.