A FASHIONABLE CLUB. FOUR O'CLOCK P.M.
Thursday, February 14, 1850.
This Afternoon at four o'clock with Gubbyns to the Leviathan Club whereof he is a member, and do mean to propose me to be a Member too which I very much wish, only fear I may be black-balled but hope not. To-day he take me over the Club to see it, which delight me much, and good Lack to see how splendid the Building and the Carvings and Gildings of the Walls and Windows, for all the World like a Palace, wherein a private Man every Day of his Life may live like a King, as I should like to. All the Rooms as full as could be of all Manner of Comforts and Conveniences, especially the great Room where the Members do sit in easy Chairs with well-stuffed soft Backs and Cushions lined with lovely smooth shining Morocco Leather, or loll along on Sofas and Ottomans the same, and read the Reviews and Papers and are served by Footmen in Livery with Glasses of Sherry and Tumblers of Brandy and Soda Water, all at their Ease, and enjoy such Accommodation as I think I never could have imagined unless I had seen. Curious to observe the different Readers and the Paper each reading; a Parliament or City Man the Times, a Member, I take it, of the Protestant Association at Exeter-Hall the Morning Herald, another the Standard, newspapers the wits call Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris, which is great Roguery. Some in Groups stand a gossiping, some looking out of Windows down on the People in the Street as they go by, mighty agreeable to such as are well off, and would give me very much Pleasure. Others with their Backs to the Fire, and one methought a Country Squire striding in front of the Grate, with his Hands behind him under his Coat Tails warming himself and looking abroad over his Neckcloth, as though upon his Parish, and as if he were Monarch of all he surveyed; mighty dignified and droll. Likewise a Youth of some Condition, but somewhat too like a Shopboy, in a pretty ridiculous Posture, eyeing himself in a Pier Glass, did, with his walking Cane sticking athwart his Arm, divert me. The Magazines, Guide Books, Post Directories, and so on lying about on the Tables mighty handy, and I did note also a Pack of Cards and hear some of the Club Men do play. After going all over the Club-house, and the Lavatories and all, Gubbyns take me to dine with him in the Strangers' Room, and a mighty good Dinner with excellent Claret, cost him how much I did not like to ask, but no doubt much more cheap and better than it would have come to in the cheapest tolerable Inn. Thence, after dinner, to the Smoking Room to smoke a Cigar, and drink Seltzer Water and Brandy, and, after Talk of the News, and all the Rumour about Town, and a good deal of Scandal, and some Roguish Conversation, Home, and so to Bed.
