A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.,
HUMOROUS DESCRIPTION OF DONCASTER
RACES, THE GREAT ST. LEGER, HORSES, AND CHARACTERS, IN 1825. BY AN HONEST REVIEWER,
ALIAS "The spirit in the clouds."{1}
"All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding, task
Ariel, and all his quality.
Prospero. Why, that's my spirit!
Shakspeare—Tempest.
"Good morrow to my worthy masters; and a merry Christmas
to you all!"—The Bellman.
"Mendiei, mimi, balatrones."—Hor.
"Mimics, beggars, and characters of all sorts and sizes."
—Free Translation.
My Good Mr. Spy,
Will you not exclaim, Mercy upon us! here is a text and title as long and as voluminous as a modern publication, or the sermon of the fox-hunting parson, who, when compelled to
1 See last number of the Spy, Part XXI. p. 273.
preach on a saint's day, mounted the pulpit in his sporting toggery, using his gown as "a cloak of maliciousness?" But have patience, sweet Spy; be kindly-minded, dear Bernard: like John of Magna Charta memory, "I have a thing to say;" and do now be a good attentive Hubert to hear me out.
"Indeed, since you have inspirited, if not inspired me, by the 'immortal honour' of dubbing me your 'associate,' I were wanting in common gratitude not to attempt, by the return of moon, for I believe that luminary, like your numbers, comes out new every fourth week, to convey to you the swellings-over of my gratitude for the kind and fine things you have been pleased to cheer me with; although even yet, though the time will come, I can neither withdraw my vizor, nor disclose my 'family cognomen.'