England, nor venture to lay wagers, except you know your company very well, or are sure of your fact. The fatal South-Sea scheme, and the wicked execution of it, proves what I foretold you to be too true."
The pernicious and general custom of wearing masks enabled half-repentant sinners to mix with the most profligate of the female sex undiscovered, and to indulge in excesses which they would not have dared to commit had their features been exposed as at present. This practice afforded opportunities of gratifying very improper curiosity, and of visiting places at unseasonable hours; an instance of this description occurred in May 1724. The White-lion[280:A], in Wych-street, had long been famed for riotous assemblies under the pretence of Concerts; and the neighbouring moralists waited with impatience for the hour when they should effectually transgress the Law: that hour at length arrived, and a posse of Constables,
executing a warrant obtained for the purpose, discovered females even of some distinction, tradesmen's wives, their daughters, and many common prostitutes, a collection that really surprised each other; the vicious hardly crediting that they were in so much good company, and the noviciates frightened at the features of unmasked depravity. The latter received wholesome admonition, and were sent home; the former visited Bridewell.
The custom of walking and talking in the Nave of St. Paul's cathedral had become so very prevalent in 1725, that the Bishop of London found it necessary, at his visitation in that year, to declare his positive intention of enforcing the 18th Canon, and the Act of the First of William and Mary, by which transgressors forfeited 20l. for every offence.
A subscription was opened in 1727 for the relief of Mrs. Clark, the aged and only surviving daughter of Milton. An author, under the signature of Bruyere, in the London Journal, ardently recommended liberal contributions; and drew the following picture of the manners then prevailing. "At White's we see nothing but what wears the mask at least of gaiety and pleasure; powder and embroidery are the ornaments of the place, not to forget that intolerable stink of perfumes, which almost poisons the miserable chairmen that besiege the door. Conversation is
not known here; the enquiries after news turn chiefly upon what happened last night at the Groom Porters. The business of the place is to promote some musical subscription; to make all possible court to some young man of quality that is next expected to take possession of a great estate; to take care to be very well with a knot of well-dressed people that meet here, and modestly call themselves the world; but, above all, to solicit a share in the direction of the moneyed interest, which is established here under the name of a Faro Bank.
"At Tom's Coffee-house, in Cornhill, there is a very different face of things. Plenty, the parent of Cheerfulness, seems to have fixed her residence on this spot; while Joy, which is the offspring of Folly, seems to be utterly unknown. Industry, the first principle of a Citizen, is an infallible specifick to keep the spirits awake, and prevent that stagnation and corruption of humours which make our fine gentlemen such horrible torments to one another and to themselves. Decency in dress is finery enough in a place where they are taught from their childhood to expect no honours from what they seem to be, but from what they really are. The conversation turns principally on the interests of Europe, in which they themselves are chiefly concerned; and the business here is to enlarge the commerce of their country, by which the publick is to gain
much more than the merchant himself. For the rest I need not add, that there is a vein of strong sense and useful knowledge runs through their whole discourse, which makes them to wise men very desirable companions. If I should say that in this house I have met with Merchants of as liberal education and generous principles, of as exquisite taste in classical knowledge and polite learning, as are to be found at Court or in the College, I should be confident of every reader's credit when he knows that in this place was first projected the subscription for the relief of the sightless old age of Milton's daughter."
The Monarchs of this happy Island have frequently honoured the Citizens of London with their presence at Guildhall, when the Lord Mayor enters upon his office. On the 29th of October 1727, and in the Mayoralty of Sir Edward Becher, Knight, and afterwards Baronet, George II. his Queen, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Carolina, proceeded to Cheapside at three o'clock in the afternoon, attended by a great number of the Nobility and others, through a double line of the London Militia. A balcony near Bow-church had been prepared for their reception, whence they viewed the procession, and the houses decorated with carpet, and tapestry to do them honour. After the City-officers were disposed in due order for the reception of the King in Guildhall, the Sheriffs waited on him, and
conducted him there; the Lord Mayor, kneeling at the entrance, presented the Sword of State to his Majesty, who returned it, and followed the Mayor to the Council Chamber, where Sir William Thompson (as Recorder) thus addressed the King: