[59] This has been pronounced, I know not upon what authority, to be intended for the late Thomas Potter, Esq.
[60] In page 21 of a quarto pamphlet published in 1755, and entitled, "The Last Blow, or an unanswerable vindication of the society of Exeter College, being a reply to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. King, and the writers of the London Evening Post," is the following paragraph:—
"The next character to whose merits we would do justice is the Rev. Dr. C—ss—t (Cosserat). But as it is very difficult to delineate this fellow in colours sufficiently strong and lively, it is fortunate for us and the Doctor that Hogarth has undertaken the task. In the print of 'An Election Entertainment,' the public will see the Doctor represented sitting among the freeholders, and zealously eating and drinking for the sake of the new interest. His venerable and humane aspect will at once bespeak the dignity and benevolence of his heart. Never did aldermen at Guildhall devour custard with half such an appearance of love to his country, or swallow ale with so much the air of a patriot. These circumstances the pencil of Hogarth will undoubtedly make manifest; but it is much to be lamented that his words also cannot appear in this print, and that the artist cannot delineate that persuasive flow of eloquence which could prevail upon copyholders to abjure their base tenures and swear themselves freeholders. But this oratory (far different from the balderdash of Tully and Doctor King, concerning liberty and our country), as the genius of mild ale alone could inspire, this fellow alone could deliver."
[61] I think it is recorded in Mr. Joseph Miller's Reports, that our British Solomon often asserted that scratching was too great a luxury for a subject to enjoy.
[62] This woman was remarkable for performing at fairs, country hops, etc. in the neighbourhood of Oxford, and known by the name of Fiddling Nan.
[63] This is a portrait of the present Sir John Parnell, nephew to the poet. He was introduced into this print by his own request, declaring at the same time that, from his being so generally known in Ireland, his face would help the sale of the engraving.
[64] It is supposed to be the portrait of an Oxford bruiser who went by the name of Teague Carter.
[65] A mashing-tub seems a sufficiently capacious vessel, but sinks to nothing when compared with a bowl which, it is recorded, was filled with punch on the 15th of October 1694, at the expense of Admiral Russel. The Admiral's punch was made in a fountain situated in the centre of a large garden, the terminus to four long gravel walks, canopied with orange and lemon trees. In each walk was a table the length of the avenue, covered with a cold collation, consisting of every luxury which the season produced; and in the basin of the fountain, which the gallant seaman chose to call a little basin, for the entertainment of a few friends, were the following ingredients:—Four hogsheads of brandy, eight hogsheads of water, twenty-five thousand lemons, twenty gallons of lime juice, thirteen hundredweight of fine Lisbon sugar, five pounds of grated nutmegs, three hundred toasted biscuits, and lastly, a pipe of dry mountain Malaga. Over the fountain was erected a large canopy to keep off the rain, and in a little boat, built for the purpose, a boy belonging to the fleet rowed round the basin, and served this cordial beverage to the company. More than six thousand men partook of this mighty bowl.
[66] This alludes to the alteration of the style in the year 1752, a measure which gave great umbrage, and excited a violent clamour among the advocates for old customs and adherents to ancient forms.
[67] Kirton was a tobacconist in Fleet Street, but injured his circumstances and destroyed his constitution by his active zeal in the Oxfordshire election of 1754.