The Connoisseur. By Mr. Town, Critic and Censor-general. ...

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R. Baldwin, London; and sold, 1767 - Art
 

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Page 78 - Martyrs; on the tables were hawks' hoods, bells, and such like, two or three old green hats with their crowns thrust in so as to hold ten or a dozen eggs, which were of a pheasant kind of poultry he took much care of and fed himself; tables, dice, cards, and boxes were not wanting.
Page 77 - The parlour was a large long room as properly furnished; on a great hearth paved with brick lay some terriers and the choicest hounds and spaniels; seldom but two of the great chairs had litters of young cats in them which were not to be disturbed, he having always three or four attending him at dinner, and a little white round stick of fourteen inches long lying by his trencher that he might defend such meat as he had no mind to part with to them.
Page 75 - In the year 1638 lived Mr. Hastings ; by his quality son, brother, and uncle, to the Earls of Huntingdon. He was peradventure an original in our age ; or rather the copy of our ancient nobility, in hunting, not in warlike times. ' He was low, very strong, and very active ; of a reddish flaxen hair. His clothes always green cloth, and never all worth (when new) five pounds. ' His house was perfectly of the old fashion, in the midst of a large park well stocked with deer ; and near the house rabbits...
Page 249 - I have often beheld two of those sages almost sinking under the weight of their packs, like pedlars among us; who when they met in the streets would lay down their loads, open their sacks and hold conversation for an hour together; then put up their implements, help each other to resume their burthens, and take their leave.
Page 199 - ... of their profession, and the shortness of their finances, I often look upon them as a band of decayed gentlemen, the honourable pensioners of those they follow. The great men among the Romans had a number of these Hangers-on, who attended them wherever they went, and were emphatically called...
Page 9 - ... simplicity; and it is remarkable, that our best writers have not been ashamed to cultivate this branch of poetry. Cowley, Waller, Roscommon, Rowe, Gay, Prior, and many others, have left behind them very elegant ballads : but it must be confessed, to the honour of the present age, that it was reserved for our modern writers to bring this kind of poetry to perfection. Song-writing is now reduced to certain rules of art ; and the ballad-maker goes to work by a method as regular and mechanical, as...
Page 215 - I shall give such directions as are most suitable to the beau monde : as a specimen of which, I shall beg leave to lay before you the following OBSERVATIONS ON THE MONTH OF MAY. ' If the season proves favourable, it will be proper at the beginning of this month to attend to the cultivation of your public gardens. Trim your trees, put your walks in order, look to your lamps, have ballads written and set to music for the ensuing summer.
Page 73 - Drinking is the only rural amusement he pursues ; but even that part of his diversions is conducted entirely in the London fashion. He does net swill country ale, but gets drunk with Champagne and Burgundy; and every dish at his table is served up with as much elegance as at White's or Ryan's. He has an excellent pack of hounds ; but, I believe, was never in at the death of a fox in his life : yet strangers never want a...
Page 76 - And indeed all his neighbours' grounds and royalties were free to him ; who bestowed all his time on these sports, but what he borrowed to caress his neighbours...
Page 211 - ... fashionable apartments, will be determined by the rising of people of quality. Thus the morning dawns with early risers between eleven and twelve ; and noon commences at four, when, at this time of the year, the dinner and wax-lights come in together. For want of a thorough knowledge of the distribution of the day, all who have any connection with the polite world...

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