Those who care for somewhat scrappy historical and social gossip
may perhaps like to glance at Mr. Ralph Nevill's Romantic London (Cassell; illustrated, 12s. Bd.). It contains some reminiscences of the author's own (he can remember postillions in Mayfair clad in blue silk jackets and white beaver hats), and also the products of his miscellaneous historical reading which go to illuminate the social life of fashion- able London—mainly of the robust jollity of the eighteenth century, that era of gambling, duelling and hard drinking. A chapter headed "Rural London" deals (mainly and rather strangely) only with the Parks, and in another entitled "Mediae- val London" we can find nothing mediaeval at all. The book contains much flat and slipshod writing and some good stories, as of a West End lbootinaker who replied. to an unreasonably complaining and also big-footed customer, "After all, sir, you must remember I'm here to make boots, not battleships." A curious side . of London life is revealed in some country gentlemen's playing whist. at Arthur's for "sheep points and bullocks on the rubber," and in the statement that "in 1795 Christie's sold seventy-two tons of 'excellent meadow-hay' to the Duke of Queensberry, who paid £247 16s. for it."
* * * *
Previous page
