f the Italians. I proceeded
into another room, which really was more like a subterranean cave than
anything else; they were dancing English dances, and the music here was
a degree better, as a drum was played by one of the violinists! [This
might be effected by the violin player having the drumstick tied to his
right foot, which was sometimes done.]

I went on to the large hall, where we had dined, and there the orchestra
was more numerous, and the music more tolerable. They were also dancing
English dances, but only opposite the raised platform where the four
first sets had dined with the Lord Mayor. The other tables were all
filled afresh with gentlemen, who as usual drank freely the whole night.
The strangest thing of all was that one part of the company went on
dancing without hearing a single note of the music, for first at one
table, and then at another, songs were shouted, or toasts given, amidst
the most crazy uproar and clinking of glasses and hurrahs. This hall and
all the other rooms were lighted with lamps, of which the effluvia was
most disagreeable, especially in the small ballroom. It was remarkable
that the Lord Mayor had no need of a carving-knife, as a man in the
centre of the table carved everything for him. One man stood before the
Lord Mayor and another behind him, shouting out vociferously all the
toasts in their order according to etiquette, and after each toast came
a flourish of kettledrums and trumpets. No health was more applauded
than that of Mr Pitt. There seemed to be no order. The dinner cost 6,000
pounds, one-half of which is paid by the Lord Mayor, and the other half
by the two sheriffs.

Royalty Again

In this same month--November--he visited the Marionettes at the
Fantoccini Theatre in Saville Row, prompted, no doubt, by old
associations with Esterhaz. On the 24th he went to Oatlands to visit the
Duke of York, who had just married the Princess of Prussia. "I remained
two days," he says, "and enjoyed many marks of graciousness and
honour... On the third day the Duke had me taken twelve miles towards
town with his own horses. The Prince of Wales asked for my portrait.
For two days we made music for four hours each evening, i.e., from ten
o'clock till two hours after midnight. Then we had supper, and at three
o'clock went to bed." After this he proceeded to Cambridge to see the
university, thence to Sir. Patrick Blake's at Langham. Of the Cambridge
visit he writes: "Each university has