I did not care to show my country breeding, by
going too early, to incommode my friend, nor my town breeding, by going
too late, and spoiling his dinner. Sir John is a valuable,
elegant-minded man, and, next to Mr. Stanley, stood highest in my
father's esteem for his mental accomplishments and correct morals. As I
knew he was remarkable for assembling at his table men of sense, taste,
and learning, my expectations of pleasure were very high. "Here, at
least," said I as I heard the name of one clever man announced after
another, "here at least, I can not fail to find

The feast of reason and the flow of soul:

here, at least, all the energies of my mind will be brought into
exercise. From this society I shall carry away documents for the
improvement of my taste; I shall treasure up hints to enrich my
understanding, and collect aphorisms for the conduct of life."

At first there was no fair opportunity to introduce any conversation
beyond the topics of the day, and to those, it must be confessed, this
eventful period gives a new and powerful interest. I should have been
much pleased to have had my country politics rectified, and any
prejudices, which I might have contracted, removed or softened, could
the discussion have been carried on without the frequent interruption of
the youngest man in the company. This gentleman broke in on every
remark, by descanting successively on the merits of the various dishes;
and, if it be true that experience only can determine the judgment, he
gave proof of that best right to peremptory decision by not trusting to
delusive theory, but by actually eating of every dish at table.

His animadversions were uttered with the gravity of a German
philosopher, and the science of a French cook. If any of his opinions
happened to be controverted, he quoted in confirmation of his own
judgment, _l'Almanac des Gourmands_, which he assured us was the most
valuable work that had appeared in France since the Revolution. The
author of this book he seemed to consider of as high authority in the
science of eating, as Coke or Hale in that of jurisprudence, or
Quintilian in the art of criticism. To the credit of the company,
however, be it spoken, he had the whole of this topic to himself. The
rest of the party were, in general, of quite a different calibre, and as
little acquainted with his favorite author, as he probably was with
theirs.

The lady of the house was perfectly amiable and well-bred. H