' would be held in the evening,
'to commence at six o'clock'; whilst, in others, bands of music were
heard 'in full play,' joining their sweet sounds to the melodious
beatings of gongs and shouting through trumpets of the adjoining
shows. In attractions of this kind we need only say that the fair
was, in most respects, fully equal to any other at which we ever had
the good fortune to be present, whether at Greenwich, or Croydon, or
in any other of the suburban or metropolitan districts. Beef and
ham, beer and wine, chickens and salad, were all equally plentiful,
and the taste of the most fastidious might be pleased as to the
quality, or the quantity, of the provisions provided for him. In the
pastry cooks' booths, the usual variety of gingerbread nuts, and gilt
cocks in breeches, and kings and queens, were to be procured; while,
in some of them, the more refined luxury of ices was advertised, an
innovation upon the ancient style of refreshment which we, certainly,
had never expected to see introduced into the canvas shops of the
fair pastry cooks.

"While these _marchands_ were holding out their various attractions
to the physical tastes of the assembled multitude, the showkeepers
were not less actively employed in endeavouring to please the eye of
those who were willing to enjoy their buffooneries, or their wonders.
Fat boys and living skeletons, Irish giants and Welsh dwarfs,
children with two heads, and animals without any heads at all, were
among the least of the wonders to be seen; while the more rational
exhibition of wild beasts joined with the mysterious wonders of the
conjuror and the athletic performances of tumblers, in calling forth
expressions of surprise and delight from the old, as well as from the
young, who were induced to contribute their pennies 'to see the
show.'

"Nor were these the only modes of procuring amusement which presented
themselves. On the Serpentine river a number of boats had been
launched, which had been procured from the Thames, and watermen were
employed, during the whole day, in rowing about those who were
anxious to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the water after the
turmoil and heat of the fair. Ponies and donkeys were in the
outskirts of the fair, plentiful, for the use of the young who were
inclined for equestrian exercise, while