ds are unknown." Fielding in one of his Prologues says:

What rake is ignorant of King's Coffee-house?

It is in the background of Hogarth's print of _Morning_ where the
prim maiden lady, walking to church, is soured with seeing two
fuddled _beaux_ from King's Coffee-house caressing two frail women.
At the door there is a drunken row, in which swords and cudgels are
the weapons[358].

Harwood's _Alumni Etonenses_, p. 239, in the account of the Boys
elected from Eton to King's College, contains this entry: "A.D.
1713, Thomas King, born at West Ashton, in Wiltshire, went away
scholar in apprehension that his fellowship would be denied him;
and afterwards kept that Coffee-house in Covent Garden, which was
called by his own name."

Moll King was landlady after Tom's death: she was witty, and her
house was much frequented, though it was little better than a shed.
"Noblemen and the first _beaux_," said Stacie, "after leaving Court
would go to her house in full dress, with swords and bags, and in
rich brocaded silk coats, and walked and conversed with persons of
every description. She would serve chimney-sweepers, gardeners, and
the market-people in common with her lords of the highest rank. Mr.
Apreece, a tall thin man in rich dress, was her constant customer.
He was called Cadwallader by the frequenters of Moll's." It is not
surprising that Moll was often fined for keeping a disorderly
house. At length, she retired from business--and the pillory--to
Hempstead, where she lived on her ill-earned gains, but paid for a
pew in church, and was charitable at appointed seasons, and died in
peace in 1747.

* * * * *

The Piazza Coffee-house at the northeastern angle of Covent Garden
Piazza, appears to have originated with Macklin's; for we read in
an advertisement in the _Publick Adviser_, March 5, 1756; "The
Great Piazza Coffee-room, in Covent Garden."

The Piazza was much frequented by Sheridan; and here is located the
well-known anecdote told of his coolness during the burning of
Drury-lane Theatre, in 1809. It is said that as he sat at the
Piazza, during the fire, taking some refreshment, a friend of his
having remarked on the philosophical calmness with which he bore
his misfortune, Sheridan replied:

"A man