The other fruits of this month are Apricot, one or two of the early Apples, and if the season is forward a few Cherries. But of these, the two latter belong by rights to the next month; so till then we leave them. And as for Apricots, they look handsome enough at a distance, against the wall; but they offer so barefaced an imitation of the outward appearance of Peaches and Nectarines, without possessing any one of their intrinsic merits, that I have a particular contempt for them, and beg the reader to dismiss them from his good graces accordingly.
Of London in July--"_London_ in _July_?"--surely there can be no such place! It sounds like a kind of contradiction in terms. But, alas! there _is_ such a place, as yonder thick cloud of dust, and the blare of the horn that issues from it, too surely indicate. And what is worse, we must, in pursuance of our self-imposed duty, proceed thither without delay. We cannot, therefore, do better (or worse) than mount the coming vehicle (the motto of which at this time of the year ought to be "per me si va nella citta, dolente,") and,
Half in a cloud of stifling road-dust lost,
get there as soon as we can, that we may the sooner get away again.
Of London in July, there is happily little to be said; but let that little be said good humouredly; for London _is_ London, after all--ay, even after having ridden fifty miles on the burning roof of the Gloucester Heavy, to get at it. Now, then, London is entirely empty; so much so that a person well practised in the art of walking its streets might wager that he would make his way from St. Paul's to Charing Cross (a distance of more than a mile) within forty minutes!
Now, the _Winter_ Theatres having just closed, the Summer ones "make hay _while the sun shines_." At that in the Hay-market Mr. Liston acts the part of Atlas,--supporting every thing (the heat included) with inimitable coolness; while, in virtue of his attractions, the Managers can afford annually to put in execution their benevolent and patriotic plan, of permitting the principal _Barn-staple_ actors to practise upon the patience of a London Pit with impunity.