AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED that no Gent be, in future, allowed to cross a hired horse with a view to ten shillings worth of Sunday display in the Parks, the turnout being always detected; nor shall be permitted to drive a gig, in a fierce scarf, under similar circumstances. Nor shall any Gent imagine that an acquaintance with all the questionable resorts of London is “knowing life”; or that trousers of large check pattern are anything but exceeding Gentish.
SAVING ALWAYS that the Gents have not the sense to endeavour bettering their condition, which is exceedingly probable; under which circumstances they had better remain as they are, in ignorance of their melancholy position. But, on the other hand, it is commanded that people of common intellect, henceforth cease to designate any of their male friends as “Gents,” the word being one of exceedingly bad style, and equally objectionable with “genteel,” which is, possibly, derived from it. And that if, after this, anyone speaks of a “Gent,” or “Party” he knows, it is ordered that such speaker be immediately set down as one of the unfortunate class in question.
The Shakspere autograph which was sold on 24 May, 1841, came again into the market, and was bought on 19 May, for £145, by the Corporation of the City of London. The _Patres Conscripti_ of the Common Council were not of one mind as to the eligibility of the purchase. On the motion “that the Court agree to the report, and that the Chamberlain be instructed to pay the sum,” Mr. Warton rose to move, as an amendment, that the report should lie upon the table. (A laugh, and loud cries of “Hear, hear.”) He had, he said, done all he could in the Committee, to prevail upon the members that the purchase of the autograph was a most wasteful and prodigal expenditure. (“Hear, hear,” and “No, no.”) The precedent was a most mischievous one. If the Court sanctioned such a proceeding as that which the report had described, by and by the autographs of archbishops and bishops, and other individuals who had, in times long past, distinguished themselves, would supply apologies for wasting the City cash, in order to gratify gentlemen who were afflicted with that description of mania. (Laughter.) He hoped the Court would not catch the infection, but second his rational effort to check it, by condemning the report to its proper station on the table. After all, the document was doubtful; but there was no doubt at all as to the profligacy of the expenditure. (Laughter, and cries of “Hear, hear,” and “No, no.”) Mr. Knott said it was quite ridiculous to think for a moment, of voting £145 for a few doubtful, illegible, almost obliterated scratches of a pen. (Laughter, and cries of “Hear, hear.”) He defied any man on earth to say what those scratches represented. On a division there were, for the motion 41; for the amendment 31.