With trembling Pleasure all confus'd embark, And kiss the Tackling of their welcome Ark; While the most giddy, as they reach the Shore, Think of their Danger, and their God adore. LETTER X. CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS. Non inter lances mensasque nitentes, Hor. Sat. 2. lib. 2. O prodiga rerum Luxuries, nunquam parvo contenta paratu, Lucan. lib. 4. Et quæ non prosunt singula, juncta juvant. Rusticus agricolam, miles fera bella gerentem, Ovid. Pont. lib. 2. LETTER X. EIAN CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS. Desire of Country Gentlemen for Town Associations.— Book-Clubs.-Too much of Literary Character expected from them.-Literary Conversation prevented : by Feasting: by Cards. Good, notwithstanding, results. Card-Club with eagerness resorted to.Players.-Umpires at the Whist-Table.-Petulances of Temper there discovered.-Free-and-Easy Club: not perfectly easy or free.-Freedom how interrupted.The superior Member.-Termination of the Evening.— Drinking and Smoking Clubs.-The Midnight Conversation of the delaying Members.-Society of the poorer Inhabitants: its Use: gives Pride and Consequence to the humble Character.-Pleasant Habitations of the frugal Poor.-Sailor returning to his Family.-Free-Masons' Club.-The Mystery.-What its Origin. Its professed Advantages.-Griggs and Gregorians. A kind of Masons.-Reflections on these various Societies. You say you envy in your calm Retreat For which you sicken in your quiet Farm ; Here you suppose us at our leisure plac'd, If thus your Envy gives your Ease its Gloom, Give Wings to Fancy and among us come. We're now assembled; you may soon attendI'll introduce you-" Gentlemen, my Friend." "Now are you happy? you have pass'd a night "In gay Discourse, and rational Delight." Alas! not so: for how can Mortals think, 'Or Thoughts exchange, if thus they eat and drink? 'No! I confess, when we had fairly din'd, 'That was no time for intercourse of Mind; "There was each Dish prepar'd with Skill t' invite, And to detain the struggling Appetite; 'On such Occasions Minds with one consent "Are to the Comforts of the Body lent; 'There was no pause the Wine went quickly round, 'Till struggling Fancy was by Bacchus bound; 'Wine is to Wit as Water thrown on Fire, 'By duly sprinkling both are rais'd the higher; • Thus largely dealt, the vivid Blaze they choke, And all the genial Flame goes off in Smoke.' 'But when no more your Boards these Loads contain, "When Wine no more o'erwhelms the labouring Brain, 'But serves, a gentle stimulus; we know, 'How Wit must sparkle, and how Fancy flow.' It might be so, but no such Club-days come, Or yawning read them, walking up and down, And not a Member thinks about a Book. Still let me own, there are some vacant Hours, When Minds might work, and Men exert their Powers: Ere Wine to Folly spurs the giddy Guest, But gives to Wit its vigour and its zest; Our public Cares, the long, the warm Debate, |