The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STEAM PACKET. 15 society where all friendship is hollow, heartless, and interested. But here, gentlemen, I ought to mention one honourable exception—I mean the Earl of Noodleton, with whom I have been upon terms of friendship—I may say intimacy—for many years. Still the friendship of the citizens of the great metropolis is an mestimable boon—a boon, gentlemen, which I enjoy in my communion with you—a boon which many a noble individual at the West End covets, but in vain. But, . gentlemen, the enthusiasm of the subject carries me away. (Hear /) T could speak for six weeks without stoppmg, gentlemen, when enu- merating the excellencies of this most honourable and independent club. (Tremendous cheering.) . But—pour revenir a nos moutons, as the French say—or, in other words, to return to my subject. Gentlemen, your committee has duly considered the subjéct of the few weeks’ recreation. Last year we passed a week in visiting the beautiful sites in the vicinity of the metropolis; and the only com- plaint was, that the excursion was not long enough. ‘The year before, if you remember, gentlemen, we proceeded by steam to Margate, where we passed ten days in the most felicitous manner; enjoying not only the olzum cum dignitate, but also the advantages of sea-bathing. (Hear—hear !) TYcould retrace our annual diversions for a series of several years, during which I have had the honour of being a member of the club. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, your committee, upon the present occasion, has endeavoured to meet all your hopes, anticipate _all your wishes, hd fulfil all your desires, to the utmost extent. We propose that this year’s excursion shall excel that of any preceding year, since the establishment of the club. (Hear—hear /) I see that you are all upon the tip-toe of expectation; and I shall not keep you any longer in suspense. In a word, then, Mr. Chairman and gentle- men, we propose an excursion by water—a voyage by steam—to Margate, Ramsgate, Dea], Dover, Calais, Boulogne, Saint Malo, and Guernsey, whence we sae return home, after touching at the Isle of Wight. a ~ Nothing could exceed the burst of rapturous applause with which this announcement was received. The magnitude of the plan was delightful to the heart of every true Luminary. Mr. Pifpaf was so much affected, that, in the temporary excitement which the scheme produced upon him, he desired the waiter to bring him a half- crown bowl of brandy-punch, instead of a miserable shilling glass. Nor was this generous example without imitation. The Luminaries generally did honour to the conduct of their chairman, by following it upon all suitable occasions. The consequence was, that never did liquor flow more abundantly than upon this night; and never were so many Gomichbooks iGO