Correspondent, or Advertisement from the

Party.

220

Sneer. The puff direct, I can conceivePuff. O yes, that's simple enough! For instance,a new comedy or farce is to be produced at one of the theatres (though by-the-by they don't bring out half what they ought to do)-the author, suppose Mr Smatter, or Mr Dapper, or any particular friend of mine-very well; the day before it is to be performed, I write an account of the manner in which it was received; I have the plot from the author, and only add 230 -"characters strongly drawn-highly coloured -hand of a master-fund of genuine humourmine of invention-neat dialogue-Attic salt." Then for the performance-" Mr Dodd was astonishingly great in the character of Sir Harry. That universal and judicious actor, Mr Palmer, perhaps never appeared to more advantage than in the colonel ;-but it is not in the power of language to do justice to Mr King: indeed he more than merited those re- 240 peated bursts of applause which he drew from a most brilliant and judicious audience. As to the scenery-the miraculous powers of Mr De

Loutherbourg's pencil are universally acknowledged. In short, we are at a loss which to admire most, the unrivalled genius of the author, the great attention and liberality of the managers, the wonderful abilities of the painter, or the incredible exertions of all the performers." Sneer. That's pretty well indeed, sir. Puff. Oh, cool!-quite cool!-to what I sometimes do.

Sneer. And do you think there are any who are influenced by this?

Puff. O lud, yes, sir! the number of those who undergo the fatigue of judging for themselves is

very small indeed.

Sneer. Well, sir, the puff preliminary ?

250

Puff. O, that, sir, does well in the form of a caution. In a matter of gallantry now Sir Flimsy 260 Gossamer wishes to be well with Lady Fanny Fete he applies to me-I open trenches for him with a paragraph in the "Morning Post.""It is recommended to the beautiful and accomplished Lady F four stars F dash E to be on her guard against that dangerous character, Sir F dash G; who, however pleasing and insinuating his manners may be, is certainly not

remarkable for the constancy of his attachments !”
-in italics. Here, you see, Sir Flimsy 270
Gossamer is introduced to the particular notice

of Lady Fanny, who perhaps never thought
of him before she finds herself publicly
cautioned to avoid him, which naturally makes
her desirous of seeing him; the observation of
their acquaintance causes a pretty kind of
mutual embarrassment; this produces a sort of
sympathy of interest which if Sir Flimsy is
unable to improve effectually, he at least gains
the credit of having their names mentioned 280
together by a particular set, and in a particular
way-which nine times out of ten is the full
accomplishment of modern gallantry.

Dang. Egad, Sneer, you will be quite an adept in
the business!

Puff. Now, sir, the puff collateral is much used as an appendage to advertisements, and may take the form of anecdote.-" Yesterday, as the celebrated George Bonmot was sauntering down St James's Street, he met the lively 290 Lady Mary Myrtle coming out of the park :Good God, Lady Mary, I'm surprised to meet you in a white jacket, for I expected

never to have seen you, but in a full-trimmed
uniform and a light horseman's cap!'-
Heavens, George, where could you have
learned that?'-"Why,' replied the wit, I
just saw a print of you, in a new publication
called the Camp Magazine; which, by the by,
is a devilish clever thing, and is sold at No. 3, 300
on the right hand of the way, two doors from
the printing-office, the corner of Ivy Lane,
Paternoster Row, price only one shilling.""

Sneer. Very ingenious indeed!

Puff. But the puff collusive is the newest of any; for it acts in the disguise of determined hostility. It is much used by bold booksellers and enterprising poets."An indignant correspondent observes, that the new poem called Beelzebub's Cotillon, or Proserpine's Fête Champêtre, is one 310 of the most unjustifiable performances he ever read. The severity with which certain characters are handled is quite shocking and as there are many descriptions in it too warmly coloured for female delicacy, the shameful avidity with which this piece is bought by all people of fashion is a reproach on the taste of the times, and a disgrace to the delicacy of the

:

age." Here you see the two strongest inducements are held forth; first, that nobody ought 320 to read it; and secondly, that everybody buys it on the strength of which the publisher boldly prints the tenth edition, before he had sold ten of the first; and then establishes it by threatening himself with the pillory, or absolutely indicting himself for scan. mag. Dang. Ha! ha! ha ;-'gad, I know it is so. Puff. As to the puff oblique, or puff by implication,

it is too various and extensive to be illustrated
by an instance: it attracts in titles and presumes 330
in patents; it lurks in the limitation of a sub-
scription, and invites in the assurance of crowd
and incommodation at public places; it delights
to draw forth concealed merit, with a most dis-
interested assiduity; and sometimes wears a
countenance of smiling censure and tender
reproach. It has a wonderful memory for
parliamentary debates, and will often give the
whole speech of a favoured member with the
most flattering accuracy. But, above all, it is 340
a great dealer in reports and suppositions. It
has the earliest intelligence of intended prefer-
ments that will reflect honour on the patrons;