tion, with some panegyric on the most valuable lots, or some pleasantry on the worthless ones.

And now the company begins to assemble; three or four constant attendants, (I speak of the auctions in Bath,)* of senatorial appearance, (egregious triflers) take their seats at the upper end of the table; they produce their catalogues and their pencils, to register the exact price of every article.

And now, behold, the orator ascends the rostrum, and every breast pants with expectation, like that of the courser at the starting-post before the sounding of the trumpet.

After three or four preliminary lots of broken or cracked china basons, odd knives and forks, and a brass candlestick, which the aforesaid solemn per

* As I have seldom had an opportunity of attending the celebrated Longford's or Christie's auctions in London, as I live in the vicinity of Bath, I have taken my ideas from thence: where, however, I believe, in proportion to its extent, are more auctions than in the metropolis.

This reminds me of the late Dr. Harringtont, who, about fifty years ago, was the senior of the only two physicians then monopolizing the whole practice of Bath ; (" Credite, posteri !") and who, when some whimsical patient would have consulted with his own London physician, and the young prig would perhaps ask Dr. Harrington, "Don't you think, doctor, it would be proper to take more blood from our patient ?" "Oh! yes-you come from London, you must certainly know better than me; yes, yes, Sir, you come from London," &c. &c. &c.

↑ Uncle to the present ingenious Dr. H-ton

sonages carefully mark in the margin of their catalogues," Here, gentlemen," says the herald of advantageous purchases, "here is an article wortli your attention! It is not only a curious specimen of the taste of our ancestors," says he, pointing to an old elbow-chair, "who made their furniture as they built their barns, of the heart of oak; but it is supposed to be the very chair in which the renowned John Bunyan dreamed his dream, and saw his vision, and ascended in imagination from this world to the celestial paradise.-Come! gentlemen, who bids half a guinea for John Bunyan's elbowchair?" Some little broker in the corner of the room, bade eighteen pence!-Down went the hammer.

"Well, gentlemen," says the auctioneer, "I find you have no taste for antiquities. Here is a modern piece of furniture, in the first style of elegance-a superb sofa! The frame richly carved and gilt, with the seat of blue damask.-Come, ladies and gentlemen"He was going on in the usual strain, when the company at the door was in motion, and making way for Lady Bustleton, and a train of half a dozen humble friends: and advancing towards the rostrum, the orator begged the favour of the gentlemen to make a little room for her ladyship. "A little room," said a gentleman in a low voice," will not be sufficient for her ladyship," (who was a star of the first magnitude). He then desired the lady to do him the honour of looking at the sofa, on which he said some of the first families in the kingdom had reposed themselves; that it had belonged to the cele

brated Mrs.

Her ladyship cast a scornful glance at it, but made no reply." Here the beau has said soft things to his mistress, and the wit smart things to divert the assembly." It was knocked down, however, to a broker, who paid no regard to the orator's fine speech, but to the old maxim,

"What's the worth of any thing,

But so much money as 'twill bring?"

An handsome swing looking-glass was then produced, which the auctioneer recommended as an uncommonly fine plate of glass, and begged the ladies to examine it: they all immediately snatched the opportunity of surveying their pretty faces, and pronounced it a most beautiful piece of furniture, as they were delighted with what they saw there.

There next came a large oval dining-table, which, the orator said, was one of the finest pieces of mahogany which ever crossed the Atlantic ocean! it was the property of the late well known Mr.

who kept the most hospitable table of any man of his rank in the three kingdoms. "Yes," says a crab-bed old gentleman, with a loud whisper, " and now his family are forced to sell his hospitable table and the chairs that daily surrrounded it, and are reduced to the lowest degree of indigence and distress."

But now came the principal object of Lady Bustleton's attention-an elegant mahogany chest of drawers; an useful piece of furniture, which her ladyship wanted. "Half a guinea," cries one of

her ladyship's humble companions; a guinea and a half,” cries a spirited bidder; "five shillings more," says the young lady: in short, it went on to three guineas and a half, and the auctioneer elevated his hammer "Agoing! agoing, at three guineas and an half!"-"Four guineas," cries her ladyship, herself in great trepidation; when down it was knocked.

"Well," says one of her companions," it is a predigious bargain!" "Yes, indeed!" says another of her ladyship's friends, "I had no ideur it would have gone under five guineas."

A plain looking man, who sat behind me, (and who I found was a cabinet-maker) whispered to one who sat next to him, "It was new out of my shop for three guineas."

Her ladyship, however, and her humble suite, retired, exulting in their good fortune, in having met with so advantageous a purchase: and this, I believe, is the case with the majority of those who attend auctions: ignoran. of the usual price of what they buy, they bid at random; while a few intelligent brokers, get a good livelihood, from the folly of those self-conceited economists, or buyers of bargains.

Yet, I was equally surprised at a gentleman with whom I have some years had a coffee-house acquaintance, and who I knew lived altogether in lodgings; and yet I saw him purchase several articles, which in such a situation he could not possibly

want.

And first, my friend was announced as the purchaser of a pair of bellows; at which I was a little

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surprised: but more so, when a warming-pan was knocked down to him! and I could not forbear asking him, whether they had no warming-pan at his lodgings? "Yes," says he, "but as we have other lodgers, and I never go into a cold bed, winter or summer, I am forced to wait half an hour before I can go to rest." But I was still more astonished to hear him bid for a very handsome bird-cage, with gilt wires, and asked him, if he was fond of singing birds? "Yes," he replied, " in the fields, or woods, though I am too great a friend to liberty to confine any animal against it's will: as this cage, however, is a great bargain, I should be glad to oblige a young lady of my acquaintance who keeps canary birds."

I found, however, that this gentleman was a little inflicted with the disease of emacity, or itch for buying bargains above-mentioned.

There were no pictures at the auction which I have described, except two or three family portraits, in red or blue coats, and flaxen perukes, and their cravats tucked in their button-holes. Here was one small head, however, about a foot dimension, with a star and ermined sash, which I believe was the Duke of Gloucester, the much lamented son of Queen Anne, and prince George of Denmark-for these, two young fellows bade, by way of fun; but it was knocked down to one of them at three shillings and sixpence, which he reluctantly paid: and he and his companion retired with their purchase to the first public library, where, after mutually desiring each other to take it with them, they at last agreed to slip