BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 57
’ Several highly respectable literary gentlemen proposed to hold a convivial
meeting once a week, and deputed two of their number, Doctors Black and
Hutton, to look out for a suitable house of entertainment to meet in. The two
accordingly sallied out for this purpose, and seeing on the South Bridge a sign
with the words, “ Stewart, vintner, down stairs,” they immediately went into the
house and demanded a sight of their best room, which was accordingly shown to
them, and which pleased them much. Without further inquiry, the meetings were
fixed by them to be held in this house ; and the club assembled there during the
greater part of the winter, till one evening Dr. Hutton, being rather late, was surprised,
when going in, to see a whole bevy of well-dressed but somewhat brazen
faced young ladies brush past him, and take refuge in an adjoining apartment.
He then, for the first time, began to think that all was not right, and communicated
his suspicions to the rest of the company. Next morning the notable
discovery was made, that our amiable philosophers had introduced their friends
to one of the most noted houses of bad fame in the city !
These attached friends agreed in their opposition to the usual vulgar prejudices,
and frequently discoursed together upon the absurdity of many generally received
opinions, especially in regard to diet. On one occasion they had a disquisition
upon the inconsistency of abstaining from feeding on the testaceous creatures of
the land, while those of the sea were considered as delicacies. Snails, for
instance-why not use them as articles of food ? They were well known to be
nutritious and wholesome-even sanative in some cases, The epicures in olden
time esteemed as a most delicious treat the snails fed in the marble-quarries of
Lucca. The Italians still hold them in esteem. The two philosophers, perfectly
satisfied that their countrymen were acting most absurdly in not making snails
an ordinary article of food, resolved themselves to set an example; and
accordingly, having procured a number, caused them to be stewed for dinner.
No guests were invited to the banquet. The snails were in due season served
up; but, alas! great is the difference between theory and practice-so far from
exciting the appetite, the smoking dish acted in a diametrically opposite manner,
and neither party felt much inclination to partake of its contents ; nevertheless,
if they looked on the snails with disgust, they retained their awe for each
other; so that each, conceiving the symptoms of internal revolt peculiar to
himself, began with infinite exertion to swallow, in very small quantities, the
mess which he internally loathed. Dr. Black at length broke the ice, but in a
delicate manner, as if to sound the opinion of his messmate:-“Doctor,” he said
in his precise and quiet manner, “Doctor, do you not think that they taste a
little-a very little queer 1” ‘‘ D- queer ! d- queer, indeed !-tak them awa’ I
tak them awa ’!” vociferated Dr. Hutton, starting up from the table, and giving
full vent to his feelings of abhorrence.
I
