| Citation |
BPB.771.038
11 Nov 1771:22 (742)
London, Sept. 10. At the late entertainment given by the
Lord Mayor at the Mansion-House, his lordship was much
distressed for some person of consequence [ ] open the
ball, there being not one nobleman or gentleman present; (a
circumstance which it is [ ] never happened before since
London has been a city.) In this situation Mr. Crosby
applied to a very wealthy citizen, Mr. K[ ]ney, nephew to
Sir Robert Kite, and begged that he would open the ball.
"Indeed, my lord, replied Mr. Kidney, I understand nothing
about opening balls; but if your lordship pleases I will
open a battle with any man." [rest of paragraph not
deciferable.] Mr. Shakespeare accordingly danced the first
minuet with Mrs. [ ], and the second with Mrs. Kidney; and
every thing was as correct as possible the whole evening
after; except another little nominal mistake of the lord-
mayor's, into which he was led by a joke of Mr. Kidney; for
asking that gentlemen the name of the lady who danced the
second minuet, he replied, "she is my mate and companion,
and therefore, no doubt, must be sweetbread." His lordship
addressing himself very frequently to Mrs. Sweetbread
afterwards, caused much confusion to the poor lady, who not
imagining the cause of his lordship's error, mistook it for
Mr. Crosby's wit and raillery.
|