| Citation |
PC.768.147
7-14 Nov 1768:3632 (96)
London, . . . August 25. Friday night a jolly young tar gave
a noble entertainment, at a public house in Holborne, which
was opened to as many as came. Good eating and drinking
appeared in as much profusion, as at other great
entertainments; but the singularity of this lay in the
manner of serving up the principal liquor Punch; forty-five
gallons of which filled a curious mahogany coffin, that our
tar had provided for himself, among the requisites for the
intended voyage. The coffin, or temporary punch bowl, was
ornamented with brass hinges, handles, and two locks, with
the following inscription on the lid:
This coffin is made
For a good hearty blade,
Who lov'd to carouse and be merry;
Old care he defies,
And will till he dies;
Then his friends may sing, hey down derry.
A display of such uncommon taste and decency promoted much
noisy mirth; many got Princely drunk at this joyful banquet;
and, to end the witty scene (like Bayes in The Rehearsal)
with something funeral, a watchman, who partook of the
bounty, was found on Saturday morning in so sound a sleep,
as to give all reasonable expectation that he would never
awake again.
|