| Citation |
PC.769.049
10-17 Apr 1769:942,943,951 (118)
London, Jan. 9. An Account of Some Late Distinguished
Dancers.
The performers were the usual Set at St. James's: All of
them did not dance at the same time, some pretending to be
tired, sat down; but the real reason was, they were frumpted
at others standing above them. Not one woman was among
them. L--d B--l, to give him his due, had much the
appearance of one, and footed with a great deal of grace.
At the first striking up of the musick they were all in
confusion, but upon one of the dancers (whose name I could
not learn, who danced in the middle, without having any
particular partner, and whom they all seemed to flatter)
holding up his hand, they all came to the right about, and
every man endeavoured to get to the best place he could. L-
-d C--m got to be first couple, then they all fell back and
changed sides. G--lle set at him; C--m turned his back and
beckoned, the other followed; they then joined hands,
shuffled, and led up the middle; than set at L--- R--m, but
disappointed him; they served L-- S--ne the same; upon
which B--ke and B--re' went down last couple, then set to L--
- T--le, turned him and danced the Hayes. The D. of B---
was always falling into the Cottillion step, thinking no
body saw him, as he saw nobody. L--- G--re made several
feints to sit down, but always continue one of the set, and
never ceased shuffling and looking at the music, in order to
keep in time. L-- B--l and L--- C--m changed places, and
danced back to back. But B--l and L--- G---- S---le had a
particular manner of setting to each other, which diverted
me very much; whenever B--l turned his back, S--le set at
him with the wriggle step, who then turned his back, and was
set at by the other in some step he learned at Turin; upon
which an Irish gentleman, who stood by me, remarked that it
was those steps which made one of them leave I----d and
prevented the other from going there, as all the world knows
the method of dancing at the castle of D--n is face to face.
L--- C--m danced like a stage-dancer, very high, and kicked
about his heels very much, complained often of his head, but
as often recovered, and made several cuts to the
astonishment of the company. L-- T--le did better than one
should have imagined from his aukward shambling manner, but
was apt to put the rest out, by insisting to dance a figure
of his own. L-- S--ne danced a step called the Jesuit's
shuffle; you could never discern upon which leg he stood,
or how he kept himself in, or up, except now and then that
he supported himself in these equivocal entrechats on the
shoulders of his friend I--c. R--y always kept the places
of two people, declaring he neither could nor would dance if
he had not elbow room. L-- H--d and L-- H--- made no great
figure in the dance: I only observed that they employed
themselves in taking handkerchiefs or what they could get
out of the other dancers pockets. I suppose out of joke,
and it being Saturday night, they would not dance after
twelve o'clock; C--y thought he was doing wonders while he
busied himself in his little fiddle-faddle step, which meant
nothing, and neither moved himself or others. L-- R---n
danced the old English steps, with now and then a Yorkshire
shuffle; B--ke endeavoured often to teach him better, but
dancing is not his talent. B--re was the dog in the dancing
school; he was not used to so good company, and seeing L--d
S--ne set at and baulked, he was once in his life
confounded, and did not know which way to turn. H--on gave
a few most astonishingly finished cabrioles, but could not
be prevailed on to give any more, although he was encored by
the company, who knew he had more in him if he would let it
out. As to the rest they were no better than chairs or
corner cupboards, and the D--- of G--n took sulk and sat
down: The person whose name I could not find out, they all
in their turns endeavoured to dance round; but he, by
keeping the exact time with the musick, prevented them, till
at last they all joined hands and danced round him in the
manner of Country Bumpkin; all the music this brilliant
company was put in motion by, was a Scotch piper, placed
under a canopy, who played whatever tune he pleased and made
them dance to it: Although G--lle often called for Yanky
Doodle, it was observed, that, when the person in the middle
turned his back, or was inattentive, the piper always
squeaked, "Over the Water to Charley." I asked at the door,
who paid the musick, and a well-looking man, sighing,
answered, the publick paid the Piper.
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