in upon the Jerseys. Perhaps you know that the late Lord J. died here, when we were in the very act of setting off on a party of pleasure. We have had music every evening; your friend Moore and Miss Susan Beckford have charmed us out of ourselves, and our mornings have passed away in curricles and sociables and four. Our morning excursions have generally mustered twenty, and you will smile to hear that I have exhibited daily as a curricle driver. Mr. Jodrell's barouche was an addition to us for a week, and he seemed a very goodhumoured man.

Lady Jerningham to Lady Bedingfield.

Tunbridge Wells, July 1 [1806].

We are not full of fine company here, but there is perhaps more Sociability than usual, so that every evening there are meetings at the Rooms or in private Houses. And the Hours are delightful: Dinner at four, meeting a Little after seven, and parting before eleven, so that Tunbridge is Like a Large Convent, every one asleep in their beds before twelve.

To-night is the first regular Ball. On Thursday there was a hop at the Rooms,

begun by your Father and Lady Boyne. He is quite well and in great spirits; this place and the Company of this year particularly suits him.

Mary Lamb to Mrs. Randal Norris.

Hastings, June 18, 1823.

We took our places for Sevenoaks, intending to remain there all night in order to see Knole, but when we got there we chang'd our minds, and went on to Tunbridge Wells. About a mile short of the Wells the coach stopped at a little inn, and I saw "Lodgings to Let " on a little, very little house opposite. I ran over the way, and secured them.

CHAPTER VI

A DAY AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS IN THE

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

TUNBRIDGE LIFE

1.

"ALL you that wish the world to learn, To Tunbridge Wells repair-a,

Where you will see more in a day

Than elsewhere in a year-a.

Not that our numbers do surpass

What you may elsewhere find-a,
But here no mortals you can meet
An hour in a mind-a.

2.

"At eight o'clock they're wondrous fond,
At nine they'll hardly know ye,

At ten perhaps you're made their joke,
At Church they'll fav'r show ye,

For lest their thoughts should fix on prayer,

They ev'ry one will greet-a

With, how do you do? are you a player? And, where shall we two meet-a?