half-twilight of the London of to-day. The company which then congregated
daily about five, was composed of dandies and women in the best society;
the men mounted on such horses as England alone could then produce.
The dandy's dress consisted of a blue coat with brass buttons, leather
breeches, and top boots; and it was the fashion to wear a deep, stiff
white cravat, which prevented you from seeing your boots while standing.
All the world watched Brummell to imitate him, and order their clothes
of the tradesman who dressed that sublime dandy. One day a youthful
beau approached Brummell and said, "Permit me to ask you where you get
your blacking?" "Ah!" replied Brummell, gazing complacently at his
boots, "my blacking positively ruins me. I will tell you in confidence;
it is made with the finest champagne!"

Many of the ladies used to drive into the park in a carriage called
a vis-a-vis, which held only two persons. The hammer-cloth, rich in
heraldic designs, the powdered footmen in smart liveries, and a coachman
who assumed all the gaiety and appearance of a wigged archbishop, were
indispensable. The equipages were generally much more gorgeous than
at a later period, when democracy invaded the parks, and introduced
what may be termed a "brummagem society," with shabby-genteel carriages
and servants. The carriage company consisted of the most celebrated
beauties, amongst whom were remarked the Duchesses of Rutland, Argyle,
Gordon, and Bedford, Ladies Cowper, Foley, Heathcote, Louisa Lambton,
Hertford, and Mountjoy. The most conspicuous horsemen were the Prince
Regent (accompanied by Sir Benjamin Bloomfield); the Duke of York and
his old friend, Warwick Lake; the Duke of Dorset, on his white horse;
the Marquis of Anglesea, with his lovely daughters; Lord Harrowby and
the Ladies Ryder; the Earl of Sefton and the Ladies Molyneux; and the
eccentric Earl of Moreton on his long-tailed grey. In those days "pretty
horsebreakers" would not have dared to show themselves in Hyde Park;