Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source: Google Books
https://books.google.com/books?id=YPdLAAAAcAAJ
(the Bavarian State Library)
By the side of the large piece of water in the middle of St.James's Square--
"There is no large piece of water in St. James's Square. It is a verysmall one."
But there was at the time I speak of, namely, the year 1715; and ifyou will allow me to go on, you shall hear all about it.
By the side of the large piece of water in St. James's Square, lookingat the playing of the fountain, (which was afterwards congealed into agreat ugly statue,) and watching the amusements of a gay boy and girl,who had come out of one of the houses--I think it was Lord Bathurst's,and were rowing about in the pleasure-boat on the water, stood a manof some six or seven and twenty years of age, dressed in a garb whichdid not very well indicate his profession, although the distinctionsof costume were in those days somewhat closely attended to. Hisgarments, of a sober colour, were very plain, but very good. Especialcare seemed to have been taken to avoid every thing in the leastdegree singular, or which could attract attention; and it was moreeasy to say what the wearer was not, than what he was. He was not aPresbyterian minister, although the cut and colouring of his clothingmight have led one to believe that he was so; for he wore a sword. Thesame mark showed that he was not an artisan, but did not so preciselyprove that he was not a trader; for more than one shop-keeper in thosedays assumed the distinctive mark of a higher class when he got frombehind his counter and went into a part of the town where he was notknown. Yet, had he been one of this butterfly tribe, the rest of hisapparel would have seemed more in accordance with his assumed rank.
He was not a courtier; for where was the gold, and the lace, and theembroidery? He was not a physician; for there was no red roquelaure,no gold-headed cane; and who could pretend to call himself doctorwithout such appendages?
He seemed to have been riding, too; for he had large boots on; and hishat and coat were somewhat dusty. In every other respect, he was avery indefinite sort of personage; but yet, of three nursery-maids whopassed him consecutively, taking out children for an airing, as it iscalled--as if there was any such thing as air in London--two turnedtheir heads, to have another look at his face; and one stopped by theposts which fenced the water, and, while affecting to contemplate thesame objects as himself, gave