A Rural Treat

Singular Rural Treat given by J. C. Lettsom, M.D. on the Evening of May 23, 1804

Weekly Entertainer June 18, 1804. 483-484.

This fete given by Dr. Lettsom at Grove-hill, Camberwell, Surrey, well deserves recording. About eight o’clock a suite of seven rooms were opened for the reception of a numerous assemblage of visitors, who, for about six hours, without the aid either of music, singing, or cards, were very highly delighted. In this happy group were many of the first characters in law, physic, and divinity; men of the first eminence of various descriptions from the city; distinguished philosophers, and first rate philanthropists; above all, an assemblage of females particularly remarkable for genuine beauty and unaffected elegance of dress.

The uncommonly curious variety of the doctor’s valuable museum; the splendid collection of books in natural history, and other expensive works of taste and science; the well-stored conservatory of native and exotic plants; all thrown open for the comfort of his friends, left not a moment for ennui.

About eleven o’clock was thrown open a room which reflected the highest credit on the classic taste of its designer, and included all the charms of the much-famed elysium. It was forty-two feet long and thirty wide; and was erected in the garden purposely for this entertainment. The floor was entirely covered with carpeting; and the ceiling was secluded from the view by a judicious arrangement of boughs freshly separated from their parent trees and shrubs and an ingenious sprinkling of variegated lamps. The full-grown magnificent orange trees had the appearance of supporters to the roof; and the tables were filled with every thing desirable to the sight or the palate; strawberries still growing on the live plants; iced creams of every sort and flavour; rich jellies; confectionary of the most ingenious devices; many of the articles including well-adapted posies; with the more substantial dishes of ham, veal, beef &c., &c., in short, such abundance of every delicacy, as left nothing either to be wished or desired. At the entrance of the room was a figure of Minerva holding a banner of white silk, fringed with gold, on which was neatly painted this address:

“Ad Amicos.

From east to west, from south to north,

We’ve cull’d our friends of matchless worth;

And hither welcome are ye come,

Without the aid of cards or drum;

With mild philosophy we’ll please ye,

And try by magic to deceive ye;

Each copious source of ancient lore

We’ll lay before you to explore;

And nature’s gifts of various kind,

To gratify the enquiring mind.

Such our endeavours are to shew,

How much to friends like you we owe;

But, as the mind’s incessant wear

The body cannot fail to share,

Freely, we pray, its strength recruit,

Nor spare our cakes, our wine, or fruit.”

On a temple particularly dedicated to the beauties of the vernal season:

“Here, void of art, see nature’s hand bestows

The rip’ning produce of the fruitful year,

Behold, the swelling fruit, and budding rose,

The freshest hue of vernal bloom appear.”

On another temple, emblematic of the natural effects of winter:

“Let not my icicle roof, or snow-drifted floor,

The near approach of my good friends forbid;

But the rather invite them to come to my door,

And see if ought there be in my st’ry hid.

Though my wintery looks appear frozen and cold,

And the ices are so, which here I afford;

Yet judge of their flavour, nor your candour withhold,

But say to your tastes which best does accord;

Whether strawberry, raspberry, cherry or pine,

When with pure country cream they their juices combine.”

By two in the morning the immense number of carriages had cleared off; and the happy family were left to the contemplation of the rational picture they had afforded to more than 800 guests.