“The principal band plays till about ten o’clock, when a little bell is rung, and the whole concourse of people (the greater part of which are females) run to a dark part of the gardens where there is an admirable deception of waterworks.  A bridge is seen over which stages and wagons, men and horses, are seen passing; birds flying across and the water in great cataracts falling down from the mountains and passing over smaller falls under the bridges; men are seen rowing a boat across, and, indeed, everything which could be devised in such an exhibition was performed.

“This continues for about fifteen minutes, when they all return into the illuminated part of the gardens and are amused by music from the same orchestra till eleven o’clock.  They then are called away again to the dark part of the gardens, where is an exhibition of the most splendid fireworks; sky-rockets, serpents, wheels, and fountains of fire in the greatest abundance, occupying twenty minutes more of the time.

“After this exhibition is closed, they again return into the illuminated parts of the gardens, where the music strikes up from the chief orchestra, and hundreds of groups are immediately formed for dancing.  Respectable ladies, however, seldom join in this dance, although gentlemen of the first distinction sometimes for amusement lend a hand, or rather a foot, to the general cheerfulness.

“All now is gayety throughout the gardens; every one is in motion, and care, that bane of human happiness, for a time seems to have lost her dominion over the human heart.  Had the Eastern sage, who was in search of the land of happiness, at this moment been introduced into Vauxhall, I think his most exalted conceptions of happiness would have been surpassed, and he would rest contented in having at last found the object of his wishes.

“In a few minutes the chief orchestra ceases and is relieved in turn by the other bands, the company following the music.  The Scotch band principally plays Scotch reels and dances.  The music and this course of dancing continue till about four o’clock in the morning, when the lights are extinguished and the company disperses.  On this evening, which was by no means considered as a full night, the company consisted of perhaps three thousand persons.

“I had the pleasure a few days since of witnessing one of the oddest exhibitions, perhaps, in the world.  It was no other than St. Bartholomew’s Fair.  It is held here in London once a year and continues three days.  There is a ceremony in opening it by the Lord Mayor, which I did not see.  At this fair the lower orders of society are let loose and allowed to amuse themselves in any lawful way they please.  The fair is held in Smithfield Market, about the centre of the city.  The principal amusement appeared to be swinging.  There were large boxes capable of holding five or six suspended in large frames in such manner as to vibrate nearly through a semicircle.  There were, to speak within bounds, three hundred of these.  They were placed all round the square, and it almost made me giddy only to see them all in motion.  They were so much pressed for room that one of these swings would clear another but about two inches, and it seemed almost miraculous to me that they did not meet with more accidents than they did.