ten o’clock at night
In a word , the whole nation seems to be running out of their wits . The diversions of the times are not ill suited to the genius of this incongruous monster , called the public . Give it noise , confusion , glare , and glitter ; it has no idea of elegance and propriety -- What are the amusements of Ranelagh ? One half of the company are following at the other 's tails , in an eternal circle ; like so many blind asses in an olive-mill , where they can neither discourse , distinguish , nor be distinguished ; while the other half are drinking hot water , under the denomination of tea , till nine or ten o'clock at night , to keep them awake for the rest of the evening . As for the orchestra , the vocal music especially , it is well for the performers that they can not be heard distinctly . Vauxhall is a composition of baubles , overcharged with paltry ornaments , ill conceived , and poorly executed ; without any unity of design , or propriety of disposition . It is an unnatural assembly of objects , fantastically illuminated in broken masses ; seemingly contrived to dazzle the eyes and divert the imagination of the vulgar -- Here a wooden lion , there a stone statue ; in one place , a range of things like coffeehouse boxes , covered a-top ; in another , a parcel of ale-house benches ; in a third , a puppet-show representation of a tin cascade ; in a fourth , a gloomy cave of a circular form , like a sepulchral vault half lighted ; in a fifth , a scanty flip of grass-plat , that would not afford pasture sufficient for an ass 's colt .