MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
Ye Wyne Vavlts at ye Docks. Showynge a Partye Tastynge.
[Thurſday, October 11, 1849.]
TO the Docks, to meet Mr. Soker, and go over the Wine Vaults with a Taſting-Order, and taſte the Wine there before it hath undergone any Roguery for the Market. Found there Soker, and Mr. Wagstaffe, and Swilby, and Swype, and 5 or 6 more, and with them Mr. Goodfellowe, who had gotten Soker the Order. Firſt to the Quay, heaped with Barrels of Wine, cloſe as Pebbles on a Beach, and one huge Barrel, they did tell me, holding 625 Gallons, and I wondering how it could have been hoiſted aſhore, Mr. Wagstaffe did ſay, by an Adjutant, or Gigantic Crane. Then, through all Manner of Caſks and Tubs, and Bales of Merchandiſe, to St. Katherine's Dock, and down to the Vault, where a Cooper forthwith did wait on us with a Couple of Glaſſes, and gave each Man a flat Stick with a Lamp at the farther End, to ſee our Way, and we looked like Goblins with Torches in a Pantomime. The Vault almoſt quite dark, only lighted by Sconces from the Roof, and the fartheſt Sconce looking Half-a-Mile off, and all this Space full of Barrels of Wine! The Roof ſupported by Rows of Columns; and the Vault altogether like the Crypt of a Cathedral, but 20 times as big, and more than 20 ſweeter; the Air Gnelling of Wine very ſtrong, which alone did make me feel giddy. Strange to ſee the Mildew hanging in all Sorts of Forms from the Roof, which many
