The book of the boudoir, Volume 2 (of 2)

In this lively second volume, a sharp‑tongued hostess welcomes a trio of solemn, fast‑observing visitors to her drawing‑room, and the conversation quickly turns to the absurdities of religious austerity. With quick wit she juxtaposes the gaunt “black lent” of papist zealots against the self‑serving vigils of evangelical society, exposing how both sides wield fasting as a weapon rather than a devotion. The exchange crackles with irony, as the hostess tosses Swift’s verse and jokes about the strategic value of salted fish in the wars of Europe.

The prose reads like an improvised salon, each repartee a window into the social and theological snobbery of the age. Lady Morgan’s satire is both affectionate and unflinching, inviting listeners to hear the gentle hum of 1820s London while questioning the true purpose of piety. The piece offers a witty, thought‑provoking glimpse into a world where ritual and reason collide around a hearth fire.