“......would you see
the debtors' world, confide yourself to me.
come; safely shall you pass the fatal door,
nor fear it shuts you in, to ope no more.
see, frowning grimly o'er the borough road,
the crossing spikes that crown the dark abode!
o! how that iron seems to pierce the soul
of him, whom hurrying wheels to prison roll,
what time from serjeants' inn some debtor pale
the tipstaff renders in default of bail.
black shows that grisly ridge against the sky,
as near he draws and lifts an anxious eye:
then on his bosom each peculiar spike,
arm'd with its proper ill, appears to strike.”
the recollection of past enjoyments in the vivacious company of merry well, could not fail to be revived in the minds of dashall and his cousin; and as some persons, with due attention to his safety, had manifested their interest and regard for him by obtaining his admission to the priory, where he was at this moment pursuing his studies, and could not quite so conveniently call on them, an early visit was determined on.
“we shall,” said tom, “by a call on merrywell after six weeks residence among the gay blades that inhabit the walls of the king's bench, have all the benefit of his previous observation. he will be able to delineate the characters, consciences, and conduct of his neighbours. he will describe all the comforts and advantages of a college life, introduce us to the bloods and the blacks, and, in short, there are few persons i know, except sparkle himself, more able to conduct us through the intricacies of the building, to point out the beauty and excellence of the establishment, its uses and abuses, than merrywell.”
“do they charge any thing on admittance?"enquired bob.
“o yes,” was the reply, “they charge you, by a public [35] notice in the lobby, not to convey into the interior any spirituous liquors, on pain of being yourself discharged from thence, and confined elsewhere. bless your soul, why the king's bench is a little world within itself, a sort of epitome of london; it is in a healthy situation, and the space which it occupies is extensive. there are in all 224 rooms, and they measure each about 14 or 16 feet by 12 or 13; of these, eight are called state-rooms, are much larger than the rest, and more commodious; and a well-breech'd customer may have almost any accommodation. it is the prison most immediately belonging to the court of king's bench, and, exclusive of debtors there sued, all persons standing in contempt of that court, and most of those committed under its sentence, are confined.”
“and pretty generally all inhabited?” interrogated tallyho.
“yes, and frequently it is difficult to obtain a place to sleep in even as a chum.”
bob found himself at fault, and required an explanation of the word chum.
“the chum,” replied dashall, “is a partner or bed-fellow, a person who has an equal right to all the comforts and conveniences of a room, previously wholly in the possession of one.”
“i understand,” said bob; “then when every room has already one occupant, they accommodate him with a companion.”
“exactly so, and he may prove friend or foe. this, however, may be avoided, if the student is in possession of the rubbish, by an escape into the rules, which extend for three miles round the priory. these rules are purchaseable after the following rate, viz. ten guineas for the first hundred pounds, and about half that sum for every hundred pounds afterwards; day-rules, of which three may be obtained in every term, may be purchased for 4s. 2d. for the first day, and 3s. 10d. for the rest. each also must give good security to the marshal.[36]
“——the fiction of the law supposes,
that every prisoner, with means to pay,
(for he that has not this advantage loses,)
either has business in the courts, or may;
bond, fee, and sureties fresh prepare the way
and mister broothoft's manual sign declares
?that mister such-a-one, on such a day,
?hath got a rule of court, and so repairs
?to town, or elsewhere, call'd by his affairs.'
this little talisman of strange effect,
(four shillings just and sixpence is the price)
from bailiff's power the wearer will protect,
and nullify a capias in a trice:
it bears a royal head in quaint device,
at least as true as that which wellesley pole,
with taste for english artists much too nice,
stamp'd by pistrucci's aid (heaven rest his soul!
and shield henceforth the mint from his controul.)
in various ways the various purchasers
that sally forth with this protecting spell,
employ the privilege this grant confers:
some, like myself, their lawyer's citadel
besiege, his speed long striving to impel;
to take a dinner with a friend some go;
in fashion's haunts some for an hour to swell;
some strive, what creditors intend, to know;
and some the moments on their love bestow.”
“thus you have a full, true, and particular, as well as amusing account, of a day rule, or what in the cant language of the day is termed hiring a horse, which sometimes proves a bolter.”
“and what is meant by a bolter?”
“he is one,” replied dashall, “who, having obtained the privilege of a day rule, brushes off, and leaves his bondsmen, or the marshal, to pay his debt; or one who transgresses the bounds; but such a one when retaken, usually undergoes some discipline from the inhabitants of the college, who being all honourable men, set their faces against such ungentleman-like proceedings.”
“then they do sometimes make an escape?”
“yes, notwithstanding their restrictive arrangements, such things have occurred, and you must recollect that of lord cochrane, confined for the memorable stock exchange hoax. the means by which it was effected, i believe, have never been discovered; but certain it is, that he was in the house of commons, while a prisoner in the king's bench, and on the first night of his subsequent liberation, gave the casting vote against a proposed grant to a certain duke.”
“i remember it very well, and also remember that the generality of thinking persons considered his lordship harshly treated.”
[37] “however, he is now bravely fighting the battles of independence, increasing both his fame and fortune, while some of the ministerial hirelings are subjected to a similar privation. we shall have a view of some of the residents in this renowned place of fashionable resort; the interior of which perhaps exhibits a spectacle far more diversified, and if possible more immoral and vicious, than the exterior. there are quondam gentlemen of fortune, reduced either so low as not to be able to pay for the rules, or so unprincipled and degraded as to have no friend at command who could with safety become their surety. shop-keepers, whose knavery having distanced even their extravagance, dread the appearance of ease exhibited in the rules and the detection of fraud, by producing the reverse of their independence, and who even grudge the expenditure of money, to obtain limited liberty. uncertificated bankrupts, and unconvicted felons; jews—gamblers by trade—horse-dealers—money scriveners—bill discounters—annuity procurers—disinterested profligates—unemployed and branded attorneys—scandal mongers and libel writers—gazetted publicans, and the perhaps less culpable sinners of broken officers—reduced mechanics—starving authors, and cast-off cyprians.”
“a very comprehensive and animated account truly,” said tallyho.
“and you will find it accurate,” continued dashall, “for the turn-out of this dwelling of crime and misery, resembles the piazza de sant marco at venice, in the carnival time. there are all descriptions and classes in society, all casts and sects, all tribes and associations, all colours, complexions and appearances, not only of human and inhuman beings, but also all shades, features, and conformations of vice. the spendthrift, or degraded man of fortune, lives by shifts, by schemes, by loans, by sponging on the novice, by subscription, or on commiseration's uncertain aid. he has however in perspective some visionary scheme of emolument and dishonour blended, to put into execution as soon as he obtains his discharge. the uncertificated bankrupt has many opportunities left yet; he has other dupes, other tricks of trade, other resources in reserve. the swindler mellows, refines, and sublimates his plan of future operations, and associates in it, perchance, a fallen fair one, or an incipient greek, [38] put up in the bench. horse-dealers, money scriveners, bill doers, attorneys, &c. have either the means of setting up again, or some new system of roguery to be put in practice, in fresh time and place, which may conduct them to the harbour of fortune, or waft them over the herring pond at the expence of the public purse. the disinterested profligate here either consumes, corrupts, and festers, under the brandy fever and despair, or is put up by a gambler, who sells his art to his brother debtors, and thus lives in hope of yet turning the honest penny in imitation of those who have gone before him. the cyprian, still exercising her allurements, lingers and decays until persecution loses the point of its arrow, and drops from the persecutor's hand, grasping more hardly after money, and opening from the clenched attitude of revenge. then, to conclude the picture, there are youths living upon the open infamy of easy-hearted women, who disgrace and ruin themselves without the walls, in order to pamper the appetite and humour the whims of a favourite within, thus sacrificing one victim to another. partners carrying on trade in the world, communing with their incarcerated partners in durance vile. misery and extravagance, rude joy and frantic fear, with more passions than the celebrated collins ever drew, and with more scenes, adventures, and vicissitudes, than ever jonathan wild or any other jonathan exhibited.”
“excellent description,” exclaimed bob.
“and you shall have ocular demonstration of its absolute existence; nay, this sketch might serve for many other places of confinement, the fleet, &c. they are like the streets of the metropolis, constantly varying in their company, according to entrances and exits of their visitors.”
“this, however,” continued the hon. tom dashall, “is rather a mental picture of what we shall presently witness in reality, a sort of introductory sketch by way of passport through the doors of this panorama of beal life, to which you will shortly be introduced; a sort of ideal, or dramatic sketch of its inhabitants en masse, before the drawing up of the curtain.”
the eagerness of bob to listen to his cousin's sketches of london society, on the one hand, and the earnestness with which dashall had been exercising his imaginary powers, on the other, had led our perambulators to the [39] foot of blackfriar's bridge, on their road to the king's bench, without any particular circumstance exciting their attention; when bob, suddenly twitching his cousin by the arm, and directing his eye at the same time to a thin spare figure of a man, without hat or coat, who was rapidly passing towards fleet market, enquired who it was, and what was his occupation or calling.
“don't you hear his calling?” was the reply.
“hot, hot, hot, pudding hot!” was in a moment vociferated in his ears, while the active and industrious mercantile pedestrian, with a swing of his head, which was in continual motion from right to left, gave bob a wipe in the eye with his tail, which by the velocity of the wearer was kept in full play like the pendulum of a clock, or the tail of matthews in his admirable delineation of sir fretful plagiary.
“zounds,” cries bob, “it is true i may hear, but i can't pretend to say i can see; who the devil is he? there is no looking at him, he seems to leave time and space behind him; where is he?”
tom laughed heartily, while bob rubbed his eyes in vain to obtain another view.
“that,” said dashall, “is a sort of commissary, a dealer in stores for the stomach—red hot pudding, all hot, and commonly called the flying pieman."{1}[40]
1 james sharpe eglaud, more commonly known in the streets of
the metropolis by the appellation of the flying pieman, may
fairly be held forth as an example of what may be effected
by persevering industry and activity, especially in a large
and populous city. those qualities, joined with a moderate
share of prudence, cannot fail to ensure to every man at
least comfort and respectability, it” not competence and
wealth, however humble his sphere, and however unpromising
his beginnings. he was bred to the sedentary trade of a
tailor, and worked for some years with his relation, mr.
austerbury, of friday street, cheapside; but love, which
works so many changes, and which has ere now transformed
blacksmiths into painters, and which induced hercules to
exchange his club for the distaff, caused this knight of the
steel bar to relinquish the shop-board and patch up his
fortune by the patty-pan. he married his landlady, a widow,
who resided in turnmill street, clerkenwell. he had a soul
above buttons, and abandoned the making of garments to cover
the outside, in order to mould cakes, pies, and other small
pastry, to comfort the internals. his active genius,
however, could not brook the tedious task of serving his
customers behind the counter; he therefore took up his
eatables and went abroad in quest of them, and we doubt not
he has found this practice, which he has continued ever
since, very profitable. the neatness and cleanliness of his
appearance at all times are truly pleasing. hail, rain, or
shine, he may be seen abroad without coat or hat; his hair
powdered, his shirt sleeves turned up to his elbows, and a
steel hanging on his apron-string. originally he carried a
tin case, something like a dutch oven, in which he
constantly kept a lire, but is now generally seen with a
small tray. in serving a customer, he never touches his
pudding with his hands, but has a knife for the purpose of
presenting it to the purchasers, and his sale is so
extensive, that he is obliged to replenish several times in
a day; and in order to secure a regular and ready supply,
his female partner and himself convey a quantity of pudding
to a certain distance, and deposit their load at some
public-house, where she takes care to keep it “all hot,”
while egland scours the neighbourhood in search of
customers. the first cargo being disposed of he returns for
more, and by this method he has it always fresh, and is
never in want of goods.
many laughable anecdotes are told of this flying pieman, and
perhaps a day's excursion in following him during his
peregrinations would furnish much of curious and interesting
amusement. we shall however select one, authenticated by his
appearance at marlborough street police office on monday,
july 8, 1821, as most intimately connected with real life in
london; when he preferred a serious charge against a beggar,
no other than the president of a smoking club in the holy
land, and others, for stealing his mutton pies, cutting off
his tail, and otherwise disfiguring his person. by the
evidence of egland, it appeared that he was introduced, with
his goods for sale, to a company chiefly consisting of
street beggars in st. giles's, the chair at that moment
being filled by a beggar without hands, well known in the
vicinity of the admiralty as a chalker of the pavement. the
dignity of the chair was well sustained by this ingenious
colourer, who was smoking a pipe as great as an alderman
over a bason of turtle soup; but no sooner did egland make
his appearance, than the company seized upon his goods and
crammed them down their throats, in spite of the repeated
vociferations of “honour, honour, gentlemen,” from the
assailed. resistance was vain, and egland in this dilemma
began to consider that his only safety lay in flight. this,
however, he found equally impracticable; he was detained,
and by way of consolation for his loss, was called upon for
a song. his lungs were good, and although his spirits were
not much exhilarated by the introductory part of the
entertainment, he began to “tip 'em a stave;” but whilst he
was chanting “the stormy winds do blow,” a fellow cut off
his tail. this was worse than all the rest; it was, as it
were, a part of his working tools, and the loss of it was
likely to injure his business by an alteration of his
appearance, and could not be tacitly submitted to.
the magistrates gravely considering this a most serious
charge of unprovoked attack upon an industrious individual,
ordered the parties to find bail, in default of fully
satisfying the inoffensive dealer in pastry, which was
accordingly done.
in the year 1804, scorning to be behindhand in loyalty as
well as activity, he became a member of the clerkenwell
volunteers, and was placed in the light company, in which
capacity he obtained the character not only of being the
cleanest man, but the best soldier in the regiment.
it is said, that for amusement, or the gratification of a
whim, he will sometimes walk a distance of fifty or a
hundred miles from the metropolis, and return the same way.
on such occasions he always manages to take some companion
or friend out with him, but was never known to come back in
the same company; for so irresistibly are they allured
forward by his inexhaustible fund of humour and
sprightliness of conversation, that they seldom think of the
distance till they find themselves too far from home to
return on foot.
[41]"then,” said bob, “he is not like some of the london dealers, who invite their customers to taste and try before they buy, for he scarcely seems to afford a chance of seeing what he sells.”
“you did not try him,” replied tom, “nor would he have expected you to be a customer. he is a remarkable character, well known all over the metropolis. particularly noted for his activity in disposing of his goods; never standing still for a moment, but accosting with extraordinary ease and fluency every person who appears likely to be a purchaser; always ready with an answer to any question, but delivering it with so much volubility, that it is impossible to propose a second enquiry, suiting at the same time his answer to the apparent quality of the querist, though frequently leaving it unfinished in search of a customer, and moving on with so much rapidity, that you may almost find him at the same moment at tower hill, billingsgate, and spa fields; at smithfield, temple bar, and piccadilly; indeed he may be said to be in all quarters of the town in a space of time incredibly short for a man who obtains a livelihood by seeking customers as he moves along.”
“zounds,” cried bob, “this walking genius, this credible incredible, and visible invisible pedestrian dealer in portable eatables, has almost blinded me.
“for, by this flying pieman,
i've nearly lost an eye, man.”
“come,” said tom, “i've no fear of your eye while you can muster a couplet; so let us proceed.”
crossing black friars bridge, and approaching the road, bob, who had assuaged the pain of which he had previously [42] been complaining, could not help admiring the extensive range of nouses on each side of the way, terminated by a handsome building in the distance.
“that building,” said dashall, “will be the extent of our journey, for very near to it is the habitation of merrywell, where i entertain no doubt you will find enough for observation of a useful as well as a humorous nature: for an epitome of men and manners is there to be obtained.”
“here are abundance of subjects worthy of inspection in this quarter,” replied tom, “and we therefore ought not to exhaust too much time on one, so let us proceed: do you see that high wall to the right? that is the magdalen hospital,{1} established for the relief and
1 the magdalen hospital in blackfriars road, enclosed from
public view, occupies an extensive space of ground, and is
from the nature of its inhabitants very properly so
enclosed. it was opened in the year 1758, and it must be a
delightful reflection to its governors, that during the
period it has subsisted, more than two-thirds of the women
who have been admitted have been reconciled to their
friends, or placed in honest employments or reputable
services: besides which, a very considerable portion have
since been married, and are at this moment respectable
members of society: circumstances which prove the great and
important utility of this admirable institution.
there is no prescribed time for the objects of this charity
to remain in the house, it being varied according to
circumstances. every effort is made use of to find out their
relations and friends, if possible, to bring about a
reconciliation with them, and if they prove to be persons of
character, to put them under their protection. if, however,
the young women are destitute of such friends, they are kept
in the house till an opportunity offers of placing them in
reputable services, or otherwise procuring them the means of
obtaining an honest livelihood, and they never discharge any
one without providing for her. there have been but few
discharged beyond the age of twenty years.
the general business of the establishment is conducted by a
committee consisting of 32 governors, who meet at the
hospital every thursday at twelve o'clock precisely, except
on the first thursday of every mouth, when they meet at
eleven. two of them attend at the chapel in rotation every
sunday at morning and evening service, when a collection is
made at the door on entrance. the hours of divine service
are a quarter after eleven in the forenoon, and a quarter
after six in the evening; and on account of the fascination
of the singing, no place of worship in the metropolis is
more worthy of the notice of strangers.
an opportunity is afforded to companies who wish to visit
this charity, by addressing a request by letter to the
committee any thursday, or to a. bonnet, esq. the treasurer,
any day in the week, and no fees are allowed to be taken.
reformation of wretched outcasts from society. the principle on which it is founded, entitles it to the countenance and support of the public, and particularly of the female sex, the object being to reclaim and restore to virtue such wanderers in the labyrinths of vice as are not totally depraved."[43]
“admirable intentions indeed,” cried tallyho, “if they are but as well carried into effect.”
“the records of the establishment have proved its advantages to society, or rather, i should say, to its conductors, for they are of a nature which cannot be publicly exposed, without much private injury to the individuals who partake of them. it is, however, not a little remarkable, that till lately, on the very opposite side of the road, the neighbourhood has exhibited scenes of vice, immorality, and indecency, which it is the great object of this charity if possible to prevent, by an endeavour to reclaim the miserable and deluded wretches from their evil ways. i remember the late john home tooke related in the house of commons a curious anecdote, in allusion to himself and his situation at the time, in which this institution was mentioned, and which excited considerable interest.
“it is well known that the late john home tooke, of political memory as the reputed tutor of a certain patriotic baronet of the present day, as well as the author of the diversions of purley, and a correspondent of the yet undiscovered junius, was a reverend divine of the church of england; and when he became a member of parliament, it was objected against him that no person in holy orders could hold a seat in the honourable house of commons. in his reply, he very ingeniously observed, that this objection reminded him of an applicant for admission to the magdalen, who, upon being exhorted by the chaplain to forsake her evil ways, replied that she was not aware of his meaning, and upon explanation she was excluded from the charity, because she was not bad enough to require reforming. 'this,' said mr. home tooke, 'is exactly my case; because i am in holy orders i must leave the house, and after committing some act of impropriety to lose my gown, i may yet be eligible for a member of this assembly.'”
“pointed enough,” said bob tallyho.
“yes,” replied tom; “and having mentioned the name of the man, you may perhaps recollect the order of the day, [44] as well as the curious definition (before the commissioners of the income tax) as to how a man lives who has no income at all. being interrogated by the commissioners, as to how he obtained his living, mr. home tooke replied as follows:—'why, it appears to me, gentlemen, that there are three modes by which a person may obtain a living; the first is by begging—now this i am too proud to submit to;—the second, by stealing—this i don't choose to resort to;—and the third is by the exercise of the wits—and this, gentlemen, i presume, you know nothing about.'
“here,” said dashall, “is the surrey theatre, formerly denominated the royal circus. i shall, however, dispatch my description of it in a very few words, as we will ere long pay a visit to its interior. it is a neat building, and shews a good front to the road; is fitted up with a considerable degree of elegance, and is a very convenient theatre. it was originally conducted by hughes and jones, and its exhibitions were both scenic and equestrian, something in the style of what astley's amphitheatre is now; but you must see the one in order to form an idea of the other. horses are now banished at this place, where, under an annual license from the magistrates of the county, burlettas, melodramas, dancing, and pantomimes are got up, and performed in a style which would not disgrace even the patent theatres. it is at present under the management of mr. dibdin, a son of the celebrated writer of so many of our national, patriotic, and characteristic ballads.—just through the turnpike, the building which gives a sort of finish to the road, is the school for the indigent blind; at the back of which is the philanthropic institution, calculated to unite the purposes of charity with those of industry and police, to rescue from destruction the offspring of the vicious and criminal; and bethlem hospital, for the care and cure of insane persons, well deserving of minute inspection; and to the right, at the corner of a road which leads from westminster bridge towards vauxhall, is an asylum for female orphans, which, as the magdalen was intended to reclaim prostitutes, was originally intended to prevent prostitution. to the left again is the king's bench; and as that is our present place of destination, we will forego any further description, till another opportunity.
“i cannot, however, refrain a few remarks on the [45]situation we are now in, for from this place may be seen the children of penance (the magdalen); the children of darkness (the school for the indigent blind); the insane (new bethlem); the infatuated and fanatic (the congregations of the zoar chapel, and the faithful of mewses, garrets, and wooden tabernacles); the children of thespis and terpsichore (the surrey theatre), mingled together as it were with the debtor and the captive (the king's bench): at least, placing ourselves at this obelisk in the centre of the road, the mind's eye can comprehend them within a short distance of each other.”
“and a curious admixture of the useful and the sweet it certainly is,” exclaimed tallyho, anxious to give his cousin a little respite, while they turned to the left on their way to the bench.
“you will find,” continued tom, “all the before-mentioned infirmities, blindness, infatuation, madness, and profligacy, within the walls that we shall shortly enter, without the repentant spirit of the sisters within the walls we have just passed. you will also find there is a plenty of self-interest and hypocrisy combined with them; nay, an hospital of incurables is only wanting to complete the scene. it is not till lately that a little reform has been effected in this quarter, for dover street and its vicinity, as i before observed, so near to these benevolent charities and to the walls of a prison, have been the sink of female profligacy, of the lowest, most dangerous, and most disgusting kind; and suffered too long to pollute the streams of charity and impede the road to reform. however, at length the nuisance is removed, at least the public appearance of it, though the neighbourhood is not altogether bereft of its private negociations and stolen accommodations. but come, now for an interior view of the. abbott's park, its interesting scenery, and its multi-farious characters. there you shall see what you shall see, and merrywell will tell you more in ten minutes than you might wish to know in your whole life, i mean practically, though it is well to know in theory what ought never to be reduced to experiment."
