# The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard/Chapter 2

SHARPERS,
Such as Gamblers, Ring-droppers and Money-droppers, Setters or Trappers, Crimps (for sea or land service,) Impostors, and Swindlers, ​come next under consideration in the order here set down; being a numerous and pernicious annoyance to all persons walking the streets, where they generally pick up your acquaintance, or at the public house, at which you may turn in, to take refreshment.
The propensity to gambling pervades the entire population of the north of England; and most Welchmen settle the commonest disputes that occur by wager, offering to lay more money upon one senseless dispute than perhaps ever belonged to their whole family at any one time. Those are denominated
WAGERING KIDDIES.
In the city, where a person meaning to ridicule the practice, or to give an elucidation of it, observed, That laying of wagers were attempts to come at the money of others by undue, but excusable, means. Upon which he entertained the following opinions, in the form of aphorisms:
Such is a tolerably fair account of many men, some of respectable occupations in life, but who are nevertheless Sharpers in the fullest sense of the word,—who will even boast of the money they win at laying quirkish bets. The intention is, to take in the unwary, and is not a bit better than picking of pockets or purloining in a dwelling-house. What appears the most galling part of the business to me is, that those men brag of their honesty, and look down upon their poorer, but more upright neighbour, with disdain. They are called upon juries to try their fellow (criminals?) creatures, and many among us think them competent judges of what is a proper verdict in all cases but their own.
For a great number of years that a friend of mine frequented the coffee-houses, so called, round Covent Garden, he witnessed a nightly and daily struggle to take money out of each others' pockets by dint of this deep laid trickery. At one of them, where the most doltish set m the world meet, a couple of Welchmen from the city, came in to see what could be done in their own way. One of them eggs on the other to ​begin some favourite subject; which happened to be the exact words of a verdict upon a trial at the Old Bailey that day. As is usual with a stupid set, and was expected by the speaker, one contradicts what was asserted, and the vest join in the contradiction. A wager is offered, and laid; it is doubled and doubled, and laid with all who choose to say done! "Who is to decide, look you?" asked the Welch wagering kiddy.
"Who! why any respectable man who heard it to be sure;" answered a glum old fellow, who did not so much relish the wordy contest as the smell of the blue mark, (as they call a bowl of punch) which accompanied every wager for money.
This mode of deciding was greeted as just by the other wagering kiddies, and agreed to by the Welch one, who told them he could "show them one of the jury presently. Who, now, look you! do you think was the foreman, then, upon that trial? Ah! you shall find I knows as much as all of you about things. Now, I will bet you a blue mark and five pounds I find the foreman in this neighbourhood."—"This was too bad," they said; and began to smell a rat.
Our Welchman resumed, "ah, it is too bad for you. What do you think of Mr. Jenkin James, Esquire, here?"
​His companion, the other Welchman had indeed been that foreman; and had given the verdict in a peculiar manner—whether with any design upon the gentlemen of this room is too much to say. Some of them called it a do; and a broad faced north countryman, wanted to prove metaphysically that the decision was against justice. But that attempt did not succeed. This was a robbery, and nothing else.
The same friend being at a celebrated betting-house a few nights before this sheet went to press, was witness to the most barefaced robbery of five pounds,—under the semblance of a wager, that ever was committed by foot-pad or highwayman! At the famous trotting-house in —— Moorfields, one of the company, who was unusually opaque, from the use of grog, was set upon by another, more transparent than himself, to play at draughts; not with himself, for he could not play, but with another man, who came in a little before him. It was to no purpose the groggy man cried off—pleaded his "inability,—that he was too ripe to lay wagers," crying "Peter, I will lay with you to-morrow, when I know more of my man!" Oh, no! this was the only thing that would not do; and the gentleman was bothered into the deposit of his money to play ​with one who was a dead nail! A plant! Need the reader be told how the bull ran? It was a close rub.
We have given these as two gross instances. There are others more subtle; and some others that are meant to be lost,—in order to draw you on; and a few that are fair, but depend upon judgment. For instance, at the house in Middle row, Holborn, you shall find of a day half a dozen bets depending on the number of coaches which shall go up or go down the street in a given time; sometimes they are laid on the gross amount of their whole numbers affixed on the doors. Others again wager on the prevalence of grey horses, or black ones, &c. Judgment may be brought in aid of the wagering kiddies, even in these foolish bets; for about play-going time (six o'clock) more coaches go up than down, of course more amount in numbers will go that way, and more grey horses.
CARDS.
Such is the least blameable species of gambling! What must be those of blacker hue? Notwithstanding the law, concerning low games at public houses, cards are used in about one-fourth of ​them throughout the year. Strolling into an Inn yard in VVhitechapel a few days ago, to pick up information for this book, I walked into the "tap-room," to notice the manoeuvres upon the arrival of a coach,—then expected. Here presently came in a horse-keeper, the ostler, a waiter, and a hanger-on, whom I knew to be a thief, from a cut in his face, which I noticed particularly when upon his trial once. They called for the cards, as a thing of course, and played at all-fours, for porter and small wagers.
While I gave them room to imagine I was such a fool as to be touting the landlady, I had an eye to the game, in which there was no small cheating. In order to make friends with the hanger-on, I called out, in slang, when his adversary rubbed off a chalk too many. My eye! how he did open! "Called him all but a gentleman," in such rum style, and offered two to one upon the game as it now stood, which was accepted by a young countrynmn, who had been foolishly induced to hold their stakes from the beginning, which was the first step towards being taken in. By the way, in putting down again the chalk, which had been so improperly taken, our hanger-on extended his little finger in such a manner as to rub out one of his own chalks; ​but all would not do, though the countryman "stood it like bricks and mortar," he won the odds upon that game, which was too palpably gone at the moment to be mistaken for a win. Need the reader be told that he lost in the sequel? He lost four games "successfully" (successively,) "all hand running." I myself tried on the noodle for a tizzy or two: he got the wrong side of the post there too; and if I had chosen to be sweet upon him, I might have drawn him something handsome, for he was ready tip; but I had better business in hand, as the others had shortly after, when the ———— stage coach drove into the yard, each man putting his hand (of cards) into his pocket, as he sallied forth. The hanger-on, however, first taking a survey through the windows before he went out, and as for me, I was stagging the whole party; but can take upon myself to say nothing was then done; for had there been, I should have split and turned honest, as is usual.
"Do you know him in the new corderoy jacket?" asked the tap-keeper of me; "he with the large gilt buttons?"—"I think I have seen him at play before," I answered, cautiously; adding I "wonder what post he fills here?"—"What post!" echoed the tap-keeper; "do you not think that ​I am as great a fool as you? I wonder why Mr. S—— lets him hang about here for; there is one or two other such sometimes."
I did not reply, but continued to stag; which he perceiving, asked whether I wanted any one? and demanded pardon for making so bold, "did he not play with me lately a whole forenoon in Wood Street, at BAGATELLE?"
I gave him to understand that he might; for I had been out of place, and picked up a few stray shillings in that way, which came in very sweet to me, notwithstanding my appearance.
Here he put me upon an examination: "Could I draw the nine? Make sure of any hole once out of twice? Could I top forty once out of three goes?" To all which I answered modestly in the affirmative; upon which he chuckled a good deal; proposed that I should act the novice to-morrow at the board, until something handsome was betted, and that he and me would make a good thing of it. Finally, we parted, with a promise to meet again, and a repartee pun: he asked "which do you use, mace or cue?" To which I answered that I myself was mace, but I could come it the cue. Here the bon mot consists in turning the tap-keeper's noun mace into the verb to mace, or cheat.
​In the room which he pointed out to me, I saw no Bagatelle board, so took the liberty to make enquiry after it. Some low fellows had it in the kitchen, to which I repaired; but this room being immediately under the publican's eye, he never permits them to play for more than a pint of porter, and makes no little parade of the regulation,—though I was convinced he himself would be the first to break through it. He afterwards removed the board into the parlour, where some one or other continued to play from noon to midnight, as I afterwards found.
Going towards Holborn I looked into three places where the same game was playing; and took the liberty of looking in upon them again after business was over, and found they had all been as actively employed, pretty nigh, as that one in Wood Street.
By actual reckoning I have found these boards to average the amount of liquor lost and won at them, at something less than three shillings per hour, when they are going; and it is no unusual thing to find them engaged three or four deep; disputes often arising for the next turn or go. Now as nine of these boards are kept in Farringdon Ward alone, I calculate there are one hundred and eight in the city, and not less than four ​hundred and fifty within the Bills of Mortality; making, for the whole of London, an average loss (for liquors only) of four hundred and five pounds a day, estimating each to be occupied only six hours. As all these have been taken at estimates too low for the actual state of things, we may correctly set the amount down at the round sum of five hundred pounds a day, without saying a word of the dry money, which may, we can safely conjecture, be as much more; or a total of one thousand pound daily for the gratification of a game at once new and fascinating. So much for La Bagatelle, at which novices do frequently win large numbers, and the best players are sometimes foiled. For my part I never lost any thing at it; and in my last play won every thing. But it is no less pernicious to the stranger, who is sure to be done, either by booty or playing off. Therefore it is, I warn my readers to keep clear from invitations to, even "one roll up of the balls," for ever so small a wager; for, as I am not now playing, but writing for the good of the uninformed, I should not perform my duty (I am told) if I did not come out with every precaution and advice in my power; and I will add, if they are not cured by my exposition of the ​danger they run, I will play any one of them tomorrow, —— and beat him.
Draughts are more generally in use: and they are in like manner followed with enthusiasm by the votaries of Mercury, that president of purloining, among the ancients. So intense are the players at this stupid game, that you may see a couple of decent men, who deserve a better occupation, bestowing the utmost extension of their faculties upon the upshot of a game that deserves, nor shall receive from me other than the bitterest execration, because it is the grave of thought, the extinguisher of every generous sense. Do men meet together to shut their minds up upon a move of timber? and then, when the game is over, start up as if awaked out of a sleep to join in the jovialities of the evening? After "pushing about the wooden gods," as Johnny Bee used to call them, can they descend to converse with us mortals? No!
But they are not less the means of taking money (or money in the shape of drink) out of your pockets. It is the common practice to let you in, if you intermeddle, or give your advice (for novices can see a move which the experienced player cannot). Verbum sat. Should you bet or play, you are done.
​Next to draughts, in a general way, is backgammon, a game of science indeed, as well as of luck. Although you cannot play, you may bet; but if you do you are done. The moment the bets are made superior to the stakes at play, the game is sold. Sold! Even in the most respectable looking company, you are done out of your bet to a dead certainty.
Those, with dominos, are the only games at play, in a general way, to which the untaught, unpractised visitor to our Metropolis is exposed. Other and more ardent trials await the man of money, and of warm, generous feelings, who thinks every one he meets as honest as himself. Faro, Rouge et Noir, E. O. Vingt-une, Hazard, are the high-cut games of those who attack the vitals of an hereditary estate, or the peace of a family, long ennobled by acts of nobleness, which royalty cannot enhance by the fictitious addition of its ribbons, its smiles, or the laying on of a sword; much less by writing on a piece of paper or parchment the word Baron, Viscount, or Earl! What less was Mr. P—— before he was lord B——! how was his state altered by being created Earl of M——?
Lately, a general blow up hath taken place of nearly all the do's at the West end of the town, ​by means of a most ill-written poem, the stanzas of which have served as a kind of pegs upon which to hang the notes. The consequence has been, that new and yet unpractised methods are daily resorted to, of which we will apprise our readers by and by, whereby to come at the money of the unsuspecting stranger. We think the poet has no more rhyme than we have sense; we know more than he does of the things he describes; and some things of which he appears to know nothing. We allude to "the Greeks," a poem.
What signifies his telling the public about the two sevens (77) in Jermyn Street, or the same quaint description of the feverish do. (77) in Pall Mall? the so-called subscription houses! Or indeed, any house or person, if he describes not the mode in which the novice in town is done out of his money? Names and places have changed in nine months, wonderfully. To be sure, those remain; they remain known; whereas they were antecedently known only to a few (the chosen few) black legs. But a question arises in our minds—why did he suppress every mention of the three houses next the palace gate? or the tree at the opposite corner, which, like a will-o'-the-wisp, is now up, now down, now in, now out? He is shrewdly suspected by many of ​interestedness, who could thus pass over those who, equally in flagrante delictu, were practising the same frauds as their neighbours. The poet did not mention the house in Bury Street, as he ought, nor the name of Oldtield, with proper discrimination, to be understood as guarding the unpractised stranger from entering his house. He could not be aware, indeed, of the subsequent Bow Street examination, at which even the watchman could come out with so much intelligence; nor of the four new establlshments in Pall Mall with the oval panes, where every thing is affected to be done fair and above board.
Furthermore, of what use is the mention of a Smith, or a Hewetson! They can change names as well as appearances and residence; and the unpractised in the ways of town (and indeed, the most practised) shall be deceived by the glittering external of houses and persons, which change with the seasons their Proteus form! It is the practices, the arts, and delusions resorted to, which constitute the danger; and the more finesse that is used, the more is the chance increased of your falling a victim to the snares laid out for your destruction.
How, or in what way, it came to be known, remains yet to be developed, that a young ​gentleman from Oxford, in going home to spend the vacation, took up his residence at a house in the city, totally out of the verge of all gambling. Probably he was induced to adopt that house, as well from its vicinity to the mail-coach office, as its having been the usual residence of his late father in town, and consequently, that the most respectable mercantile gentlemen from the north put up at. Hither, however, he must have been traced; for here, on the very day of his coming, a very dashing blade of the first water, made his appearance, and took up his residence; although he was rather outré cela, yet his driving a stilish gig and commanding a groom, could be no objection to give him the common courtesies of the —— and ——. At the first interview with the young gentleman, who had a previous disposition for play, the wily gambler (for so he turned out to be) wormed himself into his esteem by dint of face, a goodly person much beyond the common cut, and the knowledge of several esteemed graduates, from whom he had so lately parted at the university.
"By G—, Sir, you shall dine with me," exclaimed the fine fellow: "four o'clock, say you!" "Make it five. I have two humdrum acquaintance at that hour upon a Yes and No business, so you ​shall dine with me. Between you and me the occasion deserves a damned good dinner; however, of that more anon."
Who would not concede an hour upon such an occasion! A good dinner, an agreeable companion, and two dull friends to give audience to all you may utter, could not be unacceptable to a young gentleman full of spirit, who was almost alone, except when visited by the lawyers concerning the family property which, by the deaths of his elder brother and father, had devolved upon him to manage.
Before they sit down to dinner, the reader must be told that the dashing blade of the stilish gig and groom was a black leg! His two humdrum acquaintance, as he termed them, were likewise two sharpers from the same hot bed of insidious robbery—St. James's. And he was under the necessity of postponing the dinner hour, that he might have time to send for them, as probably they were then in bed! And even when they came, another couple were sent for, the booty was expected to be so great!
The dinner over, our party of four resolved on a game at whist, and ordered a couple of packs of cards. But no: a person in the house knew one of the couple, who had come in, to have been ​dealer at a Rouge et Noir table, and now belonged to a Bank, which played all comers, at "the two sevens." Cards were accordingly refused. On some genteel pretence, and the refusal would no doubt have thrown our spark into a fit of madness, (if we may judge by his present behaviour) but from the consolation of a promise, that tomorrow cards would be provided. During this paroxysm he paid the bill for dinner and wine, with an air which bespoke utter indifference for the sum total.
Good wine with good company, quickly digest a good dinner, and make the minutes roll merrily away. No time seemed to have elapsed since dinner, when that harbinger of ill-news, the waiter entered, with the appalling information that the horses were putting to; but there was still a good quarter of an hour to spare.
"A quarter of an hour!" exclaimed the Leg: "damnation! What horses?"
"Mail, Sir!" smirkingly replied waiter.
"I have taken my place, and must depart. You may recollect I told you yesterday I should go the moment my business was finished: the fortunate postponement of dinner, enabled me happily to complete the negociation I was upon," Said Mr. B——d, the intended dupe; and he did ​set off, notwithstanding the pressing intreaties of the gallant leg and his two companions. Their arguments wanted logic. "Cui bono?" asked he, inwardly; and when he found the answer to be "a game at Whist, to-morrow evening," and the consequent delay of two days in setting out, he came to his conclusion, which nothing could move.
He went; and the two "dull friends," went their way. But our leg expected two more of the club to look in, and did not choose to wait and hear their reproaches and vexatious remarks, which he knew would follow the disappointment and expences they underwent; so whilst his groom was "putting to" he wrote the note, of which the following is a copy:—
"H.
Your's, S."
This he wafered up, and left with the waiter; but the wafer was wet, which, as he let a significant word drop that excited much talk, the waiter resolved to open. On jumping into his gig, he incautiously ejaculated to his groom, in tones of discontent, "no do, by G—!" Such an expression "let the cat out of the bag" with a vengeance; ​it showed the cloven foot, and the attempt to fleece this young gentleman stood as much exposed as if the parties had been at confession.
Will ye not learn, incautious youth! from this real and veritable narration, that no pains or expence are spared to intrap you in the toils of the destroyer? That men combine their purses and talents to defraud you of your patrimony; no time, place, distance, or combination, beingan obstacle to the pursuit of their object. Did we not hear, with agony, the disclosures of an equally villanous attempt, at Brighton in Autumn, 1817, of one O'M—ra, (a nine years resident there,) who dispatched his leg to London at a great expence to bring back a well-fledged pigeon to be plucked under his own eye? But the scheme failed through accident.
Although we have given instances from highlife, yet the same practices come all the way, by gradations, down to the meanest man that ever had a pound to lose. A party—respectable let us suppose for a moment—meet at a house, respectable enough for your ideas of propriety, to play a fair game at cards. "No high betting!" No. But then, into such a party, however upright may be the leading persons, some one or more black sheep is likely to show his front. A ​leg, as arrant a black leg, as ever entered tle purlieus of St. James's, may be found in St. Paul's church yard; and so far as leg-ism (cheating) goes, they have as many tricks at the one as at the other place.
If a man is to be done, what signifies it to him, whether that be by a game at vulgar put, or the more elegant (because frenchified) Rouge et Noir, et tous les deux? What, if he gambles his all, whether it amounts to hundreds, or thousands, or tens of thousands?
False dice, is a common cheat, of which the game of roley poley is but an imitation; but there never was a pair made that by use did not lose their true die or square, and thereby receive a new bias, known only to those who are in the habit of using them.
Of horses and cocks, and the athletic games, we have said nothing: in the first place they are not London games; and secondly, we say, bet not at all; upon the most trivial matter they are meant but to decoy and entrap the unwary, who, if a doubt arises, is sure to be out-voted in strange company.
See more under the head of Lottery-offices and pretended parsons, lawyers, and doctors.
MONEY-DROPPERS,
Are no other than gamblers, who contrive that method to begin play. It is an almost obsolete practice; and its twin-cheat, ring-dropping, is not less disused: Men, now-a-days, manage things more subtly; both kinds of these droppers, too, vary their mode of proceeding to infinity. "What is this?" says the dropper; "my wiggy! if this is not a leather purse with money! Ha! ha! ha! Let's have a look at it." While he unfolds its contents, his companion comes up, and claims his title to a share. "Not you, indeed! replies the finder, this gentleman was next me; was not you. Sir?" To which the countryman assenting, or, perhaps, insisting upon his priority, the finder declares himself no churl in the business, offers to divide it into three parts, and points out a public house at which they may share the contents, and drink over their good luck: talks as they go of his once sharing in a much larger sum, with a "stranger, who was honourable:—nothinglike honour!" The found money is counterfeit, or screens, or else Fleet notes.
They drink, and fill their grog again; and should a little rain come on, they improve on that circumstance, or any other; such as the coming ​in of an old friend, whom the finder can barely recognise, but remenibers him by piecemeal. La Bagatelle, the draught board, or cards, constantly exhibit the means of staking the easily-acquired property so lately found, but which they cannot divide just now for want of change. The countryman bets, and if he loses, is called upon to pay; if he wins 'tis added to what is coming to him out of the purse.
If, after an experiment or two, they discover he has little or no money, they run off, and leave him to answer for the reckoning. But with money, they stick to him until all is gone: if he turns a little restive they abuse him; if he objects to pay he must fight his man; if he can do that tolerably well, they all fall on board him, and chase him forth of the house with execrations and coarse epithets. Such are among the latest occurrences of this sort, but they do not average once a year.
Another playful mode is, for butcher's boys or stall-keepers' boys, to place a white metal button in the street, with a string fastened to the eye, both of which are pressed into the dirt. A stranger to the trick, might very naturally stoop to pick up what appears to be a shilling; but no sooner has his fingers come in contact with the ​dirt (from which he endeavours to extract it) than the young urchin, who holds the string, draws it up suddenly, and the finder has nothing but dirty fingers for his pains. This is the least guilty trick we shall have to record. The
RING-DROPPERS,
Have more cunning to display in turning their wares into money; the pretending to find a ring being the lowest and least profitable exercise of their ingenuity.
It makes a part of the ring-droppers art to find things much more valuabla than those: the favourite articles are jewellery, such as broaches, earrings, necklaces and the like, made up in a paper parcel, sometimes in a small box, in which is stuck a bill of parcels with high flown descriptions and heavy charges. Proceeding with the dupe nearly as before, the sharper proposes, that as he is not in cash, he will willingly relinquish his share for a small proportion of the amount set down in the fictitious bill of parcels; and if you pay him one pound in ten of that amount, you are done. The diamonds are paste, the pearls are the eyes of fish, the gold is polished brass, gilt.
This mode, however, and that of picking up a gold ring, close at the feet of a young servant ​girl, is very little used. "Is this your ring, young woman? Let me see your finger; if it is I shall find a mark there. Well! I'll declare it's good gold; don't you see the stamp?" says the dropper; and then he proceeds to inveigle her into a purchase. But the whole concern cannot amount to more than three or four shillings, and is really too shabby to detain the reader upon any longer.
KIDNAPPERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, TRAPPERS, AND CRIMPS,
Have much altered their plans of operations within these very few years; for instance, the last mentioned have entirely disappeared since the year 1796; being put down by dint of law, and the little necessity there was for their services, when the government adopted the plan of recruiting the army out of the militia. That department of crimping which applied itself to the land service, then, being abrogated and done away, we have only to notice that which is now practised with regard to seamen. The East India company contract with Crimps for a supply of sailors to navigate their ships out and home; these are, for the most part Jews, who have made advances to the sailors of money (very ​small sums), clothes, victuals and lodgings;—every article being charged extravagantly high. The poor fellows are accordingly placed under a sort of espionage, if not close confinement, till the ship is ready to receive them; and then they are conducted on board at Gravesend, by the Crimp and assistants, and a receipt taken for them.
In this process there is nothing very frightful: the men want berths, and the Crimp wants to be sure of his men: the grand do is in seamen receiving any thing but money of the Crimp; it is in watches, buckles, hats, and jackets that the robbery is committed. And in the victuals,—foh! the whole is barefaced unblushing robbery. With the same view of doing the unwary poor fellows, these Crimps get hold of their "Tickets" as soon as they come on shore, upon which tl ey make advances of watches, jewellery and such stuff, to about one twentieth of the amount. Not only is this the case in London, but at all the outports it is practised to a very great extent, in war-time particularly. Portsmouth was the seat of unheard-of villainies, and rapid fortunes, during the long war that has just been brought to a close.
Happy would it be for poor Jack, were this all: he is sometimes brought in indebted to the ​Crimp to a large nominal amount, by what is called a long-shore attorney, or more appropriately, a black shark, and thrown into jail!!! There he lits until his body is wanted, and then the Incarcerator negotiates with him for his liberty, to be permitted to enter on board again. Seamen should take care of their tickets and discharges, though they spend all their money; but if he wants a bit of lark, why nothaveit with his relations and friends, in his own native place, to which a stage coach would carry him in a day or two, at th.e rate of ten knots an hour? Advice that ought not to be thrown away at any time, much less during war.
The same class in society, who thus entrap the incautious sailor, are not likely to be compunctuous in taking in the lands-man. One of their chief moves at this game is to charge an innocent person with a crime; first by inuendo, if in-doors at a public house, and then direct, provided they have there a good assemblage of their fellows. These will swear to any thing that may be suggested by their spokesman; and it is best to rebut their most insignificant impertinencies at the outset, and to shew the proper indignalion consistently with your character: If you once evince symptoms of fear, standing silently horror-struck, ​at the preposterousness of the imputation, they repeat the blow with redoubled force, and you are lost, at least your money; for it is to obtain your money that the charge is made.
Others still lower walk up to gentlemen in the streets, and accuse them of robbery, or of unnatural crime, of having debauched his wife or sister, or getting a girl with child—especially if they know your name. Some years ago a woman accused a noble lord of having robbed her of a fifty pound note, and he was tried at the Old Bailey for it; but she was immediately convicted of perjury, and transported. Much later, one Ann Radford accused a person of murdering another man in her presence; but the latter appearing in court, staggered belief of her evidence: she too was convicted, iike the former, and about the time we are writing, may have reached her place of destination, Botany Bay. Both these women were postitutes; but the latter was a country occurrence.
A fellow in the —— regiment of foot guards, whose nickname, Nancy Cooper, designates his character, (as it was considered by the givers), accused a gentleman in the Strand of a beastly offence, said to have been perpetrated in St. James's Park. Struck dumb at the heinousness ​of the charge, the accused gentleman complied with the demand of giving what money he had about him; but immediately after was advised to prosecute, which he did most effectually, for Nancy was hanged at the Old Bailey.
Women of the town will walk up to one whom they think they can easily astonish, with their stays stuffed out with rags (perhaps), and reminding him of certain foolish familiarities, in which he has indulged, persuade him by all the tokens in her power, that he is the father of the child of which she is now pregnant. [An indisputable fact.] Here she enlarges her tale pitifully, with an allusion to her helpless state and want of money; next touching upon the hardness of parish officers, and that with a little assistance she shall be able to lie-in without applying to them, or swearing the child, which she hopes may die! and herself too. Asks him whether he would advise her to get relieved at the advertised lying-in houses—such as the "Blue Lamp" in Loudon House-yard;—or, deeper still, she invites him to procure abortion medicines: should he consent, he is a ruined man. A noble lord (T——d) was safely robbed in this way so lately as this winter, 1817.
After using these topics, she asks directly for ​the money he may have about him? Hectors and bullies, not a little, and insists upon his coming to see her; or that otherwise she shall come and see him in a different sort of way. At whatever stage of this boisterous meeting he bleeds the least sum of money probable for the occasion, she is always ever after sticking in his skirts: if the silly man takes fright, and is afraid of being discovered, she brings a companion, and they together bully him out of his money at proper intervals,—perhaps, in a state bordering on distraction, they obtain a promise of marriage! I leave the reader to contemplate the eftiects of such an union, on his purse, and peace of mind.
Those of which we have spoken, are accusations without any foundation, there are other and blacker kinds of criminal charges, made against individuals, that have some ground-work to build charges upon; but which becomes, nevertheless, more atrocious as the perpetrators have twice double objects in view, viz. the commission of crime, the detection, the death of ihe culprit, and payment for their villainy. Of these we shall hereafter speak, under their modern and most appropriate title of Blood hounds, which the reader is desired to see!
Every false accusution goes to the utter ​extinction of character, they include the fear of imprisonment, and nearly all aim at the life of the accused; which there is too good reason to believe they sometimes take away, inasmuch as having once ventured to broach the subject there is no retreat left them. In all cases of false accusation or entrapment, the accusers generally prove too much; acting always with indecent eagerness they overshoot their mark.
PRETENDED OFFICERS.
Seeing the success which has attended the depredations of officers bearing his majesty's staff—as Vaughan, Brock, Pelham, Johnson and others, many an old thief assumes the garb and authority of such, in order the better to carry on their own, or their accomplices' robberies. This is usually done at night, by ordering off, peremptorily, any casual passenger, or other person, who may be upon the watch, while the business is carrying on. At other times, small thieves get about among groups of people, particularly on Saturday night; and one crying out "be off," "go home," "come, come, I'll have no more of this!" the people show their spirit by reprobating such conduct; when the accomplice pretends ​to take part and carney with them; and hereupon in the way to the gin shop, while there, or at coming out, they purloin meat, halfpence, or if the incautious novice produces his purse, they prefer that, and its scanty contents.
I one Saturday night saw a fellow at this game in Whitecross Street, and wishing to be in it, I got into a lot of about a dozen old women, every one of them more or less snuffy, but they were purloined of pieces of meat by the shabby fellow, who declared himself an officer, "and talked about his authority;" but he was below my "cut," and I blinked him, as there was no one there worth "doing." Well pleased was I to see a little man step up to him, and after demanding what authority he meant, squared at him,—took him a topper, and a breast-cut; and afterwards, with the assistance of the patrol, he was conveyed to the watch house in Bunhill Row. Here he was frisked of his eatables, and stood the gammon well as ever I saw; but he got clear off, because has was known to two of the Worship Street Traps, who were in attendance there; and they broiled the stolen mutton, while the gentleman who had fibbed him was fined a half gallon for his interference. This mutton-thief turned out to be a Nose to one of these officers, ​and that was reason enough for getting off easy. He that very blessed night, in my own hearing, split upon Bill-Bill of Golden Lane; who only escaped the sessions by reason of the Nose having called too late upon the officer; which latter (his wife declared) got up, and had been gone out ever since five o'clock (in the afternoon), "because the house was too hot to hold him."
Should a "novice in town," ramble into a public house, late in the evening, if it be not very respectable (and that does not matter, at all times) he may have one or two set upon hira, pretending to be officers, ordering him and his party home, in expectation of a treat, but if discovered, pretending to be upon the lark. Landlords in general pull with them, because they are old customers, and do good to a house.
OF SEARCHING.
In cases where a party accused stands search, articles are passed into possession of the searched, as suits the purpose of the searcher. When the lads were taken up on Tower Hill for smashing, they had no money about them bad or good until after a kind of second search, when the officer conveyed the base coin iuto their possession.
​Some years before, Mr. B —— of Newgate Street was found intoxicated by the watchman, but his watch could not be found, and the drunkard accused the guardian of the night of having stolen it, to his certain knowledge. Search was made, the watchman was dismantled, but no watch could be found upon either party until the house was cleared, and then it was discovered upon the right owner. Very few people believed it had been there all the time: but the highest part of the joke was to follow: the watchman, threatened an action for defamation, and received five pounds as a compromise for the damage his character sustained from the foulness of the charge!
When Jem Leary underwent his second examination for the murder of Clifford, his clasp knife was produced; which was pretended to have been found on the spot, but which he on his first examination, stated to have lent to the deceased at supper time. Now the deed was not committed with a knife, but a hammer; the accused claimed the knife the moment it was produced, said he had left it at home in the cup-board the same morning,—yet was this clumsy incident received in proof. Leary was hanged, and the officer discharged for something else.
SMUGGLERS.
Some custom house officers searched G——s and Co., in St. Paul's Churchyard, for contraband silk goods, in vain; for which they would be liable to an action for damages, and were threatened with it; but fortunately one of them found an old Bandana handkerchief in a dirty-clothes bag, which he could swear to as foreign manufacture. However, the assembled domestics and warehousemen would all have sworn equally positive the handkerchief belonged to neither of them, or their master.
N.B. When premises are entered for a search, the family should divide, and accompany each officer. The same as to personal search, a friend of the accused should be present.
As publicans are liable to the penalties for game, or contraband goods found on their premises, though these should belong to other people, they should be careful for whom they take charge of goods, as they are sometimes left for the purpose of laying information. Tom Minter, the Stretton's Ccffee House, Newgate market, was so served—but got clear over it, in the Court of Exchequer!! Stopp, of the Queen's head, St. John's Street, had his house searched for silk ​goods of which some were seized, and the fine, after every plea for moderation, he got over only by paying upwards of a hundred pounds.
INFORMERS.
Informers, who find no real dealers in contraband, are obliged to evince their activity to their employers by creating them. They wheedle themselves into the good graces of some unsuspecting Noodle at the Alehouse; generally a drunkard who has good connections in life. Him, they stuff up with a great idea of what each other is doing in the trade; for there are always two or even six, seven, or eight frequenting the same house. Having primed him in this way, some goods are produced upon the sly, a lamentation is set up that such great beauties, and so cheap, cannot find a sale; how happy many ladies would be only to look at such a shawl, or gentlemen such fine large Bandanas;—then the Noodle's friends are described, as near as may be, and if he does not open his mouth, a direct offer is made to him, his honesty commended, and if he appear a little seedy they rig him out. For a space of time, be it more or less, he goes on and prospers for a while, thinks it a fine career to move in, and probably, by his example, induces some other ​poor devil, like himself, sometimes much more respectable than either, to embark in the same trade. Then comes the tragedy. The informers are in full possession of the names of all the purchasers, and the whole line of connections go to wreck. If they mean to go on again in the same career, they manage to get locked up at a Spunging house; and then inform against the Noodle they had first duped, who is brought to the same place, and the old Informer assumes the character of the "wolf in sheep's clothing," worms him of the remaining names of his customers, and informations are issued and penalties levied against the whole. Both parties express their sorrow, that the predicament in which they were placed should have driven them to such an act, and they are then at liberty to pursue their avocations at the same place. The more timid remove to great distances, even so far as from the Commercial road turnpike to Cork Street, Picadilly, others only into the city, about Newgate market, to Aldersgate Street, and such neighbourhoods.
In the summer of 1816, Brown obtained a list of persons likely to buy silk goods in the counties of Buckingham, Northampton, and parts adjacent from a gentleman of high ​respectability, with whom he had become acquainted at a dining house in Newgate Street;—my Teddy accordingly undertakes the journey as regularly as ever tradesman went upon his business. Some months elapsed before he could lay his informations; for, getting into the King's Bench, his real creditors kept him there and in Horsemonger Lane, four or five months. However, slow and sure, is a good maxim. Some few at Stoney Stratford were taught a lesson they will not shortly forget to the tune of 200l. or 300l. each.
N.B. These instances show respectable persons how very careful they ought to be in taking recommendations from their most valuable friends, to pursue a course so likely—more than likely—to turn out as these did. This is called a genteel do.
British goods are the highest hoax upon the knowing ones. Shawls, scarfs, elastics, &c. are now mane equal to the French, in some instances superior; and will puzzle the learned to find out the difference. In December, 1817, the court of Exchequer was filled with witnesses, the best judges of silk goods in the kingdom, who gave their opinion, like men, that our manufactures beat Monsieur's hollow. The defendants, Harding & Co. were therefore fined only in about a ​fortieth part of the penalties incurred, as a compromise. This was a great triumph for the British manufacturer; but none for those who lived by hawking about the like goods for foreign, and selling them as such.
This latter go is more particularly in vogue with regard to Bandana handkerchiefs, which are now made to resemble the best Batavia. The house of P. Johnson & Co. make some heavier than P.T., even sixteen ounces and a quarter, though it must be allowed the company's goods [C.G.] are larger and superior, not being too high-dressed. However, the British is, and must be taken, as a very fair substitute for the "real India."
ARTICLES SMUGGLED.
Of smuggling as well as of smugglers a word or two may not be amiss. The quantity of foreign spirits so introduced to, and used in London, is very small: no one can hope to buy that which pretends to be such, of even tolerable quality; so that the apparent saving of a very few shillings, per gallon is counterbalanced by the evil of swallowing a hot, fiery, ill-cleansed, and consequently ill-flavoured article, made up as it is of spirit obtained from every variety of obnoxious materials.
​Teas and Coffee, the former particularly, must be bad. For they are such as come under one of these heads,—1. Purloined from the warhouses. 2. Sweepings, 3. Imported from the continent or in American vessels. Now, 1. that which has been secreted about the persons of the workmen and porters, is likely to have acquired a flavour very different from what a delicate taste would expect from pure tea. 2. Sweepings from the holds of Indiamen, as well as the surplus sea-stock of officers and men, must lose their virtue by exposure, whatever the appearance may be, besides the contamination of every thing offensive. 3. Teas brought to Europe by foreigners, are not, at the beginning, so good as those of our East India Company; who pick and choose and cull all the best goods of every description in India as well as here, leaving to private adventurers, private traders and foreigners the refuse. This must be more particularly the case with tea, because the company buy nineteen twentieths of all that is brought to Canton; the Dutch, the Swedes, French, and Americans, dividing the remaining one-twentieth between them.
Such is the sort of tea which, on account of the high duty, is smuggled (in very small quantities) about London.
​Coffee that is hawked about is not smuggled as is pretended: it is stolen, or inferior, or jobbed for against other goods.
Candles and Soap are generally as good as the regular trade, sometimes better, and make the single exception in that respect, and as to cheapness, of any smuggled articles, you may perhaps obtain prime moulds at one shilling per doz. less than dipt candles; and about as much saving may be made upon soap.
PRIVATE DISTILLERIES.
But that species of contraband which is carried on to the largest extent, and is most ruinous to those engaged in it, is the distillation of ardent spirits; at one and the same time, the easiest effected, and the hardest to work at of all the illicit manufactures, as the article is difficult to dispose of when made, for publicans hesitate before they embark in a trade, from the trammels of which they can never be free. The makers and vendors frequently turn round upon their heel, and inform against the purchasers; upon whom, if they are licensed victuallers, the penalties are treble,—and the exise commissioners seldom relax so much on this as they do upon other offences.
​Most private distillers keep pigs; for this reason, that they not only eat up the residue of the materials, but are also a good cloak in brirging in and carrying out whatever may be necessary. The pigs go to Smithtield, fat, and store pigs are brought back in a little cart. A large basket containing bladders goes forward and backward, and the business is now effected with more safety than ever, as I myself have witnessed. Being out upon a drinking spree with four or five others in the autumn of 1817, near Chelsea, I saw one of these carts stop at the door, the driver calling for a pint of beer, as he descended with a small market basket in his hand. As he did not come into the room where we were, but went backwards into a dark kitchen-looking place, my curiosity was raised, so I watched him through the glass as I sat on the table: he stooped down, as if concealing something, and went away in a short time without speaking to any one; as the landlord never stirred out of our company, and the pot boy who served him with the beer had been ordered out by his master to get in the pots. What was my surprise upon sneaking backwards, to find he had not drank half of his beer! which I then recollected he did not pay for, so far as I could see. He had placed two bladders of ​spirits underneath the seat, one of which we boned in the most open way imaginable, before the landlord's face; while two of them made a bit of lark with the poor fellow, the others walked off at a round pace with the bladder of spirits, which proved double strong, but ill-flavoured.
Drunken men and fools, are said to tell the truth; so think I. Out of such have I wormed a pretty precious sight of information. Out of three or four facts, and shrewd guesses at something more, I come to the conclusion, thatseveral of our topping Distillers began with (though they may not continue) private stills. Every one has heard of the detection of Mr. L——, heretofore sheriff of London; add to him two neighbour distillers who are now at the zenith of commercial prosperity, but who, nevertheless, formerly kept the private still going, which formed the nucleus of their respective fortunes. In the dark recesses of an illicit haunt, was laid the foundation of those splendid equipages, which dazzle the drivelling practitioner of a more honest calling! Ascending from the north door of Saint Paul's N. N. E. ½ N. (as a sailor would direct an enquirer) at the rate of five mile* an hour, you shall espy one of them in ten minutes, over the starboard bow, marked R. near ​the forechains; and at fifteen minutes run, 'tis ten to one but you spy the other right a-head, while upon the larboard wake her gallant well-found tender lies at anchor in Carthusian Creek.
Of all smugglers, or pretended smugglers, the most successful are those termed
BUFFERS, mistakenly called DUFFERS.
Many of them make a good living, one or two have become rich to my certain knowledge, and almost all of them heretofore carried the pack up and down the country at fairs, great markets, and revels. They are invariably north-countrymen. Jordaine was a Glasgow man, and made ten thousand pounds by the last mentioned profession, but never buffed it in the streets of London, so far as I ever heard, saw, or believe.
The term buffer is derived from the practice which once prevailed of carrying Bandanas, Sarsnets, French stockings, &c. next their shirts; so, as they were obliged to undress in order to come at the goods, or in other words to strip to the skin or buff, they obtained the name of buffers. When Mr. Barrington did his book, they might, and probably did, carry their goods always about them, and show them in the streets; now, however, they carry on trade in a more genteel manner, ​leaving a pack at some public house near where they mean to ply, to which they invite the unwary passenger.
The chief haunt for the buffers has been for some years at the back of Saint Olave's church near Union Hall; for the packmen in London, though they are not numerous, yet in my night travels, I have frequently seen five or six at a time turn in at the Falcon, Falcon Square.
Now these chaps are not rogues, in the strict meaning of the word—they only sell to the best advantage. If they can persuade you an article is better than it actually is, you have nothing to complain of—every tradesman will do the same. The chief objection to them lies in their mode of operations, and in their overstrained recommendation of their goods. As in every other species of cheatery, they look out for the unknowing, or silly, to whom, walking up with a demure phiz, and interesting air, they announce the pleasing intelligence that they have on sale (as may suit your appearance) "an excellent piece of corduroy, just sufficient for a breeches piece,"—or "some real India muslin, just brought home by a relation, enough for two gowns, at the price of one;" or "what would you think of some beautiful French silk stockings as cheap as cotton, ​and ten times as strong? Sir, there are two or or three pieces of real India handkerchiefs, fine wear, that will last your life-time; and always look well, never wear out: One is yellow—one is chocolate,—one is ——. What a pity! Only just now I sold a [country] gentleman,—your size,—a beautiful fine waistcoat piece (describing the one you wear)—full size, genteel, fast colours, never wear out, at—what d'ye think?" (then he starts out with a sum just half its value)—"Down there, Sir; yes, Sir, at that house with the grapes out, and chequers on, I'll show you such things as you never saw. Very well worth your notice, Sir; no harm done, though you should not buy. I have a pint of porter there half drank, just step in and look at them." Then, part by persuasion, part by force, he hands along his customer to a dark back room, where probably he exhibits some really good articles, if he has a judge of them to deal with, but taking care to "ring the changes" upon wrapping them up, on the event of a purchase. The certainty of a "do" is no longer problematical.
A master-piece of the game is, where his confederate comes in, and begins a conversation with his brother buffer. At the first, quite strangers to each other, the comer-in proposes to withdraw, ​through bashfulness, but is ordered to stay by the confederate, perhaps asked to partake of drink; for all which kindness he seems much obliged, and expresses his thanks clumsily. At length more emboldened, he introduces a word or two in favour of the goods, magnifies their value, recommends a purchase, and all at once recollects having bought some article or other he now wears of such another man. The two knaves join in the description of the man, both agree in the particulars, and in his character for honesty, shake hands and drink together.
Not less frequently, real tradesmen, living in the neighbourhood, who frequent the same house, gooil natuiedly (or with a worse motive) join in the recommendation of the article to be sold, and the delusion is then complete—the stranger is thus taken in with the aid of those who ought to be his protectors. Should you ultimately refuse to purchase, you must put up with a great deal of abuse, provocations to lay wagers, and to fight, or go through with the quarrel by contending against fearful odds. Whatever money you produce never returns to your pockets again; the landlord is sure to take part against you, "for the credit of his house;" and all present will declare themselves ready to swear that you have ​perpetrated such things as in fact you never once so much as thought of. Think yourself well off if you get away without a black eye; but you must lay your account in a kick of the ——, or tweak by the nose.
N.B. Never suffer yourself to be goaded to purchase any article whatever in the streets: they are invariably cheats who attempt it. The shortest way is to decline the least particle of conversation; and if they place their fingers on your arm to stop your progress—peremptorily bid them "hands off," or if you have sufficient strength, knock them down. Whoever places his hand upon your person in the street has nothing good in view, be it man or woman.
JOBBERS.
JOBBERS of nearly the same description abound, who do not stop people in the street, but ply at public houses, offering for sale tobacco, shoes, coals, candles, and such other heterogeneous articles as they think likely to suit the company then there, or the landlord; which latter generally gets supplied with every article of housekeeping, including meat, poultry, salt, clothes, &c. from such "customers." They pretend to have commissions from respectable houses, whom ​they sometimes name, asserting they can pick out goods superior to what you yourself would have an opportunity of choosing. You will generally find them carrying a small parcel, their pockets stuffed with portable articles, and always a tolerable shabby great coat. An air of deep interest, approaching the appearance of care, seems imprinted on their countenances; arising from the constant solicitude they entertain of attracting the favour of every one they address, and the seriousness necessary to impress upon purchasers the goodness of their articles. Sometimes when they have offered one or two kinds of goods, and are at a loss what you may be in want of, they pretend to have jobbed away others against them, in this manner: "only look at that sample, my good Sir; turn it over; I never could sell it so low, but having given cotton goods, by which I got a good profit, in exchange, I can afford to let these go at 20 per cent, under cost price." Here a bill of the goods is produced (nick named a "salt water invoice,") or a memorandum book, equally genuine, to prove his words. Names of respectable persons who have been his customers, are also adduced to raise your confidence; and even the place of his own residence is mentioned, where a few years ago the ​jobber lived in affluence. Such information is seldom untrue; for they are for the most part reduced tradesmen, (who have therefore a long string of acquaintance,) that live by this mode of carrying on trade: neither is the thing in itself disreputable, unless when made so by the introduction of arts and wiles, and misrepresentations to obtain sale, and cheatery in the weight or measure when sold. It cannot be commendable, either for the jobbers to watch strangers into public houses, there to press upon them by plausible arguments, articles for which they have no immediate necessity; therefore, let me advise the reader, with a
N.B. Not to make purchases in public houses at all, even though he should once have known, under very different circumstances, the poor man who tenders his bargains for sale; for the practice of such an itinerant way of trade, with all its concomitants of persuasion and deception, effectuates an alteration in the character and principles, us well as the manner of life, of the best men in the world; while the balance in point of numbers, is considerably in favour of the totally different sort among us. For instance, what ought we to think of a man, who, after sustaining for years an unimpeachable name, and ​filling a distinguished office in the city of London, should be found selling a pound of tea "plated?" that is, at top and bottom a thin layer of fine hyson, and in the middle the rankest bohea, of Dutch importation!
Next to these, as a warning to avoidance, we must notice the
BARKERS,
Who are of Moorfields origin, where they press you to buy household-goods and furniture; as they do clothes in Rosemary Lane, Seven Dials, Field Lane, and Houndsditch. Ladies dresses used to be barked pretty much in Cranbourn Alley and the neighbourhood of Leicester Square; but it is pleasant to have to notice the abatement of the nuisance in a great measure. The shop-women content themselves, now-a-days, with merely asking strangers to look at their goods. I scarcely know what to recommend to my reader in such cases, for he would not like, perhaps, to follow my example: when these fellows were showing me from room to room, and dragging me upstairs and down, I used to manage to carry off portable articles, as ink-bottles—plated crewet-stands, small tea-caddies, and such like sort of little things as would easily squeeze ​up aud stow away. I may, however, repeat what I have said elsewhere, and that is "knock down the man, or indeed the woman, who dares to touch you with the hands:" should you wish to decline this, at least huff the intruder with "hands off, fellow!"
MOCK AUCTIONS.
Another set of these barkers are employed at MOCK AUCTIONS, and no other. "Walk in! the auction is now on," or "just going to begin," they utter, in coarse stentorian strains. Such auctions are easily distinguished from the real ones, notwithstanding they assume all the external marks of genuineness, even up to advertising in the newspapers, and being held in the house of a person lately gone away, or dead. They are called mock auctions, because no intention exists of selling under certain prices, previously fixed upon; which, although not high, is invariably too much for the quality of the goods—which are again of a very inferior cast. And, they are further known, by the anxiety evinced to show the goods to strangers the moment they enter; by the overstrained panegyrics bestowed upon every thing put up; by the exacerbated vocabulary of the auctioneer, who endeavours to jest, to bully, ​and to jaw you into a purchase, asking you in a most petulant way, what you offer for this, that, and the other? All night auctions are of this sort: the seller having purchased the goods for the express purpose of auctioning them off, often pushing the price exorbitantly beyond the real value; asseverating that the manufacturer never will be paid; and increasing his earnestness the more he lies, in order to keep up the delusion.
Sometimes, though the sale has not begun when you enter, they will immediately begin business, and perhaps one among them will pretend to make a purchase; not only so, he will even pay down the money, so that this is likely to induce you to make a bidding. An equally deep manœuvre is, the offer to take back, or exchange, the articles under sale, for others in a day, a week, or ten days. This is more pariicularly the case with watches: if you do so take them back, you pay through the nose for the exchange, and you find out too late you had better have taken Dr. Johnson's advice, and dealt "at a stately shop, at once, where it would not be worth their while to take you in for a pound or two, at the expence of their reputation."
On the other hand, it is not to be denied, that a great many bargains are met with at auctions ​of even the worst sort; especially during the late few years of distressed trade, when manufacturers were in the habit of raising the wind, by sending goods to be sold for what they would fetch,—be that much or little. But here double destruction awaited them; the auctioneer proposes to give his acceptances at once for the sum total; or what is still worse, incites the deluded men to go on making more goods, to an immense amount; but before the bills become due, the acceptor decamps; the Mart, (as such places are called) changes hands once or twice into the possession of his coadjutors, and after undergoing other transmogrifications, it is at length shut up.
This was precisely as it happened at the famous Mart outside Temple Bar, kept by little Williams. He "did the natives," as he used to term it, two or three times, transferring his business to one or other of his colleagues. The last time was that in which he took in a poor hatter for a thousand silk hats, and another for twice the number of chip ones; a Yorkshire man for a great quantity of second broad cloths; another for kerseymeres, and pelisse cloths; and others for pipes of beer and of wine. The first description of hats, were sold at three shillings each less than cost price: the cloths in somewhat the same ​proportions; and the wine was bartered away to one J——y, in Holborn, for linens; but was afterwards recovered by action at law, when all those facts came out. One M——l made an abortive effort to continue the fun, as F——r used to call it; but failed for want of that gumption, or decidedly rogues' tricks, which is necessary in the performance of great actions.
Upon this occasion, who can doubt, but that great bargains were to be met with! But then the time it takes up, and the circumspection necessary to avoid being taken in, besides the chances that exist against the recurrence of the same ingenious devices (little Williams being dead) contribute to render an experiment unsafe.