The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-30 00:00:00

Choice Localities.

The facetious correspondent of the Racing Times
writes on the above subject as follows :
There is a narrow winding thoroughfare leading
from near the north-west corner of the late Fleet
Prison to the Old Bailey, known as Fleet-lane ; it is
a street finishing exactly opposite the principal en-
trance to the gaol of Newgatc. The well-known
and highly profitable concern called the Chatham
and Dover Railway crosses its centre on brick
arches, at one side of which, and running parallel
with them, is a long, open, profitless space, where,
in spite of the proximity of Topper, the greengrocer,
betting men and their customers congregate in force
former well-known
day. Snugly
placedduring
betweenportions
the of
sieveryte of wao r
f
prison and the Central Criminal Court no one can
overlook their proceedings, and they are, in reality,
our
fastidious
of harm's way,pa without any probability of offend-
ingers by. It was my intention to
have paid a flying visit to the airy region of Hyde
Park during the week, but, on second thoughts, left
that aristocratic spot to be attacked by a multitude
of blackguards sailing under the banner of Reform,
deeming it far safer to keep within civic quarters,
and so avoiding knocks, which many received on
the spot, and Knox of a different and practically
potent character, dealt out with vigour and judg-
ment on the two following days,

a high black hoard-
ing, and, for the convenience of backers of horses,
The
d arches
tahree
cpor
no
vt protected
cbey
the company have recently opened a nicely-paved
foot and carriage entrance near the south end of
Farringdon-street, so that members of my extensive
family may have every facility to deposit their cash.
The frequenters of this pleasant locality are of the
usual mixed character—" commission agents" ac-
commodate the smaller fry by laying odds to
anything, even as low as a penny, so that the
rising generation of limited resources may in-
dulge in our great national amusement. One
lad, belonging to the outside shoe-cleaning
brigade, after polishing the boots of a very seedy
bookmaker, took 12 to 1 about Windham for the
Goodwood Cup, engaging that if he lost his layer
should have a couple of " stunning cleans" in lieu
of the regular deposit, so as to avoid the expensive
process of parting with actual bronze. An agent of
the eminent firm of Lazenby and Co. was on the
spot. This is a new establishment, not noted by me
before, but, as good things cannot be two widely
diffused, I make known the advertisement, which
runs as follows :—" Small turf commissions as low
as one shilling faithfully attended to, and best
market prices obtained, by letter only (stamped
directed envelopes must be sent for answers). La-
zenby and Co., 36, Russell-street, Covent-garden,
W.C. Double events laid ; Cesarewitch and Cam-
bridge, 4,000 to 1, and any horse for either of these
races 100 to 1." There are a number of inge-
nious calculators who, with little trouble, may
contrive to spot a dozen horses who are certain to
enter, and, according to all usual chances, ac-
cept also, for both the great autumn
events, and
therefore £2OO for a shilling would gladden the
home of a working man, assuming the double event,
or even the first of the two races, to come off, and
the other horse to continue in training. I mean, of
course, for hedging purposes ; but even if the pre-
diction fail the loss will be trival. It will, of course,
be understood that I do not recommend even this
little outlay except by parties who can well afford
it. The names of these small turf commissioners
will be familiar to the public
as the inventors of
Reading Sauce, and probably it was one. of their
establishment who administered some of the article
in a wrangle at the last races there. I observed
behind the arches two well-got-up bookmakers,
attended by their " secketeries," very useful appen-
dages where caligraphy never formed any part of
their principal's education. The clerks were busily
engaged in filling up tickets, and the others in
receiving silver, so quickly, and to such an extent,
that their capacious pockets were nearly running
over.

" Pop it down, my lads ; pop it down !" shouted
a young fellow with an extensive drooping penny
collar, and three immense Brummagem rings, two
on the third and fourth ," sausages" forming the end
of his right arm, and another on the smaller sausage
appended to his left arm. 6( This is the k'rect
quarter, take my word ; no connection with any
bolters or welchers. All money paid day after race.
Look at my testimonials—look at 'em, sir ;"
and he
thrust a small printed paper into my hand. This
bookmaker was known by the sobriquet of " Charley
M'Dirty," although from the certificates it appeared
to be Maclean. The paper was something of this
kind—" Mrs C. M, is well known to us, and in his

particular calling most trustworthy ; we have twice
invited him to dinner.—Times." " Mr. Maclean's
uncle was formerly an elder at the Shrubanrum
Schism Establishment in this town. He is a young
man unlikely to take anything out of his reach.—
Brentford Banner." "Having been personally ac-
quainted with Mr. M. from childhood, we recommend
prudent parties with small savings to consult him ; he
will take care of all cash deposited.—Marrowbone
Mercury." "Very good and safe party.—Green-
wich Growler." Nothing like testimonials to cha-
racter ; in short, most of the layers must have pos-
sessed characters of some kind, and probably pretty
good ones, or, at all events, of the average belong-
ing to the smaller tribe who neither possess local
habitations nor names, except as assumed for their
peculiar callings. I was more impressed with this
opinion from the absence of police and the very
vigorous mode in which stray coin of any amount
was snapped up.
" What d'ye think o' the Prince coming in this
fashion ?" inquired a crossing-sweeper of a friend.
I looked round on hearing the rumbling of a car-
riage in the lane, thinking that the Great Gun of
Wales was approaching, but the sequel showed that
the vehicle was a large barrow belonging to a retailer
of dirty cherries and moist etrawberries, who had
arrived to invest some half-pence, and the prince
referred to was the black 'un for the stakes.

" Goin' down to the wood, George ?" asked a
horsy-looking individual with very bright yellow
neck-tie.

" Shall if I can get the boots on," was the
answer.

Looking at the speaker's crabshells the operation
would seem to be easy, but it appeared to have re-
ference to the needful supply of cash.
" Work your way with us, Peter," suggested a
banjo-player. "We do a fortnight's marine busi-
ness—black your counting-house and come."

" How about the boots," responded Peter.
" This way," replied the other. "Three bob to
Brighton a' Monday--trot along the coast after-
wards—generally a trifle got out of excursions on
the road." Perhaps the boots will be got on as
suggested, and the sporting Arabs return with more
coin than many of our better-class brethren. A
little quiet conversation was going on between a
foreign-looking artisan of the " Brave-Belge" order
and a sly personage of seedy, genteel appearance,
which I could not quite fathom, but it seemed to be
a scheme for imitating tickets for the cheap excur-
sions to Goodwood.

From a rough calculation of the number of
arrivals during the half hour that I remained be-
hind the Arches there were about 320 persons came
and went the extent of the place and departed-19
were laying odds, and the majority, say about three-
fourths, of the others left their cash in all kinds of
amounts, from a penny upwards. It was not the
busiest period of the day, *so that taking four work-
ing hours as about the thing, it is evident that
plenty of al fresco betting still goes on. I heard no
bad language—plenty of slang not worth repeating
—a reasonable amount of chaff, but generally speak-
ing good ,humour prevailed. No locality can be
more quiet or better adapted for the pursuit than
the spot alluded to, and so long as the company can
afford to 'keep their surplus land unoccupied instead
of building ornamental structures and hiding their
hideous brick arches from view, so long may the
smaller tribe of sportsmen assemble here un-
molested.

So much for the arches. Some money ought to
be won, according to the prophets, and it must
come in handy in these uncertain times, for I regret
to say that the Bank still continues its high rate of
interest, and nearly everything and everybody is
being wound up, either by the Court of Chancery,
the cholera, or the weather. The tipsters are un-
usually strong this week, many of them entreating,
nay, almost imploring, a confiding and good-
natured public to send stamps ; whether there is
any difficulty in getting the boots on, or daily sup-
plies of provender, or necessary cash for the current
week's advertisements, I am not in the secret to
know; but always consult " respectable" parties,
and who knows but the following new firm—new
at least to me—may not possess the correct thing,
and it is to be had for the small charge of " tup-
pence?"—" Goodwood races.—No winner no fee.—
J. Phillips and Co., 20, the Colonnade, Russell-
square, London, are still quite confident that their
Goodwood Stakes tip will prove triumphant, his
losing being a thorough impossibility, and therefore
most earnestly entreat their subs to invest liberally
on him, and also to stick to their other selections,"
&c. The Leicester-square man has for several
weeks had " some of the most experienced watchers
of the day" at work for him, and triumphant suc-
cess is " guaranteed." King (late of Manchester)
says that his horse " will win the Goodwood Stakes
in a walk." The other advisers are all positive,
sanguine, and clear. One word as to what appears
to me a decided novelty, and savours of the medical
character ; it is this :—" To bookmakers and backers
of horses.—Ali losses avoided, and certain gain in-
sured, on submitting your cases, however intricate,
and following the instructions of John Carey, 21,
Clayton-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne." As far as
London and the provinces generally are concerned
the advice must be by letter only, and bookmakers
as well as backers are solicited to become patients.
Look well after your money during the present
Goodwood week.