The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-06 00:00:00

LA MBSTH-STREET.

Just as Mr. WALKER was about to quit the bench
an odd-looking little man, with a comical obliquity
of vision, bustled into the office, and begged the
Magistrate, with the utmost earnestness, to despatch
an officer to his house that night for the protection
of himself and wife.

Mr. WALKER said officers were for the protection
of the public generally, and not private individuals,
and requested to know from what cause the urgency

arose.

" Why," said the applicant, " I go in bodily fear ;
I'm in danger every moment of being knocked on the
head."

How so ?" said Mr. WALKER-" Why this is
the day on which the annual recurrence of the out-
rages on my person oblige me to put myself under
the protection of the laws of the country."
" Explain yourself," said Mr. 'WALKER, who
seemed puzzled how to receive the complaint.
Shelswell, the officer, here stepped forward, and
stated that some mischievous urchins were in the
habit of playing their tricks upon the little man,
whose bodily fear seemed to have been aroused by
the threat of " smugging" him for a " guy," of
which he actually seemed afraid. _

" Me afraid," said he, cocking, his comical eye
fiercely at the officer, " I never was afraid in my
life. Shouldn't be afra;rl a a giant. No, your
Worship, the truth is, 1' wade myself, obnoAiot.ts

by sticking to my principles; and a number of my
neighbours are Catholics, that's why I know I'm a
marked man, Here's a parcel of these children have
been holding out threats all day—and as I have lived
to witness their conduct last Guy Faux day, to an
old gentleman and his donkey, which I dare say your
Worship recollects—"
Mr. WALKER professed ignorance.
" Well, but as respects myself, I'll only state
what happened last year. I kept a bit of a shop,
and while me and my Missus was in it, in the even-
ing one of the ringleaders came bolt in and asked
for ha'porth of mustard. While my hack was turned
he took the opportunity of throwing alighted cracker
behind the counter. Now, this is a specie of fire-
work I've an unaccountable antipathy to, though
I'm naturally as bold as a lion; and my wife, in
her fright, jumping on the counter upset the treacle
jar right into the bag of mustard, I, in my hurry to
get rid of the danger, run my nose spank against
the door-post of the parlour, and got capsized into the
treacle and mustard, by which I spoilt the seat of
a new pair of black breeches. These, your Wor-
ship, are the outrages—the repetition of which I wish
to prevent."
It was here intimated to Mr. Walker, that the
applicant for a number of years i►ad made a periodi-
cal visitation at the office, wi!lt the same request,
and a few months back was so troublesome with
complaints against different boys, that Mr. Wyatt
had forbid him the office.

Hearing this, lqr. WALKER dismissed the little
man, recommending him to go home and attend to

is business.

VAUXHALL-BRIDGE COMPANY.

Yesterday a meeting of the shareholders in this
undertaking was held at the George and Vulture
tavern, Cornhill ; Mr. Davis in the chair.
The Clerk to the Company read the report of the
Committee of Management. It stated that there
were 1,5004 in the three per cent. consols; that
notes to the amount of 7031. were in circulation by
the Company. The report further stated, that the
action brought by the Company for damage done to
the bridge by craft had been decided against the
owners, and that the amount of the verdict in fa-
vour of the Company, viz. 4481, had been paid by
the defendants. Comparing the receipts of the half
year just ended with the corresponding period of
last year there was a decrease of 2181. After the
report was read, the finance account was exhibited.
The tolls collected for the last half year amounted
to 4,1951. There were other items or receipts,
such as rents, dividends, &c. The account of dis-
bursements was read, and shared a balance in fa-
vour of the Company of 1,1104; upon this balance
a dividend of 10s. per share, payable in Jan. next.
The report was adopted after a few remarks rela-
tive to the present comparatively unproductive state
of the tolls, which was ascribed in some measure to
the bad condition of trade.

The plan for issuing tickets to allow horses and
carriages to pass and repass the same day at one toll
was warmly applauded.
Ultimately a resolution was carried recommend-
ing the Directors to consider the plan and report.
The meeting then adjourned.