Sinks of London Laid Open | Page 9

favourite stimulus of the
begging tribe. The twopenny dram of pure Jamaica is preferred by them,
and particularly those who live in the country, to any other kind of malt,
or spirituous liqueurs.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
AN EVENING MEAL--A FEAST FOR AN ALDERMAN.
All the wandering race, such as pedlars, tramps, and hawkers of small
ware, whose pursuits are in the open air, and which lead them, during
the day, to an uncertain distance from their residence, never have more
meals than their breakfast and their tea. But as the most of these people
are no enemies to good living, they usually contrive to have their
morning affair as much in the Scotch fashion as possible, and their
evening refection to unite the substantiability of the English dinner,
with the refreshing qualities of the tea table. Between six and seven is
the hour which they in general retire from the labours of the day; and as
this was the time the lodgers were now crowding in, every one carrying
the eatables he intended to use, which usually consist of half a pound of
bacon, quarter of a pound of butter, a pennyworth of tea or coffee, with

as much sugar. These are placed upon a half-quartern loaf, and carried
in one hand; and, if eggs are in season, three or four may be seen
clutched in the other.
In London, and other large towns, these people, when their finances
will permit, indulge in all the luxury of the cook-shop and the flesher's
stall; but in country places, there is not such a variety, the bacon--a red
herring, and the et ceteras, are mostly their choice.
Among the people who now made their appearance, were certainly
some two or three labourers, but the rest were all of that stamp who
scorn to live by the sweat of their brow. The frying pan was put into
active motion. A couple, a man and his wife,--who by their appearance,
no one would suppose that they ever partook of anything save crusts
and scraps, filled the pan with nice mutton chops, by way of a relish to
their bohea. Eggs and bacon, ham and eggs, ham, beef-steaks, (aye, of
the prime rump, too,) mutton chops, sausages, saveloys, &c., &c., were
all now with rapidity, and in their turn, soon smoking, fuming, and
frying upon the fire, raising a smell almost powerful enough to satisfy
the moderate cravings of a Frenchman's appetite.
The whole of the food that we could perceive that had been gathered
from door to door, was one solitary plate of broken bread, which was
before a broad-shouldered and able-bodied match seller; and even he,
before he would allow such refuse to take its descent down his gullet,
took especial care to plaster well every piece with good fresh
butter--washing the whole down with an excellent cup of coffee.
It might have afforded a fine treat to the searcher after life and manners,
to have observed the rough and ragged scene that was now before us.
The kitchen at times was crowded to excess; and, amid the clattering of
plates, fuss of cooking, and confusion of tongues, men, women, and
children, feasting, drinking, singing, and card-playing, while some two
or three might be seen wiling away the painful effects of an empty
pocket by a soothing whiff from the favourite cutty, occasionally a half
naked brute, in the shape of a man or a woman, would stagger in, their
heads nodding on their shoulders, like the equally sensible and
oblivious looking pate of a Chinese figure in a grocer's window; and if

there was space enough, would reel a step or two, and then measure
their length upon the floor, muttering sundry threatening sounds. These,
of course, were soon picked up, and in their attempts to play at a la
Randall, had their arms carefully pinioned, their bodies placed upon a
seat, and laid against the wall; or, if there was room enough, were
accommodated with a stretch upon the form, to snooze themselves
fresh again--dreaming of the sweets of gin, and the joys of a begging
life.
But perhaps a sketch or so of those strange beings, with a little of their
interesting slang, will be the better way to describe such a group. By
the bye, this is the place for character--the cadging house is the very
spot for the pourtrayer of life, who wishes to lay claim to any thing like
originality;--here Nature has her full scope, and affectation rarely
shows her face.
As we were sitting, noting the various particulars that were continually
passing before our eyes, and as the Poet says, catching "the manners
living as they rise," a thumping step was heard coming along the
passage. The door opened, and a wooden-legged weather-beaten
seaman, past the meridian, with