THB UPE or PETER BUPP. 91 



very agreeable company, we were passing the time very pleasantly, 

 when a man of a very seedy and broken down appearance came into 

 the room, and, after eyeing me for some time, came up, and, seizing 

 my hand, said, *' Why, Peter, old chap ! how are you ?" I was 

 ready to drop into the earth at this rencontre, for I recognised in the 

 seedy-togged stranger my church-yard companion ; I managed, how- 

 ever, to look at him with an air of astonishment. " What !" said he, 

 " you know Jack Sly !" " No, I don't," I replied, pretending to 

 look very thoughtful. " Yes, you do," said the seedy stranger in a 

 persuasive tone ; " you recollect the body." " Body !" repeated 1 ; 



" what body ?" " Why, churchyard," said the rejected Mr. 



Sly — and then he went through a regular pantomime exhibition of 

 digging a grave, and running away with something on his back. 

 Mortified at this exposure, I said, " Sir, I do not move in your 

 sphere of action." " My ^pear of action ! you be blowed," retorted 

 Mr. Sly. " Ain't you Peter Buff ? — and didn't you go with me to 

 rob a churchyard ? — and wasn't I caught ? — and didn't the magistrates 

 kindly recommend me to try my luck for six mouths at the wheel 

 of fortune ? (which is continually making a man get up in the world) 

 — and didn't I get out yesterday ? — and ain't I here, Peter Buff ?" 

 The latter fact was indeed indisputable ; so seizing my hat, I rushed 

 out amidst the laughter of the company; but it was no joke to me, as I 

 lost my situation through it. And here I am again, in want of one. 



If any gentleman wants a clerk, whose principle duty would be to 

 look out of the window, and who would be allowed to pass half an 

 hour in a morning over a refreshing pot of porter, I can confidently 

 recommend myself as likely to suit, and fully capable of performing 

 these onerous duties. 



Begging the Public to bear in mind that I am (as the free and 

 independent burgess says to the candidate) open to an offer, I remain. 



Theirs sincerely, 



Peter Buff. 



