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JOTTINGS ABOUT OLD DERBY. 151 
order to test the truth, one man said, “ All Saints for ever!” 
the other instantly replied, “S. Peters for ever!” This at 
once settled the question, and a staunch friendship immediately 
sprang up and ever afterwards existed. 
I am old enough, also, to remember the old watchmen, who 
had what were called ‘‘watch boxes” in various parts of the 
town, before the introduction of the present police force. They 
were habited in thick drab coats reaching to the heels, low- 
crowned hats, a rattle hanging to a leather girdle which 
surrounded their waists ; and each one carried a thick stick and 
a horn lanthorn. Every halfhour he called the time, and gave 
a description of the kind of weather it was. I also remember 
the time when a considerable part of the town was, so called, 
lighted by oil lamps. I say so-called, for they really only served 
to make “ darkness visible.” Gas has now superseded them, 
and it is not unlikely that ere long the electric light will 
supersede gas ; and if I have thrown any light on the state of 
old Derby from 1781, my efforts will not have been in vain. 
