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Part II. 



In the Lake District we have old inns, some of which exhibit 

 curious sign boards, and some account of these may prove inter- 

 esting. At Troutbeck, in Westmorland, near to the house where 

 Hogarth the painter was born, is an old inn with the sign of 

 "The Mortal Man." Julius Caesar Ibbotson, a well known artist, 

 frequently stayed at this inn about the beginning of the present 

 century. He was a man of jovial disposition, and very popular, 

 and many nights of conviviality were spent at Sally Birkett's (who 

 was the landlady) by the artist and his friends. At a time when 

 money was scarce with the guest of the inn, it was agreed between 

 him and the landlady that he should paint a new sign for her, and 

 they should be quits ; and this arrangement he accordingly carried 

 out. It was a picture representing two men, the one fat and jolly, 

 with a rubicund nose ; the other pale and thin. These were said 

 to be the portraits of two local celebrities, Ned Partridge and Nat 

 Fleming. Below were the following lines : — 



Thou mortal man that lives on bread, 

 What is't that makes thy nose so red ? 

 Thou silly ass, that looks so pale, 

 It is by drinking Sally Birkett's ale. 



This unique signboard is unfortunately no longer in existence. 

 The inn, however, is still known as "The Mortal Man." 



The following story is told of Ambleside. There was an old inn 

 in the town which bore the name of " The Cock." This, along 

 with some other property, was purchased by Dr. Watson, Bishop 

 of Llandaff. In compliment to the new proprietor, mine host 

 conceived the idea of changing the signboard, thinking at the 

 time the sign of "The Bishop" would be more taking, and, 

 altogether, more appropriate than the homely old signboard with 

 the picture of a farmyard cock. A rough portrait, which somewhat 

 resembled the bishop with his shovel hat and episcopal wig, was 

 accordingly produced and fixed up in the place of the cock. 

 An opposition man started another inn in the meantime, and. 



