398 
ing, in fact, a sort of combination 
among themselves td keep the prices 
down; and this is, perhaps, the only 
good reason that can be given in defence 
of an auctioneer’s running, as men- 
tioned before. But it is not always that 
he is aware of the existence of this 
combination, for each of the parties 
will in turn bid for the lots; but then 
he will never be opposed by the rest of 
his associates: of course, by this means 
they frequently get articles much cheaper 
than if they were in opposition to each 
other. It is technically called being in 
the cab: and after the sale is over the 
whole party will retire to a tavern, and 
proceed to knock out—another technical 
term for putting up the lots again 
among themselves, for they all mark 
their catalogues; and in this way many 
a poor Jew and Gentile will get their 
pound or two in a day without, in fact, 
really purchasing any thing. They are 
admitted into the cad by the large buyers, 
upon the same principle that the In- 
dians are said to worship the devil— 
that of fear; for these men possess 
judgment, if not money, and would, 
therefore, if not admitted, make the 
others pay larger prices. When the 
knock out or second sale is over, the 
increase given upon the whole of the 
lots is collected, cast up, and equally 
divided amongst the whole of the 
arty. 
It is hardly worth mentioning the 
mock auctions of glass, china, tea-cad- 
dies, &c., which are held in shops in 
our most public streets; for almost 
every child is aware of the gross and 
barefaced impositions practised at these 
places, where the public is cheated of 
its money, and government of its 
duty. 
A very curious sort of sale, common 
in the metropolis, is that of pawnbro- 
kers’ pledges, though even into these 
other property is often introduced ; 
this sort of sale is principally curious 
from the very odd mixture of articles 
in a lot, which having been pawned to- 
gether to raise money, are obliged by 
act of parliament to be sold together ; 
take for instance the following lots from 
a catalogue which is laying by me: 
“ A patch-work quilt, a coat, and two 
bibles. 
A pair of trousers, a set of fire-irons, and 
a petticoat. 
A pair of boots, a table-cloth, and a 
necklace. 
A shirt, a table-spoon, and an opera- 
glass. 
Shenstone and the Leasowes. 
[Dec. 1, 
A silk scarf, and. a drawing in a gilt 
frame. 
A Dutch clock, a rug, and two snuff- 
boxes.”’ 
And these are but a few strange mix- 
tures; for much stranger medleys than 
these might be easily picked out, ad 
infinitum, from the catalogues of Eddes, 
Robins, and Machin. Many of the at- 
tendants at these sales are the children 
of Israel, who are dealers in every 
thing, from the most costly watch or 
article of jewellery, to the very lowest 
and most worthless description of cast- 
off clothing; all of which, the very best 
and the very worst, may be seen at 
pledge sales. At these sales the king’s 
duty of five per cent. is paid by the 
buyer; and I have often thought that 
the clerk’s perquisites, at the end of a 
large sale, arising from the fractions of 
duty, must be considerable. 
In winding up these desultory re- 
marks on auctions, &c., I can only say 
that whoever ventures into a sale-room 
should not only have money in their 
pockets, but judgment in their heads, 
or they most infallibly run a great risk 
of being cheated either by others or 
themselves. J.M.L. 
—<—>——— 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
SHENsTONE and the LEasoweEs. 
OR some time I have been endea- 
vouring to obtain some such infor- 
mation respecting the Leasowes,* or 
Shenstone’s Walks, as would at once be 
gratifying to my own feelings, and ac- 
ceptable to the public. It was my wish 
to trace the general history of this inte- 
resting domain, from the time when it 
acquired its celebrity under the plastic 
hands of our pastoral bard; including 
its changes of proprietorship, and the 
attentions bestowed, or the neglects per- 
mitted, by each individual, up to the 
present time ; and to add whatever anec- 
dotes I might be able to coliect, relating 
personally to the object of my venera- 
tion. But I have not succeeded so as 
to satisfy my curiosity, excepting as to 
the routine of dates; and a few scanty 
observations may serve, till better from 
some other quarter, shall claim more 
deserved attention. It is now but two 
years short of half a century since I first 
beheld this charming retreat of the 
muses ; 
* Leasowe, a common provincial term, 
is of Saxon origin, is‘often found in legal 
documents, and was never:before, perhaps, 
so classically applied as in this instance, 
For these hints I am indebted to a friend. 
