G32 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



among horses, dogs, and cocks, and 

 all the other appendages of sport- 

 ing, in the pursuits of which he was 

 encouraged even in his childhood, 

 it cannot be a matter of wonder 

 that he should be passionately fond 

 ofallthoseexercisesandamusements 

 which are comprehended under tiie 

 denomination of field sports; About 

 the year 1793, when Mr. L. weigh- 

 ed 32 stone, he had occasion to vi- 

 sit Woolwich, in company with the 

 keeper of the county gaol of Lei- 

 cester. As the tide did not serve 

 to bring them up to London, he 

 walked from Woolwich to the me- 

 tropolis, with much less apparent 

 fatigue than several middle-sized 

 men who were of the party. Such 

 were the feelings of Mr. Lambert, 

 that no longer than four years ago, 

 he abhorred the very idea of exhi- 

 biting himself. Though he lived 

 exceedingly retired at Leicester, 

 the fame of his uncommon corpu- 

 lence had spread over the adjacent 

 country to such a degree, that he 

 frequently found himself not a little 

 incommoded by the curiosity of the 

 people, which it was impossible to 

 repress, and which they were conti- 

 nually devising the means of gratify- 

 ing, in spite of his reluctance. A 

 gentleman travelling through Lei- 

 cester, conceived a strong desire to 

 see tliisextraordinary phenomenon, 

 but being at a loss for a pretext to 

 introduce himself to Mr. Lambert, 

 he first took care to inquire what 

 were his particular propensities ; 

 being informed that he was a great 

 cocker, the traveller thought him- 

 self sure of success. He according- 

 ly went to his house, knocked at the 

 door, and enquired lor Mr. Lam- 

 bert ; the servant said he was at 

 home, but thathenever saw strang- 

 ers. ^' Let liim know," replied the 



curious stranger, " that I called 

 about some cocks." Lambert^ who 

 chanced to be in a situation to over- 

 hear what passed, immediately re- 

 joined, "tell the gentleman that I 

 am a shy cock." On another occa- 

 sion, a gentleman from Nottingham 

 was extremely importunate to see 

 him, pretending that he had a par- 

 ticular favour to ask. After consi- 

 derable hesitation, Mr. Lambert di- 

 rected him to be admitted. On be- 

 ing introduced, he said he wished 

 to inquire the pedigree of a certain 

 mare. — "Oh ! if that is all," replied 

 Mr. Lambert, perceiving from his 

 manner, the real nature of his er- 

 rand, " she was got by Imperti- 

 nence, out of Curiositij." Finding, 

 at length, that he must either sub- 

 mit to be a close prisoner in his own 

 house, or endure all the inconveni- 

 ence, without receiving the profits 

 of an exhibition, Mr. Lambert 

 wiselystrove to overcomehis repug- 

 nance, and determined to visit the 

 metropolis for that purpose. As it 

 was impossible to procure a carriage 

 large enough to admit him, he had 

 a vehicle constructed expressly to 

 carry him to London, where he ar- 

 rived in the spring of 1806, and fix- 

 ed liis residence in Piccadilly. His 

 apartments there had more the air 

 of a place of fashionable resort than 

 an exhibition ; and as long as the 

 town continued full, he was visited 

 by agreat deal of the best company. 

 The dread he felt on coming to 

 London, lest he should be exposed 

 to indignity and insult from the cu- 

 riosity of some of his visitors, was 

 soon removed by the politeness and 

 attention which he universally ex- 

 perienced. There was not a gen- 

 tleman in town, from his own coun- 

 ty, but went to see him, not mere- 

 ly gazing at him as a spectacle, but 



treating 



