The Merry Past 



were so lucky as to get into the street, where there 

 were no mischievous persons who would raise the hue 

 and cry, " A pickpocket ! " they had the additional 

 exertion of being the subject of a chase, till they 

 either ran themselves dry, or escaped by some lucky 

 turning which enabled them to baffle their pursuers. 

 Many of these unfortunate wretches, when approach- 

 ing the fatal canal, would humbly petition not to be 

 thrown in, ejaculating, " Pray, gentlemen, don't 

 throw me in. Indeed, if you will give me leave, I 

 will jump in myself, and duck myself as often as you 

 please. Indeed, indeed, gentlemen, I will, but pray, 

 pray don't throw me in." If leave was granted, the 

 poor wretch would jump from the kerb into the 

 water, wade into such a depth as he was ordered to 

 remain at, face his tormentors, and crouch till his 

 head was under water, rise again, and repeat the 

 plunge as often as the order was given. If he was 

 dilatory, stones were thrown at him to enforce 

 obedience. He then ducked willingly to avoid the 

 blows, and this discipline was repeated till the tor- 

 mentors were satisfied that he had had enough. 



The canal was done away with during the early 

 part of the nineteenth century, and during the time 

 the alterations were being made the King used some- 

 times to superintend them. Amongst the workmen 

 there was a man who, being esteemed a kind of wit 

 among his brethren, longed for an opportunity to 

 speak to the King. His Majesty coming near the 

 spot one day where this man was at work, he seized 

 the opportunity, and, looking directly in his face, 



195 



