142 History of the 



Not unfrequently he had to appear before the Bench for being 

 drunk and incapable, and though he was sometimes mulcted in 

 five shillings and costs, as often as not some smart sally of wit won 

 the admiration and sympathy of the " Great Unpaid," who let him 

 down as softly as their sense of duty would permit. Dick, on 

 those occasions, would declare that it was his legs only, and not his 

 head that was drunk, which I am inclined to believe was true. He 

 would also assert that he was easily upset when only partially 

 filled, but, when, hke a barrel, full to the bung, and end up, he was 

 steady as a rock. As a matter of fact, however, he was not a 

 heavy drinker, whatever his detractors may say to the contrary. 

 His centre of gravity (being raised from his stomach to his head) 

 was displaced by a very limited supply of the beverage. 



Regularly as the month of October came round, Dick put in an 

 appearance at the Halmot Court of the Lord of the Manor or 

 Honor held at Haslingden, was reinstalled in his office with due 

 formality, and dined with the other officials of the court when the 

 formal business was concluded. 



The following is a copy of a memorial presented by him in 

 October, 1864, to the Court Leet. It contains some touches of 

 dry humour highly characteristic of the man : — 



" To the Foreman and Jury of the Halmot Court at Haslingden. 

 The respectful Memorial of your energetic Ale-Taster for 

 Rossendale, Richard Taylor. 



" Gentlemen, — From a natural bashfulness, and being unac- 

 customed to public speaking, which my friends tell me is a very 

 fortunate circumstance, I am induced to lay my claims before 

 your honourable court in writing, hoping you will give them your 

 most favourable consideration. 



" The appointment which I hold is a very ancient one, dating, as 

 you are aware, from the time of good King Alfred, when the jury 

 at Court Leet appointed their head-boroughs, tithing man, 

 bursholder, and Ale-taster ; which appointments were again 

 regulated in the time of Edward HL, and through neglect this 



