266 SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



them, they were pretty sure to get what is called 

 " nobbled/' 



On landing at Liverpool, on the memorable occa- 

 sion I have named, the usual gang of inquisitive 

 Custom House officers came on board. A most 

 respectable elderly gentleman in a long blue cloak 

 was about to land, when an official came up and 

 accosted him with, " I think you've got something 

 under your cloak, sir. Would you be so good as to 

 let me see what it is ? " Upon which he said, " Oh, 

 I've only got a little basket/' which he had on his 

 arm, but in it, or rather out of it, protruded the necks 

 of two bottles. " You've two bottles, sir. What have 

 you got in them ? " " Oh, it's nothing but a little 

 whiskey that a friend of mine gave me just before I 

 started." " Oh ! whiskey. Whiskey is not allowed to 

 be landed, sir. You must give them to me, and I 

 must take them to the Custom House/' " No, indeed, 

 I sha'n't give them to you," said the old gentleman ; 

 "a friend gave them to me, and I sha'n't give them 

 up to any one." " Well then, sir, I must take you 

 with the basket and the two bottles to the Custom 

 House." " Perhaps you are not aware," said he of 

 the blue cloak, " that I am a Member of Parliament ? " 

 " Indeed, sir," said the gauger, " I can't help that ; 



