CAROUSALS OF THE 'PIKERS' 21 



upwards of 50,000/^ annually embarked in gate 

 holding. He retained a regular staff of collectors, 

 who moved about from one part of the country to 

 another, as his confidential servants. It should be 

 observed that the stranger (in my typical scene at 

 a sale) who had been bidding was put up by the 

 trustees as an imaginary lessee to prevent such 

 machinations as those which the Whispering Society 

 had arrano^ed. Followino; the lettinof came the 

 dinner and the carouse, at which, it is needless to 

 remark, the money of the trustees was rapidly 

 expended. It was amusing to watch the advent of 

 the cigars after the dinner. Young aspirants to 

 smoking honours would station themselves behind 

 the door of the dining-room ; when the waiters 

 brought the cigars in by a dozen at a time in glass 

 tumblers, a dash would be made, and before the 

 choice Havannahs could be brought into the room 

 they were appropriated — viilgo stolen — ' convey the 

 wise it call ' — and pocketed by the snatchers. The 

 lessee generally put half a dozen port and sherry on 

 the table, but took care to retain a couple of bottles for 

 the consumption privately of himself and personal 

 friends. All this is now abolished ! The old turnpike 

 gates are gone with the ' pikers ' ! No more exciting 

 scenes on the road to Gretna by happy, but fearful 

 couples ; no more delays by stubborn pikers, already 

 suborned to delay the pursuers by failing to give 

 change, so immortalised by Caldecott and the old 

 yellow post-chaise. And now the maintenance and 



