56 



THE EXETER ROAD 



among the ' insides ' are strained, and so continue, 

 past Kensington Churcli, a very decrepit and non- 

 descript kind of building ; past the Charity School, 



the Vestry Hall, 

 where a o-oroeous 

 beadle in plush 

 breeches, white 

 stockings, scarlet 

 cloak trimmed with 

 o'old bullion, a won- 

 derful hat, and a 

 wand of office, is 

 standing, and so into 

 the country. Pre- 

 sently we come to the 

 village of Hammer- 

 smith, innocent as yet 

 of whelk -stalls and 

 fried-fish shops, and so at last, past Turnham Green, 

 to Brentford. 



THE BEADLE. 



IX 



Brentford was dismissed somewhat summarily in 

 the pages of the Bath Road, for which let me here 

 apologise to the county town of Middlesex. Not that 

 I will renounce one jot as to the dirtiness of the place ; 

 for what says Gay ? — 



Brentford, tedious town, 



For dirty streets and white-legged chickens known. 



