SEWER HATS. 189 
j 
* copious draughts of ale, till at last they were brought to an 
indescribable stand-still. Jack performed the ofiSce of waiter, 
who, after scraping the remnants of vegetables, &c., together, 
squeezed them through the wires on the rats, crammed the 
plates into his pocket, and then brought forward the pipes 
and tobacco. Jem, as a matter of course, having paid for 
the entertainment, was unanimously chosen to the chair. 
After the pipes were charged, and the three gentlemen well- 
nigh smothered in smoke, Mr. Jumper broke silence by 
volunteering to sing the ^' Rat-catcher s Daughter," which he 
executed in a style well worthy of the place, subject, and the 
occasion. That being finished, the chairman called upon 
him for a sentiment — " Certainly," said Mr. Jumper; Here's 
to our Queen, God bless her, an' may she never enjoy her 
dinner worse than we have, or have worse subjects than us 
three." This sentiment gave even more satisfaction than the 
song, since it was considered a confirmation of their loyalty, 
and was knocked down accordingly, or rather clapped down, 
because the knocking on the cage made the rats nearly jump 
out of their skins. After that, the Canadian boat-song, 
" Row brothers, row," was sung in full force by the whole of 
the company. But suffice it to say, that, after sundry other 
songs and sentiments, they shouldered their cages, and reeled 
out of the sewers, because the ale was out, and then made 
the best of their way to the neighbouring pot-house to melt 
the remainder of the sovereign. The rat-match was not to 
come off till late in the evening. 
Now that we are fairly out of the City sewers, let me con- 
clude the subject of sewer-rats and rat-matches by referring 
our worthy magistrates, &c., to my accounts and statistics of 
the sewer- rats of Paris ; and, by a careful perusal of the mat- 
ter, I believe they will arrive at something like a conclusion 
' — first, as to the wisdom of allowing strangers the liberty of 
going in and out of the sewers at pleasure, and to possess 
keys for their convenience ; secondly, as to the justice of 
allowing them to catch and destroy the rats in the sewers 
while they are rendering mankind and the nation at large 
such an essential service ; and lastly, as to the propriety of 
giving such offenders six months at the tread-mill for trespass 
and animal-murder. Here I most respectfully leave the 
matter in their hands for more mature consideration. 
