Part 84 (1/2)
By this time Bob had an opportunity of discovering that the person he had thus unfortunately encountered, was no other than a stout raw-boned coalheaver, and that the noise he had heard was occasioned by his sticking his pointed coal-shovel in the earth, with intention to help him up after his fall. Pursuing their way, and presently turning to the right, Bob was suddenly delighted by being brought from utter darkness into marvellous light, presenting a view of the river, with boats and barges pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing with their usual activity.
”What place is this?” inquired Tallyho.
~207~~~ ”Before you,” replied his Cousin, ”is the River Thames; and in the front you will find wharfs and warehouses for the landing and housing of various merchandize, such as coals, fruit, timber, &c.: we are now under the Adelphi Terrace, where many elegant and fas.h.i.+onable houses are occupied by persons of some rank in society; these streets, lanes, and subterraneous pa.s.sages, have been constructed for the convenience of conveying the various articles landed here into the main streets of the metropolis, and form as it were a little world under ground.”
”And no bad world neither,” replied the coalheaver, who upon inspection proved to be no other than Bob Martlet, whom they had met with as one of the _heavy wet_ party at Charley's Crib--”For there is many a family lives down here, and gets a good bit of bread too; what does it signify where a man gets his bread, if he has but an honest appet.i.te to eat it with: aye, and though I say it, that house in the corner there, just down by the water's edge, can supply good stuff at all times to wash it down with, and that you know's the time of day, my master: this warm weather makes one _dryish_ like, don't it?”
Tom thought the hint dry enough, though Bob was declaring he was almost wet through; however, they took their road to the Fox under the Hill, as it is termed. On entering which a good fire presented itself, and Tallyho placed himself in front of it, in order to dry his clothes, while Bob Martlet was busy in inquiring of the landlord for a brush to give the gemman a wipe down, as, he observed, he had a sort of a trip up in these wild parts--though to be sure that there was no great wonder, for a gentleman who was near sighted, and didn't wear spectacles; ”however,” continued he, ”there an't no harm done; and so the gemman and I are going to drink together--arn't we, Sir?”
Tallyho, who by this time had got well roasted by the fire-side, nodded his a.s.sent, and Dashall inquired what he would like.
~~208~~~ ”Why, my master, as for that, it's not much matter to me; a drap of sky blue in a boulter of barley,{1} with a dollop of sweet,{2} and a little saw dust,{3} is no bad thing according to my thinking; but Lord bless you! if so be as how a gemman like you offers to treat Bill Martlet,
1 A boulter of barley--a drink--or a pot of porter.
2 A dollop of sweet--sugar.
3 Saw-dust--a cant term for ginger or nutmeg grated.
why Bill Martlet never looks a gift horse in the mouth, you know, as the old saying is; but our landlord knows how to make such rum stuff, as I should like you to taste it--we call it hot, don't us, landlord?--Come, lend us hold of the brush?” ”Ave, and brush up, Mr. Landlord,” said the Hon. Tom Dashall; ”let us have a taste of this nectar he's talking of, for we have not much time to stop.”
”Lord bless your eye sight,” replied Martlet, ”there an't no occasion whatsomdever for your honours to stay--if you'll only give the order, and push about the possibles, the business is all done. Come, shovel up the sensible,” continued he to the landlord, ”mind you give us the real double XX. I don't think your coat is any the worse, it would sarve me for a Sunday swell toggery for a twelve-month to come yet; for our dirt down here is as I may say clean dirt, and d------me if I don't think it looks all the better for it.”
”Thank you, my friend,” said Bob; ”that will do very well,” and the landlord having by this time completed his cookery, produced the good stuff, as Martlet termed it.
”Come, gentlemen, this is the real right sort, nothing but the bang-up article, arn't it, my master? But as I always likes the landlord to taste it first, by way of setting a good example, just be after telling us what you think of it.”
”With all my heart,” said the landlord; who declared it was as prime a pot of hot as he had made for the last fortnight. .
With this recommendation our friends tried it; and after tipping, took their departure, under the positive a.s.surance of Martlet, that he should be very glad to see them again at any time.
They now pursued their way through other subterraneous pa.s.sages, where they met waggons, carts, and horses, apparently as actively and usefully employed as those above ground.
”Come,” said Tom, ”we have suffered time to steal a inarch upon us,” as they reached the Strand; ”we will therefore take the first” _rattler_ we can meet with, and make the best of our way for the City.”--This was soon accomplished, and jumping into the coach, the old _Jarvey_ was desired to drive them as expeditiously as possible to the corner of King-street, Cheapside.~~209~~~
CHAPTER XVI
”How wretched those who tasteless live, And say this world no joys can give: Why tempts yon turtle sprawling, Why smoaks the glorious haunch, Are these not joys still calling To bless our mortal paunch?
O 'tis merry in the Hall When beards wag all, What a noise and what a din; How they glitter round the chin; Give me fowl and give me fish, Now for some of that nice dish; Cut me this, Sir, cut me that, Send me crust, and send me fat.
Some for t.i.t bits pulling hauling,
Legs, wings, breast, head,--some for liquor, scolding, bawling, Hock, port, white, red, here 'tis cramming, cutting, slas.h.i.+ng, There the grease and gravy splas.h.i.+ng, Look, Sir, look, Sir, what you've done, Zounds, you've cut off the Alderman's thumb.”
The Hon. Tom Dashall, who was fully aware that City appointments for twelve o'clock mean one, was nevertheless anxious to arrive at their place of destination some time before the commencement of the business of the day; and fortunately meeting with no obstruction on the road, they were set down at the corner of King-street, about half-past twelve.
”Come,” said he, ”we shall now have time to look about us at leisure, and observe the beauties of this place of civic festivity. The Hall you see in front of you, is the place devoted to the entertainment usually given by the Lord Mayor on his entrance upon the duties and dignities of his office. It is a fine gothic building, in which the various courts of the city are held. The citizens also meet there for the purpose of choosing their representatives in Parliament, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, &c. It was originally built in the year 1411, previous to which period the public, or as they term it the Common Hall, was held at a small room in Aldermanbury.
~~210~~~ The expense Of the building was defrayed by voluntary subscription, and its erection occupied twenty years. It was seriously damaged by the fire of 1666, since which the present edifice, with the exception of the new gothic front, has been erected. That, however, was not finished till the year 1789, and many internal improvements and decorations have been introduced since. There is not much of attraction in its outward appearance. That new building on the right has recently been erected for the accommodation of Meetings of Bankrupts; and on the left is the Justice-Room, where the Aldermen attend daily in rotation as magistrates to decide petty causes; but we must not exhaust our time now upon them.”
On entering the Hall, Tallyho appeared to be highly pleased with its extent, and was presently attracted by the monuments which it contains.
”It is a n.o.ble room,” said he.--”Yes,” replied Tom, ”this Hall is 153 feet in length, 48 in breadth, and the height to the roof is 55.”