The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 396: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. got thu clasp-knife open in your pocket—I know you have. The gas-lights is strong cnough about there to enable a sharp-sighted chap, like me, to twig all that goes on.” “It’s you that speaks false,” returned Jack Rily, still keeping his hands in his pockets. And, again relapsing into silence, they pursued their way. Passing in front of the Exchange, and up Corn- hill, they turned into Birchin Lane. There Jack Rily hesitated for an instant which way to proceed: but suddenly recollecting that in 2 little passago to the left there was a public-louse called the Bengal Arms, ho said, ‘ There’s a crib hero where they sell capital ale.” *“Let’s have somo,” cried Vitriol Bob. ‘You go on fust—the placo is too narrer for us both.” ‘No—you po first,” said the Doctor. “Tn this way, then,” responded Vitriol Bob: and stepping nimbly in front of his companion, he turned round and walked backwards along the pas- sage until it suddenly grew wider opposito tho door of tho Bongal Arms. Jack Rily laughed st this manaurre: but ho was in reality disappointed—for had Vitriol Bob acted with less precaution, he would have assuredly re- ecired the whole length of the Doctor’s formidable linife in his back, ero he had proceeded half way wp the passage, “Wall go into the parlour here,” said Jack, “and havo some bread and cheese. I’m hungry.” ‘*So am J,” observed Vitriol Bob, in a dry, laconic tone which denoted tho terrible determination that inspired tho man’s mind,—a determination never to part‘from his companion until one of them should be no morc! There was something awful—something fright- fully revolting and hideonsly appalling in the cir- cumstance of thoso two miscreants thus wandering about together in a manner that appeared amicable enough to all who beheld them,—two wretches possessing the hearts of fiends and tho external ugliness of monsters,—two incarnate demons capa- ble of any turpitude, however black the dye! CHAPTER CCIE TEE BENGAL ARMS.—RENEWELD WANDERINGS, THE parlour at the Bengal Arms is—or at least was at the time whereof wo aro writing—a long, low, dingy room, very dark in the day-time and in- differently lighted in the evening. Jt is alwavs filled with a motley assembly of guests; and alo is the beverage most in request—whilo to one who in- dulgcsina cigar, at least ten patronise the unaifected enjoyment of the clay-pipe. On tho present occasion the company was nu- mcrous: the tobacco-smoke hung like a dense mist in the place, the gas-burners showing dimly through the pestiferous hazo;—and tho heat was intense. Jack Rily and Vitriol Bob contrived to find room nt one of the tables; and a slip-shod waiter supplied them in duo time with a pot of ale and bread and cheese, to the discussion of which they addressed themselves ina manner affording not the slightest suspicion of the deadly enmity which oxisted be- tween them, While they woro thus engaged they had an oppor- ° a9) tunity of listening to the conversation that wag taking place amongst tho other guests, “Woll, for my part,” said a little, stout, podgy individual, with a bald head and a round, red, good-humoured countenanco, “TI have always been tnught to look on tho City institootions as the blessedest things ever inwented.” “And TI maintain that they’ro the foulest abuses in tho universe,” exclaimed a tall, thin, sallow- faced individual, striking the tablo with his clenched fist as ho spoke. “ Why should everything cast of Temple Bar be different from everything west?” he domanded, looking sternly round upon the company as if to defy any ono to answer his questions, “Why should it be necessary to have barristers as magistrates in Westminster, and fat stupid old Al- dermen in the City?—why should the ridiculous ostcntation, uecless trappings, and preposterous display of the Mayoralty bo maintained for so mise- rably smalla fraction of tho great motropolis? Talk of your City Institutions, indeed‘]—they are either the most awful nonsense that over made grown up persons Jcok more absurd than little boys playing with paper cocked-hats and wooden swords—or else they are rottenness and Corruption, When the Municipal Corporations wero reformed in 1835, why was the City of London’ omitted? Did not Lord John Russell then pledge himsalf most solemnly and sacredly to bring in a separate bill for the London Corporation ?—and hasthis promise, almost amount- ing toa vow, over been fulfilled? No: and why? Beeause every Government, one after another, is afraid to lose the political support of this precious Corporation. And to these selfish considerations is sacrificed orery principlo of justice, proprioty, and common éense, Look at tho rascally oxtravagance and vilo profusion which characterise the Corpora- tion, Tho parish of St. Marylobono, with its lun- dred and forty thousand inhabitants, only expends a hundred and twenty-cight thousand pounds for those parochial purposes which cost tho City, with 2 population often thousand less than the other, nearly a million¢ Tho difference is that Maryle- bone is governed by an intelligent vestry—whereas London is under a stupid Corporation! Took, again, at the iniquities perpetrated by the Alder- men in their capacity as licensing mayistrates—the gross partiality that they show towards some pub- licans, and tho inveterato hostility they manifest to- wards others. ‘Pho rights of the freemen are a scan- dal and a shame—many able mechanics and other operatives being frequently driven from the City on account of tlicir inability to pay the money for tak- ing up their freedom.* Then again, look at the preposterous power which the Lord Mayor enjoys of stopping up all the thoroughfares and impeding business in every shape and way, on any occasion when it may suit him and his bloated, guzzling, purse-proud adherents to passin their gingerbread coaches through the CityS Is this consistent with British freedom ¢—is it compatible with tho rights or interests of the citizens? Faught” And the speaker resumed his pipo, in deep dis- gust at the abuses which ho had thus succinctly, but most truls enumerated, “Well, I don’t know—but I like all our old in- _— * This was the care with the cciebrated Watt, the improver of the steum-cengine. Tie was driven fiom the etty of Lon- dpn, at the commencement of lis career, through hts inability to pay the fino, then amounting to 402, This fact remains ou Tecora to the immortal disgrace of the Corporation. (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)