The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

180 MYSTERIES | niture of any description. All around it, near the walls, there was a cort of litter composed of dirty _ broken—we may say, ground down straw, reduced to this state by teo long use, and small portions of which were mixed here and there with the thick dust which everywhere covered the floor. Upon this straw was to be seen, lying down, a hideous population—dirty, squalid and miserable, of all ages and of both sexes, Among them were young women, whose features, correctly drawn by the hand of nature, had assumed, under the in- fluence of vice in some degree hereditary, a most revolting expression ; there were young girls who, like poor Loo, were singing half naked, reclining on their filthy straw, near some pitcher containing doubtless some inebriating liquor ; there were oid women, of whom no known terms are sufficient to depict the disgusting hideousness, The men were fewer in number, and perhaps less hideous than the womens: but still the most squalid creature to be met with in the broad day in the streets, are incomparably less disgusting. The mement Lady B— entered the place, a wild hurrah, at once burst from its miserable occupants. A dozen of women but half dressed, at once rush<« ed towards her, and danced around her a truly satanic dance. The men shouted, utteringoaths — and obscene Janguage. The children pitilessly soiled her brilliant silk dress and Cashmere shawl with their Sithy fingers. : Children, children, said the little woman, peace, peace, you will be made to repent this audacity. we This order produced a magical effect, Themen Ge a tee wae / oe } apres fo ets! ’. ea uN 4 say & ’