n
quantity but quality. Williamson swore lustily at H---'s obstinacy, and
could not be made to understand what was really required. A reverend
gentleman, still living and highly respected, who happened to be passing
along the street, was called in to give his opinion on the subject by Mr.
W. He, however, joined issue with Mr. H---, but neither could make Mr.
W. understand the matter. The rooms were very lofty and spacious, and if
I recollect rightly each floor consisted of only one room. I believe it
was never occupied. In High-street, Edge-hill, Mr. Williamson also built
some houses which were skirted by Back Mason-street. The houses at the
corner of High-street and Back Mason-street were built up from a quarry.
They are as deep in cellarage as they are high, while the rooms in them
are innumerable. Williamson used to call himself "King of Edge-hill,"
and had great influence over the work people residing in the
neighbourhood. I knew a lady who once had an encounter with Williamson
wherein she came off victorious, and carried successfully her point. The
affair is curious. This lady, about 1838 or '39, wanted a house, and was
recommended to go up to Edge-hill and endeavour to meet with Mr.
Williamson and try to get on the right side of him, which was considered
a difficult thing to do. She was told that he had always some large
houses to let, and if she pleased him he would be a good landlord. Mrs.
C---, accompanied by a lady, went up to Edge-hill and looked about as
they were told to do for a handsome-looking man in a shabby suit of
clothes. They were told that they were sure to find Mr. W. where men
were working, as he always had some in his employ in one way or another
in the neighbourhood. On arriving at Mason-street, sure enough, they
espied the object of their search watching the operations of some
bricklayers busily engaged in erecting the very house in Bolton-street
just spoken of. Mrs. C---, who was a sharp, shrewd person, good looking
and pleasant in her manners, sauntered up to Williamson and inquired of
him if he knew of any houses to be let at Edge-hill. "Houses!" replied
Williamson in his roughest and rudest style: "What should I know of
houses, a poor working man like me!" "Well," said the lady, "I thought
you might have known of some to let, and you need not be so saucy and
ill-tempered." Williamson roughly rejoined, and the lady replied, and
thus they got to a complete wordy contest attr