Nat Langan (whom he had seen have a "go" with
"Brassey," a brass moulder, of Utley). He was in the boxing saloon some
time, and when he had occasion to look at his watch, he found that
article missing, only a bit of the guard remaining. He raised a
"hue-and-cry;" but, of course, nobody knew anything about the theft. And
Mr Leach took his departure murmuring, "If this is London, I'm done."

THE FINAL DAY

The deputation was kept in London day after day, until several weeks had
passed. The final day at last arrived, and the deputation was ushered
into the gorgeous chamber. The petition was presented, and Mr Leach, in
answer to the President, and in a dialect which must have puzzled the
Londoners present, said; "We're bahn ta build a brig ower t' railway, an'
we think it's nowt but reight 'at we sud hev it. Ther's lots o' horses
been lamed at t' level crossing. Why, I were varry near being jiggered
mysel one neet." Other members of the deputation having given evidence in
support of the petition, the party retired. In the end the bridge was
erected. Mr Leach and his fellow members of the Local Board were in
London about six weeks, and one cannot help thinking that, with an
allowance of 1 pound per day for expenses, they would thoroughly enjoy
themselves. At least Mr Leach told me that he did.

MR LEACH'S THREE NIGHTS' LECTURES

On his return to Keighley, Mr Leach and, indeed, the rest of the
deputation was made a god of, in certain quarters. In Jonas Moore's
barber's shop in the Market-place, Mr Leach described his visit to London
to a few "favoured" customers, and provoked unlimited laughter. It was
Jonas Moore and Joe Town who induced him to give a public lecture on his
travels. An elaborate bill was prepared, "almost as big as a house side,"
informing the burgesses of Keighley that Mr James Leach would give "three
nights' lectures in the Temperance Hall, on his life and travels in
London during his six weeks' commission from the Local Board of Health."
A few frequenters of the barber's shop in the Market-place suggested that
Mr (now Sir) Isaac Holden should be asked to take the chair. Mr Holden
was accordingly communicated with, and came down to Keighley in his
carriage; he finally consented to preside at the lectures. Mr Holden was
punctual on the first night of the lecture, when there was an overflowing
audience. This was, I believe, Mr Holden's first, or nearly his first,
public appearance, and the occ