agreed to dine and finish the evening at a
Tavern in Covent Garden.

Thither, then, as they pursued their course, the Squire expressed his
surprise that a final stop was not put to scenes such as they had just
witnessed, and all such places of nefarious rendezvous, abolished by the
vigilance of the police.

"On the contrary," observed Dashall, "it is the interest of the
police, not utterly to destroy these receptacles of vice. They are
the toleration haunts of profligacy, where the officers of justice
are generally assured of meeting the objects of their inquiry, and
therefore, under proper restrictions, and an occasional clearance,
the continuance of a minor evil is productive of public benefit, by
arresting the progress of infamy, and preventing the extension of
crime."

Passing along the Strand, the humane feelings of the Squire were excited
by apparently a mutilated veteran seaman, who in a piteous tone of
voice, supplicated his charitable consideration. The applicant stated,
that he had lost an arm and an eye, and was deprived the use of a leg,
in the service of his country, without friend or home, and entirely
destitute of the means of subsistence, that he had no other resource
than that of a humble reliance on public benevolence. The Squire with
his usual philanthropic promptitude drew out his purse, but his ~182~~
friend intercepted the boon, and inquired of the seaman under whom, in
what ship, and in what action he had sustained his misfortunes. To these
questions a satisfactory answer was given, and the claim of the man to
compassion and relief was about to be admitted, when another inquiry
occurred, "are you a pensioner?"

A pause ensued: in the interim the mendicant seeing a person approach,
of whose recognition he was not at all ambitious, dropped in a moment
his timber toe, unslung his arm, dashed a patch from his eye, and set
off with the speed of a race-horse.

During the amazement of our two observers of Real Life, excited by this
sudden and unexpected transformation, the officer, for such was the
quondam acquaintance of the imposter, introduced himself to their
notice. "Gentlemen," said he, "you are not up to the tricks of London,
that fellow on whom you were about to bestow your charity, and who has
just now exhibited his agility, is one of the greatest imposters in
London;--however, I shall not run him down at present.--I know his
haunts, and reckon sure of my game in the evening."

"I confe