ss," replied Dashall, "that in the present instance I have
been egregiously deceived;--I certainly am not up to all the tricks of
London, although neither a Johnny Raw nor a green-horn; and yet I would
not wish to prove callous to the claim of distress, even if sometimes
unguardedly bestowing the mite of benevolence on an undeserving object."

"The Society for the Suppression of Mendicity in the Metropolis," said
the Officer, "think differently, they recommend that no relief should be
given to street-beggars."

"Then," said Dashall, offended by the officer's interference,--"I envy
them not the possession of their feelings," and the two friends renewed
their walk.

Proceeding, without further interruption, our pedestrians, were induced
to intermingle with a crowd which had collected round a man who wore
a most patriarchal redundancy of beard, and had been recognized by an
acquaintance as a shoe-maker of the name of Cooke, a disciple of the
American Prophet, John Decker.

~183~~ Their high mightinesses the mobility were mischievously inclined,
and would certainly have grossly insulted, if not injured the
poor devotee, had not Dashall and his friend taken him under their
protection.{1} He had been quietly making his way through Covent Garden
Market, when the greetings and surprise of his friend at his strange
transformation, attracted the curiosity of the multitude, and his
unhesitating declaration, that he meant to accompany the great Prophet
to Jerusalem, excited derision and indignation against the unfortunate
enthusiast, when luckily our two heros interposed their good offices and
conducted the proselyte in safety to the Shakespeare Tavern.

1 On Monday, in consequence of a very great uproar on Sunday
night, in Worcester Street, Southwark, about the house of
the American Prophet, John Decker, that singular person was
brought before the Magistrates of this office, the
inhabitants of the neighbourhood having attributed the
disturbance to the unfortunate fanaticism of the prophet and
his followers.

The constables stated, that on Sunday night, at half-past
eight o'clock, they saw a mob, consisting of about three
hundred people, collected at the door of the house, and
heard the cries of "murder" issue from within. The officers
on going up stairs, found the Prophet lying on his back.
Some persons who had been abusing him escaped, and the
Prophet