ew-fair, excepting those stationary gentlemen, the
twin-brothers, Gog and Magog, in Guildhall."

Passing through the town without meeting with any new object worthy
of particular notice, they found themselves at the extremity of
Threadneedle-street, when Dashall, pointing to a neat plain building,
"this," said he, "is the South Sea House. The South Sea Company was
established for the purpose of an exclusive trade to the South Seas,
and many thousands were ruined by the speculation: the iniquity and
deception were at last discovered, and those who were at the head
were punished. The eager hope of wealth frequently engenders
disappointment,--but here credulity attained her zenith;--amongst other
schemes, equally practicable, the projectors of this notorious bubble
set up a method of making butter from beech-trees; a plan to learn
people to cast their nativity; an insurance against divorces; and a way
of making deal boards out of saw-dust!"

"And is it possible," inquired Tallyho, "that such most preposterous
theories obtained belief?"

"Even so," answered Dashall,--"What is there in which human folly
will not believe?--We have all read of the bottle-conjurer.{1}--The
prevalence of curiosity is universal. I could safely stake any money,
that if public notice was given of a person who would leap down his own
throat, he would gain belief, and a full audience would favour him with
their company to witness his marvellous performance."

1 This speculator by wholesale in English credulity,
advertised, "that he would, in the Haymarket theatre,
literally and _bona fide_ creep into a quart bottle; and
further, would, when inside such quart bottle, entertain the
audience with a solo on the violin!"

Long before the appointed hour of performance, the house was
crammed at all points, and thousands were sent from the
doors for want of room. The most eager curiosity prevailed
as the time drew near for the commencement of these
extraordinary feats, and the clamour for the appearance of
the performer was incessant and vociferous. At last he came
forward upon the stage, and all was breathless attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry to say that I cannot, to-
night, find a bottle large enough for the purpose intended;
but to-morrow I faithfully engage to go into a pint bottle,
in atonement of the present disappointment!" He then
retired. The sh