dy for decision: it will be enough for
me to point out a few instances which have come under my own immediate
notice.

"A short time back, as I was passing near Smithfield, I was surprised
at observing the sign of 'The Cow and Snuffers;' and whilst I was
endeavouring to throw some light upon this subject, and puzzling myself
in endeavouring to discover how it was possible for a Cow to snuff a
Candle, or even a farthing rushlight; nay, even how it could happen
that so strange an association should take place, I was diverted from
my study on turning round, to find that some artist had exercised his
ingenuity in painting a Goat in Jack Boots. At first I conceived this
must be intended as a satire on our old debauchees, many of whom
hide their spindled shanks in the tasselled hessian. These proving
inexplicable to my shallow understanding, I pursued my walk, and
observed against a strong newbuilt house--'A Hole in the Wall;' and not
far from the Fleet Prison, I perceived, with some surprise, 'A Friend at
Hand.' Over a house kept by Nic. Coward, I saw 'The Fighting Cocks;' and
at a crimping rendezvous, remarked, 'The Tree of Liberty.'--'The Jolly
Gardeners' were stuck up at a purl house; and I can assure you, it was
with much mortification I detected 'The Three Graces' at a gin shop."

"Ha, ha, ha," said Tallyho, laughing, "very natural combinations of
characters and subjects for a contemplative philosopher like yourself to
exercise your ingenuity upon."

"Passing by a public-house," continued Tom, "the landlady of which
was exercising her tongue with the most clamorous volubility, I could
scarcely credit my eyes to find the sign of 'The Good Woman,' or, in
other words, a woman without a head. Entering a house for refreshment,
I was told, after calling the waiter for near an hour, that I was at
the sign of 'The Bell;' and upon desiring the master of 'The Hen and
Chickens,' to send ~~397~~~ me home a fine capon, he shewed me some
cambric, and assured me it was under prime cost. The most ominous sign
for a customer, I thought, was 'The Three Pigeons;' and I own it was
with considerable astonishment when, after ordering a bed at 'The
Feathers,' I was compelled to pass the night on a straw mattrass. I have
breakfasted at 'The Red Cow,' where there was no milk to be had; and
at the sign of 'The Sow and Pigs,' have been unable to procure a single
rasher of bacon. At 'The Bell Savage,' (which by the way is said to be a
corruptio