bridge to Mr. Osborne's mill,
over the pool of which stands the ducking-stool. A joiner named Thomas
Timmins repaired it in 1729, and charged as follows:

"To ye Cuckstool, the stoop 0 01 0
2 Foot and 1/2 of Ioyce for a Rayle 0 00 5
Ja. Ford, junr., 1/2 day at Cuckstool 0 00 7"

The Chesterfield ducking-stool was pulled down towards the close of the
last century. It is stated that in the latter part of its existence it
was chiefly used for punishing refractory paupers.

The Scarborough ducking-stool was formerly placed on the old pier, and
was last used about the year 1795, when a Mrs. Gamble was ducked. The
chair is preserved in the Museum of the Scarborough Philosophical
Society. We are indebted to Dr. T. N. Brushfield for an excellent
drawing of it.

[Illustration: SCARBOROUGH DUCKING-STOOL.]

An object which attracts much attention from visitors to the interesting
museum at Ipswich is the ducking-stool of the town. We give a carefully
executed drawing of it. It is described as a strong-backed arm-chair,
with a wrought-iron rod, about an inch in diameter, fastened to each arm
in front, meeting in a segment of a circle above; there is also another
iron rod affixed to the back, which curves over the head of the person
seated in the chair, and is connected with the other at the top, to the
centre of which is fastened an iron ring for the purpose of slinging the
machine into the river. It is plain and substantial, and has more the
appearance of solidity than antiquity in its construction. We are told
by the local historian that in the Chamberlain's books are various
entries for money paid to porters for taking down the ducking-stool and
assisting in the operation of cooling, by its means, the inflammable
passions of some of the female inhabitants of Ipswich.

We give a spirited sketch of the Ipswich ducking-stool, from the pencil
of Campion, a local artist. It is worthy of the pencil of Hogarth,
Gilray, or Cruikshank; indeed, it is often said to be the production of
the last-named artist, but though after his style it is not his work.

[Illustration: IPSWICH DUCKING-STOOL.]

There are traces in the Court-Book of St. George's Gild of the use of
the ducking-stool at Norwich. Amongst other entries is one to the effect
that in 1597 a scold was ducked three times.

The ducking-stool at Nottingham, in addition to being employed for
correcting scolds, was used for the exposure of females