g, and
frying upon the fire, raising a smell almost powerful enough to
satisfy the moderate cravings of a Frenchman's appetite.

The whole of the food that we could perceive that had been gathered
from door to door, was one solitary plate of broken bread, which was
before a broad-shouldered and able-bodied match seller; and even he,
before he would allow such refuse to take its descent down his gullet,
took especial care to plaster well every piece with good fresh
butter--washing the whole down with an excellent cup of coffee.

It might have afforded a fine treat to the searcher after life and
manners, to have observed the rough and ragged scene that was now
before us. The kitchen at times was crowded to excess; and, amid the
clattering of plates, fuss of cooking, and confusion of tongues, men,
women, and children, feasting, drinking, singing, and card-playing,
while some two or three might be seen wiling away the painful effects
of an empty pocket by a soothing whiff from the favourite cutty,
occasionally a half naked brute, in the shape of a man or a woman,
would stagger in, their heads nodding on their shoulders, like the
equally sensible and oblivious looking pate of a Chinese figure in a
grocer's window; and if there was space enough, would reel a step or
two, and then measure their length upon the floor, muttering sundry
threatening sounds. These, of course, were soon picked up, and in
their attempts to play at _a la Randall_, had their arms carefully
pinioned, their bodies placed upon a seat, and laid against the wall;
or, if there was room enough, were accommodated with a stretch upon
the form, to snooze themselves fresh again--dreaming of the sweets of
gin, and the joys of a begging life.

But perhaps a sketch or so of those strange beings, with a little of
their interesting slang, will be the better way to describe such a
group. By the bye, this is the place for character--the cadging house
is the very spot for the pourtrayer of life, who wishes to lay claim
to any thing like originality;--here Nature has her full scope, and
affectation rarely shows her face.

As we were sitting, noting the various particulars that were
continually passing before our eyes, and as the Poet says, catching
"the manners living as they rise," a thumping step was heard coming
along the passage. The door opened, and a wooden-legged weather-beaten
seaman, past the meridian, with a pot of beer in one hand and a bag in
the other, s