ollege, which crosses Gower Street, and prevents carriages
from passing along the front of University College Hospital, received a
letter, with the signature of 'Rebecca' attached, declaring it to be the
intention of herself and others to remove the 'obstruction called a gate'
on the following night. Mr. Hill, thinking the matter a joke, took no
notice of the circumstance; but, to his astonishment, early in the
morning following the night on which the threatened attack was promised,
he was awakened by the night porter, who informed him that the gate (a
large wooden one, such as the ordinary toll bars) was gone. On
examination, it was found that not only had the large padlock by which it
was fastened, been broken and carried away, but the gate had absolutely
been filed off its hinges, and conveyed by the depredators into the
College grounds, and hidden behind some shrubs. The gate has again been
re-instated; but, since the occurrence, Mr. Hill has received another
threatening notice, informing him that it is the intention of Rebecca and
her daughters, on Monday night next, to effect its entire destruction.
What is most extraordinary in connection with the affair is, that the
gate should have been removed without the knowledge of the police, the
beats of two constables joining close to the spot, or that of the night
porters, either at the College, or the Hospital. It is to be remarked
that frequent complaints have been made at the erection of the gate in
question, as it interrupts the otherwise direct communication between
Holborn and Broad Street, Bloomsbury, with the Hampstead Road, and
compels carriages, etc., to go considerably out of the way round Sussex
and University Streets, before they can get into the New Road."

CHAPTER XX.

Gretna Green parsons--Number of marriages--Chinese indemnity--Thames
tunnel--The aerial machine--Treasure trove--Accident to Mr.
Brunel--Arkwright's will--Secession in the Scotch Church--The
"Gent"--Shakspere's autograph.

At this time, Gretna Green marriages were in full blast (they were only
made unlawful in 1856), and we learn from the _Carlisle Journal_, copied
into the _Times_ of 20 Feb., something about the Parsons: "We observe by
announcement in some of the London papers, that some worthy gentlemen in
London, are about to enlighten the public on the subject of Gretna Green
marriages, by the publication of a book called _The Gretna Green
Memoirs_, by Robert Elliott, with