ly ordered; but as there were several at the landing, all but
the one engaged naturally felt the cruelty of not being permitted to come
in for their share of extortion on such an occasion.

'I say, Sir,' said one of the unwashed, 'them's a pretty pair of red
ribbands in your shoes; I want just such a pair for my little 'un at
home.'

I knew there was only one way of dealing with them; I therefore put on one
of my blandest smiles, and gently replied: 'Well, my good fellow, if you
will give me your address, I will send you a pair to-morrow.' This settled
the affair in good humor, and I was suffered to reach the boat without
farther annoyance. We had put into the stream but a short distance, when I
encountered a boat-full of roysterers; for old father Thames was thickly
studded on this occasion with boats of all classes; when one turned to
another in the boat and cried out in the most lugubrious accents, which
did not fail to excite shouts of laughter:

'I say, Bill, is that 'ere feller a man or a voman?'

I thought now I had fairly passed my ordeal and might go on in peace; but
no; we were obliged to pull in near shore, as we were rowing against tide.
Milbank was crowded, and from the midst of the polite assemblage a gentle
female voice cried out:

'My eyes! Tom! if there isn't one of Astley's riders!'

I at length arrived at my place of appointment, and had a good hearty
laugh at breakfast over my little annoyances. While engaged in that
interesting meal, the shouts of the people passed across the water. It was
occasioned by the arrival of the Queen, who was refused admittance to the
Abbey. Almost all parties blamed her for the attempt, nor did she produce
the sensation she had evidently calculated upon. It was like trying to
renew a lost game, when all interest had subsided. It was the final blow
to all her ambitious aspirations, which speedily ended, where all our
vanities must end, in the silent grave. I wish it to be perfectly
understood that I have no idea of entering into a rivalry with Hume, in
giving another History of England; but as these events of stirring
interest passed within my own time, and of which I was a close observer, I
trust the introduction will not appear misplaced; taking into
consideration that I profess to give my general reminiscences, and not
simply to confine them to my profession. Perhaps it would be wise on my
part to drop a veil over the gorgeous spectacle; for like a visit to the
F