Do you see the crowd of squalid, half-clad and half-starved creatures that surround the old woman at the corner ?--Observe, that young thing without a stocking is stealing along with a bottle in one hand and a gown in the other; she is going to put the latter _up the spout_{1} with her 1 Up the spout, or up the five--Are synonimous in their import, and mean the act of pledging property with a Pawnbroker for the loan of money--most probably derived from the practice of having a long spout, which reaches from the top of the house of the Pawn-broker (where the goods are deposited for safety till redeemed or sold) to the shop, where they are first received; through which a small bag is dropped upon the ringing of a bell, which conveys the tickets or duplicates to a person above stairs, who, upon finding them, (unless too bulky) saves himself the trouble and loss of time of coming down stairs, by more readily conveying them down the spout.
~367~~ accommodating _Uncle,_{1} in order to obtain a little of the enlivening juice of the juniper to fill the former." 1 Uncle, sometimes called the Ferrit, or the Flint--Cant terms for Pawnbroker, though many of these gentlemen now assume the more reputable appellation of Silversmiths.

They are willing to lend money upon all sorts of articles of household furniture, linen, plate, wearing apparel, jewellery, &c.

with a certainty of making a very handsome profit upon the money so circulated.
There are in this Metropolis upwards of two hundred and thirty Pawnbrokers, and in some cases they are a useful and serviceable class of people; and although doubtless many of them are honest and reputable persons, there are still among them a class of sharpers and swindlers, who obtain licences to carry on the business, and bring disgrace upon the respectable part of the profession.

Every species of fraud which can add to the distresses of those who are compelled to raise temporary supplies of money is resorted to, and for which purpose there are abundance of opportunities.

In many instances however the utility of these persons, in preventing a serious sacrifice of property, cannot be denied; for, by advancing to tradesmen and mechanics temporary loans upon articles of value at a period of necessity, an opportunity of redeeming them is afforded, when by their industrious exertions their circumstances are improved.