This, however, he found equally impracticable; he was detained, and by way of consolation for his loss, was called upon for a song.

His lungs were good, and although his spirits were not much exhilarated by the introductory part of the entertainment, he began to "tip 'em a stave;" but whilst he was chanting "The stormy winds do blow," a fellow cut off his tail.

This was worse than all the rest; it was, as it were, a part of his working tools, and the loss of it was likely to injure his business by an alteration of his appearance, and could not be tacitly submitted to.
The magistrates gravely considering this a most serious charge of unprovoked attack upon an industrious individual, ordered the parties to find bail, in default of fully satisfying the inoffensive dealer in pastry, which was accordingly done.
In the year 1804, scorning to be behindhand in loyalty as well as activity, he became a member of the Clerkenwell Volunteers, and was placed in the light company, in which capacity he obtained the character not only of being the cleanest man, but the best soldier in the regiment.
It is said, that for amusement, or the gratification of a whim, he will sometimes walk a distance of fifty or a hundred miles from the Metropolis, and return the same way.
On such occasions he always manages to take some companion or friend out with him, but was never known to come back in the same company; for so irresistibly are they allured forward by his inexhaustible fund of humour and sprightliness of conversation, that they seldom think of the distance till they find themselves too far from home to return on foot.
~41~~"Then," said Bob, "he is not like some of the London dealers, who invite their customers to taste and try before they buy, for he scarcely seems to afford a chance of seeing what he sells." "You did not try him," replied Tom, "nor would he have expected you to be a customer.

He is a remarkable character, well known all over the Metropolis.

Particularly noted for his activity in disposing of his goods; never standing still for a moment, but accosting with extraordinary ease and fluency every person who appears likely to be a purchaser; always ready with an answer to any question, but delivering it with so much volubility, that it is impossible to propose a second enquiry, suiting at the same time his answer to the apparent quality of the querist, though frequently leaving it unfinished in search of a customer, and moving on with so much rapidity, that you may almost find him at the same moment at Tower Hill, Billingsgate, and Spa Fields; at Smithfield, Temple Bar, and Piccadilly; indeed he may be said to be in all quarters of the town in a space of time incredibly short for a man who obtains a livelihood by seeking customers as he moves along." "Zounds," cried Bob, "this walking genius, this credible incredible, and visible invisible pedestrian dealer in portable eatables, has almost blinded me.
"For, by this flying pieman, I've nearly lost an eye, man." "Come," said Tom, "I've no fear of your eye while you can muster a couplet; so let us proceed." Crossing Black friars Bridge, and approaching the road, Bob, who had assuaged the pain of which he had previously ~42~~ been complaining, could not help admiring the extensive range of nouses on each side of the way, terminated by a handsome building in the distance.
"That Building," said Dashall, "will be the extent of our journey, for very near to it is the habitation of Merrywell, where I entertain no doubt you will find enough for observation of a useful as well as a humorous nature: for an epitome of men and manners is there to be obtained." "Here are abundance of subjects worthy of inspection in this quarter," replied Tom, "and we therefore ought not to exhaust too much time on one, so let us proceed: do you see that high wall to the right?
That is the Magdalen Hospital,{1} established for the relief and 1 The Magdalen Hospital in Blackfriars Road, enclosed from public view, occupies an extensive space of ground, and is from the nature of its inhabitants very properly so enclosed.