I was immediately saluted by one of the most sober of the ladies, and invited to take a glass of the enlivening nectar, and led to the bed exactly opposite the door, where Murtoch was laid out, and begged to pray for the repose of his precious shoul.

This, however, I declined, alleging that as the parsons were paid for praying, it was their proper business.
At this moment a coarse female voice exclaimed, in a sort of yell or Irish howl, 'Arrah! by Jasus, and why did you die, honey ?--Sure enough it was not for the want of milk, meal, or tatoes.' "In a remote corner of the room, or rather cellar, sat three draymen, five of his majesty's body guards, four sailors, six haymakers, eight chairmen, and six evidence makers, together with three bailiffs' followers, who came by turns to view the body, and take a drop of the _cratur_ to drink repose to the shoul of their countryman; and to complete the group, they were at-tended by the journeyman Jack Ketch.

The noise and confusion were almost stupefying--there were praying--swearing--crying-howling--smoking--and drinking.
"At the head of the bed where the remains of Murtoch were laid, was the picture of the Virgin Mary on one side, and that of St.Patrick on the other; and at the feet was depicted the devil and some of his angels, with the blood running down their backs, from the flagellations which they had received from the disciples of Ketigern.

Whether the blue devils were flying around or not, I could not exactly discover, but the whiskey and _blue ruin_ were evidently powerful in their effects.
"One was swearing--a second counting his beads--a third descanting on the good qualities of his departed friend, and about to try those of the whiskey--a fourth evacuating that load with which he had already overloaded himself--a fifth, declaring he could carry a fare, hear mass, knock down a member of parliament, murder a peace officer, and after all receive a pension: and while the priest was making an assignation with a sprightly female sprig of Shelalah, another was jonteelly picking his pocket.
I had seen enough, and having no desire to continue in such company, made my escape with as much speed as I could from this animated group of persons, assembled as they were upon so solemn an occasion." ~85~~With conversation of this kind, the party were amused up St.
Martin's lane, and on the remainder of the road to Bow-street, followed by many persons, some of whom pretended to have seen a part of the proceedings, and promised to give their evidence before the magistrate, who was then sitting.
On arriving in Bow Street, they entered the Brown Bear,{1} a public-house, much frequented by the officers, and in which is a strong-room for the safe custody of prisoners, where they were shewn into a dark back-parlour, as they termed it, and the officer proceeded to search the man in custody, when lo and behold! the handkerchief was not to be found about him.
Pat d----d the devil and all his works--swore "by the fiery furnace of Beelzebub, and that's the devil's own bed-chamber, that was the man that nibbled the Jontleman's _dive_,{2} and must have _ding'd away the wipe_,{3} or else what should he _bolt_{4} for ?--that he was up to the _rum slum_,{5} 1 A former landlord of the house facetiously christened it the Russian Hotel, and had the words painted under the sign of Bruin.
2 _Nibbled the Jontleman's dive_--Picked the gentleman's pocket.
3 _Ding'd away the wipe_--Passed away the handkerchief to another, to escape detection.

This is a very common practice in London: two or three in a party will be near, without appearing to have the least knowledge of, or connexion with each other, and the moment a depredation is committed by one, he transfers the property to one of his pals, by whom it is conveyed perhaps to the third, who decamps with it to some receiver, who will immediately advance money upon it; while, if any suspicion should fall upon the first, the second will perhaps busy himself in his endeavours to secure the offender, well knowing no proof of possession can be brought against him.
4 _Bolt_--Run away; try to make an escape.
5 _Rum slum_--Gammon--queer talk or action, in which some fraudulent intentions are discoverable or suspected.
~86~~and down upon the _kiddies_{1}--and sure enough you're _boned,_{2} my dear boy." Some of the officers came in, and appeared to know the prisoner well, as if they had been acquainted with each other upon former official business; but as the lost property was not found upon him, it was the general opinion that nothing could be done, and the accused began to exercise his wit upon Murphy, which roused Pat's blood: "For the least thing, you know, makes an Irishman roar." At length, upon charging him with having been caught _blue-pigeon flying,_{3} Pat gave him the lie in his teeth--swore he'd fight him for all the _blunt_{4} he had about him, "which to be sure," said he, "is but a sweet pretty half-a-crown, and be d----d to you--good luck to it! Here goes," throwing the half-crown upon the floor, which the prisoner attempted to pick up, but was prevented by Pat's stamping his foot upon it, while he was _doffing his jacket_,{5} exclaiming-- "Arrah, be after putting your dirty fingers in your pocket, and don't spoil the King's picture by touching it--devil burn me, but I'll _mill your mug to muffin dust_{6} before I'll give up that beautiful looking bit; so tip us your mauley,{7} and no more blarney." 1 Down upon the Kiddies--To understand the arts and manouvres of thieves and sharpers.
2 Boned--Taken or secured.
s Blue pigeon flying--The practice of stealing lead from houses, churches, or other buildings.