Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824 -- Last years; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
'What the people might think, I don't know; but it seemed to me a very
strange scene, and I was not much delighted at being made such an
object of attraction. Mr. Bentham's activity surprised me, and I never
overtook him or came near him till we reached the Horse Guards, where
his speed was checked by the Blues drawn up in array. Here we threaded
in amongst horses and men till we escaped at the other gate into
Whitehall. I now thought the crowded streets would prevent any more
racing; but several times he escaped from us, and trotted off,
compelling us to trot after him till we reached Mr. Galloway's
manufactory in Smithfield. Here he exulted in his activity, and
inquired particularly if I had ever seen a man at his time of life so
active. I could not possibly answer no, while I was almost breathless
with the exertion of following him through the crowded streets. After
seeing at Mr. Galloway's manufactory, not only the things which had
been prepared for the Greeks, but his other engines and machines, we
proceeded to another manufactory at the foot of Southwark Bridge,
where our brigade of guns stood ready mounted. When Mr. Bentham had
satisfied his curiosity here also, and I had given him every
information in my power, we set off to return to his house, that he
might breakfast; I endeavoured to persuade him to take a
hackney-coach, but in vain. We got on tolerably well, and without any
adventures, tragical or comical, till we arrived at Fleet Street. We
crossed from Fleet Market over towards Mr. Waithman's shop, and here,
letting go my arm, he quitted the foot pavement, and set off again in
one of his vagaries up Fleet Street. His clerk again set off after
him, and I again followed. The race here excited universal attention.
The perambulating ladies, who are always in great numbers about that
part of the town, and ready to laugh at any kind of oddity, and catch
hold of every simpleton, stood and stared at or followed the venerable
philosopher. One of them, well known to all the neighbourhood by the
appellation of the _City Barge_, given to her on account of her
extraordinary bulk, was coming with a consort full sail down Fleet
Street, but whenever they saw the flight of Mr. Jeremy Bentham they
hove to, tacked, and followed to witness the fun or share the prize. I
was heartily ashamed of participating in this scene, and supposed that
everybody would take me for a mad doctor, the young man for my
assistant, and Mr. Bentham for my patient, just broke adrift from his
keepers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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