He is frequently a vender of the penny religious tracts, dispersed by a society of Methodists, though perhaps with little use, for they are often purchased by people who are actually going to the gin-shop. It is here stated, on credible authority, that there are no less than 27,000 of the Methodist and 21,500 of the Evangelical Magazines published every month; and it is also reported, that not less than 800 Methodistical meeting-houses have been erected in England within the last year. [Illustration: PLATE IV. Tall blind beggar, with a long staff, with which he strikes the curb-stones. Drawn while standing against the wall of Whitbread's Brewery.] The beggar portrayed in the next plate is a blind man, who remains for many hours successively with his legs in one position. He observes a profound silence when on his stand, but makes noise enough when he attends the Tabernacle Walk on the Sabbath; on the week days, however, he is frequently heard singing obscene songs. He is introduced, with his wife, in the background of George Dyball's plate. [Illustration: PLATE V. Blind beggar, who observes a profound silence when on his stand, but makes noise enough when he attends the Tabernacle Walk on the Sabbath.] The next plate affords a remarkable instance of sobriety in a blind man, who never tasted gin in his life. He was some years since to be found on the historically and beggarly-famed road of Bethnal Green, and obtained an honest livelihood by trafficking in halfpenny ballads. [Illustration: PLATE VI. Blind man, who never tasted gin in his life. Frequented Bethnal Green Road, and obtained an honest livelihood by trafficking in halfpenny ballads.] The ensuing etching is of Charles Wood, a blind man, with an organ and a dancing dog, which he declares to be "_The real learned French dog, Bob_," and extols his tricks by the following never-failing address, "_Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the real learned French dog; please to encourage him; throw any thing down to him, and see how nimbly he'll pick it up, and give it to his poor blind master. Look about, Bob; be sharp; see what you're about, Bob._" Money being thrown, Bob picks it up, and puts it into his master's pocket. "_Thank ye, thank ye, my good masters; should any more Ladies and Gentlemen wish to encourage the poor dog, he's now quite in the humour; he'll pick it up almost before you can throw it down._" It is needless to add, that this man, whose station is against Privy Garden Wall, makes what is called "_a pretty penny_" by his learned French friend. [Illustration] This little animal is of so interesting a nature, that it has been thought worth while to give a side view of him, in order to exhibit the true cut of his tail. [Illustration: PLATE VII. Charles Wood, a blind man, with an organ and a dancing dog. "The real learned French dog, Bob." Money being thrown, Bob picks it up, and puts it into his master's pocket.]