At the same period, the shovels, pokers, tongs, gridirons, and purl pots of the public-houses, particularly those of the Maidenhead Inn, in Dyott Street (now changed to George Street), and which was then kept by a man of the name of Jordan, were all chained to the fire-place. At this house the beggars, after a good day's maunding, would bleed the dragon, a large silver tankard so called, and which was to be filled with punch only. There is now a house, the sign of the Rose and Crown, in Church Lane, which was formerly called the Beggars' Opera; and there was another house so denominated, the sign of the Weaver's Arms, in Church Lane, Whitechapel. The last cook-shop where the knives and forks were chained to the table, was on the south side of High Street. It was kept about forty years ago by a man of the name of Fussell. Perhaps the only waggery in public-house customs now remaining, is in the tap-room of the Apple Tree, opposite to Cold Bath Fields Prison. There are a pair of handcuffs fastened to the wires as bell-pulls, and the orders given by some of the company, when they wish their friends to ring, are, to "agitate the conductor." Most of the kitchens in High Street, from St Giles's Church to the entrance of Holborn, were sausage, sheep's head, roley poley pudding, pancake, and potatoe cellars. The last heroine of the frying-pan exhibited a short nose and shining red face, and was known by the appellation of "Little Fanny." She had fried and boiled for Mrs Markham, now living in the same house, thirty-three years. Her face had become so ardent by frequent wipings, that for many years it would not bear a touch. It was the opinion of Sir Nathaniel Conant, when that able and active magistrate attended the Committee of the House of Commons, that extensive as mendicity has been of late, it is by no means to be compared with what it was thirty years ago. It is very obvious that since the proceedings of the Committee for inquiring into the state of mendicity, the common beggars have decreased considerably in their numbers; and although they are still extremely numerous, it appears that where our wonderful Metropolis is molested with one beggar, there are twenty to be met with in almost every capital on the continent. England, justly claiming the palm for the encouragement of every art and science, has ever been foremost in almsgiving, not only to her own people, but to those of almost every part of the globe. Nor can any other country boast such parochial poorhouses. The vast improvements of the streets and public edifices, great as they are, by no means keep pace with them either as to comfort or expense, of which Marylebone and Pancras are examples; and to the honour of these parishes, as well as that of St James, their concerns are regulated, examined, and audited by independent characters of the highest integrity.