“This was the commencement of my rise in the world above the position of a common journeyman. Mr. Cubitt offered me bricks upon credit, sufficient to get the roof on, if I could find money for the rest. I had £65 of my own, the savings of three years’ teetotalism; and to work I went, and soon got the skeleton of the house up, on the piece of ground he granted in Wellington Street, Pimlico. Although I used to rise with the lark, I was, nevertheless, at a teetotal meeting every night; while on Sunday I was lecturing all day long. I would not give up my temperance work for any manor anything. My son and myself used to get up at four o’clock in the morning, and make up a batch of mortar, so as to be able to set the labourers to work when they came. We had two labourers to assist us, and now and then I took on a man, just to give him a little help to bide over the hard time immediately succeeding his signing the pledge. At times I used to go away, and perhaps my son with me, to another job, which would bring in a little money. When I got the roof on I was in a terrible fix. I had spent all my money; and though Mr. Cubitt was ready to give me all I wanted, yet I did not know him as I do now. I got into very low spirits; but as, in leaving her Majesty’s palace, I had made that a matter of prayer, so also did I do with this. My wife also prayed, and thus the matter was left, apparently, no better than before. “One day I went down to my work as usual, and, on looking up the street, which was then beginning to form, I saw Mr. Robert Alsop coming along—the very man who brought two policemen to take me in charge for holding meetings at the ‘White Stiles,’ Chelsea. He did this partly on his own account, and partly because the people sent a petition to have me removed from the spot. It may be as well to give a little account of what transpired when Mr. Alsop brought the two policemen. “‘I give,’ he said, ‘this man in charge. I have told him that the people about here are much offended. We cannot allow this disturbance to go on, and a letter has been sent on this subject. I therefore give him in charge.’ “‘Then,’ said I, ‘I give Mr. Alsop in charge; and I dare you to take me without taking him.’ “The policemen were in a fog—likewise Mr. Alsop. “‘Well, sir,’ said one of them, at last, ‘it appears Mr. M‘Currey knows what he is doing. We know nothing about the case; and, if you force us to take this man in charge, we must take you too.’