~94~~attendance in the morning; but was informed it could not be accepted of, as it was clearly made out against me that I had committed a violent breach of the peace, and nothing at that time could be produced that would prove satisfactory. Under these circumstances, and partly induced by a desire to avoid being troublesome in other quarters, I submitted to a restraint which it appeared I could not very well avoid, and, taking my seat in an arm-chair by the fire-side, I soon fell fast asleep, from which I was only aroused by the occasional entrances and exits of the guardians, until between four and five o'clock, when a sort of general muster of the Charleys took place, and each one depositing his nightly paraphernalia, proceeded to his own habitation. Finding the liberation of others from their duties would not have the effect of emancipating me from my confinement, which was likely to be prolonged to eleven, or perhaps twelve o'clock, I began to feel my situation as a truly uncomfortable one, when I was informed by the watch-house keeper, who resides upon the spot, that he was going to _turn in_,{1} that there was fire enough to last till his wife turn'd out, which would be about six o'clock, and, as I had the appearance of a gentleman, if there was any thing I wanted, she would endeavour to make herself useful in obtaining it. “But Lord,” said he, “there is no such thing as believing any body now-a-days--there was such sets out, and such manouvering, that nobody knew nothing of nobody.” “I am obliged to you, my friend,” said I, “for this piece of information, and in order that you may understand something of the person you are speaking to beyond the mere exterior view, here is half-a-crown for your communication.” “Why, Sir,” said he, laying on at the same moment a shovel of coals, “this here makes out what I said--Don't you see, said I, that 'are Gentleman is a gentleman every inch of him, says I--as don't want nothing at all no more nor what is right, and if so be as how he's got himself in a bit of a hobble, I knows very well as how he's got the tip{2} in his pocket, and does'nt want for spirit to pull it out--Perhaps you might like some breakfast, sir?” 1 Turn in--Going to bed. This is a term most in use among seafaring men. 2 Tip is synonymous with blunt, and means money. ~95~~“Why yes,” said I--for I began to feel a little inclined that way. “O my wife, Sir,” said he, “will do all you want, when she rouses herself.” “I suppose,” continued I, “you frequently have occasion to accommodate persons in similar situations?” “Lord bless you! yes, sir, and a strange set of rum customers we have too sometimes--why it was but a few nights ago we had 'em stowed here as thick as three in a bed. We had 'em all upon the _hop_{1}--you never see'd such fun in all your life, and this here place was as full of curiosities as Pidcock's at Exeter Change, or Bartlemy-fair--Show 'em up here, all alive alive O!”