Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; London (England) -- Description and travel
This set of chambers (as I have gradually discovered, when I have had
restless occasion to make inquiries or leave messages, after office
hours) is under the charge of a lady named Sweeney, in figure extremely
like an old family-umbrella: whose dwelling confronts a dead wall in a
court off Gray’s Inn-lane, and who is usually fetched into the passage of
that bower, when wanted, from some neighbouring home of industry, which
has the curious property of imparting an inflammatory appearance to her
visage. Mrs. Sweeney is one of the race of professed laundresses, and is
the compiler of a remarkable manuscript volume entitled ‘Mrs. Sweeney’s
Book,’ from which much curious statistical information may be gathered
respecting the high prices and small uses of soda, soap, sand, firewood,
and other such articles. I have created a legend in my mind—and
consequently I believe it with the utmost pertinacity—that the late Mr.
Sweeney was a ticket-porter under the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn,
and that, in consideration of his long and valuable services, Mrs.
Sweeney was appointed to her present post. For, though devoid of
personal charms, I have observed this lady to exercise a fascination over
the elderly ticker-porter mind (particularly under the gateway, and in
corners and entries), which I can only refer to her being one of the
fraternity, yet not competing with it. All that need be said concerning
this set of chambers, is said, when I have added that it is in a large
double house in Gray’s Inn-square, very much out of repair, and that the
outer portal is ornamented in a hideous manner with certain stone
remains, which have the appearance of the dismembered bust, torso, and
limbs of a petrified bencher.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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