IV.—Grummer
This well drawn sketch of an ignorant, self-sufficient constable is admirable. I have little doubt that one of the incidents in which he figures was suggested to Boz by a little adventure of Grimaldi’s which he found in the mass of papers submitted to him, and which he worked up effectively. A stupid and malicious old constable, known as “Old Lucas,” went to arrest the clown on an imaginary charge,
as he was among his friends at the theatre. As in the case of Grummer, the friends, like Winkle and Snodgrass, threatened the constable. The magistrate heard the case, sentenced Grimaldi to pay 5s. fine. Old Lucas, in his disappointment, arrested him again. Being attacked by Grimaldi, as Grummer was by Sam, he drew his staff and behaved outrageously. The magistrate then, like Nupkins, had him placed in the dock, and sentenced.
It has also been stated that Grummer was drawn from Towshend—the celebrated Bow Street Runner again introduced in “Oliver Twist.” Towshend was a privileged person, like Grummer, and gave his advice familiarly to the magistrates.