The Time shall come, when this new Tenant here,
Will in his Turn shule for a Pot of Beer;
Repent the melting of his Cash too fast,
And snap at Strangers for a Nights Repast."
Footnotes
[114] Where the Fleet Market is now, there was, a few Years since, a Ditch, with a Muddy Channel of Water. The Market was built at the expense of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, who receive the Rent for it.
[115] The Doorkeeper, or he who opens and shuts the Jigg, is call'd the Jigger.
[116] Billiards is a very common Game here.
[117] Fine Ale drank in the Coffee-Room, call'd the Alderman, because brew'd at Alderman Parson's.
[118] A Runner, is a Fellow that goes Abroad of Errands for the Prisoners.
[119] A common Cant word for Mumping.
[120] Persons who give any considerable Offence, are often try'd, and undergo the Discipline of the Pump. The Author was one of these in a drunken Frolick, for which he condemns himself.
[121] A spacious Place, where there are all Sorts of Exercises, but especially Fives.
[122] A Publick Place, free for all Prisoners.
[123] Where those lie who can't pay their Master's Fee.
[124] There are several of those Jiggers or Doorkeepers, who relieve one another, and when a Prisoner comes first in, they take a nice Observation of him, for fear of his escaping.
[125] A cant Word for giving some Money in order to shew a Lodging.
[126] Which is One Pound Six Shillings and Eightpence, and then you are entitled to a Bed on the Master's Side, for which you pay so much per week.
[127] Mount Scoundrel, so call'd from its being so highly situated, and belonging once to the Common Side, tho' lately added to the Master's; if there be room in the House, this Place is first empty, and the Chamberlain commonly shews this to raise his price upon you for a better.
[128] Half a Guinea.
[129] A Bedfellow so call'd.
[130] When you have a Chum, you pay but 15 Pence per Week each, and, indeed, that is the Rent of the whole Room, if you find Furniture.
[131] The Upper Floors are accounted best here, for the same reason as they are at Edinburgh, which, I suppose, every Body knows.
[132] It is common to mention the Fleet by the Name of the Place, and I suppose it is call'd the Place by way of Eminence, because there is not such another.
[133] A Cant Word for a Drain of Geneva.
[134] A Chew of Tobacco, suppos'd to be given him.
[135] The Necessary House, is (by the Prisoners) commonly call'd Scotland, near which is a dunghill.
[136] When there are Holes above Heel, or the Feet are so bad in a Stocking, that you are forced to pull them to hide the Holes, or cover the Toes, it is called coaxing.
[137] As the Prison is often call'd the College, so it is common to call a prisoner, a Collegian; and this character is taken from a man who had been many Years in the Place, and like to continue his Life; but it is hard for those who had not seen him to judge of the Truth of the Draught.
[138] The name of the Cook in the Kitchen.
[139] A place in the Cellar, called Bartholomew Fair.
[140] A phrase for spending Money fast.
[141] Cole, signifies Money.
[142] Bleed also signifies spending.
[143] When a Messenger or Friend brings Money from abroad to the Prisoners, it is usual to say a Ship is arriv'd.
[144] Some of the Dirt upon the Stairs is trod into knots so hard it is almost impossible to break it.
[145] Smart generally begins his Stories with a That's like, &c., tho' it is not at all like the Story he tells.
[146] The Master of the Cellar, a Man of a variable Temper, very passionate, malicious, and ill-natur'd at some times, at others very well.
[147] Who goes out? is repeated by Watchmen Prisoners, from half an Hour after Nine, till St. Paul's Clock strikes Ten, to give Visitors Notice to depart.
[148] While St. Paul's Clock is striking Ten, the Watchmen don't call Who goes out? but when the last Stroke is given, they cry All told! at which Time the Gates are lock'd, and nobody suffer'd to go out upon any Account.
