[35] Gully was a prize-fighter—was made one of the Royal pages at the coronation of George IV., took to the turf and kept racehorses, and was M.P. for Pontefract.
[36] A false shirt-front.
[37] Leaving a house, or apartments, without paying rent.
[38] A Workhouse, so called because of the loss of personal liberty when once in “the House.” The House of Correction, Coldbath Fields, now done away with, was called “the Bastille,” and to its dying day was known to the criminal classes as “the Steel.”
[39] A strike is four pecks or one bushel, strike measure, which would make wheat eight guineas per quarter.
[40] The writer of this makes no mention of the advantages the labourer had in those days, low rent, meal, skim milk, etc., and constant work, wet or fine. Money then had more purchasing power, and eight shillings was worth at least fifteen of the present currency. Now, thanks to Mr. Joseph Arch and other agitators, the agricultural labourer has, presumably, higher wages, but he has higher rent to pay, his privileges are curtailed or annulled, and he has lost the sympathy of his employer. Paid by the hour, he is discharged as soon as it comes on to rain hard, instead of, as in the old days, being paid for a whole day, even if he only worked part of it.
[41] Story.
[42] October 20, 1827.
[43] This is supposed to refer to some frolic of William IV.’s when he was Duke of Clarence, and properly belongs to last century.
[44] This story is supposed to be told of William IV.