In hopes that the "arranging hand" may, through the medium of "N. & Q.," start out of chaos ready for its work, and the "men able and willing" not be wanting, I beg to state that (being unable to aid the cause otherwise) I will gladly contribute in the way of money, as far as my abilities go, should any systematic plan be arranged.
C. D. LAMONT.
Greenock.
LONDON STREET CHARACTERS.
Mr. Dickens's graphic description of the Court of Chancery, in his new work, Bleak House, contains the following sketch:
"Standing on a seat at the side of the hall, ... is a little mad old woman in a squeezed bonnet, who is always in court ... expecting some incomprehensible judgment to be given in her favour. Some say she really is, or was, a party to a suit: but no one knows for certain, because no one cares. She carries some small litter in a reticule which she calls her documents: principally consisting of paper matches and dry lavender."
There is a diminutive creature, somewhat answering to this description, who limps on a stick and one leg that is shorter than the other, all the early morning in the still courts of the Temple; and seems to be waiting the result of some consultation, before she reappears, as is her wont, in Westminster Hall. Whether this person suggested the victim of Bleak House, is a question of no moment. The story commonly told of her is a very similar one, namely, that she was ruined and crazed, like Peter Peebles, by the slow torture of a law-suit. Is anything known of her real history?
What were the fortunes and fate of a poor female lunatic, who was called Rouge et noir, from her crape sables and painted cheeks; and who used to loiter every day about the Royal Exchange at four o'clock; and seemed to depend for subsistence upon the stray bounty of the "money-changers?" It was said that she had a brother who was hanged for forgery, and that this drove her mad.
About thirty years ago, there might be heard any morning in the smaller streets of "the city," a cry of "dolls' bedsteads," from a lean lame man on a crutch; who wore an apron, and carried miniature bedsteads for sale. Of this man it was generally reported, that he was implicated in the Cato Street conspiracy, and turned king's evidence.
Charles Lamb describes a character, whom it is also impossible to forget: