But after half an hour or so, the passage was completely blocked up by the great press, which, being now closely wedged together, and impeded by the carts and coaches it encountered, moved but slowly, and was sometimes at a stand for five or ten minutes together.
After the lapse of nearly two hours, the numbers began to diminish visibly, and gradually dwindling away, by little and little, left the bridge quite clear, save that, now and then, some hot and dusty man, with the cockade in his hat, and his coat thrown over his shoulder, went panting by, fearful of being too late, or stopped to ask which way his friends had taken, and being directed, hastened on again like one refreshed.

In this comparative solitude, which seemed quite strange and novel after the late crowd, the widow had for the first time an opportunity of inquiring of an old man who came and sat beside them, what was the meaning of that great assemblage.
'Why, where have you come from,' he returned, 'that you haven't heard of Lord George Gordon's great association?
This is the day that he presents the petition against the Catholics, God bless him!' 'What have all these men to do with that ?' she said.
'What have they to do with it!' the old man replied.

'Why, how you talk! Don't you know his lordship has declared he won't present it to the house at all, unless it is attended to the door by forty thousand good and true men at least?
There's a crowd for you!' 'A crowd indeed!' said Barnaby.

'Do you hear that, mother!' 'And they're mustering yonder, as I am told,' resumed the old man, 'nigh upon a hundred thousand strong.

Ah! Let Lord George alone.