And then a line from the Reader came as follows--"The worthy Alderman fought his battles o'er again--Ha, ha, ha--Who comes here 1 upon my word, Sir, I thought you had lost your way, and tumbled into the Woolpack instead of the Skin-market.--' It is a friend of mine, Sir.'-- That's a good joke, upon my soul; not arrived yet, why St.Martin's bells have been ringing all day; perhaps he is only half-seas over--Don't tell me, I know better than that--D------n that paper, it ought to be burnt by--The fish are all poison'd by the Gas-light Company--Six weeks imprisonment for stealing two dogs!--Hides and bark--How's sugars to-day ?--Stocks down indeed--Yes, Sir, and bread up--Presto, be gone--What d'ye think of that now, eh ?--Gammon, nothing but gammon--On table at four o'clock ready dressed and--Well done, my boy, that's prime." These sentences were uttered from different parts of the room in almost as great a variety of voices as there must have been subjects of conversation; but as they fell upon the ear of Tallyho without connection, he almost fancied himself transported to the tower of Babel amidst the confusion of tongues.
"Beg pardon," said Tallyho, who by this time had gained a seat by his Cousin, and was gasping like a turtle for air--"I am not used to this travelling in the dark; but I shall be able to see presently." "See," said Frank Harry, "who the devil wants to see more than their friends around them?
and here we are _at home to a peg_." ~285~~ "I shall have finished in two minutes, Gentlemen," said the Reader,{1} cocking up a red nose, that shone with resplendent lustre between his spectacles, and then continuing to read on, only listened to by a few of those around him, while a sort of general buz of conversation was indistinctly heard from all quarters.
They were quickly supplied with grog and segars, and Bob, finding himself a little better able to make use of his eyes, was throwing his glances to every part of the room, in order to take a view of the company: and while Tom was congratulated by those who knew him at the _Round Table_--Merrywell and Harry were in close conversation with Mortimer.
At a distant part of the room, one could perceive boxes containing small parties of convivials, smoking and drinking, every one seeming to have some business of importance to claim occasional attention, or engaged in, "The loud laugh that speaks the vacant mind." In one corner was a stout swarthy-looking man, with large whiskers and of ferocious appearance, amusing those around him with conjuring tricks, to their great satisfaction and delight; nearly opposite the Reader of the Courier, sat an elderly Gentleman{2} with grey hair, who heard 1 To those who are in the habit of visiting this room in an evening, the character alluded to here will immediately be familiar.

He is a gentleman well known in the neighbourhood as an Auctioneer, and he has a peculiar manner of reading with strong emphasis certain passages, at the end of which he makes long pauses, laughs with inward satisfaction, and not infrequently infuses a degree of pleasantry in others.
The Courier is his favourite paper, and if drawn into an argument, he is not to be easily subdued.
"At arguing too each person own'd his skill, For e'en tho' vanquish'd, he can argue still." 2 This gentleman, who is also well known in the room, where he generally smokes his pipe of an evening, is plain and blunt, but affable and communicative in his manners--bold in his assertions, and has proved himself courageous in defending them--asthmatic, and by some termed phlegmatic; but an intelligent and agreeable companion, unless thwarted in his argument--a stanch friend to the late Queen and the constitution of his country, with a desire to have the _Constitution, the whole Constitution, and nothing but the Constitution_.
~286~~ what was passing, but said nothing; he however puffed away large quantities of smoke at every pause of the Reader, and occasionally grinn'd at the contents of the paper, from which.

Tallyho readily concluded that he was in direct political opposition to its sentiments.
The acquisition of new company was not lost upon to those who were seated at the round table, and it was not long before the Hon.

Tom Dashall was informed that they hoped to have the honour of his Cousin's name as a member; nor were they backward in conveying a similar hint to Frank Harry, who immediately proposed his two friends, Mortimer and Merry well; an example which was followed by Tom's proposing his Cousin.
[Illustration: page286 Road to a Fight] Such respectable introductions could not fail to meet the approbation of the Gentlemen present,--consequently they were unanimously elected Knights of the Round Table, which was almost as quickly supplied by the Waiter with a capacious bowl of punch, and the healths of the newmade Members drank with three times three; when their attention was suddenly drawn to a distant part of the room, where a sprightly Stripling, who was seated by the swarthy Conjuror before mentioned, was singing the following Song: THE JOYS OF A MILL, OR A TODDLE TO A FIGHT.
"Now's the time for milling, boys, since all the world's agog for it, Away to Copthorne, Moulsey Hurst, or Slipperton they go; Or grave or gay, they post away, nay pawn their very togs for it, And determined to be up to all, go down to see the show: Giddy pated, hearts elated, cash and courage all to view it, Ev'ry one to learn a bit, and tell his neighbours how to do it; E'en little Sprites in lily whites, are fibbing it and rushing it, Your dashing Swells from Bagnigge Wells, are flooring it and flushing it: Oh! 'tis a sight so gay and so uproarious, That all the world is up in arms, and ready for a fight.
The roads are so clogg'd, that they beggar all description now, With lads and lasses, prim'd and grogg'd for bang-up fun and glee; Here's carts and gigs, and knowing prigs all ready to kick up a row, And ev'ry one is anxious to obtain a place to see; Here's a noted sprig of life, who sports his tits and clumner too, And there is Cribb and Gully, Belcher, Oliver, and H armer too, With Shelton, Bitton, Turner, Hales, and all the lads to go it well, Who now and then, to please the Fancy, make opponents know it well: Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
But now the fight's begun, and the Combatants are setting to, Silence is aloud proclaim'd by voices base and shrill; Facing, stopping---fibbing, dropping--claret tapping--betting too-- Reeling, rapping--physic napping, all to grace the mill; Losing, winning--horse-laugh, grinning--mind you do not glance away, Or somebody may mill your mug, and of your nob in Chancery; For nobs and bobs, and empty fobs, the like no tongue could ever tell-- See, here's the heavy-handed Gas, and there's the mighty Non- pareil: Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
Thus milling is the fashion grown, and ev'ry one a closer is; With lessons from the lads of fist to turn out quite the thing; True science may be learn'd where'er the fam'd Mendoza is, And gallantry and bottom too from Scroggins, Martin, Spring; For sparring now is all the rage in town, and country places too, And collar-bones and claret-mugs are often seen at races too; While counter-hits, and give and take, as long as strength can hold her seat, Afford the best amusement in a bit of pugilistic treat: Oh! 'tis a sight, &c.
While this song was singing, universal silence prevailed, but an uproar of approbation followed, which lasted for some minutes, with a general call of encore, which however soon subsided, and the company was again restored to their former state of conversation; each party appearing distinct, indulged in such observations and remarks as were most suitable or agreeable to themselves.
Bob was highly pleased with this description of a milling match; and as the Singer was sitting near the person who had excited a considerable portion of his attention at intervals in watching his tricks, in some of which great ingenuity was displayed, he asked his Cousin if he knew him.
"Know him," replied Tom, "to be sure I do; that is no other than Bitton, a well-known pugilist, who frequently exhibits at the Fives-Court; he is a Jew, and employs his time in giving lessons." "Zounds!" said Mortimer, "he seems to have studied the art of Legerdemain as well as the science of Milling." "He is an old customer here," said a little Gentleman at the opposite side of the table, drawing from his pocket a box of segars{1}--"Now, Sir," continued he, "if you wish for a treat," addressing himself to Tallyho, "allow me to select you one--there, Sir, is asgar like a nosegay--I had it from a friend of mine who only arrived yesterday--you don't often meet with such, I assure you." Bob accepted the offer, and was in the act of lighting it, when Bitton approached toward their end of the room with some cards in his hand, from which Bob began to anticipate he would shew some tricks upon them.
As soon as he came near the table, he had his eye upon the Hon.

Tom Dashall, to whom he introduced 'himself by the presentation of a card, which announced his benefit for the next week at the Fives-Court, when all the prime lads of the ring had promised to exhibit.
"Egad!" said Dashall, "it will be an excellent opportunity--what, will you take a trip that way and see the mighty men of fist ?" "With all my heart," said Tallyho.
"And mine too," exclaimed Mortimer.
It was therefore quickly determined, and each of the party being supplied with a ticket, Bitton canvassed the room for other customers, after which he again retired to his seat.
"Come," said a smartly dressed Gentleman in a white hat, "we have heard a song from the other end of the room, I hope we shall be able to muster one here." 1 This gentleman, whose dress and appearance indicate something of the Dandy, is a resident in Mark Lane, and usually spends his evening at the Round Table, where he appears to pride himself upon producing the finest segars that can be procured, and generally affords some of his friends an opportunity of proving them deserving the recommendations with which he never fails to present them.
This proposition was received with applause, and, upon Tom's giving a hint, Frank Harry was called upon--the glasses were filled, a toast was given, and the bowl was dispatched for a replenish; he then sung the following Song, accompanied with voice, manner, and action, well calculated to rivet attention and obtain applause: PIGGISH PROPENSITIES, THE BUMPKIN IN TOWN.
"A Bumpkin to London one morning in Spring, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la, Took a fat pig to market, his leg in a string, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la; The clown drove him forward, while piggy, good lack! Lik'd his old home so well, he still tried to run back-- (Spoken)--Coome, coome (said the Bumpkin to himself,) Lunnun is the grand mart for every thing; there they have their Auction Marts, their Coffee Marts, and their Linen Marts: and as they are fond of a tid-bit of country pork, I see no reason why they should not have" a Pork and Bacon Mart--so get on (pig grunts,) I am glad to hear you have a voice on the subject, though it seems not quite in tune with my Hey derry, ho derry, fal de ral la.
It chanc'd on the road they'd a dreadful disaster, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la; The grunter ran back 'twixt the legs of his master, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la; The Bumpkin he came to the ground in a crack, And the pig, getting loose, he ran all the way back! (Spoken)--Hallo, (said the clown, scrambling up again, and scratching his broken head,) to be sure I have heard of sleight-of-hand, hocus-pocus and sich like; but by gum this here be a new manouvre called sleight of legs; however as no boanes be broken between us, I'll endeavour to make use on 'em once more in following the game in view: so here goes, with a Hey derry, ho derry, &c.
He set off again with his pig in a rope, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la, Reach'd London, and now for good sale 'gan to hope Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la; But the pig, being beat 'till his bones were quite sore.
Turning restive, rush'd in at a brandy-shop door.
(Spoken)--The genteeler and politer part of the world might feel a little inclined to call this piggish behaviour; but certainly after a long and fatiguing journey, nothing can be more refreshing than a _drap of the cratur_; and deeming this the regular mart for the good stuff, in he bolts, leaving his master to sing as long as he pleased--Hey derry, he deny, &c.
Here three snuffy Tabbies he put to the rout, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai lft, With three drams to the quartern, that moment serv'd out, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de rai la; The pig gave a grunt, and the clown gave a roar, When the whole of the party lay flat on the floor! (Spoken)--Yes, there they lay all of a lump; and a precious group there was of them: The old women, well prun'd with snuff and twopenny, and bang-up with gin and bitters--the fair ones squalled; the clown growled like a bear with a broken head; the landlord, seeing all that could be seen as they roll'd over each other, stared, like a stuck pig! while this grand chorus of soft and sweet voices from the swinish multitude was accompanied by the pig with his usual grunt, and a Hey derry, ho derry, &o.
The pig soon arose, and the door open flew, Hey derry, ho derry, fal de ral la, When this scrambling group was expos'd to my view, Hey deny, ho derry, fal de ral la; He set off again, without waiting for Jack, And not liking London, ran all the way back! (Spoken)--The devil take the pig! (said the Bumpkin) he is more trouble than enough.