totally destroyed the magnificent oak that made Fairlop Fair a favourite rendezvous with those who could afford a tandem, tax-cart, or Timwhisky. How often have we sat, and pirouetted too, under its venerable shade.

May Fair (which began on May-day), during the early part of the last century, was much patronised by the nobility and gentry. It had nevertheless its Ducking Pond for the ruder class of holiday makers. "In a fore one-pair room,

of horsemanship were exhibited by professors from the Circus; and booths erected for good eating and drinking, and the sale of toys, work-bags, pocket-books, and fancy articles. Munden, Rock, and Incledon diverted the company with their mirth and music; and Majesty participated in the general joy. The Royal Dutch Fair lasted two days, and was under the tasteful direction of the Princess Elizabeth.

1 By an act passed 3rd of 2nd Victoria (not Victoria for the Fair!) it was rendered unlawful to hold Fairlop Fair beyond the first Friday ("Friday's a dry day!") in July. This was the handywork of the Barking Magistrates.

"And when I walk abroad let no dog bark!"

2❝ June 25, 1748.—At May Fair Ducking Pond, on Monday next, the 27th inst., Mr. Hooton's Dog Nero (ten years old, with hardly a tooth in his head to hold a duck, but well known for his goodness to all that have seen him hunt) hunts six ducks for a guinea, against the bitch called the Flying Spaniel, from the Ducking Pond on the other side of the water, who has beat all she has hunted against, excepting Mr. Hooton's Good-Blood. To begin at two o'clock.

"Mr. Hooton begs his customers won't take it amiss to pay Twopence admittance at the gate, and take a ticket, which will be allowed as Cash in their reckoning. No person

on the west side of Sun-court," a Frenchman exhibited, during the time of May Fair, the "astonish

admitted without a ticket, that such as are not liked may be kept out.

"Note. Right Lincoln Ale."

Apropos of other mirthful rendezvous.

"A new Ducking Pond to be opened on Monday next at Limehouse Cause, being the 11th August, where four dogs are to play for Four Pounds, and a lamb to be roasted whole, to be given away to all gentlemen sportsmen. To begin at Ten o'clock in the forenoon."-Postman, 7th August 1707.

"Erith Diversion, 24th May 1790.-This is to acquaint the publick, that on Whit-Monday, and during the holidays, the undermentioned diversions will take place. First, a new Hat to be run for by men; a fine Ham to be played for at Trap-ball; a pair of new Pumps to be jumped for in a sack; a large Plumb-pudding to be sung for; a Guinea to be cudgelled for,-with smoking, grinning through a collar, with many other diversions too tedious to mention.

"N.B. A Ball in the evening as usual."

But what are the hopes of man! A press-gang (this is the freedom of the press with a vengeance! this the boasted monarchy of the middle classes!) interrupted and put an end to these water-side sports.

Kent has long been renowned for strong muscles and strong stomachs !

"Bromley in Kent, July 14, 1726.-A strange eating worthy is to perform a Tryal of Skill on St. James's Day, which is the day of our Fair for a wager of Five Guineas,— viz. he is to eat four pounds of bacon, a bushel of French beans, with two pounds of butter, a quartern loaf, and to drink a gallon of strong beer."

The old proverb of "buttering bacon" here receives farinaceous illustration!

ing strength of the Strong Woman," his wife." "She first let down her hair, of a length descending to her knees, which she twisted round the projecting part of a blacksmith's anvil, and then lifted the ponderous weight from the floor. She also put her bare feet on a red-hot salamander, without receiving the least injury." May Fair is now become the site of aristocratical dwellings, where a strong purse is required to procure a standing. At Horn Fair, a party of humorists of both sexes, cornuted in all the variety of Bull-Feather fashion, after perambulating round Cuckold's-Point, startled the little quiet village of Charlton on St. Luke's day, shouting their emulation, and blowing voluntaries on rams' horns, in honour of their patron saint. Ned Ward gives a curious picture of this odd ceremony, and the press of Stonecutter Street (the worthy successor of Aldermary Churchyard) has consigned it to immortality in two Broadsides inspired by the Helicon of the Fleet,

This was probably Mrs. Alchorne, "who had exhibited as the Strong Woman," and died in Drury Lane in 1817, at a very advanced age. Madame also performed at Bartholomew Fair in 1752.

2 "A New Summons to all the Merry (Wagtail) Jades to attend at Horn Fair,"-" A New Summons to Horn Fair," both without a date.

"Around whose brink

Bards rush in droves, like cart-horses to drink,
Dip their dark beards among its streams so clear,
And while they gulp it, wish it ale or beer,"

and illustrated by the Cruikshank of his day. Mile-end Green, in ancient times, had its popular exhibitions ;

"Lord Pomp, let nothing that 's magnificall,

Or that may tend to London's graceful state,
Be unperformed-as showes and solemne feastes,
Watches in armour, triumphes, cresset-lightes,
Bonefiers, belles, and peales of ordinance.
And, Pleasure, see that plaies be published,
Maie-games and maskes, with mirth and minstrelsie;
Pageants and School-feastes, beares and puppit-plaies :
Myselfe will muster upon Mile-end-greene,

As though we saw, and feared not to be seene."

And the royal town of Windsor,' and the racecourse in Tothill-Fields2 were not without their merriments.

"The Three Lordes and Three Ladies of London," 1590. 2 "On Wednesday the 13th, at Windsor, a piece of plate is to be fought for at cudgels by ten men on a side, from Berkshire and Middlesex. The next day a hat and feather to be fought for by ten men on a side, from the counties aforesaid. Ten Bargemen are to eat ten quarts of hastypudding, well buttered, but d-d hot! He that has done first to have a silver spoon of ten shillings value; and the second five shillings. And as they have anciently had the title of The Merry Wives of Windsor, six old women belonging to Windsor town challenge any six old women in the

universe, (we need not, however, go farther than our own country!) to out-scold them. The best in three heats to have a suit of head-cloths, and, (what old women generally want!) a pair of nut-crackers."-Read's Journal, September 9, 1721.

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According to Law. September 22, 1749.-On Wednesday next, the 27th inst., will be run for by Asses (!!) in Tothill Fields, a purse of gold, not exceeding the value of Fifty Pounds. The first will be entitled to the gold; the second to two pads; the third to thirteen pence halfpenny; the last to a halter fit for the neck of any ass in Europe. Each ass must be subject to the following articles :

" No person will be allowed to ride but Taylors and Chimney-sweepers; the former to have a cabbage-leaf fixed in his hat, the latter a plumage of white feathers; the one to use nothing but his yard-wand, and the other a brush.

"No jockey-tricks will be allowed upon any consideration.

"No one to strike an ass but the rider, lest he thereby cause a retrograde motion, under a penalty of being ducked three times in the river.

"No ass will be allowed to start above thirty years old, or under ten months, nor any that has won above the value of fifty pounds.

"No ass to run that has been six months in training, particularly above stairs, lest the same accident happen to it that did to one nigh a town ten miles from London, and that for reasons well known to that place.

"Each ass to pay sixpence entrance, three farthings of which are to be given to the old clerk of the race, for his due care and attendance.

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Every ass to carry weight for inches, if thought proper.' Then follow a variety of sports, with "an ordinary of proper

victuals, particularly for the riders, if desired."

"Run, lads, run! there's rare sport in Tothill Fields!"