date of thy indentures, when the sleek crop-eared 'prentice used to dangle after his mistress, with the great Bible under his arm, to St. Bride's on a Sunday, bring home the text, repeat the divisions of the discourse, dine at twelve, and regale upon a gaudy day with buns and beer at Islington or Mile-end."1 2 3 Among its many by-gone houses of entertainment, the Three Hats has a double claim upon our notice. It was the arena where those celebrated masters, Johnson, Price, Sampson, and Coningham exhibited their feats of horsemanship, and the scene of Mr. Mawworm's early backslidings. "I used to go," (says that regenerated ranter to old Lady Lambert,) "every Sunday evening to the Three Hats at Islington; it's a public house; mayhap your Ladyship may know "The Minor," Act I. 2 Johnson exhibited in 1758, and Price, at about the same time,- Coningham in 1772. Price amassed upwards of fourteen thousand pounds by his engagements at home and abroad. 3" Horsemanship, April 29, 1767. 66 Mr. Sampson will begin his famous feats of horsemanship next Monday, at a commodious place built for that purpose in a field adjoining the Three Hats at Islington, where he intends to continue his performance during the summer season. The doors to be opened at four, and Mr. Sampson will mount at five. Admittance, one shilling each. A proper band of music is engaged for the entertainment of those ladies and gentlemen who are pleased to honour him with their company." it. I was a great lover of skittles, too; but now I can't bear them." At Dobney's Jubilee Gardens (now entirely covered with mean hovels), Daniel Wildman' performed equestrian exercises; and, that no lack of entertainment might be found in this once merry village, "a new booth, near Islington Turnpike," for tricks and mummery, was erected in September 1767; "an insignificant erection, calculated totally for the lowest classes, inferior artisans, superb apprentices, and journeymen." 2 It may not be out of place to mention that "the Pantheon3 in Spa Fields, near Isling "The Bees on Horseback!" At the Jubilee Gardens, Dobney's, 1772. "Daniel Wildman rides, standing upright, one foot on the saddle, and the other on the horse's neck, with a curious mask of bees on his face. He also rides, standing upright on the saddle, with the bridle in his mouth, and, by firing a pistol, makes one part of the bees march over a table, and the other part swarm in the air, and return to their proper places again." 2 Animadvertor's letter to the Printer of the Daily Advertiser, 21st September 1767. 3 August 22nd, 1770, Mr. Craven stated in an advertisement, that he had "established rules for the strictest maintenance of order" at the Pantheon. How far this was true, the following letter "To the Printer of the St. James's Chronicle" will show : SIR, Happening to dine last Sunday with a friend in the city, after coming from church, the weather being very inviting, we took a walk as far as Islington. In our return home towards Cold Bath Fields, we stepped in to view the Pantheon there; but such a scene of disorder, riot, and con ton," was opened in 1770 for the sale of tea, coffee, wine, punch, &c., a "tester" being the price of admission to the promenade and galleries. fusion, presented itself to me on my entrance, that I was just turning on my heel in order to quit it, when my friend observing that we might as well have something for our money (for the doorkeeper obliged each of us to deposit a tester before he granted us admittance), I acquiesced in his proposal, and became one of the giddy multitude. I soon, however, repented of my choice; for, besides having our sides almost squeezed together, we were in danger every minute of being scalded by the boiling water which the officious Mercuries were circulating with the utmost expedition through their respective districts. We therefore began to look out for some place to sit down in, which with the greatest difficulty we at length procured, and producing our tickets, were served with twelve-penny worth of punch. Being seated towards the front of one of the galleries, I had now a better opportunity of viewing this dissipated scene. The male part of the company seemed to consist chiefly of city apprentices and the lower class of tradesmen. The ladies, who constituted by far the greater part of the assembly, seemed most of them to be pupils of the Cyprian goddess, and I was sometimes accosted with, Pray, sir, will you treat me with a dish of tea?' Of all the tea-houses in the environs of London, the most exceptionable that I have had occasion to be in is the Pantheon. "I am sir, your constant reader, "Chiswick, May 5, 1772.” "SPECULATOR." 1 Spa-Fields (like "Jack Plackett's Common," the site of Dalby Terrace, Islington) was famous for duck-hunting, bullbaiting, and other low sports. "On Wednesday last, two 3. IN THE OLDEN TIME. 39 It was eventually turned to a very different use, and converted into a lay chapel by the late Countess of Huntingdon. 66 But by far the most interesting ancient hostelrie that has submitted to the demolishing mania for improvement is the Old Queen's Head, formerly situate in the Lower Street, Islington. This stately edifice was one of the most perfect specimens of ancient domestic architecture in England. Under its venerable roof Sir Walter Raleigh, it is said, puffed his pipe;" and might not Jack Falstaff have taken his ease there, when he journeyed to string a bow with the Finsbury archers? For many years it was a pleasant retreat for retired citizens, who quaffed their nut-brown beneath its primitive porch, and indulged in reminiscences of the olden time. Thither would little Quick, King George the Third's favourite actor, resort to drink cold punch, and "babble" of his theatrical contemporaries. Plays' were formerly acted there. women fought for a new shift valued at half-a-guinea, in the Spaw-Fields near Islington. The battle was won by a woman called Bruising Peg, who beat her antagonist in a terrible manner."-22nd June 1768. The following curious "Old Queen's Head" play-bill, temp. George the Second, is presumed to be unique :— "G. II. R. By a Company of Comedians, at the Queen's Head, in the Lower Street, Islington, On Monday, October 19, 1829, it was razed to the ground, to make room for a misslapen mass of modern masonry. The oak parlour has been preserved from the wreck, and is well worth a visit from the antiquary. Canonbury Tavern and Highbury Barn still maintain their festive honours. Farther a-field are the Sluice, or Eel-pie House ; Copenhagen House; Hornsey-wood House, formerly the hunting seat of Queen Elizabeth; Chalk Farm; Jack Straw's Castle; the Spaniards, &c. as yet undefiled by pitiful prettinesses of bricks and mortar, and affording a delightful opportunity of enjoying pure air and pastime. The canonised Bishop of Lichfield and Mademoiselle St. Agnes have each their wells. What perambulator of the suburbs but knows St. Chad, in Gray's Inn Lane, and St. Agnes le Clair,' at Hoxton? Pancras2 This present evening will be acted a Tragedy, called the Fair Penitent. Sciolto, Mr. Malone.-Horatio, Mr. Johnson. Lavinia, Mrs. Malone.-Lucilla, Miss Platt. To which will be added, a Farce called The Lying Valet. Prices-Pit, 2s.; Gallery, 1s. To begin at 7 o'clock.” 1 Whit, in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, promises to treat his company with a clean glass, washed with the water of Agnes le Clare. 2" At Edward Martin's, at the Hornes at Pancrass, is that excellent water, highly approved of by the most eminent physitians, and found by long experience to be a powerful anti |