Figaro in London Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831 Excerpt: ...policemen under a sergeant at the shop in question, to suggest to all persons the impropriety of standing still, and to apply the argumentum ad caput in the shape of a blow with a staff to all those not immediately upon the locomotive principle. Stationingyfce city blue devils at the corner of a narrow street is a method of preventing & crowd, that is wholly original, and is an idea every way worthy of the city authorities. The decree of Alderman Hughes on the occasion is full of that peculiar wisdom which so frequently flows from the magisterial bench, and its justice is about equal to its sagacity. "The print shop," says the Guildhall Soloman, " is a uuisaoce and must be suppressed if several persons stop to look in at the window." Now if this principle holds at all, why are not the houses of the aristocracy to be indicted, whenever an idle crowd of fools will stand to see persons going to routs given at them, alight from their carriages? In this case the attraction is certainly less, for surely a tawdry painted woman of fashion is a far less allnring sight than a harmless picture. If print shops are nuisances, noblemens' mansions are more so, but while the former are prosecuted, the latter are left alone, and the policeman's instructions do not extend to the indicting of the house, but only inculcate the necessity of breaking the heads of all such as are drawn together to stare at those who 'enter it. 'If whatever attracts a crowd be in reality a nuisance, and if the 'law were equal for the rich and poor, the Duke of Devonshire and other leading party givers would be Summoned almost every day to Bow-street. By the bye will Alderman Hughes be bold enough to go the whole length of his own doctrine, and denounce the king as a nuisanc...