The Watch-house owns me for its king, I reigns there without a control; If any blackguards they bring, I sends ’em down to the black hole; But if a gentleman gets drunk, so free, And is brought in----mayhap for a whim If he behaves genteel to me, Why I behaves genteel to him. For I’m a Constable, &c.
When I sits in my chair of a night, Should any unfortunate _gals_ Be brought in, I thinks it but right To commit ’em along with their pals. The Toms and the Jerrys I hooks, And takes them to Bow Street, next day; Tho’ when very sorry they looks, I lets them off if they can pay. For I’m a Constable, &c.
The butchers’ and chandlers’ shops, What used to be serving o’ Sunday, So shockingly wicked, I stops; I pulls them all up on the Monday, I shows no favours to none, My labours they seem to prove double, And thinks before I have done, I shall save Mr. Johnson some trouble. For I’m a Constable, &c.
Our Parish has got a bad plan, ’Tis always to quarrel and storm; I’m sure I shall do all I can To bring on a speedy reform: Our Overseers are all quite strange, And that any body may see; It would make a most wonderful change, If they all were as busy as me. For I’m a Constable, &c.
LONDON: Printed by GOLD and WALTON, Wardour Street, Oxford Street, For T. Hudson, Kean’s Head, Russell Court, Drury Lane, 1828.
When again shall we THREE meet, Amongst the _Swells_ in Regent Street? Come soon, my boy--come with glee, For lots of FUN--another _Spree_!
With respect to the publication of LIFE IN LONDON; or, the Day and Night Scenes of Tom and Jerry. The proverbial everybody seems for the _nonce_ to have been pleased with the work. The thirty-six scenes from Real Life, designed and etched by the Brothers Cruikshank had much to do with its success, and everybody seems to have made a great deal of money out of the circumstance--save and except the author, Pierce Egan, for he very loudly and frequently, and also “_cry-baby-like_,” declared _inter alia_, that he received--“more of the kicks than the halfpence” by reason of the _Pirates_ and _Thieves_ being ever on the alert to _prig_ his thoughts and ideas, and that the whole crew of them united to _grab_ all the “_lively things!_” out of his head, and so render the “cash account” at his bankers all but nugatory. Then--“came the cry of immorality, so loudly raised by the Actor’s old rivals the Religious Tract Society, the Methodists, and other sectarian parties.” Yet, in spite of all that could be said or sung in the matter Pierce wrote that--“he was _too game_ to be made a _dummy_ of: therefore he was determined _to take the leap_, and have another “_shy-up_,” and go “_double or quits_,” with that supreme goddess of the gods FAME!!! and try his luck once more in the field of literature and announced the publication of his new work _The Finish_ thus:--