CHAPTER II.

An Outline-or, rather a Pen and Ink Sketch of PETER MAKEMONEY-a thorough-bred Cockney-his obscure origin in early life-great rise-immense luck-and experience in society. A retired wealthy citizen, who had filled the Offices of Sheriff, Alderman, and Lord Mayor. His observations on Men and Manners-Opinions worth knowing.

A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod,

An honest man's the noblest work of God.

PETER MAKEMONEY was, at one period of his career, a man of considerable importance in the City of London, but whose first onset in life was rather in an humble capacity: however, from his rigid attention to business, and industry, he was soon enabled to shake off his obscurity-and, like several other persons connected with mercantile affairs in this immense Metropolis, he rose step by step, until he arrived at the important situation of an Alderman. He looked back with astonishment at his rapid success in life, being scarcely the possessor of a shilling at one time; when he retired from business with an immense fortune. He had served the office of Sheriff with great activity and credit to himself; and also filled the Civic Chair to the general satisfaction of the public.

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Makemoney was a strait-forward character in every point of view-and a highly impartial magistrate. He was a friend to the poor-the distressed in circumstances-and the unfortunate, generally, in him found a friend. Yet he was a terror to the wicked and profligate; but, nevertheless, he always tempered justice with mercy; and if he thought there appeared any thing like sorrow or reformation about the criminal,when brought before him, he did every thing in his power to give the culprit a chance to effect so desirable an object. He endeavoured to see his way" clearly upon every subject; and any thing like the slightest bias of an improper feeling, never appeared in his conduct or his decisions. He did his duty fearlessly upon all occasions; and, although a very plain man in his habits and mode of life, yet he was most anxious to preserve the dignity of his situation as the Lord Mayor of the greatest city in the world: and by his liberality he considerably increased, rather than diminished the smallest particle of the splendour which attached to the office.* He was

* It should seem that Makemoney, in order to preserve the dignity of the character attached to the person of the Lord Mayor, adopted the following mode to

firm in his manners, dignified in his conduct, and nothing like parade or ostentation was observed by his most intimate friends. He felt proud that he had been thought worthy by his fellow citizens to fill so important an office; but nevertheless he had no political ambition to gratify, and Peter Makemoney preserved his independence to the end of the chapter.

In his magisterial capacity he was accessible upon all occasions; and although many of the interruptions he received came under the denomination of " troublesome," he never shewed impatience to any of his applicants, and they always left his presence well pleased with his affability and condescension: indeed, Peter was anxious to obtain the good opinion of every body. He completed his Mayoralty with immense popularity: and also with great joy to himself, that he was enabled once more to retire into private life. He disliked the pomp and shew; although he admitted it was necessary to the importance of the Chief Magistrate and Makemoney often declared he felt himself a hundred times happier in his own humble residence, than when receiving all the honors and attentions in the splendid Mansion allotted to the Lord Mayor.

However, it could be scarcely said of him, that he was indebted to any thing like education for his rise in life; or what is generally termed education-although he had had a great deal to do with Books-his occupation being more to sell them, to make an addition to his purse, than reading works for the improvement of his mind: but, it is quite certain, that he owed much to observation: and treasured up the following lines of POPE as most excellent advice:

'Tis strange the MISER should his cares employ,
To gain those riches he can ne'er enjoy!

It is less strange the PRODIGAL should waste

His wealth, to purchase, what he ne'er can taste!
Something there is more needful than expense,
And something precious e'en to Taste-'tis SENSE!
Good sense which only is the gift of Heav'n,

And, though no Science, fairly worth the Seven!

Calculation was also an immense assistance to him in his daily pursuits; but Economy-invaluable Economy-all powerful Economy, that often times gives, not only independence to the mind-but frequently fortune to the adopter of it-was the inti

answer two purposes :-From early habits, when the fatigue of business was over for the day, he always indulged in the habit of smoking his pipe over a glass of grog; but for the Lord Mayor to be seen with a pipe in his mouth before his decorated servants at the Mansion House, he thought might produce some remarks and sneers not very palatable to his feelings. He, therefore, retired for an hour or two, every evening, to his old chimney corner at his private residence (as the humble Peter Makemoney) to enjoy his whiffs in comfort; and then returned, like a "giant refreshed," to sustain the duties imposed upon him, as chief magistrate of the City of London.-" Domus amica-domus optima.”

mate and steady friend of Peter Makemoney. It is true those excellent notions, united with industry, and persevering conduct, had been of immense assistance to him in his progress through life; they had not only rendered him a good and confidential servant, but had taught him the necessity of putting by money every year towards producing an easy sort of independence against old age.

But he had been promoted, step by step, from one situation to another in the establishment, till his word had become almost law. His never-tiring conduct to increase the interest of the concern, was made so evident by his superior knowledge with every circumstance connected with it; nay more, transactions of every description went through his hands-and he was the gobetween on all occasions. It might be truly said, that his decision was final-that his master had become little more than a Looker-on" as it were-and troubled himself scarcely about any thing else, but his expenditure and profits.

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Peter Makemoney, it should seem, had only flattered himself that, from his long services and attention, he might one day or another, whenever his employer thought fit to retire from business, or death took him out of the concern, realize a small share in it; that is to say, such a share as might be given to him for his peculiar knowledge of conducting such an immense establishment, provided it got into the hands of new proprietors.

But it had never entered his thoughts, great as his ambition might have been to have arrived in the trade as a person of importance-that he should become the whole and sole possessor of his master's large property. Yet so it turned out in the sequel. His master had not a relative in the world that he was aware of —neither chick nor child; and did not follow the example of the rich and fortunate foundling boy-who, after he had amassed together upwards of 100,000l. by his exertions in trade-advertized in the public newspapers a handsome sum, if any person could give him an accurate knowledge whether his father or mother were living; or indeed, any of his relations, that he might share his fortune with them-so much did he feel himself alone in this great metropolis :

Ah, my Pylades, what's this world without a friend ?"

On the contrary, Makemoney's employer felt perfectly satisfied, that he had found a sincere friend; a good servant; and a person who had been through life attached to his interests. That was enough. He could not find a better, or more deserving man to leave his property to, than PETER. In consequence of this decision his master made his will in the most private manner; and, barring his confidential solicitors, to whom he left handsome legacies for their trouble, the disposition he had made respecting his great wealth remained a profound secret but Death, who spares no man, at length overtook him; and

Peter Makemoney, to his utter astonishment, by such an unexpected slice of luck-became a man of immense property.

Thus at one stride-if he did not realize the appellation of a great man-his good fortune resounded from the East India House to St. Paul's Church Yard, that he had become one of the most wealthy persons in the City of London. This shower of gold as it might be termed, did not overwhelm his feelings; and rather strange to state, it did not alter the man a jot." In his intercourse with society-his good sense taught him not to be too much elevated with sudden prosperity.

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It is true Peter had been fond of money, being perfectly aware the comforts it brought to the possessors of it; but, nevertheless, nothing like the term of miser attached to his character—and he was quite capable of granting an accommodation or doing a good action, without being paid for it. He also kept a good table; yet he was no gourmand. Although it has been the prevailing satire on the Court of Aldermen from time immemorial of their greedy attachment to good living,* almost to gluttony, yet it was well-known that Makemoney had adopted in his own person the sensible and healthful adage of "eating to live; and not living to eat." He was a temperate man altogether, though he did not regulate his meals by any particular system; neither did he refrain from taking a glass or two of generous wine when in the company of his friends; or at other times when such refreshment was deemed necessary.

Peter was a thorough cockney, to the utmost extent of the phrase except knocking about the v's and the w's. The sound of Bow bells, to his ears was delightful music; and the sight of "Old Best," (as he termed St. Paul's Cathedral,) the delight of his eyes; in fact, he had seen nothing else but London, and he

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* A well known facetious Baronet, connected for several years with the Corporation of London, distinguished for his jolly looking face, and his penchant for the good things of this life-in the character of an Epicure-if not a Gourmand! was very fond of turtle soup, regardless of the expence. He one morning called at a tavern contiguous to Guildhall, after transacting some business-and asked for a basin of turtle soup! It was little more than a thimble-full in the eye of the Baronet-and he put it out of sight, instanter. How much?' said he to the waiter. 'Thirteen and sixpence,' was the reply. Clapping his hands upon his stomach he thus argufied the topic. Thirteen shillings and sixpence a small basin!-soon gone !-rather expensive, to be sure; and scarcely a taste! But as I am not indebted to any body—I do not see any just cause why I should die indebted to my own flesh and blood-and cheat my stomach. No! that will never do.-Starvation is not my creed! Here, waiter, another basinful; and bring something like a basin this time-you made a mistake last time-and brought the soup in a tea-cup! Description falls short to portray the delighted voracious eyes of the Baronet; but like Sir John Falstaff over a cup of sack, he smacked his lips and devoured the contents of it with peculiar gout. Then pulling out his purse-' Here, waiter, is one pound eight for you. Twenty eight shillings might have been laid out much worse! There is nothing immoral in a basin of turtle soup-the Society for the Suppression of Vice do not take cognizance of such things-therefore there is no offence in it.' He then left the tavern to enjoy his dinner. Facts are stubborn things.

thought there was no place like London; and, excepting Highgate and Hampstead (the cockney's round), the Metropolis was the only place that he called his home.

According to the " Sayings and Doings" of a celebrated author, though we cannot call accurately to our memory whether he had ever made use of the adage of a devoted Londoner in favor of the place of his nativity," that he would sooner be hanged in LONDON, than die a natural death in the country!" But, nevertheless, Peter insisted there was an excuse for this sort of partiality, and that it came under the denomination of an "amiable weakness!"

Be that as it may, Makemoney has often been heard to answer, when the question has been put to him about his remaining so much at home? "In the first place," said he, "I could not spare the time-the quantity of business I always had to transact would not permit it; and, secondly, it would not do for me, a man of my years, to risque my neck on the high hills of SWITZERLAND, look like a fool in ITALY, and be absolutely lost, as it were, on the banks of the Rhine; or, in other words, be found in the ludicrous situation of what is termed 'a cockney adrift!'

“No, no—I am quite content to explore the resources of my own country, now the tide has turned, and my fortunes permit me to do it-nay, more, the advantages which present themselves contiguous to my native city, which I have often heard urged, that for interest to the mind, attraction to the lovers of prospects, and situations, cannot be excelled, either to the merchant, the artist, or the historian-therefore, I am determined that my PILGRIMAGE shall not extend beyond the Banks of the Thames!"

Peter Makemoney was now quite at his ease: he had come into the possession of more cash, by the above-mentioned bequest, than he could ever spend in a rational sort of way-even if his life were prolonged to a greater extent than falls to the lot of man. A splendid fortune was at his command, besides a good round sum which he had acquired by honest industry, in the capacity of a servant.

Business, as a matter of course, had had its day with him-he, therefore, relinquished it, and only kept his Alderman's gown as a sort of amusement; or, rather to occupy in some measure his leisure time. He despised any thing like ostentation; and selfimportance he was equally disgusted with; but his home and fire-side were great objects to his mind: he was also fond of a game at whist or cribbage: in fact, there was a sort of Hoyle about his play and judgment, but he severely exclaimed against any thing that partook of gaming, in the slightest degree.

He was an excellent companion-a social fellow-and he had no objection to a pipe and a glass in their proper place, and particularly fond of a good song. He was in raptures, even at the recollection of the late Charles Incledon's Black-eyed Susan, and Tom Moody:-" the Italian Opera House might be fine, as to