Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/106

90 underneath the seat, one of which we boned in the most open way imaginable, before the landlord's face; while two of them made a bit of lark with the poor fellow, the others walked off at a round pace with the bladder of spirits, which proved double strong, but ill-flavoured.

Drunken men and fools, are said to tell the truth; so think I. Out of such have I wormed a pretty precious sight of information. Out of three or four facts, and shrewd guesses at something more, I come to the conclusion, thatseveral of our topping Distillers began with (though they may not continue) private stills. Every one has heard of the detection of Mr. L, heretofore sheriff of London; add to him two neighbour distillers who are now at the zenith of commercial prosperity, but who, nevertheless, formerly kept the private still going, which formed the nucleus of their respective fortunes. In the dark recesses of an illicit haunt, was laid the foundation of those splendid equipages, which dazzle the drivelling practitioner of a more honest calling! Ascending from the north door of Saint Paul's N. N. E. ½ N. (as a sailor would direct an enquirer) at the rate of five mile* an hour, you shall espy one of them in ten minutes, over the starboard bow, marked R. near