Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/24

8 may come to hand (by the coaches) either of contraband or of stolen property; at other times they are employed to stand at some given place—as the corner of an avenue, or under the gateway to catch hold of what may be thrown down to them from the coaches, with a view either to cheat the proprietors, the revenue, or the right owners. See more on this subject under the head of "wagering kiddies," or gamblers of the lower sort.

Most guards have a particular tune upon their horns for every different species of service, known only to each his own particular dependant, which gives a wonderful facility to their manœuvres. I have sat down with the landlord of a tap-room, who, without looking out, would remark, "here comes such-a-one;" "Jemmy is in first," and the like notice, showing his great familiarity with the tunes: and then again "run out and pick up 's basket;" or "here's a pig coming this time." In this manner giving facility to the concealment and disposal of ill-gotten articles of life.

In the year 1815, the G mail brought up one hundred and twenty pieces of India handkerchiefs weekly—forty in a bundle. No one could imagine how such an article should come