nterest is all on your side," remarked the Agent for the petition
(against the Bill).

"Now, Snooks," continued the Agent for the Bill, "apply your mind to the
questions I shall put to you, and let me caution you to reply to them
truly and honestly. Now, tell me--who got you to sign this petition?"

"I object to the question," interposed the Agent for the petition. "The
matter altogether is descending into mean, trivial, and unnecessary
details, which I am surprised my friend opposite should attempt to
trouble the Committee with."

"I can readily understand, sir," replied the other, "why my friend is so
anxious to get rid of this inquiry--simple and short as it will be; but I
trust, sir, that you will consider it of sufficient importance to allow
it to proceed. I purpose to put only a few questions more on this
extraordinary petition against the Bill (the bare meaning of the name of
which the petitioner does not seem to understand) for the purpose of
eliciting some further information respecting it."

The Committee being thus appealed to by both parties, inclined their
heads for a few moments in order to facilitate a communication in
whispers, and then decided that the inquiry might proceed. It was
evident that the matter had excited an interest in the minds and breasts
of the honourable members of the Committee; created as much perhaps by
the extreme mean and poverty-stricken appearance of the witness--a
miserable, dirty, and decrepit old man--as by the disclosures he had
already made.

"Well, Snooks, I was about to ask you (when my friend interrupted me) who
got you to sign the petition, or that zummit as you call it?"

"Some genelmen, zur."

"Who were they--do you know their names?"

"Noa, zur, co'ant say I do nar 'em a', zur."

"But do you know any of them, was that gentleman behind you one?"

[The gentleman referred to was the fine benevolent-looking individual who
had previously kindly endeavoured to assist the witness in his answers,
and who stood the present scrutiny with marked composure and
complaisance].

"Yees, zur, he war one on 'em."

"Do you know his name?"

"Noa, zur, I doant; but he be one of the railway genelmen."

"What did he say to you, when he requested you to sign the petition?"

"He said I ware to zine (pointing to the petition) that zummit."

"When and where, pray, did you sign it?"

"A lot o' railway genelmen kum to me on Sunday night last; and they wo'
make me do it, z