hipping depended greatly on the caprice of the man who administered it.

A statute, in 1791, expressly forbade the whipping of female vagrants.
This was certainly a much needed reform.

Mr. Samuel Carter Hall, born in the year 1800, in his interesting book
entitled "Retrospect of a Long Life" (1883), relates that more than once
he saw the cruel punishment inflicted.

On the 8th of May, 1822, a man was whipped through the streets of
Glasgow by the hangman for taking part in a riot. He was the last person
to undergo public whipping at the cart's tail in Glasgow.

At Coleshill are standing a whipping-post, pillory and stocks, and as
might be expected they attract a good deal of attention from the
visitors to this quiet Midland town. Several writers have stated that
this is the only whipping-post remaining in this country; this is,
however, a mistake, as we have shown in the present chapter. We have not
been able to discover when last used. Our illustration is from a
carefully executed drawing made some years ago.

[Illustration: COLESHILL PILLORY, WHIPPING-POST, AND STOCKS.]

The old town of Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in bygone times was a
place of importance, and amongst the names of those who have held its
manor is that of Piers Gaveston, the favourite of Edward II. Near the
modern police station is a post on which are irons, enabling it to be
used as a whipping-post and stocks. No references relating to it can be
found in the local old-time accounts or other documents. Old folk say
that in years agone people were detained at the post by means of the
irons, but no instances are remembered of a whip being employed.

It was formerly the custom in London and other places, at the time of
executions, for parents to whip their children, so as to impress upon
their minds the awful lessons of the gallows. Executions were very often
occurring, for people were hanged for trifling offences. Down to the
year 1808, the crime of stealing from the person above the value of a
shilling was punishable with death. Children must have had a hard time
of it, and been frequently flogged.

[Illustration: WHIPPING-POST, KIRTON-IN-LINDSEY.]

Whipping servants was a common practice in the olden time. Pepys and
other old writers make note of it.

The well-known "Diary of a Lady of Quality" contains some interesting
glimpses of old days and ways. Under date of January 30th, 1760, Lady
Francis Pennoyer, of Bullingham Court, Herefordsh