s, or the policeman's identity.

Mr. Ballantyne said it was a very odd affair, and he would direct the
books to be searched to ascertain when the woman was brought before
the magistrate.

Soon afterwards, the woman was again brought up.

Mr. Ballantyne said, it appeared from the minutes that she was
brought before him on Tuesday, the 3rd of October last, on suspicion
of stealing a hat, and that the policeman said that he had stopped
her at two o'clock in the morning with the hat in her possession. It
appeared that he had discharged her, but no mention was made of the
hat belonging to Lord John Russell. If that fact had been mentioned
to him, he would have ordered the hat to be restored to his Lordship
immediately.

The Applicant: I am sure it is his Lordship's hat. There is Lord
John Russell inside of it, quite plain; it's a new one.

Mr. Ballantyne: Very well; an inquiry shall be made about the hat,
and you can attend here to-morrow, and we will let you know what has
become of it. I think Lord John Russell has the best claim to the
hat, if he has not already got it.

The sequel:

_Times_, 10 Feb.:--On Thursday, Mary Ann Blay again appeared before
Mr. Ballantyne upon the subject of Lord John's hat. She adhered to
her old story, that the hat had the noble Home Secretary's name in it
when she picked it up, but it had, subsequently, been torn out, after
it was taken out of her possession. Mr. Ballantyne examined the hat,
and said it was a dirty, greasy hat--a boy's hat, and that he would
not give 6d. for it. The policeman who took the woman in custody
declared that the woman's statement was, altogether, a fabrication,
and that the hat never had the name of Lord John Russell in it. Mr.
Ballantyne said he would make no order about the hat; and, if the
woman thought she had been wrongly imprisoned, she might seek her
remedy elsewhere.

CHAPTER IV.

Lords and pugilists--Penny "Gaffs"--Steam between England and America--A
man-woman--Designs for Nelson Monument--A termagant--Scold's bridles, &c.

I must give another police case, as showing the manners and customs of
the _jeunesse doree_ of this period.

_Times_, 19 Feb.:

MARLBOROUGH STREET.--On Saturday, Samuel Evans, better known as
"Young Dutch Sam," a pugilist, was brought before Mr. Conant, charged
with having com