Curiosities of Street Literature. Various
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Speeches’ and ‘Cocks,’ do you indeed; well, I a’nt got any—I don’t often ‘work’ them things, although I have done so sometimes, but I mostly keep to the old game—‘Ballads on a Subject.’ You see them other things are no use only just for the day, then they are no use at all, so we don’t keep them—I’ve often given them away. You’d give sixpence a piece for them, would you, indeed, sir; then I wish I had some of them. Now I come to think of it I know a man that did have a lot of them bye him, and I know he’d be glad to sell them. I don’t know where he lives, but I sometimes see him. Oh! yes, a letter would find me. My name is Samuel Milnes, and I live at No. 81, Mint-street, that’s in the Borough; you know, Guager is the name at the house. Thank you, sir, I’m much obliged. Good day, sir.”
It will be seen that our street-ballads and “papers” come down to the latest period, several being issued during the printing of this collection; in fact, any public affair seems of sufficient importance to write a ballad about. We have, therefore, placed some blank leaves between each division, for the purpose of mounting other examples that may be from time to time published by the printers of Street Literature.
[1] Pitts, a modern publisher of love garlands, merriments, penny ballads—
“Who, ere he went to heaven,
Domiciled in Dials Seven!”—G. Daniel’s “Democritus In London.”
[2] “Mayhew’s London Labour and the London Poor.”
| DIVISION I. “Cocks” or “Catchpennies,” Street Drolleries, &c. | |
| PAGE | |
| Horrid Murder committed by a Young Man on a Young Woman | a |
| Cruel and Inhuman Murder committed upon the body of Captain Lawson | b |
| Life, Trial and Execution of James Ward | c |
| Shocking Rape and Murder of two Lovers | d |
| Full Particulars of this Dreadful Murder | 1 |
| Committal of W. Thompson for the Murder of his Wife | 2 |
| A Remarkable Punishment of Murder | 3 |
| The Life of the Man that was Hanged, but is now Alive | 4 |
| The Liverpool Tragedy | 5 |
| Massacre of Passengers and Crew, &c. | 6 |
| Full Particulars of the Horrible Great Fire in London | 7 |
| An Account of the Fatal Thunderstorm | 8 |
| The Scarborough Tragedy | 9 |
| An Extraordinary Wager of £5,000 | 12 |
| Funny Doings in this Neighbourhood | 13 |
| The Love Letter, or a Married Man Caught in a Trap | 14 |
| All Found out at Last | 15 |
| The Yorkshire Knight | 16 |
| Account of the Faithful Lovers | 17 |
| Full Account of the Dreadful Quarrel, &c. | 18 |
| An Account of the Dreadful Apparition to Henry—— | 19 |
| Dreadful Catastrophe in this Neighbourhood | 20 |
| The Secrets Revealed of Lord and Lady—— | 21 |
| Elopements Extraordinary | 22 |
| Funny Love Affair and Elopement | 23 |
| Wonderful Judgment on a Blasphemer | 24 |
| Strange Warning to a Publican | 25 |
| Apparition to Discover a Hidden Murder | 26 |
| Particulars of a well-known Fortune Teller | 27 |
| Fortune Telling and its Results | 28 |
| A Minister in a Trance for four days and nights |
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