The back of this man’s menagerie abutted on the side of the last show,
and ran the remaining length of the north-side of Smithfield, with the
front looking towards Giltspur-street; at that entrance into the Fair
it was the first show. This front was entirely covered by painted
show-cloths representing the animals, with the proprietor’s name in
immense letters above, and the words “_The Conquering Lion_” very
conspicuous. There were other show-cloths along the whole length of the
side, surmounted by this inscription, stretching out in one line of
large capital letters, “NERO AND WALLACE; THE SAME LIONS THAT FOUGHT AT
WARWICK.” One of the front show-cloths represented one of the fights; a
lion stood up with a dog in his mouth, cranched between his grinders;
the blood ran from his jaws; his left leg stood upon another dog
squelched by his weight. A third dog was in the act of flying at him
ferociously, and one, wounded and bleeding, was fearfully retreating.
There were seven other show-cloths on this front, with the words “NERO
AND WALLACE” between them. One of these show-cloths, whereon the monarch
of the forest was painted, was inscribed, “Nero, the Great Lion, from
Caffraria!”
The printed bill described the whole collection to be in “fine order.”
Sixpence was the entrance money demanded, which having paid, I entered
the show early in the afternoon, although it is now mentioned last, in
conformity to its position in the Fair. I had experienced some
inconvenience, and witnessed some irregularities incident to a mixed
multitude filling so large a space as Smithfield; yet no disorder
without, was equal to the disorder within Wombwell’s. There was no
passage at the end, through which persons might make their way out:
perhaps this was part of the proprietor’s policy, for he might imagine
that the universal disgust that prevailed in London, while he was
manifesting his brutal cupidity at Warwick, had not subsided; and that
it was necessary his show-place here should appear to fill well on the
first day of the Fair, lest a report of general indifference to it,
should induce many persons to forego the gratification of their
curiosity, in accommodation to the natural and right feeling that
induced a determination not to enter the exhibition of a man who had
freely submitted his animals to be tortured. Be that as it may, his
show, when I saw it, was a shameful scene. There was no person in
attendance to exhibit or point out the animals. They were arranged on
one side only, and I made my way with difficulty towards the end, where
a loutish fellow with a broomstick, stood against one of the dens, from
whom I could only obtain this information, that it was not his business
to show the beasts, and that the showman would begin at a proper time. I
patiently waited, expecting some announcement of this person’s arrival;
but no intimation of it was given; at length I discovered over the heads
of the unconscious crowd around, that the showman, who was evidently
under the influence of drink, had already made his way one third along
the show. With great difficulty I forced myself through the sweltering
press somewhat nearer to him, and managed to get opposite Nero’s den,
which he had by that time reached and clambered into, and into which he
invited any of the spectators who chose to pay him sixpence each, as
many of them did, for the sake of saying that they had been in the den
with the noble animal, that Wombwell, his master, had exposed to be
baited by bull-dogs. The man was as greedy of gain as his master, and
therefore without the least regard to those who wished for general
information concerning the different animals, he maintained his post as
long as there was a prospect of getting the sixpences. Pressure and heat
were now so excessive, that I was compelled to struggle my way, as many
others did, towards the door at the front end, for the sake of getting
into the air. Unquestionably I should not have entered Wombwell’s, but
for the purpose of describing his exhibition in common with others. As I
had failed in obtaining the information I sought, and could not get a
printed bill when I entered, I re-ascended to endeavour for one again;
here I saw Wombwell, to whom I civilly stated the great inconvenience
within, which a little alteration would have obviated; he affected to
know nothing about it, refused to be convinced, and exhibited himself,
to my judgment of him, with an understanding and feelings perverted by
avarice. He is undersized in mind as well as form, “a weazen,
sharp-faced man,” with a skin reddened by more than natural spirits, and
he speaks in a voice and language that accord with his feelings and
propensities. His bill mentions, “A remarkably fine tigress in the same
den with a noble British lion!!” I looked for this companionship in his
menagerie, without being able to discover it.
Here ends my account of the various shows in the Fair. In passing the
stalls, the following bill was slipped into my hand, by a man stationed
to give them away.
SERIOUS NOTICE,
IN PERFECT CONFIDENCE.
The following extraordinary comic performances
at
~Sadler’s Wells,~
Can only be given during the present
week; the proprietors, therefore, most
respectfully inform that fascinating sex,
so properly distinguished by the appropriate
appellation of
THE FAIR!
And all those well inclined gentlemen who are happy enough to protect
them, that the amusements will consist of a romantic tale, of
mysterious horror and broad grin, never acted, called the
ENCHANTED
GIRDLES;
OR,
WINKI THE WITCH,
=_And the Ladies of Samarcand._=
A most whimsical burletta, which sends people home perfectly exhausted
from uninterrupted risibility, called
THE LAWYER, THE JEW,
AND
=THE YORKSHIREMAN.=
With, by request of 75 distinguished families, and a party of 5, that
never-to-be-sufficiently-praised pantomime, called
~Magic in Two Colours;~
OR,
_=FAIRY BLUE & FAIRY RED:=_
_Or, Harlequin and the Marble Rock._
It would be perfectly superfluous for any man in his senses to attempt
any thing more than the mere announcement in recommendation of the
above unparalleled representations, so attractive in themselves as to
threaten a complete monopoly of the qualities of the magnet; and
though the proprietors were to talk nonsense for an hour, they could
not assert a more _important truth_ than that they possess
_The only Wells from which you may draw_
WINE,
THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE
_A full Quart._
Those whose important avocations prevent their coming at the
commencement, will be admitted for