Up betimes, it being scarcely Light, to Smithfield, to see the Cattle
Market, which I do think a great Disgrace to the City, being so nasty,
filthy, and dangerous a Place in the very Heart of London. I did observe
the Manner of driving the Beasts together, used by the Drovers, which
did disgust me. To force the Oxen into their Places, they have stout
Cudgels, pointed with iron Goads or Prods, wherewith they thrust the
Creatures in the flesh of their Hind Quarters, or with the Cudgel
belabour them on the Hock. These means failing, they do seize the
Animal's Tail and give it a sudden Wrench with a Turn of the Wrist,
whereby they snap the Tail-bone, and so twist and wring the spinal Cord
till he pushes forward as far as they would have him. Some, not getting
Room for the Beasts in the Pens, do drive them into Circles called Ring
Droves, with their hind Parts outwards, and their Heads forced as close
as may be together: this done by beating them with all their Might about
the Head and Eyes, and between the Horns, which they do call pething
them. Then to see how they crowd the Sheep into the Pens by dogging them
as their Word is, which means baiting them with Dogs that do tear the
Sheeps' Eyes, Ears, and Cheeks, until they worry such Numbers in, that
not one can budge an Inch. All this Cruelty is caused by the Market not
being big enough: for which Reason they are obliged to force the unlucky
Brutes into the smallest possible Space. What with the Oaths and Curses
of the Drovers and Butchers and the Barking of their Dogs and the Cries
of the Animals in Torture, I do think I never heard a more horrid Din in
my Life. The Hearing was as bad as the Seeing, and both as bad as could
be, except the Smell, which was worse than either. But to be sure it was
good Sport to see here and there a fat Grazier overthrown by a Pig
running between his Legs, and so upsetting him in the Mire. It were well
if it were never worse; but with mad Oxen driven from the Market through
Streets full of People, it continually happens that some Person is
tossed and gored, and one of these Days it will be an Alderman, and then
Smithfield will be put an End to. No doubt it would have been done away
with long ago, but for the Tolls and Dues which the Corporation do
derive from the Market. This is why they do keep up a Nuisance which did
well nigh poison me; though one of them at a Meeting did declare that he
thought Smithfield salubrious, and did send his Children to walk there
for Change of Air, which if it were for the better, methinks that
Gentleman's Dwelling-House should be a sweet Abode. All but the Citizens
do say that Parliament ought to abolish this Nuisance; but it is thought
that my LORD JOHN dare not stir in the Matter, because he is Member for
the City. To Breakfast to an Early Coffee House, having lost my Pocket
Handkerchief, cost me 5s., doubtless by the Pickpockets, of whom
Smithfield, besides its other Recommendations, is a great Resort. But
content, not having had an Ox's Horn in my Stomach, and having seen all
I wanted, and do not wish to see any more.
[Illustration: _A FEW FRIENDS TO TEA, AND A LYTTLE MUSYCK._