Sirloin.-Whence then comes the epigram—­

  “Our second Charles, of fame faeete,
    On loin of beef did dine,
  He held his sword pleased o’er the meat,
    ‘Rise up thou famed sir-loin!’”

Was not a loin of pork part of James the First’s proposed banquet for the devil?

K.I.P.B.T.

* * * * *

RIOTS OF LONDON.

The reminiscences of your correspondent SENEX concerning the riots of London in the last century form an interesting addition to the records of those troubled times; but in all these matters correctness as to dates and facts are of immense importance.  The omission of a date, or the narration of events out of their proper sequence, will sometimes create vast and most mischievous confusion in the mind of the reader.  Thus, from the order in which SENEX has stated his reminiscences, a reader unacquainted with the events of the time will be likely to assume that the “attack on the King’s Bench prison” and “the death of Allen” arose out of, and formed part and parcel of, the Gordon riots of 1780, instead of one of the Wilkes tumults of 1768.  By the way, if SENEX was “personally either an actor or spectator” in this outbreak, he fully establishes his claim to the signature he adopts.  I quite agree with him that monumental inscriptions are not always remarkable for their truth, and that the one in this case may possibly be somewhat tinged with popular prejudice or strong parental feeling; but, at all events, there can be but little doubt that poor Allen, whether guilty or innocent, was shot by a soldier of the Scotch regiment, be his name what it may; and further, the deed was not the effect of a random shot fired upon the mob,—­for the young man was chased into a cow-house, and shot by his pursuer, away from the scene of conflict. {333}

Noorthouck, who published his History of London, 1773, thus speaks of the affair:—­

“The next day, May 10. (1768,) produced a more fatal instance of rash violence against the people on account of their attachment to the popular prisoner (Wilkes) in the King’s Bench.  The parliament being to meet on that day to open the session, great numbers of the populace thronged about the prison from an expectation that Mr. W. would on that occasion recover his liberty; and with an intention to conduct him to the House of Commons.  On being disappointed, they grew tumultuous, and an additional party of the third regiment of Guards were sent for.  Some foolish paper had been stuck up against the prison wall, which a justice of the peace, then present, was not very wise in taking notice of, for when he took it down the mob insisted on having it from him, which he not regarding, the riot grew louder, the drums beat to arms, the proclamation was read, and while it was reading, some stones and bricks were thrown.  William Allen, a young man, son of Mr. Allen, keeper