Punch (95.1888)

290

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [December 22, 1888.

NOTICE TO QUIT.

" The City Lands Committee has decided to demolish Newgate Prison and the adjoining Old Bailey Sessions House. Trade will quickly exorcise the
ghost of Newgate, as has Fashion the shade of the Tyburn gibbet; and the sooner the better."—Times.

Committee bold, you '11 drive us then from old-established quarters,
Near where the Smithfield carnifex the ox no longer slaughters.
Our wicked conscience smiteth us, we lose our stomach daily,
I near an unregretted end, and so do you, Old Bailey.

Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey !
I recollect the days of wholesale hanging and gaol-fever.
When I was grim and you were gay ; such times won't last for ever.

Air—"Unfortunate Miss Bailey." Newgate sings : —

Old friend, farewell! for you and I accounts must once for all close.
Ah me! how I regret the days of wigs and velvet small-clothes!
The days when body-snatching ehaps the sexton jockeyed gaily ;
How long will men remember me, or you, my poor Old Bailey f
Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey!
Ah! when I think of Mrs. Fky, and you of stout John Howard,
I'm sure you feel remorseful, and I know I feel a coward.

Like Pluto I drop iron tears, and your lank cheeks go palely ; ' My ancestor the Gordon rioterscretnated gaily.

No wonder! Ghosts around us glower; such horrid ghosts, Old Bailey!

Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey!

Avaunt, Jack Sheppard, with black poll, and face so white and
Grim gallows-birds, don'tgibberthere, youusemeungenteelly, [mealy.
Avaunt, pale spectres of the hosts of victims slaughtered daily,
When men were hanged for stealing sheep, as well you know, Old
Bailey. Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey!

But ours is a worse fate, for it is final, poor Old Bailey.1

Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey!

Erect smart shops upon my site ? You'd rather, so would I, burn,
To come back like the Phoenix. But we '11 share the fate of Tyburn.
The times are most emasculate, they're waxing softer daily,
Soon they '11 refuse to hang at all. Just think of that, Old Bailey 1
Oh! Old Bailey, unfortunate Old Bailey!