DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0188
.162 HUMOROUS EXPLOITS^ &c.
the bowsprit over his head; and of the truth of which, there
was not the least doubt.
Another time, a race being to be run on the Hackney-
' Rou.d, when a fellow with a horse and cart, would attempt
to keep close to the contending parties, much to the displea-
sure of the spectators in general; Topham, who was one
of them, stepping into the road, seized the tail of the cart,
and in spite of all the fellow’s exertions, in whipping his
horse to get forward, he drew them both backwards, with
the greatest ease and velocity ; and while the pleasure of
the beholders was at the highest point of gratification, the
surprise and rage of the driver seemed to be beyond all ex-
pression, nothing preventing him from exercising his whip,
upon the immediate cause of his chagrin, but the probable
fear of his being pulled or crushed to pieces.
During the time he kept a public house, two fellows, ex-
tremely quarrelsome, though patiently borne with for a
considerable time, at length proceeded so far, that nothing
would satisfy them, but fighting the landlord. But as they
could be appeased no other way, Topham, at length, seiz-
ing them both by the nape of the neck, with the same faci-
lity as if they had been children, he knocked both their
heads together, till perfectly sensible of their error, they
became as abject in asking pardon, as they had before been
insolent in giving offence,
Still this second Samson was not without his Dalilah ;
the infidelity of bis wife was hinted at before ; but though
not generally known, her partiality for some other person,
had such an effect upon Topham, that, unable to bear the
reflections it excited in his mind, after beating her very
severely, he put a period to his own existence, and died in
the flower of his age.
The circumstance represented in our plate, was another
in which strength operated to the surprise and astonishment
of a number of beholders ; and in fact, such was the im-
pression
the bowsprit over his head; and of the truth of which, there
was not the least doubt.
Another time, a race being to be run on the Hackney-
' Rou.d, when a fellow with a horse and cart, would attempt
to keep close to the contending parties, much to the displea-
sure of the spectators in general; Topham, who was one
of them, stepping into the road, seized the tail of the cart,
and in spite of all the fellow’s exertions, in whipping his
horse to get forward, he drew them both backwards, with
the greatest ease and velocity ; and while the pleasure of
the beholders was at the highest point of gratification, the
surprise and rage of the driver seemed to be beyond all ex-
pression, nothing preventing him from exercising his whip,
upon the immediate cause of his chagrin, but the probable
fear of his being pulled or crushed to pieces.
During the time he kept a public house, two fellows, ex-
tremely quarrelsome, though patiently borne with for a
considerable time, at length proceeded so far, that nothing
would satisfy them, but fighting the landlord. But as they
could be appeased no other way, Topham, at length, seiz-
ing them both by the nape of the neck, with the same faci-
lity as if they had been children, he knocked both their
heads together, till perfectly sensible of their error, they
became as abject in asking pardon, as they had before been
insolent in giving offence,
Still this second Samson was not without his Dalilah ;
the infidelity of bis wife was hinted at before ; but though
not generally known, her partiality for some other person,
had such an effect upon Topham, that, unable to bear the
reflections it excited in his mind, after beating her very
severely, he put a period to his own existence, and died in
the flower of his age.
The circumstance represented in our plate, was another
in which strength operated to the surprise and astonishment
of a number of beholders ; and in fact, such was the im-
pression