DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61480#0187
THE MARCH TO FINCHLEY.
The spot this scene represents is Tottenham Court Turnpike, from whence we have a
view of Hampstead and Highgate in the distance. The first object that presents itself
below these hills is a body of soldiers, marching in tolerable order, with their baggage-
waggon beside them. This regularity is indeed less observed in front, occasioned in
part by the interruption they meet with, owing to the narrowness of the passage through
the gate, and the licence allowed to the sons of liberty on quitting their homes. A
young grenadier, of good mien, is the principal object of the first group; he is accom-
panied, or rather seized on and beset by two women, of different cast, disposition, and
character. We are to understand they are both enceinte, and are claiming him for
the father. One attempts to melt him with tears, the other to alarm him with threats •'
and so obstreperous is the latter, that the serjeant behind finds himself obliged to
interfere. They are engaged also in different pursuits, one being a ballad singer, the
other a news carrier ; the former selling prints in favour of government the latter against
it. This we learn from the song of " God save the King," and the picture of the
Duke of Cumberland, among other things, in the basket of the former; the Remem-
brancer, the London Evening Post, and the Jacobite Journal, in possession of the other.
On the left of this group is a young officer kissing a milk girl; which gives an arch
wag an opportunity of robbing her of her milk, which he is pouring into his hat, and of
which a chimney-sweeper's boy appears very desirous to partake. This incident
attracts the attention of a pastrycook behind, who seems to enjoy the piece of roguery,
at which the man beside him points, at the same time that he is stealing one of the pies
from his head. Behind the pastrycook is a man carrying a barrel of strong beer,
which a soldier has pierced with a gimlet, in order to fill his canteen, while another is
keeping guard lest any should interrupt him. This last is comfortably drunk. A
little further back is a priggish lieutenant, bringing up the rear of the company before
liim, stalking in all the pride of military march, coveting the notice of the women. On
the right of the principal group is a Frenchman, represented as a man of some import-
ance, in order to render him more ridiculous. He is whispering to a Scotchman, to
whom he is communicating the contents of a letter he has just received, which we are
The spot this scene represents is Tottenham Court Turnpike, from whence we have a
view of Hampstead and Highgate in the distance. The first object that presents itself
below these hills is a body of soldiers, marching in tolerable order, with their baggage-
waggon beside them. This regularity is indeed less observed in front, occasioned in
part by the interruption they meet with, owing to the narrowness of the passage through
the gate, and the licence allowed to the sons of liberty on quitting their homes. A
young grenadier, of good mien, is the principal object of the first group; he is accom-
panied, or rather seized on and beset by two women, of different cast, disposition, and
character. We are to understand they are both enceinte, and are claiming him for
the father. One attempts to melt him with tears, the other to alarm him with threats •'
and so obstreperous is the latter, that the serjeant behind finds himself obliged to
interfere. They are engaged also in different pursuits, one being a ballad singer, the
other a news carrier ; the former selling prints in favour of government the latter against
it. This we learn from the song of " God save the King," and the picture of the
Duke of Cumberland, among other things, in the basket of the former; the Remem-
brancer, the London Evening Post, and the Jacobite Journal, in possession of the other.
On the left of this group is a young officer kissing a milk girl; which gives an arch
wag an opportunity of robbing her of her milk, which he is pouring into his hat, and of
which a chimney-sweeper's boy appears very desirous to partake. This incident
attracts the attention of a pastrycook behind, who seems to enjoy the piece of roguery,
at which the man beside him points, at the same time that he is stealing one of the pies
from his head. Behind the pastrycook is a man carrying a barrel of strong beer,
which a soldier has pierced with a gimlet, in order to fill his canteen, while another is
keeping guard lest any should interrupt him. This last is comfortably drunk. A
little further back is a priggish lieutenant, bringing up the rear of the company before
liim, stalking in all the pride of military march, coveting the notice of the women. On
the right of the principal group is a Frenchman, represented as a man of some import-
ance, in order to render him more ridiculous. He is whispering to a Scotchman, to
whom he is communicating the contents of a letter he has just received, which we are