The Cries of London; exhibiting several of the itinerant traders of antient and modern times. London 1839 , Posthumous Edition (John Thomas Smith)
“Now as the Cries of London are sometimes the topic of conversation, the author of the present work is not without the hope of finding, amongst the more aged as well as juvenile readers, many to whom it may prove acceptable, inasmuch as it not only exhibits several Itinerant Traders and other persons of various callings of the present day, but some of those of former times, collected from engravings executed in the reigns of James I. Charles I.and during the Usurpation of Oliver Cromwell, and which, on account of their extreme rarity, are seldom to be seen but in the most curious and expensive Collections.” (John Thomas Smith,Introduction)
A Water -Carrier (copied from a print published by Philip Overton)
A Corpse-Bearer
Prison Basket-Man (copied from a print published by Philip Overton) – One of those men who were send out to beg broken meat for the poor prisoners.
Rat-Catcher (copied from an old print)
“New Elegy”. This Figure shows an itinerant vendor of Elegies, Christmas Carols, and Love Songs.
“All In Full Bloom”. Anatony Antonini from Lucca in Tuscany sells arificial flowers constructed of silk and paper.
“Old Chairs To Mend”. Israel Potter, one of the oldest menders of chairs now living.
A journeyman Basket-maker, who works in a cellar on the western side of the Haymarket.
A potter, fabricating sugar baker´s moulds.
“Smithfield Pudding”. In many instances the pudding sold in the streets has a favourable aspect, and under some circumstances proves a delicious treat to the purchaser.
“Hard Metal Spoons To Sell Or Change” The name of this itinerant trader is William Conway. He comes from Crab Tree Row, Bethnall Green.
A lad from Lucca, performing various tricks with two dancing dolls strung to a flat board. They are moved by a string attached to his knees.
“Sprig Of Shillelah And Shamrock So Green”. Thomas M´Conwick, an irish vendor of matches, who sings traditional Irish songs and dances to the tunes.
“Gingerbread Nuts, Or Jack´s Last Shift” Daniel Clarey is well known to the London schoolboy as a gingerbread-nut lottery office keeper.
“Chickweed And Groundsel” George Smith, a Brushmaker out of employemt, is determined on selling chickweed, an article easily procured without money.
A vendor of Bilberries.
“Simplers”. These people are instances of rustic simplicity. They commence their selections from the ditches and swampy grounds in the early morning hours and trudge with their filled bags for fifteen miles to the London markets.
Perhaps there is no class of people who work harder than those washer-women who go out to assist servants in what is called a heavy wash.
“Smithfield Saloop”. Saloop, the subject of this etching, has superseded almost every other midnight street refreshment, being a beverage easily made, and considered as a sovereign cure for headache arising from drunkeness.
An earthenware man, who offers Staffordshire Ware.
Bernardo Millano is “The Bladder Man”. He entertains the crowds by playing on an instrument with five strings passed over a bladder, an instrument which is said to have been the original hurdy-gurdy.
