Distinguishedspeakerswereinviteddown，andverynearlycamebutnotquite。Subscriptionswereopened，andcommitteessat，anditwouldhavebeenfarfromapopularmeasureintheheightoftheexcitement，tohavetoldDullboroughthatitwasn’tStratford-upon-
Avon。Yet，afterallthesepreparations，whenthegreatfestivitytookplace，andtheportrait，elevatedaloft，surveyedthecompanyasifitwereindangerofspringingamineofintellectandblowingitselfup，itdidundoubtedlyhappen，accordingtotheinscrutablemysteriesofthings，thatnobodycouldbeinduced，nottosaytotouchuponShakespeare，buttocomewithinamileofhim，untilthecrackspeakerofDullboroughrosetoproposetheimmortalmemory。Whichhedidwiththeperplexingandastonishingresultthatbeforehehadrepeatedthegreatnamehalf-a-dozentimes，orhadbeenuponhislegsasmanyminutes，hewasassailedwithageneralshoutof’Question。’
’WithinsomanyyardsofthisCovent-gardenlodgingofmine，aswithinsomanyyardsofWestminsterAbbey，SaintPaul’sCathedral，theHousesofParliament，thePrisons，theCourtsofJustice，alltheInstitutionsthatgoverntheland，Icanfind-MUSTfind，whetherIwillorno-intheopenstreets，shamefulinstancesofneglectofchildren，intolerabletolerationoftheengendermentofpaupers，idlers，thieves，racesofwretchedanddestructivecripplesbothinbodyandmind，amiserytothemselves，amiserytothecommunity，adisgracetocivilisation，andanoutrageonChristianity-Iknowittobeafactaseasyofdemonstrationasanysuminanyoftheelementaryrulesofarithmetic，thatiftheStatewouldbeginitsworkanddutyatthebeginning，andwouldwiththestronghandtakethosechildrenoutofthestreets，whiletheyareyetchildren，andwiselytrainthem，itwouldmakethemapartofEngland’sglory，notitsshame-ofEngland’sstrength，notitsweakness-wouldraisegoodsoldiersandsailors，andgoodcitizens，andmanygreatmen，outoftheseedsofitscriminalpopulation。YetIgoonbearingwiththeenormityasifitwerenothing，andIgoonreadingtheParliamentaryDebatesasiftheyweresomething，andIconcernmyselffarmoreaboutonerailway-
bridgeacrossapublicthoroughfare，thanaboutadozengenerationsofscrofula，ignorance，wickedness，prostitution，poverty，andfelony。Icanslipoutatmydoor，inthesmallhoursafteranymidnight，and，inonecircuitofthepurlieusofCovent-gardenMarket，canbeholdastateofinfancyandyouth，asvileasifaBourbonsatupontheEnglishthrone；agreatpoliceforcelookingonwithauthoritytodonomorethanworryandhuntthedreadfulverminintocorners，andthereleavethem。WithinthelengthofafewstreetsIcanfindaworkhouse，mismanagedwiththatdullshort-sightedobstinacythatitsgreatestopportunitiesastothechildrenitreceivesarelost，andyetnotafarthingsavedtoanyone。Butthewheelgoesround，andround，andround；andbecauseitgoesround-soIamtoldbythepolitestauthorities-itgoeswell。’
ThusIreflected，onedayintheWhitsunweeklastpast，asI