The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 285: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OF LONDON. 283 lL raised my eyes to. ascertain from whence could proceed these gay murmurs, which contrasted so cruelly with the spot, and the scene announced to take place there. At first, 1 could see nothing; but soon my vision becoming accustomed to the _ obscurity, distinguished that there were ladies and -_ gentlemen sitting in every window of the houses, The garrets were filled with men and women of the lower class, and some boys had mounted up to the sign boards over the shops, to which they were clinging. All these people were waiting for the execution —they hired their seats. Half past seven had already struck. The fatal moment was approaching; a profound silence pervaded the crowd. ‘At a quarter before eight o’clock, a funeral knell began to toll from the belfrey of St. Sepul- chre. At that moment, two men dressed in black, ascended the scaffold, and placed upon the platform along deal box. The bell was tolling my father’s knell, and that box was intended for his coffin. A shudderran through the crowd. At last at last, muttered they. The knell had been tolling ten minutes when the debtor’s door was thrown open. The first person who appeared was a clergy- man, with a paper book in his hand—this was the Ordinary of Newgate, who walked on to the platform without turning round. After him came Ishmael. My father was very pale, but no anx- iety appeared upon his countenance, which re- tained its habitual expression of bitter and sar- eastie raillery. He walked with a firm step, and = ue ail . r ; . ¥ ’ Comicbooks.com: