Recollections of Old Liverpool

was born in Liverpool, on the 4th of June in1769 or '70. I am consequently

about ninety-three years old. My friends say I am a wonderful old man.

I believe I am. I have always enjoyed such excellent health, that I do not

know what the sensation is of a medical man putting his finger on my wrist.

I have eaten and drunk in moderation, slept little, risen early, and kept a

clear conscience before God and man. My memory is surprising. I am often

astonished at myself in recalling to mind events, persons, and circumstances,

that occurred so long ago as to be almost forgotten by everybody else.

I can recollect every occurrence that has fallen under my cognizance, since

I was six years old. I do not remember so well events that have taken place

during the last twenty or thirty years, as they seem confused to me; but what-

ever happened of which I had some knowledge during my boyish days and

early manhood, is most vividly impressed upon my memory. My family have

been long-livers. My father was ninety odd, when he died, my mother near

that age at her death. My brother and sister are still living, are healthy, and,

like myself, in comfortable circumstances.

I may be seen any fine day on the Pier-head or Landing-stage, accompanied

by one of my dear great grandchildren; but you would not take me to be

3 JAMES STONEHOUSE

more than sixty by my air and appearance.

We lived in a street out of Church-street, nearly opposite St. Peter's. I was

born there. At that time the churchyard was enclosed by trees, and the

gravestones were erect. One by one the trees died or were destroyed by mis-

chievous boys, and unfortunately they were not replaced. The church pre-

sented then a very pretty appearance. Within the last thirty years there was

one tree standing nearly opposite to the Blue Coat School. When that tree

died, I regretted its loss as of an old friend. The stockswere placed justwithin

the rails, nearly opposite the present extensive premises occupied by the Elk-

ingtons. Many and many a man have I seen seated in them for various light

offences, though in many cases the punishment was heavy, especially if the

culprit was obnoxious in any way, or had made himself so by his own con-

duct. The town boys were very cruel in my young days. It was a cruel time,

and the effects of the slave-trade and privateering were visible in the con-

duct of the lower classes and of society generally. Goodness knows the town

boys are cruel now, but they are angels to what their predecessors were. I

think education has done some good. All sorts of mischievous tricks used to

be played upon the culprits in the stocks; and I have seen stout and sturdy

fellows faint under the sufferings they endured. By the way, at the top of

Marybone, there was once a large pond, called the Flashes, where there was a

ducking-post and this was a favourite place of punishment when the Lynch

Law of that time was carried out. I once saw a woman ducked there. She

might have said with Queen Catherine: -

"Do with me what you will, For any change must better my condition."

There was a terrible row caused once by the rescue of a woman from the

Cuckstool. At one time it threatened to be serious. The mayor was dining

at my father's, and I recollect he was sent for in a great hurry, and my father

and his guests all went with him to the pond. The woman was