I have given an account of a defunct club, of which the "paper workers" were the chief members; and I have now to do the same of a society not very dissimilar in its objects, of which the street-sellers of manufactured articles constituted the great majority. It was called the "house of lords," and was established about years ago, at the Roebuck-tavern, , and existed years. Its object was to relieve its members in sickness. The subscription was a week, and the relief to a sick member was as many pennies a week as the club contained members, with, in any pressing case, an additional halfpenny, which the members paid into the fund, over and above their weekly subscription. For the greater part of its existence the club contained members (a few of them honorary), and there were very few cases of "declaring on the fund" by sick members. At period for many weeks there were no such declarations, and the "house of lords" had in hand. of the leading members, a very intelligent man, who had "a good connection in hardware," had taken great pains to prepare a code of rules, which, having been approved by the other members, it was considered time that the "house of lords" should be enrolled. Delays, however, intervened. "To tell you the truth, sir," of them said, "we were afraid to employ an attorney, and thought of waiting upon Mr. Tidd Pratt ourselves, but it wasn't to be."

The club was, moreover, looked upon as somewhat select. "No costers were admitted, sir," I was told by a hardware seller in the streets;

Saturday evening a member who was considered a respectable man, and was sufficiently regular in his payments, appeared at the weekly meeting, introducing his landlord, who, as a nonmember, had to pay for admission. The man told how his family had suffered from illness, and how he had been ill, and got into arrears of rent, for he did not like to distress the fund; and how his landlord was then in possession of his "sticks," which must be sold in the morning if he could not pay ; and, moreover, how his landlord— a very kind-hearted, indulgent man—was forced to do this, for he himself was in difficulties. The members voted that the should be advanced; but before the next meeting night it was discovered that the statement of the poor member in arrears was an imposition. The landlord was merely a confederate; the worthy couple had been drinking together, and, to prolong their tippling, had hit upon the roguish scheme I have mentioned.

This, among other things, lowered the confidence of the members. The numbers fell off until it was thought best to "wind up the concern." The small funds in hand were fairly apportioned among the remaining members, and the club ceased to exist.

Another Street-sellers' Club has recently been formed by the men themselves, of which the following is the prospectus, and it is to be hoped that this attempt on the part of the street-folk to better their condition will meet with a better fate than its predecessor:—

Our motto is "To live honestly by daily perseverance and industry."

Street Mechanics, Labourers, Hawkers, &c.

PROTECTION ASSOCIATION,

HELD AT THE LAMB TAVERN,

NEW TURNSTILE,

HOLBORN

,

Proprietor, Mr. White.

The above-named classes are kindly invited to attend a Meeting convened for

SUNDAY EVENING NEXT,

And every succeeding Sunday Evening, at the above house, to carry out the object unanimously agreed to by the Enrolled Members and the General Committee. Furthermore, to take into consideration the most appropriate means whereby we may be enabled to assist each other in the time of adversity.

Mr. J. White, Treasurer. Mr. F. A. Thoresby, Secretary.

The chair will be taken at o'clock, and the Committee are requested to be in attendance hour previous.