File:A blotted leaf from "The Pleasures of Memory" (BM 1876,1209.445.+).jpg

Height: 293 millimetres

Width: 398 millimetres

Text from 'An Illustrative Key to the Political Sketches of H.B.', London 1844:

The hero of this sketch is Samuel Rogers, Esq., well known in the different circles of Commerce, Literature, and Fashion, as a banker of eminence, the author of the Pleasures of Memory, Italy, and other Poems, and an agreeable Companion, whose wit never fails "to set the table in a roar." Though far advanced in years it is his pleasure to take exercise on foot, and his person is well known to every one in the habit of walking in the parks, and about the west end of the Metropolis. For some time previously to the date of this sketch, he had been made the subject of attack by various female mendicants who found it a pretty safe experiment to accost and follow him sometimes with a tale of woe, and sometimes with stories, (real or feigned) of a kind to extort hush-money. In certain cases a man to whom shillings and sixpences are not very serious matters of consideration, will make some compromise for the sake of peace, and will think, perhaps, that the indulgence of a walk, like other indulgences, has its attendant evils, and will pay the penalty, and be content. But when the penalty, though paid, fails to produce the content for which it is given, patience breaks down; and so did the patience of Samuel Rogers, Esq., as the following copy of a police-report in the Times, will show.

Times, 3rd Nov. 1842. "MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - Five middle-aged females, who gave their names, Mary Ann Jamieson, Mary Ann Smith, Caroline Johnson, alias Lowe, Ann Gibbs, and Mary Halkin, were yesterday charged by Horsford, and other mendicity constables, with annoying and victimizing Mr. Samuel Rogers, the celebrated poet. "From Horsford's statement, it appeared that the amiable author of the 'Pleasures of Memory' has been lately so much annoyed by females whenever he stirred abroad, by pretending to call to his recollection sundry agreeable moments, that he has frequently wished himself in "Italy," to escape from their persecution. Yesterday, while in St. James's Place, he saw Mr. Rogers and another gentleman come out of his house and proceed to the Athenaeum Club, followed by the prisoners, two of whom kept watch for his coming out, while the others retired into Carlton Gardens. After waiting about an hour, Mr. Rogers came out, and proceeded into St. James' Park. Jamieson then "gave the office," and he was instantly surrounded by the whole of the party. He tried to beat them off with his umbrella, but they still continued to annoy him, until Horsford procured assistance, and took them into custody. "Mr. Hardwicke (the police magistrate) appeared perfectly astonished at the statement, and asked the prisoners what they had to say in their defence. "Jamieson (who wore widow's weeds) replied, that she had known Mr. Rogers for more than forty years, and that for some years he had allowed her 10s. a week, and she had merely stopped him to ask for her money. As a proof that what she said was correct, she would call upon Mr. Wilks, the gaoler, and Mr. Clements, the chief usher of the Court, to prove that the late Mr. Plank had regularly paid her her stipend. "Clements said that he was aware that Mr. Plank used to pay her a weekly sum, but he did not know for what. "Mr. Hardwick - What did he allow you that sum for? "Jamieson - Oh! spare me the recollection of my juvenile indiscretions. "Horsford observed, that the prisoners, and a great number of other females, were constantly following Mr. Rogers, and attempting to extort money from him, under the pretence that they had, when young, been seduced by him. "Smith said, that she likewise had had a former acquaintance with Mr. Rogers.