Description | This ballad is probably concerned with the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839 where "Every common Prostitute or Nightwalker loitering or being in any Thoroughfare or public Place for the Purpose of Prostitution or Solicitation to the Annoyance of the Inhabitants or Passengers." and "Every Person who shall sell or distribute or offer for Sale or Distribution, or exhibit to public View, any profane, indecent, or obscene Book, Paper, Print, Drawing, Painting, or Representation, or sing any profane, indecent, or obscene Song or ballad, or write or draw any indecent or obscene Word, Figure, or Representation, or use any profane, indecent, or obscene Language to the Annoyance of the Inhabitants or Passengers" would be liable to a penalty "not more than forty shillings". First line reads: Attend awhile both great and small. In manuscript beside title: Octr. 15: 1840. |