it, which it generally very much needed. Then might be seen and heard boys and girls, running, shouting, and screaming at the top of their voices, " the Slough's let !" "the Slough's let !" The masculine part of the crowd would get into the Bourne and run along helter skelter in front of the advancing stream, some of them would sometimes fall, head over heels, and get a sound ducking in what could scarcely be called water. Here I will stop. I think I have said enough to shew that old Hastings was not at all to be compared with Hastings of 1873.
In order the better to understand how smuggling was so easy some sixty or seventy years ago, it may be well to allude briefly to a few localities, and the first which recurs to memory is the original Priory Bridge, which was situated at or very near the spot at present occupied by the Albert Memorial. It was built of timber, and was, owing to its dilapidated and dangerous condition, removed about 1820. In a south. west direction from the bridge were the Rope-walks . Parkers' Endowed School was at one time, previous to 1817 , carried on in a room or loft over one of the rope-maker's shops. The ground about the Rope-walks subsequently was built upon by anybody who chose to do so. It became a locality for the drunken and the lawless, and it was really not safe to pass over it after dark. It obtained the appellation of " America. " It was ultimately claimed and taken possession of by -
