'" THE BATTLE OF LIFE" AND SLOMAN'S.
ITO THE EDITOR OF TEE -"SPECTATOR."] But,—In your interesting review of Mr. T. E. Kebbel's " The Battle of Life" (December 7th; page 969) reference is made to Sloman's of Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane. Allusion is also made to the idea that this "spunging house" (where debtors could be legally detained by bailiff or sheriff's officer) may have been Moss's, to which Thackeray consigns Rawdon. Crawley. Since the abolition in 1869 of imprisonment for debt, debtors' prisons and "spunging houses" have alike disappeared; but I should be glad of the opportunity of directing attention to the fact that Sloman's is the " Coavinses " of Dickens's "Bleak House." In this "spunging house " Harold Skim- _pole (Leigh Hunt ?) probably passed occasionally some of his days. In the late 'fifties I worked as a boy in an office in Took's Court, the back premises of which adjoined and looked out on the garden of Sloman's house of detention. The wall of the said garden or yard was surmounted by tall iron railings with their points curved inwards, so Ahafrescape was not easy. In this enclosure the unfortunate debtors paced sadly up and down for exercise, guarded further by a large black dog. The site of Sloman's is now covered by Imperial Chambers on the north side of Cursitor Street, nearly opposite the Apple. Tree and Mitre. This public-house was rebuilt some years ago ; the previous building bore on its façade a large painting of an apple tree with a bishop's mitre in the centre. The local tradition of the period ascribed the painting to Moriand. I wonder what has become of it? In Took's Court at that time lived Snagsby (probably a Mr. Northeote?), from the window of whose house Mr. Tulkinghorn glanced across the court to the coffee-room of " Coavinses," and round the corner in Chancery Lane little Miss Flite (.Turndyce v. Jarndyce) might be seen playfully tapping the bewigged barristers on the shoulder with her umbrella. I frequently saw her. I think she lived in an attic in Chichester Rents, the window of which in spring and summer was gay with flowers.—I am, Sir, &c., • W. J. Frrxsfalmoars. -8 Avenue Road, Crouch End, N.
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