Bro. Thomas Topham, The Strong Man.

Particulars of some of the chief feats performed by Topham were noted b y Dr . Desaguiliers , and amongst them we find it recorded that by the strength of his fingers alone he rolled up a very strong pewter dish . He then broke seven or eight short pieces of a tobacco-pipe by the force of his middle finger , having laid them on his first and third finger ; then , thrusting the bowl of a strong tobacco-pipe under his garter , and bending his leg , he broke it to pieces by the power of the tendon of the ham alonewithout at all moving his leg .

, Another bowl of the same kind he broke between his first and second finger by merely pressing them together sideways . He lifted a table , six feet long , with his teeth alone , although half a hundredweight hung at one end of it , and held it for a considerable time in a horizontal position . He struck an iron poker , a yard in length and three inches in circumference , against his bare left arm , between the elbow and wrist , until the poker was bent nearly to a

right angle ; and then , taking a similar one , he held the ends of it in his hands , and placing the middle against the back of his neck , he made both ends meet before him , after which he achieved the more difficult operation of pulling it almost straight again . He broke a rope two inches in circumference , though he was obliged to exert four times the strength that was requisite for the purposein consequence of the awkward manner which he adopted .

, He lifted a stone roller , weighing eight hundred pounds , by a chain to which it was fastened , with his hands only , while standing on a frame above it , Topham , after quitting the " Red Lion , " near Moorfields , took the " Duke ' s Head , " situated on the Islington Green , but did not meet with any great success as an innkeeper . He next travelled through the country to exhibit his

remarkable powers . In 1737 he visited Scotland and Ireland , and in the same year many of the chief towns in this country . William Hutton , a celebrated bookseller , antiquary , and historian , witnessed his performances at Derby in 1737 , and wrote a most interesting account—indeed , the best that has been written . We give , as follows , Mr . Hutton ' s capital notice of Topham ' s visit to Derby : — " We learnt ( writes Mr . Hutton ) from private accounts , well attestedthat Thomas Tophama man who kept a public-house at Islington

, , , performed surprising feats of strength , such as breaking a broomstick of the largest size by striking it against his bare arm ; lifting two hogsheads of water ; heaving his horse over a turnpike gate ; carrying a beam of a house as a soldier does his firelock , and others of a similar description . However belief mig ht at first be staggered , all doubt was soon removed when this second Samson appeared at Derby as a performer in public , and that at the rate of a

shilling for each spectator . On application to Alderman Cooper for permission to exhibit , the magistrate was surprised at the feats he proposed , and as his appearance resembled that of other men , he requested him to strip that he might examine whether he was made like them . He was found to be extremely muscular ; what were hollows under the arms and hams of others were filled up with ligaments in him . He appeared to be nearlfive feet

y ten inches in height , upwards of thirty years of age , well made , but without any singularity . He walked with a small limp . He had formerl y laid a wager , the usual decider of disputes , that three horses could not draw him from a post , which he would clasp with his feet ; but the driver giving them a sudden lash , turned them aside , and the unexpected jerk broke his thigh .

" Other performances of this wonderful man , in whom were united the strength of twelve , consisted in rolling up a pewter dish of seven pounds as a man rolls up a sheet of paper ; holding a pewter quart at arm ' s length and squeezing the sides together like an egg-shell ; lifting two hundredweight with his little finger , and moving it gently over his head . The bodies he touched seemed to have lost their power of gravitation . He also broke a rope , fastened to the floor , that would sustain twenty hundredweight ; lifted an oak table , six feet long , with his teeth , though half a hundredweight was hung to the extremity ; a piece of leather was fixed to one end for his teeth to