Bro. Thomas Topham, The Strong Man.

hold , two of the feet stood upon his knees , and he raised the end with the weight higher than that in his mouth . He took Mr . Chambers , vicar of All Saints , who weighed twenty-seven stone , and raised him with one hand ; his head being laid on one chair , and his feet on another , four people , of fourteen stone each , sat upon his body , which he heaved at pleasure . He struck a round bar of ironone inch in diameteragainst his naked armand at one

, , , stroke bent it like a bow . Weakness and feeling seemed fled together . " Being a master of music , he entertained the company with " Mad Tom . " I heard him sing a solo to the organ in St . Werburgh ' s Church , then the only one in Derby ; but , though he might perform with judgment , yet the voice , more terrible than sweet , seemed scarcely human . " Though of a pacific temperand with the appearance of a gentlemanyet

, , he was liable to the insults of the rude . The ostler at the Virgin ' s Inn , where he resided , having given him some cause of displeasure , he took one of the kitchen spits from the mantelpiece and bent it round his neck like a handkerchief , but , as he did not choose to tuck the ends in the ostler ' s bosom , the cumbrous ornament excited the laughter of the company till he condescended to untie his cravat . Had he not abounded with good nature , the

men might have been in fear of the safety of their persons , and the women for that of their pewter-shelves , as he could instantly roll up both . One blow with his fist would for ever have silenced those heroes of the beargardens , Johnson and Mendoza . " Topham again turned his attention to the public-house business , and kept an inn in the parish of St . Leonard , Shoreditch . We give a copy of an advertisement issued during the time he resided in Shoreditch . It reads as follows : —

"THOMAS TOPHAM , " Commonly called the strong man , " Keeps the sign of King Astyages ' s Arms , vulgarly called the " Bell and Dragon , " in Hig-lane , near Norton-Folgate , in the parish of St . Leonard ' s , Shoreditch , " Where he intends to perform two actions of strengthfor the reward of

, five shillings , when there is to be no more than five spectators . All above that number are to pay a shilling each ; a crown is the least he'll take for showin » the two feats ; and , further to invite the curious , the man who is able to do either of the two , shall have the then present reward that the above-mentioned Topham is to have for exhibiting the same ; the more to add to his honour if required , he will at his own cost publish the same in an advertisement , to let the world know there is

a man as great a prodigy as himself . He'll also consent to be erased out of the Memoirs of the Royal Society , and the person who can perform the like recorded in his room . It is the same Topham who was applauded , and most generously caressed , in the honourable part of Great Britain called Scotland . He also performed in the kingdom of Ireland with good success and great applauseand in most parts of South Britainwhere he

, , was handsomely received and courteously entertained , particularly by the Honourable Corporation of Macclesfield , in Cheshire , where he received a handsome purse of gold ; that was not the period of their generosit y , they also made him a free burgess , and presented him with a silver box to keep his copy in . For the favours he publicly received during the time of his travels he returns his most humble and heart y thanks .

" As the Fates' will has preserved him through many a hard brunt , especially by sea , and protected him on the day that the blood y and scandalous engagement happened off Cape Toulon , in the Mediterranean , on Saturday , the 11 th of February , 1743-4 , he is in hopes Providence will stand his friend , ' and support him in his endeavours . " Vivere non potest , qui more non audet . "