Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — The Black Jack Inn. [ARTICLE]

The Black Jack Inn.

A few days ago the ancient “bos. telrle” familiar to readers of Dickens as the “Black Jack,” in Portsmouth street, Clare Market, closed its doors forever, as the entire block of buildings surrounding it is about to be demolished. The “Black Jack” is the house to which Sam Weller escorted his master when that gentleman was in search of Lowton, Mr. Perker’s clerk, on which occasion Mr. Pickwick heard the story of the “Queer Client,” related by the mysterious lawyer’s clerk. The “Black Jack” has for many years been a veritable Mecca to the medical students who have successfully braved the terrors of the examination-room, for it was customary for them to adjourn to its hospitable bar and duly inscribe the names of the fortunate medicos in a register kept in the house for that purpose Among the signatures to be seen are those of James Paget and Andrew Clarke, together with many others who have since attained celebrity. The death of the “Black Jack” adds one more to the ghostly taverns which have abounded in the immediate vicinity. The “Spotted Dog,” the “White Lion,” of Jack Sheppard notoriety, the “Bull’s Head,” where Hogarth met his brother artists, and the “Spiller’s Head, ” the Savage club of those days, all stood within a few yards; while the “Angel,” another house, claims immortality as being the place whence in 1554 Bishop Hooper was taken to meet his death at Gloucester. At this inn, so late as 1779, a negro girl was sold. The Public Advertiser, of March 28, in that year, bad the following advertisement: “To be sold, a black girl, 11 years of . age. Extremely hardy. Works at her needle tolerably, and speaks English well. Inquire of Mr. Owen at the Angel Inn.”—London Daily News.