“He was always first oars with the fine city ladies.”

(Immense cheering.) The soft sex to a man⁠—he begged pardon, to a female⁠—rallied round the young waterman, and turned with disgust from the drinker of spirits (cheers). The Brick Lane Branch brothers were watermen (cheers and laughter). That room was their boat; that audience were the maidens; and he ( Mr. Anthony Humm), however unworthily, was “first oars” (unbounded applause).

“Wot does he mean by the soft sex, Sammy?” inquired Mr. Weller, in a whisper.

“The womin,” said Sam, in the same tone.

“He ain’t far out there, Sammy,” replied Mr. Weller; “they must be a soft sex⁠—a wery soft sex, indeed⁠—if they let themselves be gammoned by such fellers as him.”