** Pleasure of seeing thee nubbed too. In # deed, my Dear, (anfwered Wild) it is * what I have always wifhed for thee

but I do not defire to bear thee Com*pany, and I have still Hopes to have the Pleasure of feeing you go without me; at leaft I will have the Pleasure to be rid * of you now." And fo faying, he seized her by the Wafte, and with ftrong Arm flung her out of the Room; but not before fhe had with her Nails left a bloody Memorial on his Cheek: And thus this fond Couple parted.

WILD had fcarce recovered himself from the Uneafiness into which this unwelcome Vifit, proceeding from the difagreeable Fondness of his Wife, had thrown him, than the faithful Achates appeared.

The

Prefence of this Youth was indeed a Cordial to his Spirits. He received him with open Arms, and expreffed the utmost Satisfaction in the Fidelity of his Friendship, which fo far exceeded the Fashion of the Times, and faid many Things, which we have forgot, on the Occafion; but we remember they all tended to the Praise of Fire

Fireblood, whofe Modefty, at length, put a Stop to the Torrent of Compliments, by afferting he had done no more than his Duty, and that he should have detefted himself, could he have forfaken his Friend in his Adverfity, and after many Proteftations, that he came the Moment he heard of his Misfortune, he afked him if he could be of any Service. Wild answered, fince he had so kindly propofed that Question, he muft fay he should be obliged to him, if he could lend him a few Guineas; for that he was very feedy. Fireblood replied, that he was greatly unhappy in not having it then in his Power, adding many hearty Oaths, that he had not a Farthing of Money in his Pocket, which was, indeed, ftrictly true; for he had only a Bank-Note which he had that Evening purloined from a Gentleman in the Playhoufe-Paffage. He then asked for his Wife, to whom, to fpeak truly, the Vifit was intended, her Confinement being the Misfortune of which he had just heard; for, as for that of Mr. Wild himself, he had known it from the firft, without ever intending to trouble him with his Company. Being informed therefore of the Visit which

had

had lately happened, he reproved Wild for his cruel Treatment of that good Creature; then taking as fudden Leave as he civilly could of the Gentleman, he haftned to comfort his Lady, who received him with great Kindness.

CHA P. III.

Curious Anecdotes relating to the Hiftory of Newgate.

TH

HERE refided in the Caftle at the fame Time with Mr. Wild, one Ro ger Johnson, a very GREAT MAN, who had long been at the Head of all the Prigs, and had raised Contributions on them. He examined into the Nature of their Defence, procured and inftructed their Evidence, and made himself, at leaft in their Opinions, fo neceffary to them, that the whole Fate of Newgate feemed entirely to depend upon him.

WILD had not been long under Confinement, before he began to oppofe this Man.

He

He reprefented him to the Prigs as a Fellow, who under the plaufible Pretence of affifting their Caufes, was in Reality undermining the Liberties of Newgate. Heat first only threw out certain fly Hints and Infinuations; but having by Degrees formed a Party against Roger, he one Day affembled them together, and fpoke to them in the following florid Manner.

Friends and Fellow-Citizens.

"The Caufe which I am to mention to you this Day, is of fuch mighty Im"portance, that when I confider my own "fmall Abilities, I tremble with an Ap

prehenfion, left your Safety may be ren"dered precarious by the Weakness of him "who is representing to you your Danger. "Gentlemen, the Liberty of Newgate is at "Stake Your Privileges have been long "undermined, and are now openly viola"ted by one Man; by one who hath en"groffed to himself the whole Conduct of "your Trials, under Colour of which, he "exacts what Contributions on you he "pleases: But are thefe Sums appropriated to the Ufes for which they are rai

" fed?

fed? Your frequent Convictions: at the

Old Baily must too fenfibly and forely « demonstrate the contrary. What Evi"dence doth he ever produce for the Pri

foner, which he of himfelf could not "have provided, and often better inftru&tsed? How many noble Youths have there been loft, when a fingle Alibi would "have faved them! Should I be filent,

nay, could your own Injuries want a "Tongue to remonftrate, the very Breath, "which by his Neglect hath been stopped " at the Cheat, would cry out loudly a• gainst him. Nor is the Exorbitancy of his "Plunders vifible only in the dreadful Con

fequences it hath produced to the Prigs,

nor glares it only in the Miseries brought "on them: It blazes forth in the more de"firable Effects it hath wrought for him

felf, in the rich Perquifites acquired by "it: Witness that Silk Night-Gown, that "Robe of Shame, which to his eternal Dif"honour he publickly wears; that Gown,

which I will not fcruple to call the Winding-Sheet of the Liberties of Newgate. Is there a Prig who hath the Intereft and Honour of Newgate fo little at

"Heart