CHAPTER IV.

Mr. Robinson informed him, were father and daughter; that the latter was committed for stealing a loaf, in order to support the former, and the former for receiv

A well-dressed man then walked surlily by them, whom Mr. Robinson reported to have been committed on an indictment found against him for a most horrid perjury; but, says he, we expect him to be bailed today. Good Heaven! cries Booth, can such villains find bail, and is no person charitable

Disclosing further secrets of the prison-house. THE first persons whom they passed by were three men in fetters, who were enjoying it, knowing it to be stolen. ing themselves very merrily over a bottle of wine, and a pipe of tobacco. These, Mr. Robinson informed his friend, were three street robbers, and were all certain of being hanged the ensuing sessions. So inconsiderable an object, said he, is misery to light minds, when it is at any distance. A little farther they beheld a man pros-enough to bail that poor father and daughtrate on the ground, whose heavy groans and frantic actions, plainly indicated the highest disorder of mind. This person was, it seems, committed for a small felony; and his wife, who then lay-in, upon hearing the news, had thrown herself from a window two pair of stairs high, by which means he had, in all probability, lost both her and his child.

ter? O! Sir, answered Robinson, the offence of the daughter, being felony, is held not to be bailable in law; whereas perjury is a misdemeanor only; and therefore persons who are even indicted for it, are, nevertheless, capable of being bailed. Nay, of all perjuries, that of which this man is indicted, is the worst; for it was with an intention of taking away the life of an innoA very pretty girl then advanced towards cent person by form of law. As to perjuthem, whose beauty Mr. Booth could not ries in civil matters, they are not so very help admiring the moment he saw her; de-criminal. They are not, said Booth; and claring, at the same time, he thought she had great innocence in her countenance. Robinson said she was committed thither as an idle and disorderly person, and a common street-walker. As she passed by Mr. Booth she damned his eyes, and discharged a volley of words, every one of which was too indecent to be repeated.

They now beheld a little creature sitting by herself in a corner, and crying bitterly. This girl, Mr. Robinson said, was committed, because her father-in-law, who was in the grenadier-guards, had sworn that he was afraid of his life, or of some bodily harm which she would do him, and she could get no sureties for keeping the peace; for which reason, Justice Thrasher had committed her to prison.

yet even these are a most flagitious offence, and worthy the highest punishment. Surely they ought to be distinguished, answered Robinson, from the others: for what is taking away a little property from a man, compared to taking away his life, and his reputation, and ruining his family into the bargain? I hope there can be no comparison in the crimes, and I think there ought to be none in the punishment. However, at present, the punishment of all perjury is only pillory, and transportation for seven years; and as it is a traversable and bailable offence, methods are often found to escape any punishment at all.*

Booth expressed great astonishment at this, when his attention was suddenly diverted by the most miserable object that he A great noise now arose, occasioned by had yet seen. This was a wretch almost the prisoners all flocked to see a fellow whipt naked, and who bore in his countenance, for petty larceny, to which he was con-joined to an appearance of honesty, the demned by the court of quarter-sessions; marks of poverty, hunger, and disease. but this soon ended in the disappointment He had, moreover, a wooden leg, and two of the spectators; for the fellow, after being or three scars on his forehead. The case of stript, having advanced another sixpence, this poor man is, indeed, unhappy enough, was discharged untouched. said Robinson. He hath served his counThis was immediately followed by an-try, lost his limb, and received several other bustle; Blear-eyed Moll, and several wounds at the siege of Gibraltar. When of her companions, having got possession of he was discharged from the hospital abroad, a man who was committed for certain odi- he came over to get into that of Chelsea, ous unmanlike practices, not fit to be named, but could not immediately, as none of his were giving him various kinds of discipline, officers were then in England. In the mean and would probably have put an end to him, time, he was one day apprehended and comhad he not been rescued out of their hands mitted hither on suspicion of stealing three by authority.

When this bustle was a little allayed, Mr. Booth took notice of a young woman in rags sitting on the ground, and supporting the head of an old man in her lap who appeared to be giving up the ghost. These

By removing the indictment by certiorari into the King's Bench, the trial is so long postponed, and the often tired out, and some incapacitated from pursuing. costs are so highly increased, that prosecutors are Werbum sapienti.

herrings from a fishmonger. He was tried | well dressed, and did not in the least resemseveral months ago for this offence, and ble those females whom Mr. Booth had acquitted: indeed, his innocence manifestly hitherto seen. The constable had no sooner appeared at the trial: but he was brought back again for his fees, and here he hath lain ever since.

to whom he could, with any reasonable | therefore, no doubt concerning the person of hope, apply for his delivery. Grief for some the thief, he eagerly sought him out, and time banished the thoughts of food from his very bluntly charged him with the fact. mind; but, in the morning, nature began to The gambler, whom I think we should now grow uneasy, for want of her usual nourish- call the philosopher, received this charge ment: for he had not eat a morsel during without the least visible emotion either of the last forty hours. A penny loaf, which mind or muscle.-After a short pause of a is, it seems, the ordinary allowance to the few moments, he answered with great soprisoners in Bridewell, was now delivered lemnity, as follows: Young man, I am enhim; and, whilst he was eating this, a man tirely unconcerned at your groundless susbrought him a little packet, sealed up, in-picion. He that censures a stranger, as I forming him that it came by a messenger, am to you, without any cause, makes a worse who said it required no answer. compliment to himself than to the stranger. Mr. Booth now opened his packet, and, You know yourself, friend; you know not after unfolding several pieces of blank paper | me. It is true, indeed, you heard me acsuccessively, at last discovered a guinea, cused of being a cheat and a gamester; but wrapt with great care, in the innermost who is my accuser? look at my apparel, paper. He was vastly surprised at this friend; do thieves and gamesters wear sight, as he had few, if any friends, from such clothes as these? play is my folly, not whom he could expect such a favour, slight my vice; it is my impulse, and I have been as it was; and not one of his friends, as he a martyr to it. Would a gamester have was apprised, knew of his confinement. As asked another to play when he could have there was no direction to the packet, nor a lost eighteen pence and won nothing? howword of writing contained in it, he began to ever, if you are not satisfied, you may search suspect that it was delivered to the wrong my pockets; the outside of all but one will person; and, being one of the most untaint- serve your turn, and in that one, there is the ed honesty, he found out the man who gave eighteen pence I told you of.' He then turned it to him, and again examined him concern-up his clothes; and his pockets entirely reing the person who brought it, and the mes-sembled the pitchers of the Belides.

sage delivered with it. The man assured Booth was a little staggered at this deBooth that he had made no mistake, saying, fence. He said, the real value of the iron 'If your name is Booth, sir, I am positive box was too inconsiderable to mention ; you are the gentleman to whom the parcel but that he had a capricious value for it, for I gave you belongs.' the sake of the person who gave it him: The most scrupulous honesty would, per-for though it is not,' said he, worth sixhaps, in such a situation, have been well pence, I would willingly give a crown to any enough satisfied in finding no owner for the one who would bring it me again.' guinea; especially when proclamation had been made in the prison, that Mr. Booth had received a packet, without any direction, to which, if any person had any claim, and would discover the contents, he was ready to deliver it to such claimant. No such claimant being found, (I mean none who knew the contents; for many swore that they expected just such a packet, and believed it to be their property,) Mr. Booth very calmly resolved to apply the money to his own use.

Robinson answered, if that be the case, you have nothing more to do but to signify your intention in the prison; and I am well convinced you will not be long in regaining the possession of your snuff-box.'

This advice was immediately followed, and with success, the methodist presently producing the box; which, he said, he had found, and should have returned it before, had he known the person to whom it belonged; adding, with uplifted eyes, that the spirit would not suffer him knowingly to deThe first thing, after redemption of the tain the goods of another, however inconsicoat, which Mr. Booth, hungry as he was, derable the value was. 'Why so, friend?' thought of, was to supply himself with snuff, said Robinson. Have I not heard you which he had long, to his great sorrow, been often say, the wickeder any man was, the without. On this occasion, he presently better, provided he was what you call a bemissed that iron box, which the methodist liever.' You mistake me,' cries Cooper, had so dexterously conveyed out of his (for that was the name of the methodist ;) pocket, as we mentioned in the last chapter.no man can be wicked after he is possessed He no sooner missed this box, than he immediately suspected that the gambler was the person who had stolen it; nay, so well was he assured of this man's guilt, that it may, perhaps, be improper to say he barely suspected it. Though Mr. Booth was, as we have hinted, a man of a very sweet disposition, yet was he rather overwarm. Having

I

by the spirit. There is a wide difference between the days of sin, and the days of grace. I have been a sinner myself." believe thee,' cries Robinson, with a sneer. 'I care not,' answered the other, 'what an atheist believes. I suppose you would insinuate that I stole the snuff-box; but I value not your malice: the Lord knows my inno

cence.' He then walked off with the reward; and Booth, returning to Robinson, very earnestly asked pardon for his groundless suspicion: which the other, without any hesitation, accorded him, saying, You never accused me, sir: you suspected some gambler, with whose character I have no concern. I should be angry with a friend or acquaintance who should give a hasty credit to any allegation against me; but I have no reason to be offended with you for believing that the woman, and the rascal who is just gone, and who is committed here for a pickpocket, which you did not perhaps know, told you to my disadvantage. And if you thought me to be a gambler, you had just reason to suspect any ill of me; for I myself am confined here by the perjury of one of those villains: who, having cheated me of my money at play, and hearing that I intended to apply to a magistrate against him, himself began the attack, and obtained a warrant against me of Justice Thrasher, who, without hearing one speech in my defence, committed me to this place.'

Booth testified great compassion at this account; and he having invited Robinson to dinner, they spent that day together. In the afternoon, Booth indulged his friend with a game at cards; at first for halfpence, and afterwards for shillings, when fortune so favoured Robinson, that he did not leave the other a single shilling in his pocket.

This poor gentleman had very little time to reflect on his own misery, or the rascality, as it appeared to him, of the other, when the same person, who had the day before delivered him the guinea from the unknown hand, again accosted him, and told him a lady in the house, (so he expressed himself,) desired the favour of his company.

Mr. Booth immediately obeyed the message, and was conducted into a room in the prison, where he was presently convinced that Mrs. Vincent was no other than his old acquaintance Miss Matthews.

CHAPTER VI.

Containing the extraordinary behaviour of Miss

Matthews, on her meeting with Booth, and some endeavours to prove, by reason and authority, that it is possible for a woman to appear what she really is not.

EIGHT or nine years had passed, since any interview between Mr. Booth and Miss Matthews; and their meeting now in so extraordinary a place affected both of them with an equal surprise.

After some immaterial ceremonies, the lady acquainted Mr. Booth, that having heard there was a person in the prison who knew her by the name of Matthews, she had great curiosity to inquire who he was, whereupon he had been shown to her from the window of the house; that she immediately recollected him, and being informed of A surprising run of luk in a gamester, his distressful situation, for which she exis often mistaken for somewhat else, by pressed great concern, she had sent him persons who are not over-zealous believers that guinea which he had received the day in the divinity of fortune. I have known a before; and then proceeded to excuse herstranger at Bath, who hath happened for-self for not having desired to see him at tunately, (I might almost say unfortunately,) to have four by honours in his hand almost every time he dealt, for a whole evening, shunned universally by the whole company the next day. And certain it is, that Mr. Booth, though of a temper very little inclined to suspicion, began to waver in his opinion, whether the character given by Mr. Robinson of himself, or that which the others gave him, was the truer.

that time, when she was under the greatest disorder and hurry of spirits.

Booth made many handsome acknowledgments of her favour; and added, that he very little wondered at the disorder of her spirits, concluding, that he was heartily concerned at seeing her there; but I hope, madam, said he

Here he hesitated; upon which, bursting into an agony of tears, she cried out, "O captain! captain! many extraordinary things have past since last I saw you. O gracious Heaven! did I ever expect that this would be the next place of our meeting!'

In the morning, hunger paid him a second visit, and found him again in the same situation as before. After some deliberation, therefore, he resolved to ask Robinson to lend him a shilling or two of that money She then flung herself into her chair, which was lately his own. And this expe- where she gave a loose to her passion, riment, he thought, would confirm him either whilst he in the most affectionate and tenin a good or evil opinion of that gentleman. der manner, endeavoured to soothe and comTo this demand, Robinson answered, fort her; but passion itself did, probably, with great alacrity, that he should very more for its own relief, than all his friendly gladly have complied, had not Fortune consolations. Having vented this in a large played one of her jade tricks with him: for since my winnin, of you,' said he, 'I have been stripped no only of your money, but my own." He was going to harangue farther; but Booth, with great indignation, turned from him.

flood of tears, she became pretty well composed; but Booth unhappily mentioning her father, she again relapsed into an agony, and cried out, Why will you repeat the name of that dear man? I have disgraced him, Mr. Booth, I am unworthy the name of his

daughter.' -Here passion again stopped her | jured of women. You have heard, you say, words, and discharged itself in tears.

After this second vent of sorrow or shame; or, if the reader pleases, of rage; she once more recovered from her agonies. To say the truth, these are, I believe, as critical discharges of nature, as any of those which are so called by the physicians; and do more effectually relieve the mind, than any remedies with which the whole Materia Medica of philosophy can supply it.

of the murder; but do you know the cause, Mr. Booth? have you, since your return to England, visited that country where we formerly knew one another? tell me, do you know my wretched story? tell me that, my friend.'

Booth hesitated for an answer; indeed, he had heard some imperfect stories, not much to her advantage. She waited not till he had formed a speech; but cried, When Mrs. Vincent had recovered her Whatever you may have heard, you canfaculties, she perceived Booth standing not be acquainted with all the strange accisilent, with a mixture of concern and asto- dents which have occasioned your seeing nishment in his countenance: then address- me in a place which at our last parting was ing herself to him with an air of most be- so unlikely that I should ever have been witching softness, of which she was a per- found in; nor can you know the cause of all fect mistress, she said, 'I do not wonder at that I have uttered, and which, I am conyour amazement, Captain Booth; nor in- vinced, you never expected to have heard deed at the concern which you so plainly from my mouth. If these circumstances discover for me: for I well know the good-raise your curiosity, I will satisfy it.' ness of your nature; but, O, Mr. Booth! He answered, that curiosity was too mean believe me, when you know what hath hap- a word to express his ardent desire of knowpened since our last meeting, your concerning her story. Upon which, with very little will be raised, however your astonishment previous ceremony, she began to relate what may cease. O, sir! you are a stranger to is written in the following chapter. the cause of my sorrows."

'I hope I am, madam,' answered he, 'for I cannot believe what I have heard in the prison-surely murder'-at which words she started from her chair, repeating, murder! Oh! it is music in my ears!-You have heard then the cause of my commitment, my glory, my delight, my reparation: -Yes, my old friend; this is the hand, this is the arm that drove the penknife to his heart. Unkind fortune, that not one drop of his blood reached my hand.-Indeed, sir, I would never have washed it from it.-But though I have not the happiness to see it on my hand, I have the glorious satisfaction of remembering I saw it run in rivers on the floor; I saw it forsake his cheeks. I saw him fall a martyr to my revenge. And is the killing a villain to be called murder? perhaps the law calls it so.-Let it call it what it will, or punish me as it pleases.Punish me-no, no-that is not in the power of man-not of that monster man, Mr. Booth. I am undone, am revenged, and have now no more business for life; let them take it from me when they will.'

But before we put an end to this, it may be necessary to whisper a word or two to the critics, who have, perhaps, begun to express no less astonishment than Mr. Booth, that a lady, in whom we had remarked a most extraordinary power of displaying softness, should, the very next moment after the words were out of her mouth, express sentiments becoming the lips of a Dalila, Jezebel, Medea, Semiramis, Parysatis, Tanaquil, Livilla, Messalina, Agrippina, Brunichilde, Elfrida, Lady Macbeth, Joan of Naples, Christiana of Sweden, Katharine Hays, Sarah Malcolm, Con. Philips,* or any other heroine of the tender sex, which history, sacred or profane, ancient or modern, false or true, hath recorded.

We desire such critics to remember, that it is the same English climate in which, on the lovely 10th of June, under a serene sky, the amorous Jacobite, kissing the odoriferous zephyr's breath, gathers a nosegay of white roses to deck the whiter breast of Celia ; and in which, on the 11th of June, the very next day, the boisterous Boreas, roused by the hollow thunder, rushes horrible through the air, and, driving the wet tempest before him, levels the hope of the husbandman with the earth, dreadful remembrance of the consequences of the revolution.

Our poor gentleman turned pale with horror at this speech, and the ejaculation of Good Heavens what do I hear! burst spontaneously from his lips; nor can we wonder at this, though he was the bravest of men; Again, let it be remembered, that it is the for her voice, her looks, her gestures, were self-same Celia, all tender, soft, and deli- ̈ properly adapted to the sentiments she ex-cate; who, with a voice, the sweetness of pressed. Such indeed was her image, that neither could Shakspeare describe, nor Hogarth paint, nor Clive act a fury in higher perfection.

What do you hear?' reiterated she.You hear the resentment of the most in

which the Syrens might envy, warbles the harmonious song in praise of the young adventurer; and again, the next day, or perhaps, the next hour, with fiery eyes, wrin

*Though last, not least.