this we are not certain. He was some pains requisite to acquire a competent sufyears afterwards baptized by the famous Mr. Titus Oates.

Nothing very remarkable passed in his years of infancy, save, that as the letters are the most difficult of pronunciation, and the last which a child attains to the utterance of, so they were the first that came with any readiness from young master Wild. Nor must we omit the early indications which he gave of the sweetness of his temper; for though he was by no means to be terrified into compliance, yet might he by a sugarplum be brought to your purpose: indeed, to say the truth, he was to be bribed to any thing, which made many say, he was certainly born to be a Great Man.

He was scarce settled at school before he gave marks of his lofty and aspiring temper; and was regarded by all his schoolfellows with that deference which men generally pay to those superior geniuses who will exact it of them. If an orchard was to be robbed, Wild was consulted, and though he was himself seldom concerned in the execution of the design, yet was he always concerter of it, and treasurer of the booty; some little part of which he would now and then, with wonderful generosity, bestow on those who took it. He was generally very secret on these occasions; but if any offered to plunder of his own head, without acquainting master Wild, and making a deposit of the booty, he was sure to have an information against him lodged with the schoolmaster, and to be severely punished for his pains.

ficiency in the learned languages, yet did he readily listen with attention to others, especially when they translated the classical authors to him; nor was he in the least backward, at all such times, to express his approbation. He was wonderfully pleased with that passage in the eleventh Iliad, where Achilles is said to have bound two sons of Priam upon a mountain, and afterwards to have released them for a sum of money. This was, he said, alone sufficient to refute those who affected a contempt for the wisdom of the ancients, and an undeniable testimony of the great antiquity of Priggism.* He was ravished with the account which Nestor gives, in the same book, of the rich booty which he bore off (i. e. stole) from the Eleans. He was desirous of having this often repeated to him; and, at the end of every repetition, he constantly fetched a deep sigh, and said, It was a glorious booty.

When the story of Cacus was read to him, out of the eighth Eneid, he generously pitied the unhappy fate of that great man, to whom he thought Hercules much too severe; one of his schoolfellows commending the dexterity of drawing the oxen backward by their tails into his den, he smiled, and with some disdain said, he could have taught him a better way.

He was a passionate admirer of heroes, particularly of Alexander the Great, between whom and the late king of Sweden he would frequently draw parallels. He was much delighted with the accounts of the Czar's retreat from the latter, who carried off the inhabitants of great cities, to people his own country. This, he said, was not once thought of by Alexander; but added, perhaps he did not want them.

Happy had it been for him, if he had confined himself to this sphere; but his chief, if not only blemish, was, that he would sometimes, from a humility in his nature, too pernicious to true greatness, condescend to an intimacy with inferior things and persons. Thus, the Spanish Rogue was his favourite book, and the Cheats of Scapin his favourite play.

He discovered so little attention to school learning, that his master, who was a very wise and worthy man, soon gave over all care and trouble on that account, and acquainting his parents that their son proceeded extremely well in his studies, he permitted his pupil to follow his own inclinations; perceiving they led him to nobler pursuits than the sciences; which are generally acknowledged to be a very unprofitable study, and indeed greatly to hinder the advancement of men in the world; but though master Wild was not esteemed the readiest at making his exercise, he was uni- The young gentleman being now at the versally allowed to be the most dexterous at age of seventeen, his father, from a foolish stealing it of all his schoolfellows: being prejudice to our universities, and out of a never detected in such furtive compositions, false as well as excessive regard to his nor indeed in any other exercitations of his morals, brought his son to town, where he great talents, which all inclined the same resided with him till he was of an age to way, but once when he had laid violent travel. Whilst he was here, all imaginable hands on a book called Gradus ad Parnas-care was taken of his instruction, his father sum, i. e. A step towards Parnassus on endeavouring his utmost to inculcate prinwhich account his master, who was a man ciples of honour and gentility into his son. of most wonderful wit and sagacity, is said told him, he wished it might not prove in the event Gradus ad Patibulum, i. e. A step towards the gallows.

to

But though he would not give himself the

* This word, in the cant language, signifies thievery.

CHAPTER IV. Mr. Wild's first entrance into the world. His acquaintance with Count La Ruse.

attain by any other way so effectually, as by engaging with him at cards, in which contentions, as will appear hereafter, the count was greatly skilful.

AN accident happened soon after his ar- As whist and swabbers was the game rival in town, which almost saved the father then in the chief vogue, they were obliged his whole labour on this head, and provided to look for a fourth person, in order to make Master Wild a better tutor than any after- up their parties. Mr. Snap himself would care or expense could have furnished him sometimes relax his mind, from the violent with. The old gentleman, it seems, was a fatigues of his employment, by these recreFOLLOWER of the fortunes of Mr. Snap, son ations; and sometimes a neighbouring genof Mr. Geoffry Snap, whom we have before tleman, or lady, came in to their assistance: mentioned to have enjoyed a reputable but the most frequent guest was young office under the sheriff of London and Mid- Master Wild, who had been educated from dlesex, and the daughter of which Geoffry his infancy with the Miss Snaps, and was, had intermarried with the Wilds. Mr. by all the neighbours, allotted for the husSnap the younger, being thereto well war-band of Miss Tishy, or Letitia, the younger ranted, had laid violent hands on, or, as the vulgar express it, arrested one Count La Ruse, a man of considerable figure in those days, and confined him to his own house, till he could find two seconds, who would, in a formal manner, give their words that the count should, to a certain day and place appointed, answer all that one Thomas Thimble, a tailor, had to say to him; which Thomas Thimble, it seems, alleged that the count had, according to the law of the realm, made over his body to him, as a security for some suits of clothes, to him delivered by the said Thomas Thimble.

Now, as the count, though perfectly a man of honour, could not immediately find these seconds, he was obliged for some time to reside at Mr. Snap's house; for it seems the law of the land is, that whoever owes another 10. or indeed 2. may be, on the oath of that person, immediately taken up and carried away from his own house and family, and kept abroad till he is made to owe 50l. whether he will or no; for which he is perhaps, afterwards obliged to lie in jail; and all these without any trial had, or any other evidence of the debt than the abovesaid oath, which if untrue, as it often happens, you have no remedy against the perjurer; he was, forsooth, mistaken.

But though Mr. Snap would not, (as perhaps by the nice rules of honour he was obliged,) discharge the count on his parole; yet did he not, (as by the strict rules of law he was enabled,) confine him to his chamber. The count had his liberty of the whole house, and Mr. Snap using only the precaution of keeping his doors well locked and barred, took his prisoner's word that he would not go forth.

of the two; for though, being his cousin-german, she was perhaps, in the eye of a strict conscience, somewhat too nearly related to him, yet the old people on both sides, though sufficiently scrupulous in nice matters, agreed to overlook this objection.

Men of great genius as easily discover one another, as free-masons can. It was therefore no wonder that the count soon conceived an inclination to an intimacy with our young hero, whose vast abilities could not be concealed from one of the count's discernment: for though this latter was so expert at his cards, that he was proverbially said to play the whole game, he was no match for Master Wild, who, inexperienced as he was, notwithstanding all the art, the dexterity, and often the fortune of his adversary, never failed to send him away from the table with less in his pocket than he brought to it, for indeed Langfanger himself could not have extracted a purse with more ingenuity than our young hero.

His hands made frequent visits to the count's pocket, before the latter had entertained any suspicion of him, imputing the several losses he sustained, rather to the innocent and sprightly frolic of Miss Doshy, or Theodosia, with which, as she indulged him with little innocent freedoms about her person in return, he thought himself obliged to be contented; but one night, when Wild imagined the count asleep, he made so unguarded an attack upon him, that the other caught him in the fact: however, he did not think proper to acquaint him with the discovery he had made; but, preventing him from any booty at that time, he only took care for the future to button his pockets, and to pack the cards with double industry.

Mr. Snap had by his second lady two So far was this detection from causing any daughters, who were now in the bloom of quarrel between these two prigs, [thieves,] their youth and beauty. These young that in reality it recommended them to each ladies, like damsels in romance, compas- other: for a wise man, that is to say a sionated the captive count, and endea- rogue, considers a trick in life, as a gamevoured by all means to make his confine-ster doth a trick at play. It sets him on his ment less irksome to him; which, though guard; but he admires the dexterity of him they were both very beautiful, they could not who plays it. These, therefore, and many

other such instances of ingenuity, operated offering to introduce me among my supeso violently on the count, that notwith- riors. I must own, my father hath often standing the disparity which age, title, and persuaded me to push myself into the comabove all, dress, had set between them, he pany of my betters; but, to say the truth, resolved to enter into an acquaintance with I have an awkward pride in my nature, Wild. This soon produced a perfect inti- which is better pleased with being at the macy, and that a friendship, which had a head of the lowest class, than at the bottom longer duration than is common to that pas- of the highest. Permit me to say, though sion between persons who only propose to the idea may be somewhat coarse, I had themselves the common advantages of cat- rather stand on the summit of a dunghii, ing, drinking, whoring, or borrowing mo- than at the bottom of a hill in Paradise; I ney; which ends, if they soon fail, so doth have always thought it signifies little into the friendship founded upon them. Mutual what rank of life I am thrown, provided I interest, the greatest of all purposes, was make a great figure therein; and should be the cement of this alliance, which nothing as well satisfied with exerting my talents of consequence, but superior interest, was well at the head of a small party or gang, capable of dissolving. as in the command of a mighty army: for I am far from agreeing with you, that great parts are often lost in a low situation; on the contrary, I am convinced it is impossible they should be lost. I have often persuaded myself that there were not fewer than a thousand in Alexander's troops, capable of performing what Alexander himself did.

CHAPTER V.

A dialogue between young Master Wild and Count La Ruse, which, having extended to the rejoinder, had a very quiet, easy, and natural conclusion. ONE evening, after the Miss Snaps were retired to rest, the count thus addressed himself to young Wild: You cannot, I apprehend, Mr. Wild, be such a stranger to your own great capacity, as to be surprised when I tell you I have often viewed, with a mixture of astonishment and concern, your shining qualities confined to a sphere where they can never reach the eyes of those who would introduce them properly into the world, and raise you to an eminence, where you may blaze out to the admiration of all men. I assure you I am pleased with my captivity, when I reflect I am likely to owe to it an acquaintance, and I hope friendship, with the greatest genius of my age; and, what is still more, when I indulge my vanity with a prospect of drawing from obscurity, (pardon the expression,) such talents as were, I believe, never before like to have been buried in it; for I make no question, but, at my discharge from confinement, which will now soon happen, I shall be able to introduce you into company, where you may reap the advantage of your superior parts.

'I will bring you acquainted, sir, with those, who as they are capable of setting a true value on such qualifications, so they will have it both in their power and inclination to prefer you for them. Such an introduction is the only advantage you want, without which your merit might be your misfortune; for those abilities which would entitle you to honour and profit in a superior station, may render you only obnoxious to danger and disgrace in a lower.'

Mr. Wild answered: Sir, I am not insensible of my obligations to you, as well for the overvalue you have set on my small abilities, as for the kindness you express in

'But because such spirits were not elected or destined to an imperial command, are we therefore to imagine they came off without a booty? Or that they contented themselves with the share in common with their comrades? Surely, no. In civil life, doubtless, the same genius, the same endowments, have often composed the statesman and the prig: for so we call what the vulgar name a thief. The same parts, the same actions, often promote men to the head of superior societies, which raise them to the head of lower; and where is the essential difference, if the one ends on Tower-hill, or the other at Tyburn? Hath the block any preference to the gallows, or the axe to the halter, but that given them by the ill-guided judgment of men? You will pardon me, therefore, if I am not so hastily inflamed with the common outside of things, nor join the general opinion in preferring one state to another. A guinea is as valuable in a leathern as in an embroidered purse; and a cod's head is a cod's head still, whether in a pewter or a silver dish.'

The count replied as follows: What you have now said doth not lessen my idea of your capacity; but confirms my opinion of the ill effects of bad and low company. Can any man doubt whether it is better to be a great statesman, or a common thief? I have often heard that the devil used to say, where, or to whom, I know not, that it was better to reign in hell, than to be a valet-dechambre in Heaven, and perhaps he was in the right; but surely if he had had the choice of reigning in either, he would have chosen better. The truth therefore is, that by low conversation we contract a greater awe for high things than they deserve.. We decline

A

great pursuits not from contempt, but de- | millken,* a bridle-cull, or a buttock and spair. The man who prefers the high road file,‡ to arrive at any degree of eminence in to a more reputable way of making his for- his profession, would likewise raise a man tune, doth it because he imagines the one in what the world esteem a more honouraeasier than the other; but you yourself have ble calling, I do not deny; nay, in many of asserted, and with undoubted truth, that the your instances it is evident, that more ingesame abilities qualify you for undertaking, nuity, more art is necessary to the lower, and the same nieans will bring you to your than the higher proficients. If therefore end in both journeys; as in music, it is the you had only contended, that every prig same tune, whether you play it in a higher might be a statesman if he pleased, I had or a lower key. To instance in some parti- readily agreed to it; but when you conculars: is it not the same qualifications clude, that it is his interest to be so, that which enables this man to hire himself as a ambition would bid him take that alternaservant, and to get into the confidence and tive, in a word, that a statesman is greater secrets of his master, in order to rob him, or happier than a prig, I must deny my and that to undertake trusts of the highest assent. But, in comparing these two tonature, with a design to break and betray gether, we must carefully avoid being misthem? Is it less difficult by false tokens to led by the vulgar erroneous estimation of deceive a shop-keeper into the delivery of things: for mankind err in disquisitions of his goods, which you afterwards run away this nature, as physicians do, who, in conwith, than to impose upon him by outward sidering the operations of a disease, have splendour, and the appearance of fortune, not a due regard to the age and complexion into a credit by which you gain, and he loses of the patient. The same degree of heat, twenty times as much? doth it not require which is common in this constitution, may more dexterity in the fingers to draw out a be a fever in that; in the same manner, that man's purse from his pocket, or to take a which may be riches or honour to me, may lady's watch from her side, without being be poverty or disgrace to another: for all perceived of any, (an excellence in which, those things are to be estimated by relation without flattery, I am persuaded you have to the person who possesses them. no superior,) than to cog a die, or to shuffle booty of 10l. looks as great in the eye of a a pack of cards? Is not as much art, as bridle-cull, and gives as much real happiness many excellent qualities, required to make to his fancy, as that of as many thousands a pimping porter at a common bawdy- to the statesman; and doth not the former house, as would enable a man to prostitute lay out his acquisitions, in whores and his own or his friend's wife or child? Doth fiddles, with much greater joy and mirth, it not ask as good a memory, as nimble an than the latter in palaces and pictures? invention, as steady a countenance, to for- What are the flattery, the false compliswear yourself in Westminster Hall, as ments of his gang, to the statesman, when would furnish out a complete fool in state, he himself must condem his own blunders, or perhaps a statesman himself? It is need- and is obliged against his will to give fortune less to particularize every instance; in all the whole honour of his success: what is we shall find, that there is a nearer connex- the pride, resulting from such sham apion between high and low life than is gene-plause, compared to the secret satisfaction rally imagined, and that a highwayman is which a prig enjoys in his mind in reflecting entitled to more favour with the great than on a well contrived and well executed he usually meets with. If, therefore, as I scheme? Perhaps indeed the greater danthink I have proved, the same parts which ger is on the prig's side; but then you must qualify a man for eminence in a low sphere, remember, that the greater honour is so too. qualify him likewise for eminence in a higher, When I mention honour, I mean that which sure it can be no doubt in which he would is paid them by their gang; for that weak choose to exert them. Ambition, without part of the world, which is vulgarly called which no one can be a great man, will im- THE WISE, see both in a disadvantageous mediately instruct him, in your own phrase, and disgraceful light: And as the prig ento prefer a hill in Paradise to a dunghill; joys (and merits too) the greater degree of nay, even fear, a passion the most repug-honour from his gang, so doth he suffer the nant to greatness, will show him how much more safely he may indulge himself in the full and free exertion of his mighty abilities in the higher, than in the lower rank: since experience teaches him, that there is a crowd oftener in one year at Tyburn, than on Tower-hill in a century.'

Mr. Wild with much solemnity rejoined, That the same capacity which qualifies a

less disgrace from the world, who think his misdeeds, as they call them, sufficiently at last punished with a halter, which at once puts an end to his pain and infamy; whereas the other is not only hated in power, but detested and contemned at the scaffold ;

and future ages vent their malice on his fit. Wild told him, bribery was the surest fame, while the other sleeps quiet and for-means; and advised him to apply to the gotten. Besides, let us a little consider the maid. The count thanked him, but resecret quiet of their consciences; how easy turned, "That he had not a farthing left is the reflection of having taken a few shil- besides one guinea, which he had then given lings or pounds from a stranger, without her to change. To which Wild said, He any breach of confidence, or perhaps any must make it up with promises, which he great harm to the person who loses it, supposed he was courtier enough to know compared to that of having betrayed a pub- how to put off.' The count greatly aplic trust, and ruined the fortunes of thou-plauded the advice, and said, he hoped he sands, perhaps of a great nation? How much should be able in time to persuade him to braver is an attack on the highway, than at condescend to be a great man, for which he the gaming-table; and how much more in-was so perfectly well qualified. nocent the character of a b-dy-house than a court pimp?' He was eagerly proceeding when, casting his eyes on the count, he perceived him to be fast asleep; wherefore having first picked his pocket of three shillings, then gently jogged him in order to take his leave, and promised to return to him the next morning to breakfast, they separated; the count retired to rest, and Master Wild to a night-cellar.

CHAPTER VI.

This method being concluded on, the two friends sat down to cards, a circumstance which I should not have mentioned, but for the sake of observing the prodigious force of habit; for though the count knew, if he won ever so much of Mr. Wild, he should not receive a shilling, yet could he not refrain from packing the eards; nor could Wild keep his hands out of his friend's pockets, though he knew there was nothing in them.

When the maid came home, the count began to put it to her; offered her all he had, and promised mountains in futuro; but all in vain; the maid's honesty was impregnable. She said, 'She would not break her trust for the whole world; no, not if she could gain a hundred pound by it.' Upon which Wild stepping up, and telling her:

Further conferences between the count and Master Wild, with other matters of the great kind. THE Count missed his money the next morning, and very well knew who had it; but, as he knew likewise how fruitless wouldShe need not fear losing her place, for it be any complaint, he chose to pass it by without mentioning it. Indeed it may appear strange to some readers, that these gentlemen, who knew each other to be thieves, should never once give the least hint of this knowledge in all their discourse together; but on the contrary, should have the words honesty, honour, and friendship, as often in their mouths as any other men. This, I say, may appear strange to some; but those who have lived long in cities, courts, jails, or such places, will perhaps be able to solve the seeming absurdity.

would never be found out; that they could throw a pair of sheets into the street, by which it might appear he got out at a window; that he himself would swear he saw him descending; that the money would be so much gains in her pocket; that, besides his promises, which she might depend on being performed, she would receive from him twenty shillings and ninepence in ready money, (for she had only laid out threepence in plain Spanish,) and lastly, that, besides his honour, the count should leave a pair of gold buttons (which afterwards turned out to be brass) of great value in her hands, as a further pawn.'

This reinforcement bore down the poor girl's resolution, and she faithfully promised to open the door to the count that evening.

When our two friends met the next morning, the count, (who, though he did not agree with the whole of his friend's doctrine, was, The maid still remained inflexible, till however, highly pleased with his argument,) Wild offered to lend his friend a guinea more, began to bewail the misfortune of his capti-and to deposit it immediately in her hands. vity, and the backwardness of friends to assist each other in their necessities; but what vexed him, he said, most, was the cruelty of the fair; for he intrusted Wild with the secret of his having had an intrigue with Miss Theodosia, the elder of the Miss Snaps, ever since his confinement, though he could not prevail with her to set him at liberty. Wild answered, with a smile: 'It was no wonder a woman should wish to confine her lover where she might be sure of having But it would be highly derogatory from him entirely to herself; but added, he be- the GREAT character of Wild, should the lieved he could tell him a method of cer-reader imagine he lent such a sum to his tainly procuring his escape.' The count friend without the least view of serving himeagerly besought him to acquaint him with self. As, therefore, the reader may easily

Thus did our young hero not only lend his rhetoric, which few people care to do without a fee, but his money too, a sum which many a good man would have made fifty excuses before he would have parted with, to his friend, and procured him his liberty.