and therefore, our hero fet out on shops, a furgery, a tap-houfe well his jail expedition, accompanied by frequented, and a public kitchen in Mr. Clarke, who had contracted fome which provifions are dreffed for all acquaintance with the commanding the prifoners gratis, at the expence officers in these garrisons, in the of the publican. Here the voice of course of his clerkship, and practice mifery never complains, and, indeed, as an attorney. The first day they little elfe is to be heard but the spent in profecuting their inquiry founds of mirth and jollity. At the through the Gate-houfe, Fleet, and farther end of the street, on the Marshalfea; the next they allotted right hand, is a little paved court to the King's-bench, where they leading to a feparate building, conunderstood there was a great varie, fifting of twelve large apartments, ty of prisoners. There they propofed called state-rooms, well furnished, to make a minute fcrutiny, by the and fitted up for the reception of help of Mr. Norton the deputy-mar- the better fort of crown-prifoners; fhal, who was Mr. Clarke's intimate and on the other fide of the street, friend, and had nothing at all of facing a feparate divifion of ground, the jailor either in his appearance called the common fide, is a range or in his difpofition, which was of rooms occupied by prifoners of remarkably humane and bene- the lowest order, who fhare the provolent towards all his fellow-fits of a begging-box, and are main creatures, The knight having bespoke dinner at a tavern in the Borough, was, together with captain Crowe, conduct ed to the prison of the King's-bench, which is fituated in St. George'sfields, about a mile from the end of Weftininfter-bridge, and appears like a neat little regular town, confifting of one street, furrounded by a very high wall, including an open piece of ground which may be termed a garden, where the prisoners take the air, and amuse themselves with a variety of diverfions. Except the entrance, where the turnkeys keep watch and ward, there is nothing in the place that looks like a jail, or bears the least colour of reftraint. The street is crowded with paffengers. Tradefmen of all kinds here exercise their different profeffions. Hawkers of all forts are admitted to call and vend their wares as in any open ftreet of London. Here are butchers-ftands, chandlers tained by this practice, and fome established funds of charity. We ought alfo to obferve, that the jail is provided with a neat chapel, in which a clergyman, in confideration of a certain falary, performs divine fervice every Sunday. Our adventurer having fearched the books, and perufed the defcription of all the female prifoners who had been for fome weeks admitted into the jail, obtained not the leaft intelligence of his concealed charmer, but refolving to alleviate his disappointment by the gratification of his curiofity. Under the aufpices of Mr. Norton, he made a tour of the prifon, and in particular vifited the kitchen, where he faw a number of fpits loaded with a variety of provifion, confifting of butcher's meat, poultry, and game: he could not help expreffing his aftonifament with up-lifted hands, and congratulating himself in fecret, upon his being a member 358 The Life and Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves. British tween the two chiefs, who read ly agreed to the propofal. The match was accordingly made for five guineas, and this very day and hour appointed for the trial, on which confiderable fums of money are depending. As for Mr. Norton, it is not proper that he should be prefent, or feem to countenance fuch violent proceedings, which, however, it is neceffary to connive at, as convenient vents for the evaporation of thofe humours, which being confined, might accumulate and break out with greater fury, in confpiracy and rebellion." member of that community which had provided fuch a comfortable afylum for the unfortunate. His ejaculation was interrupted by a tumultuous noife in the street; and Mr. Norton declaring he was fent for to the lodge, configned our hero to the care of one Mr. Felton, a prisoner of a very decent appearance, who paid his compliments with a good grace, and invited the compawy to repofe themfelves in his apartment, which was large, commodious, and well furnished. When Sir Launcelot asked the cause of that uproar, he told him that it was the prelude to a boxing match between two of the prifoners, to be decided in the ground, or garden of the place. Capt. Crowe expreffing an eager curiofity to fee the battle, Mr. Felton affured him there would be no fport, as the combatants were both reckoned dunghills: "But, in half an hour (faid he) there will be a batt'e of fome confequence between two of the demagogues of the place, Dr. Crabclaw and Mr. Tapley, the firft a phyfician, and the other a brewer. You must know, Gentlemen, that this microcofm or republic in miniafure, is like the great world, fplit into factions. Crabclaw is the leader of one party; andthe other is headed by Tapley both are men of warm and impetuous tempers; and their intrigues have embroiled the whole place, infomuch that it was dang: rous to walk the street, on account of the continural fkirmishes of their partizans. At length, fome of the more fedate inhabitants having met and deliberated upon fome remedy for thefe growing diforders, propofed that the difpute should be at ence decided by fingle combat be ཝཱ The knight owned he could not conceive by what means fuch a number of licentious people, amounting, with their dependants, to above five hundred, were reftrained within the bounds of any tolerable difcipline, or prevented from making their escape ; which they might at any time accomplish, either by ftealth or open violence, as it could not be fuppofed that one or two turnkeys, continually employed in opening and shutting the door, could refift the efforts of a whole multitude. "Your wonder, good Sir, (faid Mr. Felton) will vanish, when you confider it is hardly poffible that the multitude should co-operate in the execution of fuch a scheme; and that the keeper perfetly well understands the maxi.n divide et impera. Many prifoners are restrained by the dictates of gratitude towards the deputy-marshal, whofe friendship and good offices they have experienced: fome, no doubt, are actuated by motives of difcretion. One party is an effectual check upon the other; and [ am firmly perfuaded that there are not ten prifoners within the place that that would make their efcape, if the doors were laid open. This is a step which no man would take, unless his fortune was altogether defperate; because it would oblige him to leave his country for life, and ex. pofe him to the most imminent rifque of being retaken and treated with the utmost severity. The majority of the prifoners live in the most lively hope of being released by the afliftance of their friends, the compaffion of their creditors, or the favour of the legislature. Some who are cut off from all thefe propofals, are become naturalized to the place, knowing they cannot fubfift in any other fituation. I, myself, am one of these. After having refigned all my effects for the benefit of my creditors, I have been detained these nine years in prison, because one perfon refuses to fign my certificate. I have long outlived all my friends from whom I could expect the least countenance or favour: I am grown old in confinement; and lay my account with ending my days in jail, as the mercy of the legislature in favour of infolvent debtors, is never extended to uncertified bankrupts taken in execution. By dint of industry, and the most rigid oeconomy, I make fhift to live independant in this re treat. To this fcene my faculty of fubfifting, as well as my body, is peculiarly confined. Had I an opportunity to escape, where fhould I go? All my views of fortune have been long blasted. I have no friends nor connexions in the world. I muft, therefore, starve in fome fequeftred corner, or be recaptivated and confined for ever to clofe prifon, deprived of the indulgences which I now enjoy." Here the converfation broke off which was by was another uproar, the fignal to battle between the doctor and his antagonift. The company immediately adjourned to the field, where the combatants were already undreffed and the stakes depofited. The doctor femed of the middle age and middle ftature, active and alert, with an atrabiliarious aspect, and a mixture of rage and disdain expressed in his countenance. The brewer was large, raw-boned, and round as a but of beer, but very fat, unwieldy, shortwinded and phegmatic. Our adventurer was not a little surprised when he beheld in the character of seconds, a male and a female, stripped naked from the waift upwards, the latter ranging on the fide of the phyfician: but the commencement of the battle prevented his demanding of his guide an explanation of this phoenomenon. The doctor, retiring fome paces backwards, threw himself into the attitude of a battering ram, and rushed upon his antagonist with great impetuoficy, forefeeing that should he have the good fortune to over-turn him in the first affault, it would not be an eafy talk to raise him up again and put him in a capacity of offence. But the momentuin of Crabclaws's head, and the concomitant efforts of his knuckles, had no effect upon the ribs of Tapley, who stood firm as the Acroceraunian promontory: and stepping forward with his projected fift, fomething fmaller and fofter than a fledge-hammer, ftruck the physician to the ground. In a trice, however, by the affiftance of his fe male fecond, he was. on his legs again, and grappling with his antagonist, endeavoured to tip him a fall; fall; but, instead of accomplishing his purpose, he received a cross-but fock, and the brewer throwing him felf upon him as he fell, had wellnigh fmothered him on the fpot. The amazon flew to his affiftance, and Tapley fhewing no înclination to get up, the fmote him on the temple 'till he roared. The male fecond haftening to the relief of his principal, made application to the eyes of the female, which were im mediately furrounded with black circles; and the returned the falute with a blow which brought a double ftream of blood from his noftrils, greeting him at the fame time with the opprobrious appellation of a lou fon of a bh. A combat more furious than the first would now have enfued, had not Felton interpofed with an air of authority, and infifted on the man's leaving the field; an injunction which he forthwith obeyed, faying, "Well, damme, Felton, you're my friend and commander: I'll obey your order-but the bh' will be foul of me before we fleep." Then Felton, advancing to his opponent, "Madam, (faid he) Pm very forry to see a lady of your rank and qualifications expose yourself in this manner. For God's fake, behave with a little more decorum; if not for the fake of your own family, at leaft for the credit of your fex in general." "Hark ye, Felton, (faid the) de corum is founded upon a delicacy of fentiment and deportment, which cannot confift with the difgraces of a jail, and the miferies of indigence.But I fee the difpute is now terminated, and the money is to be drank if you'll dine with us you shall be be welcome; if not, you may die in your sobriety, and be damned." By this time the doctor had given out, and allowed the brewer to be the better man; he would not honour the festival yet with his prefence, but retired to his chamber, exceedingly mortified at his defeat. Our hero was reconducted to Mr. Felton's apartment, where he fat fome time without opening his mouth, fo astonished he was at what he had feen and heard. "I perceive, Sir, (faid the prifoner) you are furprifed at the manner in which I accofted that unhappy woman; and perhaps you will be more furprised when you hear, that within these eighteen months, fhe was actually a person of fashion, and her opponent (whe by the bye) is her husband, univers fally refpected as a man of honour, and a brave officer." "I am, indeed, (cried our hero) overwhelmed with amazement and concern' as well as ftimulated by an eager cu riofity to know the fatal caufes which have produced fuch a deplorable reverfe of character and fortune. But, I will rein my curiofity till the afternoon, if you will favour me with your company at a tavern in the neighbourhood, where I have bespoke dinner; a favour which I hope Mr. Norton will have no objection to your granting, as he himself is to be of the party." The prifoner thanked him for his kind invitation, and they adjourned immediately to the place, taking up the deputy-marshal in their paffage through the lodge or entrance of the prifon. 424 [ To be continued.J |