He is surprised with the Appearance of Hatchway and Pipes, who take up
their Habitation in his Neighbourhood, contrary to his Inclination and
express Desire.
Being now regularly initiated in the mysteries of the Fleet, and
reconciled in some measure to the customs of the place, he began to bear
the edge of reflection without wincing; and thinking it would be highly
imprudent in him to defer any longer the purposes by which only he
could enjoy any ease and satisfaction in his confinement, he resolved
to resume his task of translating, and every week compose an occasional
paper, by way of revenge upon the minister, against whom he had
denounced eternal war. With this view, he locked himself up in his
chamber, and went to work with great eagerness and application, when he
was interrupted by a ticket porter, who, putting a letter in his hand,
vanished in a moment, before he had time to peruse the contents.
Our hero, opening the billet, was not a little surprised to find a
bank-note for fifty pounds, enclosed in a blank sheet of paper; and,
having exercised his memory and penetration on the subject of this
unexpected windfall, had just concluded, that it could come from no
other hand than the lady who had so kindly visited him a few days
before, when his ears were suddenly invaded by the well-known sound of
that whistle which always hung about the neck of Pipes, as a memorial of
his former occupation. This tune being performed, he heard the noise
of a wooden leg ascending the stair; upon which he opened his door, and
beheld his friend Hatchway, with his old shipmate at his back.
After a cordial shake of the hand, with the usual salutation of, “What
cheer, cousin Pickle?” honest Jack seated himself without ceremony; and
casting his eyes around the apartment, “Split my top-staysail,” said he,
with an arch sneer, “you have got into a snug berth, cousin. Here you
may sit all weathers, without being turned out to take your watch, and
no fear of the ship's dragging her anchor. You han't much room to spare,
'tis true: an' I had known as how you stowed so close, Tom should have
slung my own hammock for you, and then you mought have knocked down this
great lubberly hurricane house. But, mayhap, you turn in double, and so
you don't choose to trust yourself and your doxy to a clue and canvas.”
Pickle bore his jokes with great good-humour, rallied him in his turn
about the dairy-maid at the garrison; inquiring about his friends in
the country, asked if he had been to visit his niece, and, finally,
expressed a desire of knowing the cause of his journey to London. The
lieutenant satisfied his curiosity in all these particulars; and, in
answer to the last question, observed that, from the information of
Pipes, understanding he was land-locked, he had come from the country in
order to tow him into the offing. “I know not how the wind sets,” said
he, “but if so be as three thousand pounds will bring you clear of the
cape, say the word, and you shan't lie wind-bound another glass for want
of the money.”
This was an offer which few people in our hero's situation would have
altogether refused, especially as he had all the reason in the world to
believe, that, far from being a vain unmeaning compliment, it was
the genuine tribute of friendship, which the lieutenant would have
willingly, ay, and with pleasure, paid. Nevertheless, Peregrine
peremptorily refused his assistance, though not without expressing
himself in terms of acknowledgment suitable to the occasion. He told
him, it would be time enough to make use of his generosity, when he
should find himself destitute of all other resource. Jack employed all
his rhetoric, with a view of persuading him to take this opportunity
to procure his own enlargement; and, finding his arguments ineffectual,
insisted upon his accepting an immediate supply for his necessary
occasions; swearing with great vehemence, that he would never return
to the garrison, unless he would put him upon the footing of any other
tenant, and receive his rent accordingly.
Our young gentleman as positively swore, that he never would consider
him in that light; remonstrating, that he had long ago settled the
house upon him for life, as a pledge of his own esteem, as well as in
conformity with the commodore's desire; and beseeching him to return
to his usual avocations, protested that, if ever his situation should
subject him to the necessity of borrowing from his friends, Mr. Hatchway
should be the first man to whom he would apply himself for succour.
To convince him that this was not the case at present, he produced the
bank-note which he had received in the letter, together with his
own ready money; and mentioned some other funds, which he invented
extempore, in order to amuse the lieutenant's concern. In the close
of this expostulation, he desired Pipes to conduct Mr. Hatchway to the
coffee-house, where he might amuse himself with the newspaper for half
an hour; during which he would put on his clothes, and bespeak something
for dinner, that they might enjoy each other's company as long as his
occasions would permit him to stay in that place.
The two sailors were no sooner gone, than he took up the pen, and wrote
the following letter, in which he enclosed the bank-note to his generous
benefactress:
Madam,--Your humanity is not more ingenious than my
suspicion. In vain you attempt to impose upon me by an
act of generosity, which no person on earth but your
ladyship is capable of committing. Though your name was
not subscribed on the paper, your sentiments were fully
displayed in the contents, which I must beg leave to
restore, with the same sense of gratitude, and for the
same reasons I expressed when last I had the honour to
converse with you upon this subject. Though I am deprived
of my liberty by the villainy and ingratitude of mankind,
I am not yet destitute of the other conveniences of life;
and therefore beg to be excused for incurring an unnecessary
addition to that load of obligation you have already laid
upon, madam, your ladyship's most devoted, humble servant,
“Peregrine Pickle.”
Having dressed himself, and repaired to the place of appointment, he
despatched this epistle by the hands of Pipes, who was ordered to leave
it at her ladyship's house, without staying for an answer; and in the
meantime gave directions for dinner, which he and his friend Hatchway
ate very cheerfully in his own apartment, after he had entertained him
with a sight of all the curiosities in the place. During their repast,
Jack repeated his kind offers to our adventurer, who declined them with
his former obstinacy, and begged he might be no more importuned on
that subject; but if he insisted upon giving some fresh proofs of his
friendship, he might have an opportunity of exhibiting it in taking
Pipes under his care and protection; for nothing affected him so much as
his inability to provide for such a faithful adherent.
The lieutenant desired he would give himself no trouble upon that score;
he being, of his own accord, perfectly well disposed to befriend his old
shipmate, who should never want while he had a shilling to spare. But
he began to drop some hints of an intention to fix his quarters in the
Fleet, observing, that the air seemed to be very good in that place, and
that he was tired of living in the country. What he said did not amount
to a plain declaration, and therefore Peregrine did not answer it
as such, though he perceived his drift; and took an opportunity of
describing the inconveniences of the place, in such a manner as,
he hoped, would deter him from putting such an extravagant plan in
execution.
This expedient, however, far from answering the end proposed, had a
quite contrary effect, and furnished Hatchway with an argument against
his own unwillingness to quit such a disagreeable place. In all
probability, Jack would have been more explicit with regard to the
scheme he had proposed, if the conversation had not been interrupted by
the arrival of Cadwallader, who never failed in the performance of his
diurnal visit. Hatchway, conjecturing that this stranger might have some
private business with his friend, quitted the apartment, on pretence of
taking a turn; and meeting Pipes at the door, desired his company to
the Bare, by which name the open space is distinguished; where, during
a course of perambulation, these two companions held a council upon
Pickle, in consequence of which it was determined, since he obstinately
persisted to refuse their assistance, that they should take lodgings
in his neighbourhood, with a view of being at hand to minister unto his
occasions, in spite of his false delicacy, according to the emergency of
his affairs.
This resolution being taken, they consulted the bar-keeper of the
coffee-house about lodging, and she directed them to the warden; to whom
the lieutenant, in his great wisdom, represented himself as a kinsman to
Peregrine, who, rather than leave that young gentleman by himself to the
unavoidable discomforts of a prison, was inclined to keep him company,
till such time as his affairs could be put in order. This measure he
the more anxiously desired to take, because the prisoner was sometimes
subject to a disordered imagination, upon which occasion he stood in
need of extraordinary attendance; and therefore he, the lieutenant,
entreated the warden to accommodate him with a lodging for himself
and his servant, for which he was ready to make any reasonable
acknowledgment. The warden, who was a sensible and humane man, could
not help applauding his resolution; and several rooms being at that time
unoccupied, he put him immediately in possession of a couple, which were
forthwith prepared for his reception.
This affair being settled to his satisfaction, he despatched Pipes for
his portmanteau; and, returning to the coffee-house, found Peregrine,
with whom he spent the remaining part of the evening. Our hero, taking
it for granted that he proposed to set out for the garrison next day,
wrote a memorandum of some books which he had left in that habitation,
and which he now desired Jack to send up to town by the waggon, directed
for Mr. Crabtree. He cautioned him against giving the least hint of
his misfortune in the neighbourhood, that it might remain, as long as
possible, concealed from the knowledge of his sister, who, he knew,
would afflict herself immoderately at the news, nor reach the ears of
the rest of his family, who would exult and triumph over his distress.
Hatchway listened to his injunctions with great attention, and promised
to demean himself accordingly. Then the discourse shifted to an
agreeable recapitulation of the merry scenes they had formerly acted
together. And the evening being pretty far advanced, Peregrine, with
seeming reluctance, told him that the gates of the Fleet would in a few
minutes be shut for the night, and that there was an absolute necessity
for his withdrawing to his lodging. Jack replied, that he could not
think of parting with him so soon, after such a long separation; and
that he was determined to stay with him an hour or two longer, if he
should be obliged to take up his lodging in the streets. Pickle, rather
than disoblige his guest, indulged him in his desire and resolved to
give him a share of his own bed. A pair of chickens and asparagus were
bespoke for supper, at which Pipes attended with an air of internal
satisfaction; and the bottle was bandied about in a jovial manner till
midnight, when the lieutenant rose up to take his leave, observing,
that, being fatigued with riding, he was inclined to turn in. Pipes,
upon this intimation, produced a lanthorn ready lighted; and Jack,
shaking his entertainer by the hand, wished him good night, and promised
to visit him again betimes in the morning.
Peregrine, imagining that his behaviour proceeded from the wine, which
he had plentifully drunk, told him, that, if he was disposed to sleep,
his bed was ready prepared in the room, and ordered his attendant to
undress his master; upon which Mr. Hatchway gave him to understand, that
he had no occasion to incommode his friend, having already provided a
lodging for himself, and the young gentleman demanding an explanation,
he frankly owned what he had done, saying, “You gave me such a dismal
account of the place, that I could not think of leaving you in it
without company.” Our young gentleman, who was naturally impatient
of benefits, and foresaw that this uncommon instance of Hatchway's
friendship would encroach upon the plan which he had formed for his own
subsistence, by engrossing his time and attention, so as that he should
not be able to prosecute his labours, closeted the lieutenant next day,
and demonstrated to him the folly and ill consequences of the step he
had taken. He observed, that the world in general would look upon it as
the effect of mere madness; and, if his relations were so disposed, they
might make it the foundation for a statute of lunacy against him; that
his absence from the garrison must be a very great detriment to his
private affairs; and, lastly, that his presence in the Fleet would be
a very great hindrance to Pickle himself, whose hope of regaining his
liberty altogether depended upon his being detached from all company and
interruption.
To these remonstrances Jack replied, that, as to the opinion of
the world, it was no more to him than a rotten net-line; and if his
relations had a mind to have his upper works condemned, he did not doubt
but he should be able to stand the survey, without being declared unfit
for service; that he had no affairs at the garrison, but such as
would keep cold; and with regard to Pickle's being interrupted by his
presence, he gave him his word, that he would never come alongside of
him, except when he should give him the signal for holding discourse.
In conclusion, he signified his resolution to stay where he was, at all
events, without making himself accountable to any person, whatsoever.
Peregrine seeing him determined, desisted from any further importunity;
resolving, however, to tire him out of his plan by reserve and
supercilious neglect; for he could not bear the thought of being so
notoriously obliged by any person upon earth. With this view he quitted
the lieutenant, upon some slight pretence; after having told him, that
he could not have the pleasure of his company at dinner, because he was
engaged with a particular club of his fellow-prisoners.
Jack was a stranger to the punctilios of behaviour, and therefore did
not take this declaration amiss; but had immediate recourse to the
advice of his counsellor, Mr. Pipes, who proposed, that he should go to
the coffee-house and kitchen, and give the people to understand that he
would pay for all such liquor and provisions as Mr. Pickle should order
to be sent to his lodging. This expedient was immediately practised; and
as there was no credit in the place, Hatchway deposited a sum of money,
by way of security, to the cook and the vintner, intimating, that
there was a necessity for taking that method of befriending his cousin
Peregrine, who was subject to strange whims, that rendered it impossible
to serve him any other way.
In consequence of these insinuations, it was that same day rumoured
about the Fleet, that Mr. Pickle was an unhappy gentleman disordered in
his understanding, and that the lieutenant was his near relation, who
had subjected himself to the inconvenience of living in a jail, with
the sole view of keeping a strict eye over his conduct. This report,
however, did not reach the ears of our hero till the next day, when he
sent one of the runners of the Fleet, who attended him, to bespeak and
pay for a couple of pullets, and something else for dinner, to which
he had already invited his friend Hatchway, in hope of being able to
persuade him to retire into the country, after he had undergone a
whole day's mortification in the place. The messenger returned with
an assurance, that the dinner should be made ready according to his
directions, and restored the money, observing, that his kinsman had paid
for what was bespoke.
Peregrine was equally surprised and disgusted at this information, and
resolved to chide the lieutenant severely for his unseasonable treat,
which he considered as a thing repugnant to his reputation. Meanwhile,
he despatched his attendant for wine to the coffee-house, and finding
his credit bolstered up in that place by the same means, was enraged at
the presumption of Jack's friendship. He questioned the valet about
it with such manifestation of displeasure, that the fellow, afraid of
disobliging such a good master, frankly communicated the story which was
circulated at his expense. The young gentleman was so much incensed at
this piece of intelligence, that he wrote a bitter expostulation to the
lieutenant, where he not only retracted his invitation, but declared
that he would never converse with him while he should remain within the
place.
Having thus obeyed the dictates of his anger, he gave notice to the
cook, that he should not have occasion for what was ordered. Repairing
to the coffee-house, he told the landlord, that whereas he understood
the stranger with the wooden leg had prepossessed him and others with
ridiculous notions, tending to bring the sanity of his intellects in
question, and, to confirm this imputation, had, under the pretence of
consanguinity, undertaken to defray his expenses; he could not help, in
justice to himself, declaring, that the same person was, in reality,
the madman, who had given his keepers the slip; that, therefore, he, the
landlord, would not find his account in complying with his orders, and
encouraging him to frequent his house; and that, for his own part, he
would never enter the door, or favour him with the least trifle of his
custom, if ever he should for the future find himself anticipated in his
payments by that unhappy lunatic.
The vintner was confounded at this retorted charge; and, after
much perplexity and deliberation, concluded, that both parties were
distracted; the stranger in paying a man's debts against his will, and
Pickle, in being offended at such forwardness of friendship.