_The Mint, Southwark._--In the year 1723, an act was passed to relieve all
those debtors under 50l., who had taken sanctuary there from their
creditors. The following curious account of the exodus of these
unfortunates, is given in the _Weekly Journal_ of Saturday, July 20, 1723:
"On Tuesday last some thousands of the Minters went out of the Land of
Bondage, _alias_ The Mint, to be cleared at the Quarter Sessions at
Guildford, according to the late Act of Parliament. The road was
covered with them, insomuch that they looked like one of the Jewish
tribes going out of Egypt: the cavalcade consisting of caravans, carts,
and waggons, besides numbers on horses, asses, and on foot. The drawer
of the two fighting-cocks was seen to lead an ass loaded with geneva,
to support the spirits of the ladies upon the journey. 'Tis said, that
several heathen Bailiffs lay in ambuscade in ditches upon the road, to
surprise some of them, if possible, on their march, if they should
straggle from the main body; but they proceeded with so much order and
discipline, that they did not lose a man upon this expedition."