The first step which Sir Launcelot took in the morning that succeeded his
arrival in London was to settle Mrs. Dolly Cowslip in lodgings at the
house where John Clump had promised to visit her; as he did not doubt,
that, though the visit was delayed, it would some time or other be
performed, and in that case he might obtain some intelligence of Aurelia.
Mr. Thomas Clarke was permitted to take up his habitation in the same
house, on his earnestly desiring he might be intrusted with the office of
conveying information and instruction between Dolly and our adventurer.
The knight himself resolved to live retired, until he should receive some
tidings relating to Miss Darnel that should influence his conduct; but he
proposed to frequent places of public resort incognito, that he might
have some chance of meeting by accident with the mistress of his heart.
Taking it for granted, that the oddities of Crowe would help to amuse him
in his hours of solitude and disappointment, he invited that original to
be his guest at a small house, which he determined to hire ready
furnished, in the neighbourhood of Golden Square. The captain thanked
him for his courtesy, and frankly embraced his offer, though he did not
much approve of the knight’s choice in point of situation. He said he
would recommend him to a special good upper deck hard by St. Catherine’s
in Wapping, where he would be delighted with the prospect of the street
forwards, well frequented by passengers, carts, drays, and other
carriages; and having backwards an agreeable view of Alderman Parson’s
great brewhouse, with two hundred hogs feeding almost under the window.
As a further inducement, he mentioned the vicinity of the Tower guns,
which would regale his hearing on days of salutation; nor did he forget
the sweet sound of mooring and unmooring ships in the river, and the
pleasing objects on the other side of the Thames, displayed in the oozy
docks and cabbage-gardens of Rotherhithe. Sir Launcelot was not
insensible to the beauties of this landscape, but, his pursuit lying
another way, he contented himself with a less enchanting situation, and
Crowe accompanied him out of pure friendship.
At night, Mr. Clarke arrived at our hero’s house with tidings that were
by no means agreeable. He told him, that Clump had left a letter for
Dolly, informing her, that his master, Squire Darnel, was to set out
early in the morning for Yorkshire; but he could give no account of her
lady, who had the day before been conveyed, he knew not whither, in a
hackney-coach, attended by her uncle and an ill-looking fellow, who had
much the appearance of a bailiff or turnkey, so that he feared she was in
trouble.
Sir Launcelot was deeply affected by this intimation. His apprehension
was even roused by a suspicion that a man of Darnel’s violent temper and
unprincipled heart might have practised upon the life of his lovely
niece; but, upon recollection, he could not suppose that he had recourse
to such infamous expedients, knowing as he did, that an account of her
would be demanded at his hands, and that it would be easily proved he had
conveyed her from the lodging in which she resided.
His first fears now gave way to another suggestion, that Anthony, in
order to intimidate her into a compliance with his proposals, had trumped
up a spurious claim against her, and, by virtue of a writ, confined her
in some prison or spunging-house. Possessed with this idea, he desired
Mr. Clarke to search the sheriff’s office in the morning, that he might
know whether any such writ had been granted; and he himself resolved to
make a tour of the great prisons belonging to the metropolis, to inquire,
if perchance she might not be confined under a borrowed name. Finally,
he determined, if possible, to apprise her of his place of abode, by a
paragraph in all the daily papers, signifying that Sir Launcelot Greaves
had arrived at his house near Golden Square.
All these resolutions were punctually executed. No such writ had been
taken out in the sheriff’s office; and therefore our hero set out on his
jail expedition, accompanied by Mr. Clarke, who had contracted some
acquaintance with the commanding officers in these garrisons, in the
course of his clerkship and practice as an attorney. The first day they
spent in prosecuting their inquiry through the Gate House, Fleet, and
Marshalsea; the next day they allotted to the King’s Bench, where they
understood there was a great variety of prisoners. There they proposed
to make a minute scrutiny, by the help of Mr. Norton, the deputy-marshal,
who was Mr. Clarke’s intimate friend, and had nothing at all of the
jailor, either in his appearance or in his disposition, which was
remarkably humane and benevolent towards all his fellow-creatures.
The knight having bespoke dinner at a tavern in the Borough, was,
together with Captain Crowe, conducted to the prison of the King’s Bench,
which is situated in St. George’s Fields, about a mile from the end of
Westminster Bridge, and appears like a neat little regular town,
consisting of one street, surrounded 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 diversions. 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 restraint.
The street is crowded with passengers. Tradesmen of all kinds here
exercise their different professions. Hawkers of all sorts are admitted
to call and vend their wares as in any open street of London. Here are
butchers’ stands, chandlers’ shops, a surgery, a tap-house, well
frequented, and a public kitchen, in which provisions are dressed for all
the prisoners gratis, at the expense of the publican. Here the voice of
misery never complains; and, indeed, little else is to be heard but the
sounds of mirth and jollity.
At the farther end of the street, on the right hand, is a little paved
court, leading to a separate building, consisting of twelve large
apartments, called state rooms, well furnished and fitted up for the
reception of the better sort of Crown prisoners; and, on the other side
of the street, facing a separate division of ground, called the common
side, is a range of rooms occupied by prisoners of the lowest order, who
share the profits of a begging-box, and are maintained by this practice,
and some established funds of charity. We ought also to observe, that
the jail is provided with a neat chapel, in which a clergyman, in
consideration of a certain salary, performs divine service every Sunday.
Our adventurer, having searched the books, and perused the description of
all the female prisoners who had been for some weeks admitted into the
jail, obtained not the least intelligence of his concealed charmer, but
resolved to alleviate his disappointment by the gratification of his
curiosity.
Under the auspices of Mr. Norton, he made a tour of the prison, and, in
particular, visited the kitchen, where he saw a number of spits loaded
with a variety of provision, consisting of butchers’ meat, poultry, and
game. He could not help expressing his astonishment, with uplifted
hands, and congratulating himself in secret upon his being a member of
that community which had provided such a comfortable asylum for the
unfortunate. His ejaculation was interrupted by a tumultuous noise in
the street; and Mr. Norton declaring he was sent for to the lodge,
consigned 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 company to repose themselves 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 prisoners, to be decided in the ground or garden
of the place.
Captain Crowe, expressing an eager curiosity to see the battle, Mr.
Felton assured him there would be no sport, as the combatants were both
reckoned dunghills; “but, in half an hour,” said he, “there will be a
battle of some consequence between two of the demagogues of the place,
Dr. Crabclaw and Mr. Tapley, the first a physician and the other a
brewer. You must know, gentlemen, that this microcosm, or republic inn
miniature, is like the great world, split into factions. Crabclaw is the
leader of one party, and the other is headed by Tapley; both are men of
warm and impetuous tempers, and their intrigues have embroiled the whole
place, insomuch that it was dangerous to walk the street on account of
the continual skirmishes of their partisans. At length, some of the more
sedate inhabitants having met and deliberated upon some remedy for these
growing disorders, proposed that the dispute should be at once decided by
single combat between the two chiefs, who readily agreed to the proposal.
The match was accordingly made for five guineas, and this very day and
hour appointed for the trial, on which considerable sums of money are
depending. As for Mr. Norton, it is not proper that he should be
present, or seem to countenance such violent proceedings, which, however,
it is necessary to connive at, as convenient vents for the evaporation of
those humours, which, being confined, might accumulate and break out with
greater fury in conspiracy and rebellion.”
The knight owned he could not conceive by what means such a number of
licentious people, amounting, with their dependants, to above five
hundred, were restrained within the bounds of any tolerable discipline,
or prevented from making their escape, which they might at any time
accomplish, either by stealth or open violence; as it could not be
supposed that one or two turnkeys, continually employed in opening and
shutting the door, could resist the efforts of a whole multitude.
“Your wonder, good sir,” said Mr. Felton, “will vanish, when you consider
it is hardly possible that the multitude should co-operate in the
execution of such a scheme; and that the keeper perfectly well
understands the maxim divide et impera. Many prisoners are restrained by
the dictates of gratitude towards the deputy-marshal, whose friendship
and good offices they have experienced; some no doubt are actuated by
motives of discretion. One party is an effectual check upon the other;
and I am firmly persuaded that there are not ten prisoners within the
place that would make their escape, if the doors were laid open. This is
a step which no man would take, unless his fortune was altogether
desperate; because it would oblige him to leave his country for life, and
expose him to the most imminent risk of being retaken and treated with
the utmost severity. The majority of the prisoners live in the most
lively hope of being released by the assistance of their friends, the
compassion of their creditors, or the favour of the legislature. Some
who are cut off from all these proposals are become naturalised to the
place, knowing they cannot subsist in any other situation. I myself am
one of these. After having resigned all my effects for the benefit of my
creditors, I have been detained these nine years in prison, because one
person refuses to sign 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 insolvent debtors is never
extended to uncertified bankrupts taken in execution. By dint of
industry and the most rigid economy, I make shift to live independent in
this retreat. To this scene my faculty of subsisting, as well as my
body, is peculiarly confined. Had I an opportunity to escape, where
should I go? All my views of fortune have been long blasted. I have no
friends nor connexions in the world. I must, therefore, starve in some
sequestered corner, or be recaptivated and confined for ever to close
prison, deprived of the indulgences which I now enjoy.”
Here the conversation was broke off by another uproar, which was the
signal to battle between the doctor and his antagonist. The company
immediately adjourned to the field, where the combatants were already
undressed, and the stakes deposited. The doctor seemed of the middle age
and middle stature, active and alert, with an atrabilarious aspect, and a
mixture of rage and disdain expressed in his countenance. The brewer was
large, raw-boned, and round as a butt of beer, but very fat, unwieldy,
short-winded, and phlegmatic. Our adventurer was not a little surprised
when he beheld, in the character of seconds, a male and female stripped
naked from the waist upwards, the latter ranging on the side of the
physician; but the commencement of the battle prevented his demanding of
his guide an explanation of this phenomenon. The doctor retiring some
paces backwards, threw himself into the attitude of a battering-ram, and
rushed upon his antagonist with great impetuosity, foreseeing, that,
should he have the good fortune to overturn him in the first assault, it
would not be an easy task to raise him up again, and put him in a
capacity of offence. But the momentum of Crabclaw’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 fist, something smaller and softer than a
sledge-hammer, struck the physician to the ground.
In a trice, however, by the assistance of his female second, he was on
his legs again, and grappling with his antagonist, endeavoured to tip
him a fall, but instead of accomplishing his purpose, he received a
cross-buttock, and the brewer throwing himself upon him as he fell, had
well-nigh smothered him on the spot. The amazon flew to his assistance,
and Tapley showing no inclination to get up, she smote him on the temple
till he roared. The male second hastening to the relief of his
principal, made application to the eyes of the female, which were
immediately surrounded with black circles; and she returned the salute
with a blow, which brought a double stream of blood from his nostrils,
greeting him at the same time with the opprobrious appellation of a lousy
son of a b---h. A combat more furious than the first would now have
ensued, had not Felton interposed with an air of authority, and insisted
on the man’s leaving the field, an injunction which he forthwith obeyed,
saying, “Well, damme, Felton, you’re my friend and commander; I’ll obey
your order--but the b---h will be foul of me before we sleep.”--Then
Felton advancing to his opponent, “Madam,” said he, “I’m very sorry to
see a lady of your rank and qualifications expose yourself in this manner
--for God’s sake, behave with a little more decorum, if not for the sake
of your own family, at least for the credit of your sex in general.”--
“Hark ye, Felton,” said she, “decorum is founded upon a delicacy of
sentiment and deportment, which cannot consist with the disgraces of a
jail, and the miseries of indigence.--But I see the dispute is now
terminated, and the money is to be drank; if you’ll dine with us you
shall be welcome; if not, you may die in your sobriety, and be d--ned.”
By this time the doctor had given out, and allowed the brewer to be the
better man; yet he would not honour the festival with his presence, but
retired to his chamber, exceedingly mortified at his defeat. Our hero was
reconducted to Mr. Felton’s apartment, where he sat some time without
opening his mouth, so astonished he was at what he had seen and heard.
“I perceive, sir,” said the prisoner, “you are surprised at the manner in
which I accosted that unhappy woman; and perhaps you will be more
surprised when you hear that within these eighteen months she was
actually a person of fashion, and her opponent, who by the bye is her
husband, universally respected as a man of honour and a brave officer.”--
“I am, indeed,” cried our hero, “overwhelmed with amazement and concern,
as well as stimulated by an eager curiosity to know the fatal causes
which have produced such a reverse of character and fortune. But I will
rein my curiosity 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 prisoner thanked him for his
kind invitation, and they adjourned immediately to the place, taking up
the deputy-marshal in their passage through the lodge or entrance of the
prison.