“And so you've given up all hope of escaping, eh, Jack?” remarked Hogarth.

"That's scarcely a fair question, Mr. Hogarth, before the gaoler," replied Jack. "But I tell you frankly, and Mr. Austin may repeat it if he pleases to his master, Jonathan Wild-I have not.”

"Well said, Jack!" cried Figg. "Never give in."

Well," observed Hogarth, "if, fettered as you are, you contrive to break out of this dungeon, you'll do what no man ever did before." A peculiar smile illuminated Jack's features. "There it is!" cried Sir James eagerly. pression I want. For the love of heaven, Jack, don't move !-Don't alter a muscle, if you can help it."

"There's the exact ex

And, with a few magical touches, he stamped the fleeting expression on the canvass.

"I have it too!" exclaimed Hogarth, busily plying his pencil. "Gad! it's a devilish fine face when lit up."

"As like as life, sir," observed Austin, peeping over Thornhill's shoulder at the portrait. "As like as life."

"The very face," said Gay, advancing to look at it;-“ with all the escapes written in it."

"You flatter me," smiled Sir James. "But, I own, I think it is like."

"What do you think of my sketch, Jack ?" said Hogarth, handing him the drawing.

"It's like enough, I dare say," rejoined Sheppard. "But it wants something here." And he pointed significantly to the hand.

"I see," rejoined Hogarth, rapidly sketching a file, which he placed in the hands of the picture. "Will that do ?" he added, returning it. "It's better," observed Sheppard, meaningly. "But you've given me what I don't possess."

"Hum!" said Hogarth, looking fixedly at him. "I don't see how I can improve it."

66

May I look at it, sir ?" said Austin, stepping towards him. "No," replied Hogarth, hastily effacing the sketch.

satisfied with a first attempt."

"I'm never

"Egad, Jack," said Gay, "you should write your adventures. They would be quite as entertaining as the histories of Guzman D'Alfarache, Lazarillo de Tormes, Estevanillo Gonzalez, Meriton Latroon, or any of my favourite rogues,-and far more instructive."

"You had better write them for me, Mr. Gay," rejoined Jack.

If you'll write them, I'll illustrate them," observed Hogarth.

"An idea has just occurred to me," said Gay, "which Jack's narrative has suggested. I'll write an opera, the scene of which shall be laid altogether in Newgate, and the principal character a highwayman. I'll not forget your two mistresses, Jack."

"Nor Jonathan Wild, I hope," interposed Sheppard.

16

66

Certainly not," replied Gay. "I'll gibbet the rascal. But I forget," he added, glancing at Austin; "it's high treason to speak disre. spectfully of Mr. Wild in his own domain."

"I hear nothing, sir," laughed Austin.

"I was about to add," continued Gay, "that my opera shall have no music except the good old ballad tunes. And we'll see whether it won't put the Italian opera out of fashion, with Cutzoni, Senesino, and thedivine' Farinelli at its head."

"You'll do a national service, then," said Hogarth. "The sums lavished upon those people are perfectly disgraceful, and I should be enchanted to see them hooted from the stage. But I've an idea as well as you, grounded in some measure upon Sheppard's story. I'll take two apprentices, and depict their career. One, by perseverance and industry shall obtain fortune, credit, and the highest honours; while the other by an opposite course, and dissolute habits, shall eventually arrive at Tyburn."

"Your's will be nearer the truth, and have a deeper moral, Mr. Hogarth," remarked Jack, dejectedly. "But if my career were truly exhibited, it must be as one long struggle against destiny in the shape of-"

"Jonathan Wild," interposed Gay. "I knew it. By the by, Mr. Hogarth, didn't I see you last night at the ridotto with Lady Thornhill and her pretty daughter?"

"Me?-no, sir," stammered Hogarth, colouring. And he hazarded a wink at the poet over the paper on which he was sketching. Luckily, Sir James was so much engrossed by his own task, that both the remark and gesture escaped him.

I suppose I was mistaken," returned Gay.

"You've been quiz

zing my friend Kent, I perceive, in your Burlington Gate."

"A capital caricature that," remarked Thornhill, laughing. “What does Mr. Kent say to it?"

"He thinks so highly of it, that he says if he had a daughter he would give her to the artist," answered Gay, a little maliciously. "Ah!" exclaimed Sir James.

"You've ruined my

"Miss

"S'death!" cried Hogarth, aside to the poet. hopes." "Advanced them, rather," replied Gay, in the same tone. Thornhill's a charming girl. I think a wife a needless incumbrance, But, if I were in your place, I know

and mean to die a bachelor. what I'd do."

"What-what would you do?" asked Hogarth, eagerly. "Run away with her," replied Gay.

"Pish!" exclaimed Hogarth. But he afterwards acted upon the suggestion.

"Good b'ye, Jack," said Figg, putting on his hat.

"Rather in the way. Send you the shirt. Here, turnkey. Couple of guineas to drink Captain Sheppard's speedy escape. Thank him, not me, man. Give this fellow the slip, if you can, Jack. If not, keep up your spirits. Die game."

"Never fear," replied Jack. "If I get free, I'll have a bout with you at all weapons. If not, I'll take a cheerful glass with you at the City of Oxford, on my way to Tyburn.

"Give you the best I have in either case," replied Figg. "Goodb'ye!" And with a cordial shake of the hand he took his departure. Sir James Thornhill then rose.

"I won't trouble you further, Jack," he remarked. I can to the portrait here. I must finish it at home." "Permit me to see it, Sir James ?" requested Jack. claimed, as the painting was turned towards him. poor mother say to it?"

"I've done all

“Ah!" he ex“What would my

"I was sorry to see that about your mother, Jack," observed Hogarth.

"What of her ?" exclaimed Jack, starting up. "Is she dead ?" "No-no," answered Hogarth. "Don't alarm yourself. I saw it this morning in the Daily Journal-an advertisement, offering a re

ward

11

"I had the paper with me. 'Sdeath! what can I have done with it? Oh! here it is," cried Hogarth, picking it from the ground. "I must have dropped it when I took out my portfolio. There's the paragraph. Mrs. Sheppard left Mr. Wood's house at Dollis Hill on Tuesday'-that's two days ago,-' hasn't been heard of since.'

"She

"Let me see," cried Jack, snatching the paper, and eagerly perusing the advertisement. "Ah!" he exclaimed, in a tone of anguish. has fallen into the villain's hands."

"What villain?" cried Hogarth.

"Jonathan Wild, I'll be sworn," said Gay.

"Right !—right!" cried Jack, striking his fettered hands against his breast. "She is in his power, and I am here, chained hand and foot, unable to assist her."

"I could make a fine sketch of him now," whispered Hogarth to Gay.

I told you how it was, Sir James," said Austin, addressing the knight, who was preparing for his departure, "he attributes every misfortune that befalls him to Mr. Wild."

"And with some justice," replied Thornhill, drily.

"Allow me to assist you, Sir James," said Hogarth.

"Many thanks, sir," replied Thornhill, with freezing politeness; "but I do not require assistance."

"I tell you what, Jack," said Gay, "I've several urgent engagements this morning; but I'll return to-morrow, and hear the rest of your story. And, if I can render you any service you may command me." "To-morrow will be too late," said Sheppard, moodily.

The easel and palette having been packed up, and the canvass care. fully removed by Austin, the party took leave of the prisoner, who was so much abstracted that he scarcely noticed their departure. Just as Hogarth got to the door, the turnkey stopped him.

"You have forgotten your knife, Mr. Hogarth," he observed significantly.

"So I have;" replied Hogarth, glancing at Sheppard.

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I can do without it," replied Jack.

The door was then locked, and he was left alone.

At three o'clock, on the same day, Austin brought up Jack's provisions, and, after carefully examining his fetters, and finding all secure, told him if he wanted anything further he must mention it, as he should not be able to return in the evening, his presence being required elsewhere. Jack replied in the negative, and it required all his mastery over himself to prevent the satisfaction which this announcement afforded him from being remarked by the gaoler.

With the usual precautions, Austin then departed.

"And now," cried Jack, leaping up," for an achievement, compared with which all I have yet done shall be as nothing!"

450

THE CHELSEA VETERANS.

DUMALTON'S STORY.

BY THE REV. G. R. GLEIG, AUTHOR OF "THE SUBALTERN," ETC.

CHAPTER I.

Showing how a man may become a soldier unawares, and how soldiers lived in London half a century ago.

My name is Samuel Dumalton. I am a native of Beverley, in Yorkshire; where I was born some time in the month of June, 1769,—a memorable year, which brought into the world not myself only, but the Duke of Wellington, and Napoleon Bonaparte besides. My parentage is scarcely more dignified than my present position in society might lead the world to anticipate. I am the son of a labourer,-an honest man, who, though he worked hard, was contented with his lot; who, after having lived some years as groom in the family of Sir John Brereton, set up housekeeping for himself, and with the help of my mother, added me to the list of mankind. Both father and mother were very worthy persons. They punished me when I deserved it; gave me plenty of wholesome food to eat; put me to school when I was old enough to learn, and determined to make a tradesman of me. At the age of fourteen I was apprenticed to a whitesmith, and took to my situation very kindly.

I was bound for seven years; six of which I completed, with occasional differences between my master and myself, but, on the whole, satisfactorily to both parties. At the end of that period, however, my master died, and then arose the question, what was to be done with me?-for the widow seemed disinclined to go on with the business; and if she adhered to her determination, it was evident that I could benefit neither her nor myself. She proposed to hand me over to another whitesmith in the town. I objected to the arrangement altogether, and the matter ended in her offering to give up the indentures,

a proposal to which I readily agreed. I took my release, packed up my clothes in a handkerchief, bade father and mother farewell, and set out on foot one bright, frosty morning, towards the end of 1787, for York.

In 1787 work was much more abundant in every department than it is now; I found no difficulty, therefore, in recommending myself to an employer. I went into a coachmaker's yard, and for two months was as busy as need be; but there is a restlessness about youths of nineteen or twenty which often induces them to change for the mere sake of change, and still more frequently hinders them from knowing when they are well off. I grew tired of the coachmaker's yard, of the coachmaker himself, and, finally, of the city of York. My bundle was therefore tied up once more, my stick grasped in my hand, and away I went, with a light heart, and a purse not much heavier, to Manchester.

Though Manchester was not in 1788 the overgrown manufactory that it is now, amid its forty thousand inhabitants, it presented sufficient openings for a young man like me. I offered myself to a whitesmith the day after my arrival, and was received as a jour

neyman on my own terms. It is probable, too, that, but for an accident, I should have continued to prosecute my peaceful calling; in which case society would have lacked the information which these my memoirs are designed to communicate. But within a fortnight of my arrival a proposal was made to me, which, having a great respect for the sum of ten guineas, I did not conceive that I should be justified in rejecting. A young gentleman, the son of a clergyman, in a fit of ill humour, or caprice, enlisted in the first Dragoon Guards, which at that time occupied the barracks; and his friends having obtained permission to take him home again, by providing a substitute, my master, with whom the family dealt, opened the busi

ness to me.

"You are a strapping fellow, Sam," said he, "and a good scholar. There's no saying what you may not come to as a soldier; and the whitesmith's business is, you very well know, one of the poorest going. You may be with me, or anybody else, a dozen years at least, before you will have it in your power to boast that you are worth ten guineas."

"Ten guineas!" replied I. substitute?"

"Will they give ten guincas for a

"To be sure they will, and a capital outfit into the bargain. Away with you to the barracks. No fear but you will be accepted, and then come back to me, and I will introduce you to the gentleman that's to fork out."

Away, accordingly, I went, with an imagination inflamed, not by visions of martial glory, but of ten golden guineas; and, marching boldly towards the barrack-gate, I propounded my business to the corporal of the guard. He desired me to go on to the orderly-room, and I would have done so without pausing, had not a spectacle greeted me as soon as I entered the square, which threw a considerable damp over my military ardour.

The regiment was assembled at a foot-parade, and corporal punishment was going forward. Now I don't mean to say, that in an army such as ours it is possible to do without corporal punishment; there are certain crimes which as they are disgraceful in themselves, ought to bring upon such as commit them a discreditable chastisement; while the situations which require that discipline should be administered promptly and with effect, cannot fail, particularly in war, of constant recurrence. For such occasions the power of the lash must always be reserved. But, the less frequently it is brought into operation the better, not only because the practice has a tendency to keep good men out of your ranks, but because, when repeated over and over again, it loses its effect. At all events, I am quite certain of this, that when I beheld a fellow-creature stripped and subjected to the operation of the cat, I never thought of inquiring into the nature of the offence which had brought the visitation upon him; but said to myself, “Am I going to do a wise thing, in connecting myself with a society of persons among whom such usages are tolerated?" I don't hesitate to say, that if the mere love of glory had brought me thus far, it would have utterly failed in carrying me further; but ten guineas had appeared to me in the light of a little fortune, and, after a brief controversy between opposite feelings, I made up my mind to possess them. Accordingly I averted my eyes from the parade, and closed my ears