"JOHN FIELDING."

T1HE COCK-LANE GHOST.

2There is something so absurd and ridiculous in the terrors spread by _Miss Parsons_, that I think it hardly fair to class her operations with really serious offences against the laws of morality; but, recollecting that her _knockings indicated_ a charge of poisoning, my scruples are removed, and I proceed to sketch the principal outlines of an incident that agitated the public mind till 1762, when all who had "three ideas in continuity" were convinced that the _spirit_ possessed no _supernatural_ powers.

3For two years previous to the above date, knockings and scratchings had frequently been heard during the night in the first floor of a person named Parsons, who held the office of Clerk to St. Sepulchre's-church, and resided in Cock-lane, near West Smithfield. This man, _alarmed_ at the circumstance, made several experiments to discover the cause, and at last had the amazing good fortune to trace the sounds to a bedstead, on which two of his children reposed after the fatigues of the day; the eldest of whom, _though a most surprising girl of her age_, had numbered but twelve winters. Justly supposing the children might suffer some dreadful injury from the knocker, this affectionate parent removed them a story higher; but, horror upon horror, the tremendous noise followed the _innocents_, and even disturbed their rest for whole nights. But this was not all: a publican, resident in the neighbourhood, was frightened into serious illness by the form of a fleeting female ghost, which saluted his vision one fatal evening when in Parsons's house; nay, that worthy Clerk saw it himself about an hour afterwards.

4Facts of this description cannot be concealed: reports of the noises and of the appearance of the phantom spread from the lane into a vast circle of space; numbers visited the unfortunate house, and others sat the night through with the tortured infant, appalled by sounds terrific; at length a Clergyman determined to adjure the Spirit, and thus obtain direct replies to the following questions: "Whether any person in that house had been injured?" The answer, expressed by the _number_ of knocks (as the ghost was denied the power of speech, and of shewing herself _within reach_), was in the affirmative. "Was she a woman?"--"Yes; the Spirit then explained, that she had been kept by Mr. ----, who poisoned her when ill of the Small-pox, and that her body was deposited in the vault of St.

5John's-church, Clerkenwell." During this examination, the girl exhibited a considerable deal of art, but betrayed herself decidedly in several instances. The result was, that the Spirit ardently desired the murderer might be punished for her alledged death. A wise-acre, who narrated the above particulars in a newspaper of the time, observes, with wonderful sagacity, "What _is_ remarkable _is_, that the Spirit _is_ never heard _till the children are in bed_.

6This knocking was heard by the _supposed woman_ when alive, who declared it foretold her death." Another account of the affair asserts that the person accused had married two sisters, and that Fanny, the daughter of Parsons, had slept with the lady that _appeared_ by _knocking_ and _scratching_ during her husband's absence at a wedding; but the knocking the deceased heard, was declared by the girl to be caused by the Spirit of the previously deceased sister; if so, the girl's infernal acts may have caused the death of the woman, as it is well known the agitation of a mind under the terrors of supposed supernatural visitation must have a fatal tendency in such a disorder as the small-pox.

7As an astonishing proof of the folly of certain persons on this occasion, I shall quote the following paragraphs from the London Chronicle, vol. XI. p. 74, which conclude a string of questions and answers, put to, and received from the horrid girl, who, young as she was, richly deserved hanging, with her prompters. "What must occasion credulity is, the afflicting an _innocent child_, whom this Spirit acknowledges to be so, and that it is not the part of a good Spirit so to do, while, _she knocks that she is_, and permitted by God, not by Satan, to appear. _What is more astonishing_, that she will not cease troubling the child after satisfaction had. There is such a mixture _of truth_ and _contradictions_, that a person _cannot help doubting_ of the veracity of this knocker. It is, we humbly presume, fit to be enquired into, for the satisfaction of the publick, and to bring to exemplary punishment the impostor or impostors, _if any_, to relieve a distressed family, to preserve the reputation of the innocent, or to vindicate the cause of the injured. The publick are desired to rest satisfied, as the fraud, _if any_, will be discovered soon; of which they may rest assured.

8"The gentleman intended to be accused in this affair, of perpetrating upon two wives the most atrocious of all crimes, was married about six months since, to a very agreeable young lady, with a fortune of 3000_l._ The unhappy situation in which they must both be, from so horrid an aspersion upon the former, may be more easily conceived than expressed."

9This shameful affair terminated in the manner described in the ensuing words, extracted from one of the newspapers published in February 1762. "February 1. On this night many gentlemen, eminent for their rank and character, were, by the invitation of the Rev. Mr. Aldrich, of Clerkenwell, assembled at his house, for the examination of the noises supposed to be made by a departed Spirit, for the detection of some enormous crime. About ten at night, the gentlemen met in the chamber, in which the girl supposed to be disturbed by a Spirit had, with proper caution, been put to bed by several ladies. They sat rather more than an hour, and hearing nothing went down stairs; when they interrogated the father of the girl, who denied, in the strongest terms, any _knowledge or belief_ of fraud. The supposed Spirit had before publicly promised, by an affirmative knock, _that it would attend_ one of the gentlemen _into the vault_, under the Church of St. John's Clerkenwell, where the body is deposited, and give a token of _her presence there_, by a knock upon her coffin. It was therefore determined to make this trial of the existence or veracity of the supposed Spirit.

10"While they were enquiring and deliberating, they were summoned into the girl's chamber by some ladies, who were near her bed, and who had heard knocks and scratches. When the gentlemen entered, the girl declared that she felt the Spirit like a mouse upon her back, and was required to hold her hands out of bed. From that time, though the Spirit was very solemnly required to manifest its existence, by appearance, by impression on the hand or body of any present, by scratches, knocks, or any other agency, _no evidence of any preter-natural power was exhibited_.

11"_The Spirit was then very seriously advertised_, that the person to whom the promise was made, of striking the coffin, was then about to visit the vault, and that the performance of the promise was then claimed. The company, at one, went into the Church; and the gentleman to whom the promise was made went with one more into the vault. _The Spirit was solemnly required_ to perform its promise; _but nothing more than silence ensued_. The person supposed to be accused by the Spirit then went down with several others, _but no effect was perceived_. Upon their return, they examined the girl, but _could draw no confession from her_. Between two and three she desired, and was permitted to go home with her father.

12"It is therefore the opinion of the whole assembly, that the child has some art of making or counterfeiting particular noises[185:A], _and that there is no agency of any higher cause_."

13Completely exasperated at the base methods adopted by his enemies to ruin his character, if not to affect his life, the injured party at length had recourse to the justice of his Country; and exactly one year after the exposure of this ridiculous as well as wicked imposture, the principals made him pecuniary satisfaction, to avoid worse consequences; but Parsons received sentence of imprisonment for two years, and to be pilloried three times; his wife imprisonment one year, and their servant six months. Thus ended the serio-comedy of _Fanny the phantom_, which afforded fine sport for the wits of the day; nay, Parsons shared in the joke, for the populace pitied his _unmerited_ sufferings, and, instead of pelting, cherished him when on the pillory, and even gathered money for him.

14The Mayoralty of William Beckford, Esq. was distinguished by the trial of a greater number of felons than had occurred for many preceding years: 508 were placed at the bar of the Old Bailey; 58 received sentence of death; 187 were ordered to be transported; 15 to be branded in the hand, and five to be whipped.

15Amongst the mal-practices of the Century may be included the Private Mad-houses. At first view such receptacles appear useful, and in many respects preferable to Public; but the avarice of the keepers, who were under no other controul than their own consciences, led them to assist in the most nefarious plans for confining sane persons, whose relations or guardians, impelled by the same motive, or private vengeance, sometimes forgot all the restraints of nature, and immured them in the horrors of a prison, under a charge of insanity.

16Turlington kept a private Mad-house at Chelsea: to this place Mrs. Hawley was conveyed by her mother and husband, September 5, 1762, under pretence of their going on a party of pleasure to Turnham-green. She was rescued from the coercion of this man by a writ of _Habeas corpus_, obtained by Mr. La Fortune, to whom the lady was denied by Turlington and Dr. Riddle; but the latter having been fortunate enough to see her at a window, her release was accomplished. It was fully proved upon examination, that no medicines were offered to Mrs. Hawley, and that she was perfectly sane. This fact might be supported by the cases of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Durant, &c.

17"Mr. Turlington having, in defence of the proceedings of this house, referred himself to Mr. King as the person entrusted and employed by him, the Committee of the House of Commons thought it necessary to summons him. Mr. King said he had been in the Wool-trade, but for six years past he had been employed by Mr. Turlington to keep his Mad-house: that he had received no written directions from Mr. Turlington; that he found several patients in the house on his being employed, and all lunatic; that since his being employed _he had admitted several for drunkenness_, and for other reasons of the same sort alledged by their _friends_ or relations bringing them, which he had always thought a sufficient authority.

18As to the treatment of the persons confined, he said, that they had the liberty of walking in the garden, and passing from one room to another; and as to their diet and apartments, he said, it was according to the allowance they paid, which was from 60_l._ to 20_l._ a year. He admitted that he knew Mrs. Hawley; that she was confined at the representation of a woman who called herself her mother; and that the reason alledged by her for the confinement of her daughter was drunkenness. He said, that he did not remember that she was refused pen, ink, and paper; but at the same time acknowledged it was the established order of the house, that no letter should be sent by any of the persons confined to their friends and relations."

19Dr. Battie celebrated for his knowledge in cases of insanity, related the case "of a person whom he visited in confinement for Lunacy, in Macdonald's Mad-house, and who had been, as the Doctor believes, for some years in this confinement. Upon being desired by Macdonald to attend him by the order, as Macdonald pretended, of the relations of the patient, he found him chained to his bed, and without ever having had the assistance of any physician before; but some time after, upon being sent for by one of the relations to a house in the City, and then told, Macdonald had received no orders for desiring the Doctor's attendance, the Doctor understood this to be a dismission, and he never heard any thing more of the unhappy patient, till Macdonald told him some time after that he died of a fever, without having had any farther medical assistance; and a sum of money devolved upon his death to the person who had the care of him."

20Upon those and other instances of wickedness and inhumanity, leave was given to bring in a Bill "for the regulation of Private Mad-houses in this Kingdom."

21THE POLICE.

22The report of a Committee of the House of Commons, appointed in 1770, will illustrate this subject from undoubted facts. "Sir John Fielding, being asked what number of houses have been broken open in and about the cities of London and Westminster, and whether it is a growing evil, said, that all robberies, with the circumstances attending them, and particulars of goods stolen, are registered at his office; and from that register informations are grounded, and offenders are detected several years after the offences are committed; and he delivered in lists of houses broken into, with computation of the goods stolen.

23From Michaelmas 1766 to 14 March 1770, in half-yearly periods, by which it appeared that from Michaelmas 1766 to Lady-day 1767, 13 houses had been broken open, and goods stolen to the value of 289_l._

24From Lady-day 1767 to Michaelmas 1767, 36 houses, value 627_l._

25From Michaelmas 1767 to Lady-day 1768, 52 houses, value 569_l._

26From Lady-day 1768 to Michaelmas 1768, 48 houses, value 1332_l._

27From Michaelmas 1768 to Lady-day 1769, 35 houses, value 1448_l._ 15_s._

28From Lady-day 1769 to Michaelmas 1769, 63 houses, value 1616_l._

29From Michaelmas 1769 to 14 March 1770, 104 houses, value 4241_l._

30He farther informed the Committee, that it is supposed the last 104 houses were broken open by a number of house-breakers not exceeding 20, and few of them more than 20 years of age, 16 or 17 of whom are in custody with little probability of their being convicted: that the evil increases amazingly, and never was at so great a height as since last Michaelmas.

31Being asked, what is the cause of this increase of housebreaking; he said, that felons formerly carried their goods to pawnbrokers; but by the present method of quick notice to pawnbrokers, silversmiths, and others, that plan is defeated, and the housebreakers now go to Jews, who melt the plate immediately, and destroy other things that might be evidence, which in burglary can be nothing but the goods, though in other cases the person may be sworn to; that they disguise jewels by knocking them out of the sockets, so that they cannot be sworn to; that the present gang of house-breakers are sons of unfortunate people, and of no trade; that they began when boys as pick-pockets, but turned house-breakers when they grew up, in order to procure a greater income to supply their increased expences.

32And he informed the Committee, that for 20 years a footpad has not escaped; that highwaymen cannot escape, upon account of the early information given to the aforesaid office, and the great number of prosecutors who always appear against them, which he thinks must in time put an end to that evil[191:A]. He then said, he had detected several persons in Duke's-place with plate, and has offered a reward of five guineas for apprehending one person in the same place. Being asked what he thought of the present method of watching the town; he said, the watch is insufficient, their duty too hard, and their pay too small; that he has known serjeants in the guards employed as watchmen; that the watchmen are paid eightpence halfpenny in St.

33Margaret's parish, and a gratuity of two guineas a year, out of which they find their own candle; that as they are paid monthly, they borrow their money of an usurer once a week; that in other parishes the watch are paid from tenpence to one-shilling per night; that the watch in Westminster is in every parish under the direction of a separate commission, composed of persons who have served the offices of Churchwarden and Overseer; that Commissioners of the respective parishes appoint the beats of their watchmen without conferring together, which leaves the frontiers of each parish in a confused state; for that, where one side of a street lies in one parish, and the other side in another parish, the watchmen of one side cannot lend any assistance to persons on the other side, other than as a private person, except in cases of felony.

34James Sayer, Esq. Deputy High-steward of Westminster, confirmed the above evidence; and added, that St. Margaret's parish has a select vestry, the majority of which is composed of tradesmen; that they will pay no more than eightpence halfpenny a night to their watchmen, and have no way of punishing them for neglect of duty than by dismissing them, which in fact is not a punishment, for they find it difficult to get men to serve in that office; and he further said, that their number is not sufficient. Being asked the reason for changing the constables from being parochial to be constables for the whole City and Liberty, he said, that before 29 George II. constables were parochial; that he apprehended the reason for the change was, that a constable could not execute any official act out of his parish without being specially authorised so to do. He mentioned an instance of a constable's being killed when he was serving a warrant out of his parish; that the person who killed him was tried and found guilty of manslaughter only, though he would have been guilty of murder, if it had happened in the parish to which the constable belonged.

35Sir John Fielding being asked what remedies he could suggest to prevent the above evils; he produced two papers relating to constables, watchmen, and other officers, which were read to and confirmed by him, and are as follows:

36"Watchmen too old--should be from 25 to 50; their beats too extensive--should not exceed 20 houses on each side of the way. Watchmen too few, the sum raised for the watch too little, being only fourpence in the pound--should be sixpence.

37"Ward-officers to be chosen out of those inhabitants that have served the office of constable, and to have a good salary. One half of the constables to be discharged within the year, so that one half remaining two years will be able to instruct the new officers, and the whole duty will be well done. If the new provisions for the watch can be established by the Commissioners remaining where they are, it will save trouble; for then the money may be raised by them as it now is, and every parish may pay and clothe their own watchmen; so that the appointment, distribution, direction, wages, number, and punishment of the watch, may be in the Magistrates by a new commission, and the paying and clothing be in the present Commissioners.

38"The words 'A Constable of the City and Liberties of Westminster,' to be placed over the Constable's doors; the words 'Ward-officer,' over the Ward-officers' doors. Beadles by name to be discharged; and the necessary part of their duty they now do, to be performed by the Ward-officers. That it would be right to confine the intended improvement and constables to Westminster only, as the watch in the adjoining parishes of Middlesex remain on the same footing as originally settled by the Statute of Winchester."

39Second Paper. "The watch of Westminster is extremely defective; the number ought to be increased, their pay augmented, and the whole direction of them put under one Commission, and that Commission should be Magistrates of the City and Liberty of Westminster; the watch should be attended by ward-officers and relieved in the night, a whole night's duty being too hard. The round-houses should be capacious, no liquor should be sold in them; publicans should be punished for permitting watchmen to tipple during their duty, and watchmen should be particularly rewarded for diligence, and punished for neglect, by the civil power. High Constables should not quit their office at the end of three years. Constables should be increased, half the number only discharged annually. The constable of the night should be considered for his attendance on that duty, and punished for neglect.

40"The power for raising money at present for the watch is too confined; it should be enlarged, raised by the present Commissioners, the watchmen paid by them, but their number, direction, and appointment, be by the new Commission of Magistrates. Receivers of stolen goods, especially of those taken by burglary or highway-robbery, should be made principals, with a power of mitigation in the Judge."

41James Sayer, Esq. being again examined, approved of Sir John Fielding's plan; and added, that the beadles are an unnecessary set of men, advanced in years, and servants to the Churchwardens and Overseers, are forty in number over the whole City and Liberty; they have an allowance of 20_l. per annum_ apiece, which they make up 30_l._; that he apprehends, if the number was increased to sixty, and the City and Liberty divided into so many divisions, a beadle to each division, and the object of their duty to take up vagrants, they might be of great service: that, if the beadle was to have two shillings for every vagrant he took up, and four shillings was given to any other person who should apprehend one, the one-half to be deducted out of the beadle's salary of that district where the vagrant was apprehended, it would have a good effect.

42Mr. T. Rainsforth, High-constable of Westminster, being examined, said, he had been in office twelve months; that he had visited the different night watch-houses in the City and Liberty of Westminster frequently from twelve to three in the morning, found many of the peace-officers upon duty, some were not. That there is a general complaint of peace-officers neglecting their duty, to which neglect it is owing, that the watchmen and beadles are not present; and this general neglect he apprehends is the reason why so many houses are robbed; that he has frequently found seven or eight watchmen together in an alehouse; he thinks, that the High-constable should visit the round-house in the night-time, once a month at least, or oftener if required.

43James Sayer, Esq. being again examined, said, that Constables are appointed under Acts 29 and 31 George II. which Acts are in many articles defective; that 80 constables, which is the number limited, are not sufficient; that they are appointed by the Leet-jury, which has been attended by great partialities; for the Leet jury being composed of the Overseers of the several parishes of the preceding year, they protect each other from serving the office of Constable; that in general opulent inhabitants are excused, and young tradesmen returned; that, if a rich man is now and then returned, he is generally got off by pleading age and infirmities; that deputies are generally hired men, and though they cannot be appointed unless approved of by the Deputy High Steward, yet, as it is impossible for him to get a true character of the person nominated, he finds many unfit persons are appointed, who, he is informed, make a trade of serving the office; for remedy of which he proposed, that the number of constables should be increased to 120.

44He thinks the burthen of serving the office of constable should not lay wholly on the trading inhabitants, as it does by the late Act; that, by common law, every person able and fit is liable to serve: that the fine for not serving the office should be enlarged from 8_l._ to 20_l._ which fine should be distributed among those that do serve: and he added, that twelve being obliged to attend daily during the Session of Parliament, as long as either House sits, the duty comes round to each individual every sixth day, eight being excepted, who may be sick, or kept in reserve; during which attendance the constables must necessarily neglect their own business.

45With respect to the High-constable, he said, it is an office of great burthen and trust; that, by law, he the witness is obliged to appoint a substantial tradesman to that office; that the person appointed is not to continue in office above three years, and is liable to a penalty of 20_l._ for refusing to serve, which penalty goes to the poor of the parish; upon which he observed, that the High-constable should not be a tradesman, because his power enables him to oblige the keepers of public-houses to deal with him, or those with whom he is concerned in his way of trade; that the penalty on persons refusing to serve the office should be increased; that the High-constable should have a reward for his service, and that the constables of the night should have a reward also.

46Sir John Fielding being again examined, said, that ballad-singers are a greater nuisance than beggars, because they give opportunity to pick-pockets by collecting people together; that the songs they sing are generally immoral and obscene; the people themselves capable of work, and of the lowest and most abandoned order of people; for remedy of which, he proposed that all ballad-singers should be considered as vagrants, and made liable to the same punishments, no person being a vagrant now but who comes within some one of the descriptions of vagrancy in the Vagrant Act. And the High-constable being again examined, informed the Committee that he has often had warrants for taking up ballad-singers; that he has apprehended a great many, notwithstanding which their numbers increase, and they are become a very great nuisance; that they have often been dispersed, but still continue the practice.

47Sir John Fielding, being again examined, said, that the City of Westminster is a franchise under the Dean and Chapter of Westminster; that the common gaol thereof is called the Gatehouse, to which offenders of every kind, apprehended within the Liberty of Westminster, have been usually committed for several years back, to the number of 600 or 700 annually; that in this gaol there is little or no allowance or provisions for the prisoners but what arises from the charity of passengers, seldom amounting to more than five or six shillings a-week, the greatest part of which is given to the beggar at the window for the day.

48That the said gaol appears, from experience of the Magistrates, to be too small for the number, and too weak for the safe custody of prisoners; that to this gaol persons for execution in debts recovered in the Court of Conscience, are committed; and he said, he believed this is the only gaol in England where there is not some provision for the poor and distressed prisoners; and he added, that when a Magistrate commits a man to that gaol for an assault, he does not know but he commits him there to starve.

49For these reasons, as well upon the principles of humanity as of civil policy, this ought to be remedied; and that, on account of the vast increase of inhabitants, property, and number of offenders, there ought to be in Westminster a strong, capacious, and useful gaol, and there is no such thing at present; that the said gaol, called the Gatehouse, is a very old building, subject to be repaired by the said Dean and Chapter, who appoint the Gaoler; that the supposed original use of this gaol was for the purposes of committing Clerks convict.

50The commission of Magistrates is not later than Charles the First's reign; they began first to commit offenders to this gaol, rather by sufferance than by right; and he observed that, however proper it may have been for its original purposes, it is unequal to the present occasions, and, as he apprehends, cannot be altered without a Law.

51And he further informed the Committee, that the Magistrates of Westminster have represented this matter to the Dean and Chapter, who acknowledge it, are willing to pull it down, and to give a piece of ground in their Royalty in Tothill-fields to build a new gaol upon, and to subject the same, with every thing thereunto belonging, to the Magistrates of Westminster, under such regulations as the Legislature shall think proper, provided a sum be granted by the publick for building the same; and he added, that estimates have been made, by which it appears that a very effectual gaol may be built for the sum of 2500_l._ In order, therefore, to remedy the inconveniences above-mentioned, he proposed that such gaol should be built and kept in repair out of the County rate, which he said may be done without injury to the County at large, for this reason, that there is but one rate at present for Middlesex and Westminster, near one-third of which is paid by the latter since the increase of buildings there; that this proportion is much greater than the expences required by the Act for County rates would subject Westminster to; and he added, that the gaol, called the House of Correction, Westminster, is repaired by the Magistrates of Westminster, and the expence is paid by virtue of their orders on the County Treasurer; that the same thing, if allowed by Parliament for the repairs of the proposed new gaol, will answer the purpose without separating the rate.

52James Sayer, Esq. being again examined, concurred with Sir John Fielding in every particular.

53Sir John informed the Committee, that about six or seven years ago the Magistrates of Westminster had no other Court-house but a place at the bottom of the stairs leading to the House of Commons, called _Hell_, to keep their Sessions in. The increase of business and of offences in Westminster made it impracticable to carry on the business there.

54The nuisance was represented by the Magistrates to the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Northumberland, who said, he had then applied for redress, and told the Chairman it could not be taken up by Government then, but would be in future considered: in the mean time, at his own expence, amounting to 800_l._ he directed the Chairman to prepare a large house in King-street Westminster, which was formerly a tavern, to be made proper for a Court-house; that the Magistrates for their Sessions, the Burgesses for their Courts, the Lieutenancy for the Militia, Commissioners of Sewers for their business, Grand Juries for the County of Middlesex, Writs of Enquiry for the Sheriffs, and meeting of inhabitants for nominating their Representatives, should use the said building; for all which purposes it has been constantly, effectually, and conveniently used; that it is scarce possible for the above business to be transacted without it, and the establishment of it is as essential to the Civil Power as any thing that has been mentioned.

55That the purchase of the said building and fitting it up, cost the Duke of Northumberland near 4000_l._; and he added, that this building also might be kept in repair by the County rate, at an average of 30 or 40_l._ a year.

56Sir John Fielding said, he thinks the acting part of the Magistrates in Westminster is in as good a state as it ever was, and more free from imputation of or neglect of duty; that it would be useful to have some persons of rank and condition in the Commission of the Peace for Westminster, who would attend at the Quarter Sessions, where they would become acquainted with the conduct of the Magistrates in general, give a dignity to the Commission, support the acting Magistrates on great occasions, and give encouragement to such of them as discharged their trust becoming the honour of the Commission, and discountenance those who did not; and he added, that for the last two or three years the Magistrates of Westminster have gone through very painful duty, and have been very diligent in it; and having been sensible of the necessity of their attendance, have mutually agreed to attend at any time or place upon the least notice from their Chairman.

57James Sayer, Esq. being again examined, admitted that the Magistracy at present is composed in general of persons of character, and that justice is administered with activity, diligence, and skill, but alledged that it has been otherwise formerly, and may be the case hereafter; and therefore, he was of opinion that a regulation in the Magistracy of Westminster is necessary.

58That there should be a qualification of Justices, that they should have a reward for acting, as the most part of their time will be devoted to the public service; that the fees to be taken by their clerks should be devoted to some public service; such as a vagrant hospital; that there should be certain Rotation-offices established by Law; that, as he apprehends, one such office might be sufficient if properly regulated; that the Rotation-office should do all the business except in emergent cases, and that the private office of Justice of the Peace should be abolished, because it sometimes happens, that a man committed for a notorious bailable offence is carried to another Justice, who bails him without knowing the enormity of his offence; and Sir John Fielding said, that in criminal offences, that nearly regard the publick, it is impracticable to use a Rotation-office as there are many things necessary to be kept secret; and, though the whole of the circumstances must be known to the acting Magistrate, yet they cannot be known by a fresh Magistrate who attends in rotation; and he added, that the great number of brothels and irregular taverns carried on without licence from the Magistrates, are another great cause of robberies, burglaries, and other disorders, and also of neglect of watchmen and constables of the night in their respective duties.

59That these taverns are kept by persons of the most abandoned characters, such as bawds, thieves, receivers of stolen goods, and Marshalsea-court and Sheriffs officers who keep lock-up houses. The principal of these houses are situate in Covent-garden, about thirty in St. Mary-le-Strand, about twelve in St. Martin's, in the vicinity of Covent-garden, about twelve in St.

60Clement's, five or six at Charing-cross, and in Hedge-lane about twenty; that there are many more dispersed in different parts of Westminster, in Goodman's-fields, and Whitechapel, many of which are remarkably infamous, and are the cause of disorders of every kind, shelters for bullies to protect prostitutes, and for thieves, are a terror to the watchmen and peace-officers of the night, a nuisance to the inhabitants in the neighbourhood, and difficult to be suppressed by prosecution for want of evidence, and, in short, pregnant with every other mischief to Society; that any person desirous of gaining a livelihood by keeping a place of public entertainment, who is of good reputation, can obtain a licence with ease from the Magistrates to keep such house, when a public-house in any neighbourhood happens to be vacant that has been licensed before; the Magistrates of Middlesex and Westminster having long held it to be a rule essential to the public good, rather to diminish than increase the number of public-houses.

61That persons of abandoned characters, by applying to the Commissioners of the Stamp-office, may obtain a licence for selling wine; by virtue of such licences it is that the taverns above described are kept open, for the aforesaid Commissioners are impowered by law to grant such licences to whom they shall think fit; that licences for selling spirituous liquors by retail are not granted by the Commissioners of Excise, unless the parties produce to them a licence under the hands and seals of two Justices of the Peace to sell ale.

62That Magistrates cannot by Law authorise any person to sell ale, without a certificate of such person's being of good fame and sober life and conversation, so that producing this licence to the Commissioners establishes their character with them, and takes away the necessity of any enquiry; for remedy of which, he proposed that Wine-licences should be placed by Law under the same restraint as the licences for selling spirituous liquors now are.

63This remedy, he apprehended, might probably reduce the Revenue of Wine-licences; if confined to the Bills of Mortality, it would in his opinion diminish it no more than 400_l._; but if extended to Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, and other Dock-yards, it might lessen it 200_l._ more; he added, that he thinks it more necessary to correct the evil in those parts, as it has a direct tendency to corrupt and destroy the very vitals of the Constitution, the lives of the useful seamen, who by means of these houses become the objects of plunder as long as they have any money, and are induced to become robbers when they have none; and he informed the Committee that there is another great evil which is the cause of these disorders, namely, the immense number of common prostitutes, who, mostly from necessity, infest the streets of the City and Liberty of Westminster and parts adjacent, attended by common soldiers and other bullies to protect them from the civil power; these prostitutes, when they have secured the unwary customers, lead them to some of the aforesaid taverns, from whence they seldom escape without being robbed.

64The cause of this evil, as he apprehends, is the great difficulty, as the Law now stands, to punish those offenders, they being, as common prostitutes, scarce, if at all, within the description of any Statute now in being; and he added, that this subjects watchmen, round-house keepers, constables, and even the Magistrates themselves to prosecutions from low Attorneys; that the remedy in his opinion should be to declare, that persons walking or plying in the said streets for lewd purposes after the watch is set, standing at the doors, or appearing at the windows of such taverns in an indecent manner for lewd purposes, shall be considered as vagrants, and punished as such.

65That as to the circumstance of street-beggars, it never came to his knowledge that they are under contribution to the beadles.

66Mr. Rainsforth the High-constable being called, delivered in a paper called "The State of the Watch in Westminster;" which paper is hereunto annexed: and said, that all the watchmen being assembled at Guildhall on Saturday, March 24, to see the housebreakers, they appeared to him in general very infirm and unfit to execute that office.

67Mr. Thomas Heath, a Burgess of the Duchy of Lancaster, being examined, said, that both the constables and watch within the said Duchy are very insufficient and defective."

68The Committee concluded their Report with thirteen resolutions, exactly corresponding with the evidence received, which were all agreed to by the House, and a Bill or Bills ordered to be brought in for carrying them into effect.

69The High Constable's remarks:

70_St. Margaret's._

71"Three quarters past 11. Constable came after I was there, house-man and beadle on duty; 41 watchmen, with St. John's united, at eightpence halfpenny _per night_, with one guinea at Christmas, and one guinea at Lady-day, and great coats as a present; their beats large; was obliged to take a soldier into custody for being out of his quarters, and very insolent, with several more soldiers, in the streets at 12 o'clock; called out "Watch," but could get no assistance from them.

72_St. George's._

73Half-past 12. Constable and four house-men on duty; 57 watchmen at one shilling _per night_, and great coats; two men had attempted to break into Lady Cavendish's house, but were prevented.

74_St. James's._

75One o'clock. Constable and beadle on duty, streets very quiet, meeting with no disorders; 56 watchmen at one shilling _per night_ for five months, and eight-pence for seven months, with coats, lanterns, and candles.

76_St. Anne's._

77Half-past 1. Constable gone his rounds; 23 watchmen at one shilling _per night_ for six months, and nine-pence the other six, with candles; no disorders.

78_St. Martin's._

79Two o'clock. Constable, regulator, and beadle on duty; 43 watchmen at 14_l. per ann._ candles and great coats, every thing quiet, beats large.

80_St. Paul's, Covent-garden._

81Half-past 2. Constable, house-keeper, and beadle on duty; 22 watchmen at one shilling _per night_, down to eightpence halfpenny; no disturbance.

82_St. Clement's Danes._

83Past 3. No constable on duty, found a watchman there at a great distance from his beat; from thence went to the night-cellar facing Arundel-street in the Strand, which is in the Dutchy, and there found four of St. Clement's watchmen drinking; St. Clement's watchmen 22 at one shilling each.

84_St. Mary-le-Strand._

85No attendance, having only two constables which only attend every other night; 3 watchmen, Dutchy included, at one shilling each; a very disorderly cellar near the New-church for selling saloop, &c. to very loose and suspected persons."

86The number of felons who had been imprisoned in Newgate during the year 1772, amounted to the amazing number of 1475; from 1747 to 1764, the number had never exceeded 1300; from the year 1763 to 1772, the greatest number of prisoners who died in Newgate within twelve months was 36, and the least 14.

87Impressed with the melancholy consequences to Society from this shocking increase of depravity, Sir John Fielding thus emphatically addressed the Grand Jury at the Quarter-sessions for Westminster, October 12, 1773.

88"Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,

89"By virtue of the trust now reposed in you, as a Grand Jury for the City and Liberty of Westminster, you are become the temporary guardians of the lives, liberty, property, and reputation of your fellow-citizens; nor can a higher trust than this be placed in man. And in order that it may be discharged with a conscientious regard to truth, and a fidelity becoming its importance, you are bound by the solemn tie of an oath to execute this office without malice, without resentment, without favour, and without affection. Under this sacred obligation, your fellow-subjects have reason to hope and expect that you will hear with patience, enquire with diligence, judge with candour, and present with impartiality.

90"I am sorry to inform you, Gentlemen, that it appears from our Calendar, that there are a number of persons in confinement charged with felonies of different degrees, but it is a melancholy truth; probably some of these unfortunate fellow-creatures may suffer ignominious punishments; but, as prevention is far superior to punishment, permit me to call forth to your attention some of those public offences which first corrupt, and then precipitate the unwary to infamy and destruction.

91I mean the keeping of gaming-houses, disorderly houses, bawdy-houses, for it is these seminaries of vice, these polluted fountains, that first poison the moral spring of our youth, and consequently make footpads, highwaymen, and housebreakers, of those who might otherwise have been useful, nay, perhaps honourable members of society; and although I am convinced it is in the power of many of the inhabitants of this City and Liberty to remove, by prosecution, some of these nuisances; yet I am aware that they are deterred from it by the hateful idea indiscriminately annexed to the name of an informer; and thus, gentlemen, the parties injured, by a criminal cowardice, neglect their duty to the publick, whilst the ignorant and abandoned slanderer unjustly reviles the Magistrate for the continuation of these evils; but, if public spirit should produce any prosecutors of the keepers of such houses, I hope you will do your utmost to bring such miscreants to condign punishment, that the publick may have a fair opportunity of judging in what a detestable light the Magistrates of this Bench consider such offenders and offences.

92Let the inhabitants but complain, and if the Justice neglect his duty, may contempt and confusion overtake him! But till then, place confidence, and pay respect to that authority where confidence and respect are due.

93"And now, gentlemen, give me leave to take notice of one public offence, so alarming in its nature, and so mischievous in its effects, that, like a pestilence, it does not only stand in need of your immediate assistance, but that of all good men, to stop its corroding progress; I mean the exposing to sale, and selling such indecent and obscene prints and books as are sufficient to put impudence itself to the blush.

94Surely, gentlemen, Providence has placed too strong propensions in our nature to stand in need of such inflammatory aids as these; on the contrary, in this particular, we rather require restraints than encouragements; but, if at that period of life when our children and apprentices stand in need of a parent to advise, a master to restrain, or a friend to admonish and check the first impulse of passion, pictures like these are held forth to meet their early feelings, what but destruction must be the event?

95Indeed, by care, you may prevent youth in some degree from frequenting bad company; you may accustom them to good habits, afford them examples worthy imitation, and by shutting your doors early, may oblige them to keep good hours; but, alas! what doors, what bolts, what bars, can be any security to their innocence, whilst Vice in this deluding form counteracts all caution, and bids defiance to the force of precept, prudence, and example, by affording such foul but palatable hints as are destructive to modesty, sobriety, and obedience?

96But, what is still more shocking, I am informed that women, nay mothers of families, to the disgrace of their sex, are the cruel dispensers of this high-seasoned mischief; but, if duty or humanity should spirit up any one to prosecute such offenders, I conjure you as fathers, masters, and subjects, to afford them the best assistance in your power, to put a stop to this shameful and abominable practice.

97"I am very sensible that I have already trespassed much on your time, but cannot take my leave without acquainting you that our Courts of Judicature of late have abounded with prosecutions for wilful and corrupt perjury--dreadful offence! But, as oaths are the foundation of all our judicial proceedings, and the negligent administration of these oaths is one great cause of perjury, I do earnestly recommend it to you, Mr. Foreman, not to permit any witness to give his testimony without reminding him that he is about to speak under the sacred influence of an oath, and that he has called the great God himself to witness that he is speaking truth."

98An Act, passed in 1774, has operated through the following clause, in suppressing some of the enormities which lead to the crimes Sir John deprecated. "That every watchman, as well patroles as others, and every beadle, shall, during his respective time of watching, to the utmost of his power endeavour to prevent as well all mischiefs happening by fire, as all murders, burglaries, robberies, affrays, and other outrages and disorders; _and to that end_, during the time of watching, each and every of them shall and may, and are hereby authorised and impowered to arrest and apprehend _all night-walkers_, malefactors, rogues, vagabonds, and other loose, idle, and disorderly persons, and all persons lying or loitering in any street, square, court, mews, lane, alley, or elsewhere; to apprehend and bring them as soon as convenient before the constable of the night. And if any person or persons shall assault or resist any watchman in the execution of his office, they shall pay any sum not exceeding five pounds."

99The publication of obscene prints and books (though so justly reprobated by Sir John Fielding) had proceeded with very little interruption, almost through the space of time which elapsed between his charge and the termination of the century. A few prosecutions were instituted, but nothing systematic in opposition took place, till the Society for the Suppression of Vice attacked the enemies of virtue and decency with vigour, and obtained almost a complete victory. For this essential service rendered to the community they deserve every praise; and, however the publick may be divided in opinion as to their methods of proceeding, and the propriety of some of their operations, all will agree that vending obscene books and prints, riotous and disorderly houses, lotteries, and little-goes, and cruelty to animals, ought to be finally prevented. I shall close this article with a summary of their convictions during the first year of their establishment, ending in April 1803.

100_Profanation of the Sabbath._

101---------------------------+----------------------------+----------- _Offenders._ | _Punishments._ | _No._ ---------------------------+----------------------------+----------- Two hundred and twenty-two | Some convicted in the | Shop-keepers, for | full penalty, with costs,| pursuing their ordinary | and others in costs | callings; and two hundred| only.--Before the | 440 and eighteen Publicans, | Magistrates. | for suffering Tippling | | during Divine Service, | | (having disregarded | | the warning previously | | delivered them). | |

102_Vending Obscene Books and Prints._

103---------------------------+----------------------------+----------- _Offenders._ | _Punishments._ | _No._ ---------------------------+----------------------------+----------- GAINER, an Itinerant | Six Months | Hawker. | Imprisonment.--Middlesex | | Sessions. | HARRIS, a Vender of Ballads| Two Years Imprisonment | and Obscene Books and | and Pillory.--Westminster| Prints, at Whitehall. | Sessions. | 7 BERTAZZI*, an Italian | Six Months Imprisonment. | Itinerant Hawker. | Middlesex Sessions. | BERTAZZI, on two other | Six Months Imprisonment | Indictments. | for each offence, and | | twice Pillory.--Court | | of King's Bench. | ANN AITKIN, Printseller, | One Year's Imprisonment | Castle-street, | and hard Labour.--Court | Leicester-fields. | of King's Bench. | BAINES, Keeper of a Stall, | One Year's | Skinner-street, | Imprisonment.--Old | Snow-hill. | Bailey Sessions. |

104* _N.B._ This man, in connection with many others, went about the City selling obscene books and prints, at boarding-schools of both sexes.

105_Riotous and Disorderly Houses_, &c.

106--------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------- _Offenders._ | _Punishments._ | _No._ --------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------- Four Keepers of Houses |All suppressed in a summary | where unlawful Dances | way.--Before the Magistrates.| 11 were held, two on Sundays; | | three Keepers of | | Public-houses, and two | | of Private Theatres--being | | all receptacles for disorderly| | and abandoned | | characters, and places for | | the seduction of youth of | | both sexes; and two | | Keepers of Brothels, | | where practices of the | | grossest prostitution were | | carried on. | |

107Lotteries and Little Goes._

108------------------------------+----------------------------+-------- _Offenders._ | _Punishments._ | _No._ ------------------------------+----------------------------+-------- Twenty-five Persons for |From Two to Six Months | illegal Insurances, &c. | Imprisonment each.--Before| some principals, and some | the Magistrates. | agents. | | 26 SAMUEL BEST, a Fortune-teller |Committed as a Vagrant. | and Impostor. | |

109_Cruelty to Animals._

110------------------------------+----------------------------+-------- | | _Offenders._ | _Punishments._ | _No._ | | ------------------------------+----------------------------+-------- Two Drovers. | Imprisonment One Month | | each.--Before the | | Magistrates. | Several persons guilty of | Suppressed by the | 3 Bear and Badger baiting, | Magistrates. | in Black-boy-alley, | | Chick-lane, where the most | | shocking scenes of | | barbarity had been practised| | for twenty-two years, even | | on Sundays. | |

111_Total Convictions._

112Profanation of the Sabbath 440 Vending Obscene Books and Prints 7 Riotous and Disorderly Houses, &c. 11 Lotteries and Little Goes 26 Cruelty to Animals 3 --- 487

113Mr. Carlton, Deputy Clerk of the Peace, and Clerk to the Justices for Westminster, stated to a Committee of the House of Commons in 1782, that E-O tables were very numerous; that one house in the parish of St. Anne, Soho, contained five, and that there were more than 300 in the above parish and St. James's; those were used every day of the week, and servants enticed to them by cards of direction thrown down the areas.

114I have hitherto noticed those general circumstances of depravity, which ever have and ever will prevail in a greater or less degree in every Metropolis; and shall conclude the black list with mentioning the _monster_, who terrified the females of London in 1790, by cutting at their clothes with a sharp instrument, and frequently injuring their persons. Renwick Williams was at length apprehended, tried, and convicted, for cutting the garments and person of Miss Anne Porter; and the horrid acts were never repeated.

115QUACKS--1700.

116The man who, without experience or education, undertakes to compound drugs, and, when compounded, to administer them as remedies for diseases of the human body, may justly be pronounced a dishonest adventurer, and an enemy to life and the fair proportions of his fellow-citizens. Quackery is an antient profession in London. Henry VIII. despised them, and endeavoured to suppress their nostrums by establishing Censors in Physick; but I do not profess to meddle with them before 1700.

117"At the Angel and Crown, in Basing-lane, near Bow-lane, lives J. Pechey, a Graduate in the University of Oxford, and of many years standing in the College of Physicians, London; where all sick people that come to him may have, _for sixpence_, a faithful account of their diseases, and plain directions for diet and other things they can prepare themselves; and such as have occasion for medicines may have them of him at reasonable rates, without paying any thing for advice; and he will visit any sick person in London or the Liberties thereof, in the day-time, for 2_s._ 6_d._ and any where else within the Bills of Mortality for 5_s._; and if he be called by any person as he passes by in any of these places, he will require but 1_s._ for his advice."

118The ridiculous falsehoods of Quacks have long been detested by the sensible part of the Community; but every thing that has been said and written against them avails nothing: thousands of silly people are yet duped, nay, are bigoted in their belief of the efficacy of nostrums. Be it my task to shew the reader a few of the contrivances and schemes of a Century, and to bring before him _genuine_ effusions of impudence which have daily insulted and deceived the inhabitants of London.

119"April 12, 1700.

120A satisfactory experiment for the curious.

121"If you please to pour one part of _Sal volatile oleosum_, or any other oily salts into a narrow-bottomed wine-glass, and near the like quantity of Stringer's Elixir, _febrifugium martis_, there will be a pleasant conflict: the elixir will immediately make a preparation of and precipitate those oily volatile salts into a fixed armoniac salt in the bottom, and receive the spirituous aromatic oily parts into itself, and yet retain its own virtues, colour, and taste. There is no other true and genuine elixir but Mr.

122Stringer's that is exposed to sale; for those called _Elixir proprietatu_ and _Elixir salutis_, &c. are mere tinctures drawn by brandy or nasty spirits; but this is a perfect elixir or quintessence, whose perfect principles of spirits, oil, and salt, are so inseparably united, that it can neither decay, putrefy, nor die, _no more than the glass that contains it_; and is so far from being a harsh corrosive, that it feels like oil, yet dries like a spirit, cleanses the skin like soap, and not only allays all putrefactive ferments in a moment, _but immediately cures the most malignant fevers_, takes away all _sorts of corns and hardness_ in the skin, and makes the roughest hands smooth and white, only by anointing with it morning and night for a month together: which medicine with his other called Salt of Lemons, _in despite of all opposers_, will approve themselves nearest of affinity to an _universal medicine_."

123In this admirable medicine the Londoner of 1700 had an internal and an external application, and materials to cleanse and soften the hands, which would at the same time enable him to walk the streets in comfort and ease, in defiance of corns and _horny_ excrescences. Happy Londoners! possessing such men as Dr. Pechey and Mr. Stringer, aided by Dr. Case, whose _unguentum panchrestum_, prepared by the _Spagyrick art_, might justly be called the _Golden Mine_. This wonderful preparation cured by its _sympathetical_ powers; in short, the Doctor found "it more infallible than the _Zenexton_ of _Paracelsus_." This great Doctor was the means of informing us that Quacks were then in the habit of employing persons to thrust bills into the hands of passengers in the streets. For example: "Your old friend, Dr. Case, desires you not to forget him, although he has left the _common way of bills_."

124A _brother Quack_ this year issued the following notice: "John Poley, at Broken-wharf, over-against the Water-mill in Thames-street, next door to the Bell, will undertake to cure any smokey chimneys. _No cure, no money._"

125I very much doubt whether even the lowest class of ignorants would be deceived at present by the ensuing impudent falsehood. "Whereas it has been industriously reported, that _Doctor_ Herwig, who _cures madness_ and most distempers by _sympathy_, has left England, and returned to Germany: This is to give notice, that he lives at the same place, _viz._ at Mr. Gagelman's, in Suffolk-street, Charing-cross, about the middle of the street, _over-against_ the _green_ balcony."

126The reader will undoubtedly admire the modesty of Mr. Bartlett, who, in 1704, advertised, "Bartlett's inventions of Steel Trusses, Instruments, Medicines, and methods to cure Ruptures and other faults of those parts, and to make the weak strong, and crooked strait, most of which I could help with the twentieth part of the trouble and charge occasioned only by delay. I reduce desperate ruptures in a few minutes, though likely to be mortal in a few hours, and have made the only true discovery of cause and cure. Infants and others born so, and to men of fifty or sixty years, in a few weeks cured. I sell strait stockings, collars, and swings, and such like things. Advice and medicines to the poor _gratis_."

127Of all the inventions for the amendment and recovery of the human frame from disease _and death_, none equals the Dutch stiptick, _seriously_ mentioned in the Supplement, printed by John Morphew, April 27, 1709; but which I suspect proceeded from the waggish pen of Mr. Bickerstaff, or some other wit, who sent their effusions to the publisher of the Tatler. "There is prepared by a person of quality in Holland a stiptick water; for the receipt of which, exclusive of all others, the French King has offered 150,000 pistoles; but the proprietor refused to take the same. It was tried upon a Hen, before his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, on board the Peregrine galley.

128The feathers being all plucked from her head, a large nail was drove through her brains, gullet, tongue, &c. and fastened her head to a table, where it was left near a minute; after which, drawing out the nail and touching the part immediately with the aforesaid stiptick, she was laid upon the deck, and in half an hour's time recovered, and began to eat bread. Several as extraordinary experiments have been made upon dogs, cats, calves, lambs, and other animals, by cutting their guts in several places, the nut of the thigh, and other parts; and it is affirmed, that this stiptick cures any part of the body, except the heart or bladder."

129John Marten, with his "Attila of the Gout," and specifick, seemed determined in 1712, to expel that disorder from every human body in the Kingdom. Those who in 1807 read his advertisement, and are not thenceforward converts, must be stubborn unbelievers indeed. "I should be wanting (saith Mr. Marten) as well to the publick as myself, did I not reveal the _stupendious_ effects of my specifick in the gout, which daily experience more and more confirms.

130And whatever mean opinion any who are strangers to its excellency may entertain of it, either through unbelief, or being prejudiced by those whose interest it is to explode it; let them remember, _I tell_ them (as will many reputable people I will refer them to who have tried it), that if they ever expect certain and speedy relief, without the least detriment to their healths, they _must_ have it. I say they _must_, because the surprising benefit all receive by it indicates that nothing else _can_ more intimately dilute, and friendly and instantly obtrude and subdue by its soft balmy alterative nature, the acrimony of the humours that distend and torture the joints, and gently lead them away by urine, the only sensible operation it has.

131And as it is a medicine that will make its own way, it cannot but come (by degrees) to be as universally used and approved of in that distemper, as the Jesuits' bark is for agues, if not more; for none that shall drink it in time will ever be confined a day with the gout, nor others continue in pain an hour after drinking it, though they have lain for weeks together upon the _wreck_.

132Any may be further satisfied, and have all objections answered, _by word of mouth_, or by consulting the book I lately published, intituled, "The Attila of the Gout," being a peculiar account of that distemper, in which _the vanity of all_ that has hitherto been writ and practised to remove it, and an infallible method to cure it, are demonstrated; with ample testimonies of patients cured by John Marten, Surgeon, in Hatton-garden."

133I have before observed, that every profession has its Quacks, or persons who deviate from established rules. Such was the _Quack writer_ who inserted the ensuing advertisement in the Evening Post of January 22, 1717. "Whereas a certain pretender to Penmanship has, in an ill_e_terate manner, _fell_ upon my late performance, let him know _I look down upon him_, yet thus give him his answer: if I did keep monsters for my diversion, that does not affect me in my art; and it is well known that I have not now a deformed creature in my house, which is more than he can say _while he is within doors_. I pass by the unworthy reflections on my N and O, which I could return upon his R and T; but his own ink will blacken him enough, while it appears in his own irregular scrawls.

134While Cross of Paul's shines in the middle sky, _Thy_ name shall _stink_, but _mine_ shall never die."

135The above elegant production has a parallel in the following modest notice of August 1717. "This is to give notice, that Dr. Benjamin Thornhill, sworn servant to his Majesty King George, _seventh son_ of _the seventh son_, who has kept a stage in the Rounds of West-Smithfield for several months past, will continue to be advised with every day in the week, from eight in the morning till eight at night, at his lodgings at the Swan Tavern, in West-Smithfield, till Michaelmas, for the good of all people that lie languishing under distempers, he knowing that _Talenta in agro non est abscondita_, that a talent ought not to be hid in the Earth; therefore he exposes himself in public for the good of the poor.

136The many cures he had performed has given the world great satisfaction, having cured 1500 people of the King's evil, and several hundreds that have been blind, lame, deaf, and diseased. God Almighty having been pleased to bestow upon him so great a talent, he thinks himself bound in duty to be helpful to all sorts of persons that are afflicted with any distemper. He will tell you in a minute what distemper you are troubled with, and whether you are curable or not; if not curable, he will not take any one in hand, if he might have 500_l._ for a reward.

137"N. B. The Doctor has an infallible cure for the Gout, which in a few hours gives ease, and in a short time makes a perfect cure; likewise a never-failing remedy for the wind colic in the stomach and bowels."

138The Original Weekly Journal of December 28, 1723, contains a set of queries, which seem better suited to the ideas of a person despising Quacks than to have been written by one. "An appeal to the judicious part of mankind, if it is not the grossest imposition imaginable to cram the public prints in so fulsome a manner with infallible specificks, arcana's, Italian boluses, and innumerable Quack-medicines put to sale at Toy-shops and other places, only to hide the shame, and screen from the resentment of injured people, the preparers of such notorious cheats. Are the best physicians or most eminent surgeons ashamed of their prescriptions?

139Can men of sense be gulled out of their money by the severe affliction of another's pocket (though, in his own words, of their body), because his pretended charity to their deplorable circumstances has induced him to publish what he does not own? Are not the degrees of distempers and the constitutions of men various? Was ever any one thing infallible? Can all people eat the most innocent food with equal advantage? Have we not ingenious Physicians and Surgeons, who act in public, not only to their own honour, but that of their country, and are, by their transcendant skill, become inimitable in all the world?

140Are not some disappointed in the success of a prescription from the most judicious hand? and will they depend upon what has no known author, and who refers them to the advice of some able Surgeon after cheating them himself? Shall any man's misery prevail upon his credulity to make him more miserable? or will any Surgeon expose his patient? For your _own sake_, apply to some man of ingenuity and probity, who appears to justify his practice by his success; _one of which invites you to his house_, at the Golden-heart and Square-lamp, in Crane-court, near Fetter-lane. Ask for the Surgeon, who is to be advised with every morning till 11 o'clock, and from two till nine at night, in any distemper."

141After the above interrogatories, it would be absurd to attempt the application of any argument against Quackery. The queries of this extraordinary Quack are absolutely unanswerable; but it will be necessary to add, for the _information of posterity_, that the daily papers are still filled with false advertisements and false testimonies of cures performed; and that the angles of the streets, walls, and fences of London, are covered with bills issued by Quacks, while, perhaps, upwards of an hundred persons obtain a livelihood by handing them to passengers in every street.

142This method of proceeding may be pronounced one of the customs which distinguish London; and, as I purpose tracing those, the reader will forgive my entering upon the subject without any other preliminary observation, than that I am afraid he will find some of the number trench very closely upon the rights of the articles under the head of Depravity.