Curious Anecdotes1 Relating to the History of Newgate.
There resided in the castle at the same time with Mr. Wild one Roger Johnson, a very GREAT MAN, who had long been at the head of all the prigs in Newgate, and had raised contributions on them. He examined into the nature of their defence, procured3 and instructed their evidence, and made himself, at least in their opinion, so necessary to them, that the whole fate of Newgate seemed entirely4 to depend upon him.
Wild had not been long in confinement5 before he began to oppose this man. He represented him to the prigs as a fellow who, under the plausible6 pretence7 of assisting their causes, was in reality undermining THE LIBERTIES OF NEWGATE. He at first threw out certain sly hints and insinuations; but, having by degrees formed a party against Roger, he one day assembled them together, and spoke8 to them in the following florid manner:
“Friends and fellow-citizens, — The cause which I am to mention to you this day is of such mighty9 importance, that when I consider my own small abilities, I tremble with an apprehension10 lest your safety may be rendered precarious11 by the weakness of him who hath undertaken to represent to you your danger. Gentlemen, the liberty of Newgate is at stake; your privileges have been long undermined, and are now openly violated by one man; by one who hath engrossed12 to himself the whole conduct of your trials, under colour of which he exacts what contributions on you he pleases; but are those sums appropriated to the uses for which they are raised? Your frequent convictions at the Old Bailey, those depredations13 of justice, must too sensibly and sorely demonstrate the contrary. What evidence doth he ever produce for the prisoner which the prisoner himself could not have provided, and often better instructed? How many noble youths have there been lost when a single alibi14 would have saved them! Should I be silent, nay15, could your own injuries want a tongue to remonstrate16, the very breath which by his neglect hath been stopped at the cheat would cry out loudly against him. Nor is the exorbitancy of his plunders17 visible only in the dreadful consequences it hath produced to the prigs, nor glares it only in the miseries19 brought on them: it blazes forth20 in the more desirable effects it hath wrought21 for himself, in the rich perquisites22 acquired by it: witness that silk nightgown, that robe of shame, which, to his eternal dishonour23, he publicly wears; that gown which I will not scruple24 to call the winding-sheet of the liberties of Newgate. Is there a prig who hath the interest and honour of Newgate so little at heart that he can refrain from blushing when he beholds25 that trophy26, purchased with the breath of so many prigs? Nor is this all. His waistcoat embroidered27 with silk, and his velvet28 cap, bought with the same price, are ensigns of the same disgrace. Some would think the rags which covered his nakedness when first he was committed hither well exchanged for these gaudy29 trappings; but in my eye no exchange can be profitable when dishonour is the condition. If, therefore, Newgate — ” Here the only copy which we could procure2 of this speech breaks off abruptly30; however, we can assure the reader, from very authentic31 information, that he concluded with advising the prigs to put their affairs into other hands. After which, one of his party, as had been before concerted, in a very long speech recommended him (Wild himself) to their choice.
Newgate was divided into parties on this occasion, the prigs on each side representing their chief or great man to be the only person by whom the affairs of Newgate could be managed with safety and advantage. The prigs had indeed very incompatible32 interests; for, whereas the supporters of Johnson, who was in possession of the plunder18 of Newgate, were admitted to some share under their leader, so the abettors of Wild had, on his promotion33, the same views of dividing some part of the spoil among themselves. It is no wonder, therefore, they were both so warm on each side. What may seem more remarkable34 was, that the debtors35, who were entirely unconcerned in the dispute, and who were the destined36 plunder of both parties, should interest themselves with the utmost violence, some on behalf of Wild, and others in favour of Johnson. So that all Newgate resounded37 with WILD for ever, JOHNSON for ever. And the poor debtors reechoed THE LIBERTIES OF NEWGATE, which, in the cant38 language, signifies plunder, as loudly as the thieves themselves. In short, such quarrels and animosities happened between them, that they seemed rather the people of two countries long at war with each other than the inhabitants of the same castle.
Wild’s party at length prevailed, and he succeeded to the place and power of Johnson, whom he presently stripped of all his finery; but, when it was proposed that he should sell it and divide the money for the good of the whole, he waved that motion, saying it was not yet time, that he should find a better opportunity, that the cloathes wanted cleaning, with many other pretences39, and within two days, to the surprize of many, he appeared in them himself; for which he vouchsafed40 no other apology than that they fitted him much better than they did Johnson, and that they became him in a much more elegant manner.
This behaviour of Wild greatly incensed41 the debtors, particularly those by whose means he had been promoted. They grumbled42 extremely, and vented43 great indignation against Wild; when one day a very grave man, and one of much authority among them, bespake them as follows:
“Nothing sure can be more justly ridiculous than the conduct of those who should lay the lamb in the wolfs way, and then should lament44 his being devoured45. What a wolf is in a sheep-fold, a great man is in society. Now, when one wolf is in possession of a sheep-fold, how little would it avail the simple flock to expel him and place another in his stead! Of the same benefit to us is the overthrowing46 one prig in favour of another. And for what other advantage was your struggle? Did you not all know that Wild and his followers47 were prigs, as well as Johnson and his? What then could the contention48 be among such but that which you have now discovered it to have been? Perhaps some would say, Is it then our duty tamely to submit to the rapine of the prig who now plunders us for fear of an exchange? Surely no: but I answer, It is better to shake the plunder off than to exchange the plunderer49. And by what means can we effect this but by a total change in our manners? Every prig is a slave. His own priggish desires, which enslave him, themselves betray him to the tyranny of others. To preserve, therefore, the liberty of Newgate is to change the manners of Newgate. Let us, therefore, who are confined here for debt only, separate ourselves entirely from the prigs; neither drink with them nor converse50 with them. Let us at the same time separate ourselves farther from priggism itself. Instead of being ready, on every opportunity, to pillage51 each other, let us be content with our honest share of the common bounty52, and with the acquisition of our own industry. When we separate from the prigs, let us enter into a closer alliance with one another. Let us consider ourselves all as members of one community, to the public good of which we are to sacrifice our private views; not to give up the interest of the whole for every little pleasure or profit which shall accrue53 to ourselves. Liberty is consistent with no degree of honesty inferior to this, and the community where this abounds54 no prig will have the impudence55 or audaciousness to endeavour to enslave; or if he should, his own destruction would be the only consequence of his attempt. But while one man pursues his ambition, another his interest, another his safety; while one hath a roguery (a priggism they here call it) to commit, and another a roguery to defend; they must naturally fly to the favour and protection of those who have power to give them what they desire, and to defend them from what they fear; nay, in this view it becomes their interest to promote this power in their patrons. Now, gentlemen, when we are no longer prigs, we shall no longer have these fears or these desires. What remains56, therefore, for us but to resolve bravely to lay aside our priggism, our roguery, in plainer words, and preserve our liberty, or to give up the latter in the preservation57 and preference of the former?”
This speech was received with much applause; however, Wild continued as before to levy58 contributions among the prisoners, to apply the garnish59 to his own use, and to strut60 openly in the ornaments61 which he had stripped from Johnson. To speak sincerely, there was more bravado62 than real use or advantage in these trappings. As for the nightgown, its outside indeed made a glittering tinsel appearance, but it kept him not warm, nor could the finery of it do him much honour, since every one knew it did not properly belong to him; as to the waistcoat, it fitted him very ill, being infinitely63 too big for him; and the cap was so heavy that it made his head ache. Thus these cloathes, which perhaps (as they presented the idea of their misery64 more sensibly to the people’s eyes) brought him more envy, hatred65, and detraction66, than all his deeper impositions and more real advantages, afforded very little use or honour to the wearer; nay, could scarce serve to amuse his own vanity when this was cool enough to reflect with the least seriousness. And, should I speak in the language of a man who estimated human happiness without regard to that greatness, which we have so laboriously67 endeavoured to paint in this history, it is probable he never took (i.e. robbed the prisoners of) a shilling, which he himself did not pay too dear for.
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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plunders
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的第三人称单数 ) | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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perquisites
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| n.（工资以外的）财务补贴( perquisite的名词复数 )；额外收入；（随职位而得到的）好处；利益 | |
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dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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pretences
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| n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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plunderer
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| 掠夺者 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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abounds
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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garnish
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| n.装饰，添饰，配菜 | |
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strut
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| v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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detraction
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| n.减损；诽谤 | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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