man, when even partners in vice are unfaithful to each other.
This is the only print among the set, excepting the first, where the two
principal characters are introduced; in which Mr. Hogarth has shown his
great abilities, as well in description, as in a particular attention to
the uniformity and connexion of the whole. He is now at the bar, with
all the marks of guilt imprinted on his face. How, if his fear will
permit him to reflect, must he think on the happiness and exaltation of
his fellow-'prentice on the one hand, and of his own misery and
degradation on the other! at one instant, he condemns the persuasions of
his wicked companions; at another, his own idleness and obstinacy:
however, deeply smitten with his crime, he sues the magistrate, upon his
knees, for mercy, and pleads in his cause the former acquaintance that
subsisted between them, when they both dwelt beneath the same roof, and
served the same common master: but here was no room for lenity, murder
was his crime, and death must be his punishment; the proofs are
incontestable, and his mittimus is ordered, which the clerk is drawing
out. Let us next turn our thoughts upon the alderman, in whose breast a
struggle between mercy and justice is beautifully displayed. Who can
behold the magistrate, here, without praising the man? How fine is the
painter's thoughts of reclining the head on one hand, while the other is
extended to express the pity and shame he feels that human nature should
be so depraved! It is not the golden chain or scarlet robe that
constitutes the character, but the feelings of the heart. To show us
that application for favour, by the ignorant, is often idly made to the
servants of justice, who take upon themselves on that account a certain
state and consequence, not inferior to magistracy, the mother of our
delinquent is represented in the greatest distress, as making interest
with the corpulent self-swoln constable, who with an unfeeling concern
seems to say, "Make yourself easy, for he must be hanged;" and to
convince us that bribery will even find its way into courts of
judicature, here is a woman feeing the swearing clerk, who has stuck his
pen behind his ear that his hands might be both at liberty; and how much
more his attention is engaged to the money he is taking, than to the
administration of the oath, may be known from the ignorant, treacherous
witness being suffered to lay his left hand upon the book; strongly
expressive of the s