been often in such scrapes, was very little concerned, and charged the
constable, in his turn, with the landlady and her whole bevy; upon which
we were carried altogether prisoners to the round-house, where Jackson
after a word of comfort to us, informed the constable of his being
robbed, to which he said he would swear next morning before the justice.
In a little time the constable, calling Jackson into another room, spoke
to him thus: "I perceive that you and your company are strangers, and
am very sorry for your being involved in such an ugly business. I have
known this woman a great while; she has kept a notorious house in the
neighbourhood this many years; and although often complained of as a
nuisance, still escapes through her interest with the justices, to whom
she and all of her employment pay contribution quarterly for protection.
As she charged me with you first, her complaint will have the
preference, and she can procure evidence to swear whatsoever she shall
please to desire of them; so that, unless you can make it up before
morning, you and your companions may think yourselves happily quit for a
month's hard labour in Bridewell. Nay, if she should swear a robbery or
an assault against you, you will be committed to Newgate and tried at
the next session at the Old Bailey for your life." This last piece of
information had such an effect upon Jackson, that he agreed to make it
up, provided his money might be restored. The constable told him, that,
instead of retrieving what he had lost, he was pretty certain it would
cost him some more before they could come to any composition. But,
however, he had compassion on him, and would, if he pleased, sound
them about a mutual release. The unfortunate beau thanked him for his
friendship, and returning to us, acquainted us with the substance of
this dialogue; while the constable, desiring to speak in private with
our adversary, carried her into the next room, and pleaded, our cause
so effectually, that she condescended to make him umpire: he accordingly
proposed an arbitration, to which we gave our assent; and he fined each
party in three shillings, to be laid out in a bowl of punch, wherein
we drowned all animosities, to the inexpressible joy of my two late
acquaintances and me, who had been extremely uneasy ever since Jackson
mentioned Bridewell and Newgate. By the time we had finished our
bowl--to which, by the bye, I had contributed my last shilling--it was
morning, a