found in such places; and amidst
this assembly of the wretched, the black man fell sound asleep,
when a poor thief, who had been taken into custody by the
constable of the night, perceiving, as the man slept, that he
had a watch and money in his pocket, (which was seen on his
thigh,) watched his opportunity and stole the watch, and with a
penknife cut through the pocket, and so possessed himself of
the money. When the black awaked from his nap, he soon
discovered what had been done, to his cost, and immediately
gave the alarm, and a strict search was made through the
company; when the various articles which the black had lost
were found in the possession of the unfortunate wretch who had
stolen them. He was accordingly secured, and next morning
carried before the justice, and committed to take his trial at
the Old Bailey, (the black being bound over to prosecute,) and,
as we have seen, was at his trial cast and condemned to death.
Sir Joshua, much affected by this recital, immediately sent his
principal servant, Ralph Kirkly, to make all enquiries into the
state of the criminal, and, if necessary, to relieve his wants
in whatever way could be done. When Kirkly came to the prison
he was soon admitted to the cell of the prisoner, where he
beheld the most wretched spectacle that imagination can
conceive--a poor forlorn criminal, without a friend on earth
who could relieve or assist him, and reduced almost to a
skeleton by famine and filth, waiting till the dreadful morning
should arrive when he was to be made an end of by a violent
death. Sir Joshua now ordered fresh clothing to be sent to him,
and also that the black servant should carry him every day a
sufficient supply of food from his own table; and at that time
Mr E. Burke being very luckily in office, he applied to him,
and by their joint interest they got his sentence changed to
transportation; when, after being furnished with all
necessaries, he was sent out of the kingdom."--P. 119.
"In this year Sir Joshua raised his price to fifty guineas for
a head size, which he continued during the remainder of his
life. His rapidly accumulating fortune was not, however, for
his own sole enjoyment; he still felt the luxury of doing good,
and had many objects of bounty pointed out to him by his friend
Johnson, who, in one o
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