ng--that at length I quitted the room,
and that soon afterwards his friend and himself followed. Now came the
accusation. He swore, that just as he was leaving the door he felt some
person drawing his purse from his pocket--that he immediately pursued
the man, and at the corner of Jermyn-street seized _me._ That at first I
submitted, and he dragged me to one of the lamps, and there most
distinctly saw my countenance, when at that moment, by some piece of
adroitness, which he could not explain, I slipped from his grasp, and
instantly disappeared. His friend corroborated the story. The
magistrate, after cautioning me, and expressing his regret at seeing a
person of my appearance before him, asked me whether I wished to say any
thing in my defence, I answered that I was the victim of some secret and
devilish conspiracy, and that I would prove that I was at my chambers on
the night in question. "I hope you may be able to do so," said the
magistrate; "but in the mean time it is, my duty to commit you;" and I
was conducted to gaol in a hackney-coach. I immediately summoned one or
two of my friends, and after laying open to them the circumstances in
which I had been placed, we concerted the best means of defence. My
laundress could swear that I was in chambers the whole of the evening
when the robbery was committed; and though this was the only direct
evidence in my favour, yet I assembled at least a dozen persons, men of
repute and station, as witnesses to my character. The trial excited
prodigious interest, but what was that interest to the agony with which
I regarded the issue! Should I be convicted, my mysterious enemies would
enjoy, in triumph, my disgrace and degradation, and might probably
proceed by the same diabolical contrivances to attempt even my life. The
day came, and I was arraigned among a herd of common felons; but the
consciousness of my innocence, and the hope of establishing it,
supported my heart. No sooner had I heard the witnesses for the
prosecution, than that hope died within me. A number of persons deposed,
that on the night in question they had seen me in the gambling-house;
but they were men of indifferent character, and not personally
acquainted with me. At last, with astonishment and horror I saw my
venerable friend, Mr. B----, put into the box, and heard him swear in
positive terms that he was present in the room, and saw me at play. My
defence availed nothing. The wretched old woman, whom I produc