be in such a hurry, says Jonathan, I don’t know but I may help you to it for less, and if I can I will; the persons that have it are gone out of town.  I shall set them to quarrelling about it, and then I shall get it the cheaper. On the 10th of March he sent me word that if I could come to him in Newgate, and bring ten guineas in my pocket, he would help me to the lace.  I went, he desired me to call a porter, but I not knowing where to find one, he sent a person who brought one that appeared to be a ticket-porter.  The prisoner gave me a letter which he said was sent him as a direction where to go for the lace; but I could not read, and so I delivered it to the porter.  Then he desired me to give the porter the ten guineas, or else (he said) the persons who had the lace would not deliver it.  I gave the porter the money; he returned, and brought me a box that was sealed up, but not the same that was lost.  I opened it and found all my lace but one piece.

Now, Mr. Wild, says I, what must you have for your trouble?  Not a farthing, says he, not a farthing for me.  I don’t do these things for worldly interest, but only for the good of poor people that have met with misfortunes.  As for the piece of lace that is missing, I hope to get it for you ere long, and I don’t know but that I may help you not only to your money again, but to the thief too.  And if I can, much good may it do you; and as you are a good woman and a widow, and a Christian, I desire nothing of you but your prayers, and for these I shall be thankful.  I have a great many enemies, and God knows what may be the consequence of this imprisonment.

The fact suggested in the indictment was undoubtedly fully proved by this disposition, and though that fact happened in Newgate, and after his confinement, yet it still continued as much and as great a crime as if it had been done before; the Law therefore condemned him upon it.  But even if he had escaped this, there were other facts of a like nature, which inevitably would have destroyed him; for the last years of his life, instead of growing more prudent, he undoubtedly became less so, for the blunders committed in this fact, were very little like the behaviour of Jonathan in the first years in which he carried on this practice, when nobody behaved with greater caution, as nobody ever had so much reason to be cautious.  And though he had all along great enemies, yet he had conducted his affairs so that the Law could not possibly lay hold of him, nor his excuses be easily detected, even in respect of honesty.

When he was brought up to the bar to receive sentence, he appeared to be very much dejected, and when the usual question was proposed to him:  What have you to say why judgment of death should not pass upon you? he spoke with a very feeble voice in the following terms.