The Officers have done their Duty, they are but Men, and have had to deal with a Creature something more than Man, a Protoeus, Supernatural, Words cannot describe him, his Actions and Workmanship which are too visible, best testifie him.

On Saturday the 17th, Joseph Blake, alias Blewskin, came upon his Tryal at the Old Bailey:  Field gave the same Evidence against him, as he had formerly done against Sheppard; and the Prisoner making but a triffling Defence, the Jury found him Guilty of Buglary and Felony.  The Criminal when the Verdict was brought in, made his Obeysances to the Court, and thank’d them for their Kindness.

It will be necessary that we now return to the Behaviour of Mr. Sheppard, some few Days before his last Flight.

Mr. Figg the famous Prize Fighter comeing to see him, in NEWGATE, there past some pleasant Raillery between them; and after Mr. Figg was gone, Sheppard declared he had a Mind to send him a formal Challenge to Fight him at all the Weapons in the strong Room; and that let the Consequence be what it would, he should call at Mr. Figg’s House in his way to Execution, and drink a merry Glass with him by way of Reconciliation.

A young Woman an Acquaintance of his Mother, who wash’d his Linnen and brought him Necessaries, having in an Affray, got her Eyes beaten Black and Blue; says Sheppard to her, How long hast thou been Married?  Replyes the Wench. I wonder you can ask me such a Question, when you so well know the Contrary:  Nay, says Sheppard again, Sarah don’t deny it, for you have gotten your Certificate in your Face.

Mr. Ireton a Bailiff in Drury-Lane having pursued Sheppard after his Escape from the Condemn’d-Hold with uncommon Diligence; (for the safety of that Neighbourhood which was the chief Scene of his Villainies) Sheppard when Re-taken, declared, he would be even with him for it, and if ever he procur’d his Liberty again, he would give all his Prisoners an ACT OF GRACE.  A Gentleman in a jocose way ask’d him to come and take a Dinner with him, Sheppard reply’d, he accepted of the Invitation, and perhaps might take an opportunity to wait on him; and there is great Reason to believe he has been as good as his Word.

He would complain of his Nights, as saying, It was dark with him from Five in the Evening, till Seven in the Morning; and being not permitted to have either a Bed or Candle, his Circumstances were dismal; and that he never slept but had some confus’d Doses, he said he consider’d all this with the Temper of a Philosopher.

Neither his sad Circumstances, nor the solemn Exhortations of the several Divines who visited him, were able to divert him from this ludicrous way of Expression; he said, They were all Ginger-bread Fellows, and came rather out of Curiosity, than Charity; and to form Papers and Ballads out of his Behaviour.