I I - American Memory

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When 1 was firft taken and committed to Newgate,
there was a Report that got foon a Place in the piiblick
Papers, that I had boldly aflerted. That the Galla-vjs ivas
•not yet built that I nuas to he hanged on. This in a fort
of a Bravado, and as a Hint of my being innocent, it
is poffible I might fay fomething to that or the like Ef-
feft. But there was another Infinuation at the fame
Time, which was as falfe and groundlefs as the other
was true, which was, that I had taken fome poifonous
Preparations to fave Jack Catch the Labour of exalting
me above my Brothers. But this as I am a dying Man
I declare is a fcandalous Afperfion, and if I mull die,
tho' my Death be never fo ignominious, I never had
a Thought of committing the mofl unnatural, the moil:
cowardly Crime, and be my own Executioner. The
illnefs that at that Time attended me, and which was
the Occafion of that Rumour, was in Faft the Gaol
Diftemper. Juft at th-^.t JunSure a certain Butcher
Woman paid me a Vifit, which I imagin'd at firft was
the Effeft of her Friendlhip and Concern for me ; but
to my Difappointment I found it quite the Reverfe ; as
I was very much out of Order, I confefs the approbri-
ous Language (he gave me, (and her Tongue was well
verfed in the Terms peculiar to Billinfgate) rufRed my
Temper fo far, that (tho' I bore with her Impertinence
a long Time with toUerable Patience) I threw a Glafs of
Punch in her Face, and D—d her for an everlafting
Scold ; for which indecent Adion I heartily beg her
• Pardon, as I likev/lfe do of every Perfon whom I have
any Ways offended in Thought, Word, or Deed.
There was one Affignation which I had made with
a certain Widow not far from Neivgate ; in the Profe-
cution of which I ran the Hazard of my Life, and
made good the old Proverb, That fweet Meat has com-
monhf ftrwer Sauce. The Relation of this Adventure at
large may perhaps prove as an agreeable Amufement as
any other Circumftance of my irregular Life, and mull
be I think fome Demonftration to my Readers that I
was fomething of a Politician that underftood Trap, and
.could in Lgve Affairs make thebeft Market.
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