There I remained six months, among those prisoners who
have no other support than chance charity; and contracted a very
valuable acquaintance, which was of great service to me in the
future emergencies of my life.
"I was no sooner discharged, in consequence of an act of parliament
for the relief of insolvent debtors, than I went to the house of my
creditor, whom I cudgelled without mercy; and, that I might leave
nothing undone of those things which I ought to have done, my next
stage was to Westminster Hall, where I waited until my patron came
forth from the house, and saluted him with a blow that laid him
senseless on the pavement. But my retreat was not so fortunate as
I could have wished. The chairman and lacqueys in waiting having
surrounded and disarmed me in a trice, I was committed to Newgate,
and loaded with chains; and a very sagacious gentleman, who was
afterwards hanged, having sat in judgment upon my case, pronounced
me guilty of a capital crime, and foretold my condemnation at the
Old Bailey. His prognostic, however, was disappointed; for nobody
appearing to prosecute me at the next session, I was discharged by
order of the court.
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