a book of scoundrels-第29章
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elds。 Rapid； indeed； was the descent。 At the first grip of adversity； he forgot his cherished principles； and two years later the loftiest and most elegant gentlemen that ever picked a pocket was at the Hulksfor robbing a harlot at Drury Lane！ Henceforth； his insolence and artistry declined； and； though to the last there were intervals of grandeur； he spent the better part of fifteen years in the commission of crimes； whose very littleness condemned them。 At last an exile from St。 James's and Ranelagh； he was forced into a society which still further degraded him。 Hitherto he had shunned the society of professed thieves； in his golden youth he had scorned to shelter him in the flash kens； which were the natural harbours of pickpockets。 But now； says his biographer； he began to seek evil company； and； the victim of his own fame； found safety only in obscene concealment。
At the Hulks he recovered something of his dignity； and discretion rendered his first visit brief enough。 Even when he was committed on a second offence； and had attempted suicide； he was still irresistible； and he was discharged with several years of imprisonment to run。 But； in truth； he was born for honour and distinction； and common actions； common criminals； were in the end distasteful to him。 In his heyday he stooped no further than to employ such fences as might profitably dispose of his booty； and the two partners of his misdeeds were both remarkable。
James； the earlier accomplice affected clerical attire； and in 1791 ‘was living in a Westphalian monastery； to which he some years ago retired； in an enviable state of peace and penitence； respected for his talents； and loved for his amiable manners； by which he is distinguished in an eminent degree。' The other ruffian； Lowe by name； was known to his own Bloomsbury Square for a philanthropic and cultured gentleman； yet only suicide saved him from the gallows。 And while Barrington was wise in the choice of his servants； his manners drove even strangers to admiration。 Policemen and prisoners were alike anxious to do him honour。 Once when he needed money for his own defence； his brother thieves； whom he had ever shunned and despised； collected 100 for the captain of their guild。 Nor did gaoler and judge ever forget the respect due to a gentleman。 When Barrington was tried and condemned for the theft of Mr。 Townsend's watch at Enfield RacesSeptember 15； 1790； was the day of his last transgressionone knows not which was the more eloquent in his respect； the judge or the culprit。
But it was not until the pickpocket set out for Botany Bay that he took full advantage of his gentlemanly bearing。 To thrust ‘Mr。' Barrington into the hold was plainly impossible； even though transportation for seven years was his punishment。 Wherefore he was admitted to the boatswain's mess； was allowed as much baggage as a first…class passenger； and doubtless beguiled the voyage （for others） with the information of a well…stored mind。 By an inspiration of luck he checked a mutiny； holding the quarter…deck against a mob of ruffians with no weapon but a marline…spike。 And hereafter； as he tells you in his ‘Voyage to New South Wales；' he was accorded the fullest liberty to come or go。 He visited many a foreign port with the officers of the ship； he packed a hundred note…books with trite and superfluous observations； he posed； in brief； as the captain of the ship without responsibility。 Arrived at Port Jackson； he was acclaimed a hero； and received with obsequious solicitude by the Governor； who promised that his ‘future situation should be such as would render his banishment from England as little irksome as possible。' Forthwith he was appointed high constable of Paramatta； and； like Vautrin； who might have taken the youthful Barrington for another Rastignac； he ended his days the honourable custodian of less fortunate convicts。 Or； as a broadside ballad has it；
He left old Drury's flash purlieus； To turn at last a copper。
Never did he revert to his ancient practice。 If in his youth he had lived the double…life with an effrontery and elegance which Brodie himself never attained； henceforth his career was single in its innocence。 He became a prig in the less harmful and more offensive sense。 After the orthodox fashion he endeared himself to all who knew him； and ruled Paramatta with an equable severity。 Having cultivated the humanities for the base purposes of his trade； he now devoted himself to literature with an energy of dulness； becoming； as it were； a liberal education personified。 His earlier efforts had been in verse； and you wonder that no enterprising publisher had ventured on a limited edition。 Time was he composed an ode to Light； and once recovering from a fever contracted at Ballyshannon； he addressed a few burning lines to Hygeia：
Hygeia！ thou whose eyes display The lustre of meridian day；
and so on for endless couplets。 Then； had he not celebrated in immortal verse his love for Miss Egerton； untimely drowned in the waters of the Boyne？ But now； as became the Constable of Paramatta； he chose the sterner medium； and followed up his ‘Voyage to New South Wales' with several exceeding trite and valuable histories。
His most ambitious work was dedicated in periods of unctuous piety to his Majesty King George III。； and the book's first sentence is characteristic of his method and sensibility： ‘In contemplating the origin； rise； and fall of nations； the mind is alternately filled with a mixture of sacred pain and pleasure。' Would you read further？ Then you will find Fauna and Flora； twin goddesses of ineptitude； flitting across the page； unreadable as a geographical treatise。 His first masterpiece was translated into French； anno VI。； and the translator apologises that war with England alone prevents the compilation of a suitable biography。 Was ever thief treated with so grave a consideration？
Then another work was prefaced by the Right Hon。 William Eden； and all were ‘embellished with beautiful coloured plates；' and ran through several editions。 Once only did he return to poetry； the favoured medium of his youth； and he returned to write an imperishable line。 Even then his pedantry persuaded him to renounce the authorship； and to disparage the achievement。 The occasion was the opening of a theatre at Sydney； wherein the parts were sustained by convicts。 The cost of admission to the gallery was one shilling； paid in money； flour； meat； or spirits。
The play was entitled The Revenge and the Hotel； and Barrington provided the prologue； which for one passage is for ever memorable。 Thus it runs：
From distant climes； o'er widespread seas； we come； Though not with much eclat or beat of drum； True patriots we； for be it understood； We left our country for our country's good。 No private views disgraced our generous zeal； What urged our travels was our country's weal； And none will doubt； but that our emigration Has proved most useful to the British nation。
‘We left our country for our country's good。' That line； thrown fortuitously into four hundred pages of solid prose； has emerged to become the common possession of Fleet Street。 It is the man's one title to literary fame； for spurning the thievish practice he knew so well； he was righteously indignant when The London Spy was fathered upon him。 Though he emptied his contemporary's pockets of many thousands； he enriched the Dictionary of Quotations with one line； which will be repeated so long as there is human hand to wield a pen。 And； if the High Constable of Paramatta was tediously respectable； George Barrington； the Prig； was a man of genius。
THE SWITCHER AND GENTLEMAN HARRY
I THE SWITCHER
THE SWITCHER
DAVID HAGGART was born at Canonmills； with no richer birthright than thievish fingers and a left hand of surpassing activity。 The son of a gamekeeper； he grew up a long…legged； red…headed callant； lurking in the sombre shadow of the Cowgate； or like the young Sir Walter； championing the Auld Town against the New on the slopes of Arthur's Seat。 Kipping was his early sin； but the sportsman's instinct； born of his father's trad
