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Chapter the Last
A parting glance at such of the actors in this little history as
it has not； in the course of its events； dismissed； will bring it
to an end。
Mr Haredale fled that night。 Before pursuit could be begun； indeed
before Sir John was traced or missed； he had left the kingdom。
Repairing straight to a religious establishment； known throughout
Europe for the rigour and severity of its discipline； and for the
merciless penitence it exacted from those who sought its shelter as
a refuge from the world； he took the vows which thenceforth shut
him out from nature and his kind； and after a few remorseful years
was buried in its gloomy cloisters。
Two days elapsed before the body of Sir John was found。 As soon as
it was recognised and carried home； the faithful valet； true to his
master's creed； eloped with all the cash and movables he could lay
his hands on； and started as a finished gentleman upon his own
account。 In this career he met with great success； and would
certainly have married an heiress in the end； but for an unlucky
check which led to his premature decease。 He sank under a
contagious disorder； very prevalent at that time； and vulgarly
termed the jail fever。
Lord George Gordon； remaining in his prison in the Tower until
Monday the fifth of February in the following year； was on that
day solemnly tried at Westminster for High Treason。 Of this crime
he was； after a patient investigation； declared Not Guilty； upon
the ground that there was no proof of his having called the
multitude together with any traitorous or unlawful intentions。 Yet
so many people were there； still； to whom those riots taught no
lesson of reproof or moderation； that a public subscription was set
on foot in Scotland to defray the cost of his defence。
For seven years afterwards he remained； at the strong intercession
of his friends； comparatively quiet； saving that he； every now and
then； took occasion to display his zeal for the Protestant faith in
some extravagant proceeding which was the delight of its enemies；
and saving； besides； that he was formally excommunicated by the
Archbishop of Canterbury； for refusing to appear as a witness in
the Ecclesiastical Court when cited for that purpose。 In the year
1788 he was stimulated by some new insanity to write and publish
an injurious pamphlet； reflecting on the Queen of France； in very
violent terms。 Being indicted for the libel； and （after various
strange demonstrations in court） found guilty； he fled into Holland
in place of appearing to receive sentence： from whence； as the
quiet burgomasters of Amsterdam had no relish for his company；
he was sent home again with all speed。 Arriving in the month of
July at Harwich； and going thence to Birmingham； he made in the
latter place； in August； a public profession of the Jewish
religion； and figured there as a Jew until he was arrested； and
brought back to London to receive the sentence he had evaded。 By
virtue of this sentence he was； in the month of December； cast
into Newgate for five years and ten months； and required besides to
pay a large fine； and to furnish heavy securities for his future
good behaviour。
After addressing； in the midsummer of the following year； an appeal
to the commiseration of the National Assembly of France； which the
English minister refused to sanction； he composed himself to
undergo his full term of punishment； and suffering his beard to
grow nearly to his waist； and conforming in all respects to the
ceremonies of his new religion； he applied himself to the study of
history； and occasionally to the art of painting； in which； in his
younger days； he had shown some skill。 Deserted by his former
friends； and treated in all respects like the worst criminal in the
jail； he lingered on； quite cheerful and resigned； until the 1st
of November 1793； when he died in his cell； being then only three…
and…forty years of age。
Many men with fewer sympathies for the distressed and needy； with
less abilities and harder hearts； have made a shining figure and
left a brilliant fame。 He had his mourners。 The prisoners
bemoaned his loss； and missed him； for though his means were not
large； his charity was great； and in bestowing alms among them he
considered the necessities of all alike； and knew no distinction of
sect or creed。 There are wise men in the highways of the world who
may learn something； even from this poor crazy lord who died in
Newgate。
To the last； he was truly served by bluff John Grueby。 John was at
his side before he had been four…and…twenty hours in the Tower； and
never left him until he died。 He had one other constant attendant；
in the person of a beautiful Jewish girl； who attached herself to
him from feelings half religious； half romantic； but whose virtuous
and disinterested character appears to have been beyond the censure
even of the most censorious。
Gashford deserted him； of course。 He subsisted for a time upon his
traffic in his master's secrets； and； this trade failing when the
stock was quite exhausted； procured an appointment in the
honourable corps of spies and eavesdroppers employed by the
government。 As one of these wretched underlings； he did his
drudgery； sometimes abroad； sometimes at home； and long endured the
various miseries of such a station。 Ten or a dozen years agonot
morea meagre； wan old man； diseased and miserably poor； was found
dead in his bed at an obscure inn in the Borough； where he was
quite unknown。 He had taken poison。 There was no clue to his
name； but it was discovered from certain entries in a pocket…book
he carried； that he had been secretary to Lord George Gordon in the
time of the famous riots。
Many months after the re…establishment of peace and order； and even
when it had ceased to be the town…talk； that every military
officer； kept at free quarters by the City during the late alarms；
had cost for his board and lodging four pounds four per day； and
every private soldier two and twopence halfpenny； many months after
even this engrossing topic was forgotten； and the United Bulldogs
were to a man all killed； imprisoned； or transported； Mr Simon
Tappertit； being removed from a hospital to prison； and thence to
his place of trial； was discharged by proclamation； on two wooden
legs。 Shorn of his graceful limbs； and brought down from his high
estate to circumstances of utter destitution； and the deepest
misery； he made shift to stump back to his old master； and beg for
some relief。 By the locksmith's advice and aid； he was established
in business as a shoeblack； and opened shop under an archway near
the Horse Guards。 This being a central quarter； he quickly made a
very large connection； and on levee days； was sometimes known to
have as many as twenty half…pay officers waiting their turn for
polishing。 Indeed his trade increased to that extent； that in
course of time he entertained no less than two apprentices； besides
taking for his wife the widow of an eminent bone and rag collector；
formerly of MilIbank。 With this lady （who assisted in the
business） he lived in great domestic happiness； only chequered by
those little storms which serve to clear the atmosphere of wedlock；
and brighten its horizon。 In some of these gusts of bad weather；
Mr Tappertit would； in the assertion of his prerogative； so far
forget himself； as to correct his lady with a brush； or boot； or
shoe； while she （but only in extreme cases） would retaliate by
taking off his legs； and leaving him exposed to the derision of
those urchins who delight in mischief。
Miss Miggs； baffled in all her schemes； matrimonial and otherwise；
and cast upon a thankless； undeserving world； turned very sharp and
sour； and did at length become so acid； and did so pinch and slap
and tweak the hair and noses of the youth of Golden Lion Court；
that she was by one consent expelled that sanctuary； and desired to
bless some other spot of earth； in preference。 It chanced at that
moment； that the justices of the peace for Middlesex proclaimed by
public placard that they stood in need of a female turnkey for the
County Bridewell； and appointed a day and hour for the inspection
of candidates。 Miss Miggs attendi