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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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back dead—the phantom of last night。
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Chapter the Last
parting glance at such of the actors in this little history as
Ait 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
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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
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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
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endured the various miseries of such a station。 Ten or a dozen
years ago—not more—a 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