, and the most frightful cases of extortion and cruelty were
practised amongst them, while the conduct of the officials was culpable
in the highest degree. At one time the chapel was let as an assembly
room. The prisoners used to get up, on public ball nights, dances of
their own, as the band could be plainly heard throughout the prison. The
debtors used to let down a glove or bag by means of a stick, from their
tower into the street, dangling it up and down to attract the notice of
passengers, who dropped in pieces of money for the use of the "poor
debtors," which money was invariably spent in feasting and debauchery.
The town boys used to put stones into the bags, and highly relished the
disappointment of the "poor debtors," on discovery of their "treasure."

I recollect an execution taking place in front of the Tower, which
created an immense sensation throughout the country. In March 1789, two
men named Burns and Dowling, suffered the extreme penalty of the law for
robbing the house of Mrs. Graham, which stood on Rose Hill. They broke
into the lady's dwelling, and acted with great ferocity. It was on the
23rd December previous; they entered the house, with two others, about
seven o'clock in the morning. One stayed below, while the others went
into the different rooms armed with pistols and knives, threatening the
various members of the family with death if they made any alarm. They
robbed some guests in the house of nineteen guineas, and some silver; and
from Mrs. Graham they took bills to a large amount. On the 7th January,
following, Burns and Dowling were arrested at Bristol, in consequence of
an anonymous letter sent to the mayor of that city, giving information of
their being in the neighbourhood. They were on the point of embarking
for Dublin, having several packages containing Mrs. Graham's property on
board the vessel, besides 1000 pounds in Bills of Exchange. Dowling made
a fierce resistance, and would have escaped, but was held by the leg by a
dog belonging to one of the constables. Rose Hill at that time was quite
in the suburbs, and was a very fashionable locality. The town was
crowded with strangers from all parts to witness the execution of these
villains. Men of the present day would be horror-struck at the number of
executions that took place at that time in England. I recollect once
when in London (I was only three days going there) seeing three men
hanging at Newgate, while the coal wa