ts,
without the least shadow of commission among them. They have many
ways of inveigling the artless and unthinking. One or two of these
kidnappers, dressed as countrymen, go five or six miles out of town to
meet the waggons and stages, and enquire if John Such-a-one is come up,
which is answered in the negative, no such person being known; they
then enter into discourse with the countrymen, and being perfectly
complaisant, engage attention, and by the time they get to London, learn
their occupations and business to town; whether they are in search of
places, trades, or intend to return home again, which intelligence
they in general profit by. Coming to the place of rendezvous, the ~28~~
kidnappers propose a pint of porter, which being agreed on, they enter
the house where their companions are in waiting, enjoy themselves over
flowing bowls, and exhilirating their spirits with loyal toasts and
songs, begin their business by enquiring who is willing to serve His
Majesty. The countryman, if inclined thereto, is generally deceived; if
his desire is for the guards, or any other particular regiment, there
are at hand mock Serjeants and privates, who will swear they belong to
the corps, and the dupe is trepanned for the East Indies, hurried on
board a ship, or kept in some dismal place of security till a sufficient
number is collected, and an opportunity serves to send them away.

On the other hand, should the countryman be averse to enlisting, and
talk of going away, these crimps will swear that he has received a
shilling or more of the bounty-money, insisting that they saw him put
the money into such and such a pocket; it is in vain that the countryman
denies having received it, search is made, money found, and he is
compelled to submit or pay the smart.

Others again, of these prowlers, frequent the places of confinement, and
learning the particular case of some prisoner for small debt or slight
assault, kindly otter to mediate with the prosecutor or creditor
in effecting liberation. The pretended friend assumes the most
disinterested feeling of sympathy, ingratiates himself into confidence,
and generally terminates his machinations with success; accomplishes the
prisoner's release, and sends him ultimately from temporary duresse to
perpetual exile.

Such was the character of the fellow now placed in the ominous guidance
of an exasperated multitude; they urged him forward to the place of
punishment; but the tumultuary a