acy, within the walls that
we shall shortly enter, without the repentant spirit of the Sisters
within the walls we have just passed. You will also find there is
a plenty of self-interest and hypocrisy combined with them; nay, an
hospital of incurables is only wanting to complete the scene. It is not
till lately that a little reform has been effected in this quarter, for
Dover Street and its vicinity, as I before observed, so near to these
benevolent charities and to the walls of a prison, have been the sink
of female profligacy, of the lowest, most dangerous, and most disgusting
kind; and suffered too long to pollute the streams of charity and impede
the road to reform. However, at length the nuisance is removed, at least
the public appearance of it, though the neighbourhood is not altogether
bereft of its private negociations and stolen accommodations. But come,
now for an interior view of the. Abbott's Park, its interesting scenery,
and its multi-farious characters. There you shall see what you shall
see, and Merrywell will tell you more in ten minutes than you might wish
to know in your whole life, I mean practically, though it is well to
know in theory what ought never to be reduced to experiment."~46~~

CHAPTER IV

"----Give me leave to ask a question;
Pray, in the King's Bench have you ever been?
The Bench! Good Heaven! how shocking a suggestion!
Was e'er so saucy a companion seen?

Well, you ne'er saw the place; or if you did,
'Twere better not too closely to surmise;
Enough, enough, those frowns the thought forbid,
Who sees too much is rarely counted wise;
I rather boast that mine are prudent eyes;
Persons and things so quietly they read,
Nor by a glance confess they scrutinize,
That thoughtless lookers think me blind indeed,
When of themselves I take the strictest heed.
But since you wish me to believe that College
Ne'er gave its finish to your education,
I, of its laws and customs having knowledge,
Ere I take up the thread of my narration,
Must say a little for your information."

THEY had now passed the outer gates of the prison, and entered a court
yard surrounded by a wall, which enclosed some good looking houses.

"These houses," said Dashall, "are occupied by the principal officers of
the place, and devoted to purp