en, in order that he might attend the Sessions
at the Old Bailey, Dashall and the Squire, at the same time, retired
with the intention (the day now waning apace) of making the best of
their way home, which they reached without further adventure.~177~~

CHAPTER XIII

The charge is prepar'd, the lawyers are met,
The judges all rang'd, a terrible show!
I go undismay'd, for death is a debt,
A debt on demand,--so take what I owe.

Since laws were made for every degree,
To curb vice in others as well as in me;
I wonder we ha'n't better company
Upon Tyburn tree!

But gold from law can take out the sting,
And if rich men like us were to swing
'Twould thin the land such numbers would string
Upon Tyburn tree!

PURPOSING to spend an hour in the Sessions House at the Old Bailey,
our adventurers started next morning betimes, and reaching their
destination, took their seats in the gallery, for which accommodation
they were charged one shilling each, which the Squire denominated an
imposition, inquiring of his friend by what authority it was exacted,
and to whose benefit applied, as from the frequent sittings of the
Court, and general crouded state of the gallery, the perquisites must be
considerable.

"Custom in every thing bears sovereign sway," answered Dashall. "I know
not whence this is derived, nor whose pockets are lined by the produce;
but you will probably be surprised to learn, that a shilling admission
is only demanded on common occasions, and that on trials of great public
interest, from one to two guineas has been paid by every individual
obtaining admission."

The arrival of the Judges now terminated this colloquy. The Lord Mayor
and several Aldermen were in waiting to receive them, and these sage
expounders of the law were conducted to the Bench by the Sheriffs of
London and Middlesex. The Chief Magistrate of the City uniformly and of
right presiding at this Court, his Lordship ~178~~ took his seat on
the same Bench with the Judges, and the usual forms having been gone
through, the dispensation of justice commenced.

Several prisoners were tried and convicted of capital felony, during the
short space of time that our associated observers remained in Court;
but the cases of these wretched men, and the consciousness of their
impending fate, seemed in no respect to operate upon their min