coach. It
had, however, by that time got out of sight, and though we followed in
the direction I supposed it had gone, we did not again see it.

"Never mind," said I, "I should have liked to have known who the old
gentleman was; he looked like somebody of consequence. However, I am
very glad to have been of service to him."

After this adventure I began to reflect that it would be wiser to return
home. I could not tell what might next happen. The day was drawing to
a close. As we looked eastward, we saw the whole sky glowing with a
lurid glare, which I afterwards found was produced by the conflagration
of Newgate prison, which, after the mob had broken into and released all
the prisoners, they set on fire. My relative was very glad to see me
back safe, and on hearing of my adventures said that Tom and I were very
fortunate to have escaped with our lives, and positively prohibited our
again quitting the house. During the next day flames were seen bursting
forth in every direction. Most of the prisons, as also many private
houses, were broken open and burnt to the ground, and several hundred
people were shot by the military, while perhaps an equal number died
from drinking inordinately of spirits which they procured at the
distillers', into which they broke, or were burnt to death in the ruins
of the houses they set on fire. At length, however, so many troops,
regular and militia, poured into London, that the rioters were
completely overcome, and numerous arrests took place. Among others,
Lord George Gordon was apprehended and committed a prisoner to the
Tower.

Not long after this, I bade my kind friends in London good-bye, and
joined my ship at Chatham. I ought to have said that they were very
much interested in the account I gave them of the way I had rescued the
old gentleman in the coach. Who he could be they could not guess, but
they said that they would make inquiries, and if they could hear they
would let me know. I felt no little curiosity to obtain this
information; but day after day passed by and I heard nothing about the
matter. There was something in his look and in his eagerness to speak
to me which struck me forcibly at the time, and over and over again his
countenance recurred to me; but whether I had ever seen it before, or
why it made so deep an impression on me, I could not tell. There was
nothing very remarkable in saving an old gentleman from a mob, when mobs
were parading all parts