o had been for some weeks admitted into the
jail, obtained not the least intelligence of his concealed charmer, but
resolved to alleviate his disappointment by the gratification of his
curiosity.

Under the auspices of Mr. Norton, he made a tour of the prison, and, in
particular, visited the kitchen, where he saw a number of spits loaded
with a variety of provision, consisting of butchers' meat, poultry, and
game. He could not help expressing his astonishment, with uplifted
hands, and congratulating himself in secret upon his being a member of
that community which had provided such a comfortable asylum for the
unfortunate. His ejaculation was interrupted by a tumultuous noise in
the street; and Mr. Norton declaring he was sent for to the lodge,
consigned our hero to the care of one Mr. Felton, a prisoner of a very
decent appearance, who paid his compliments with a good grace, and
invited the company to repose themselves in his apartment, which was
large, commodious, and well furnished. When Sir Launcelot asked the
cause of that uproar, he told him that it was the prelude to a boxing
match between two of the prisoners, to be decided in the ground or garden
of the place.

Captain Crowe, expressing an eager curiosity to see the battle, Mr.
Felton assured him there would be no sport, as the combatants were both
reckoned dunghills; "but, in half an hour," said he, "there will be a
battle of some consequence between two of the demagogues of the place,
Dr. Crabclaw and Mr. Tapley, the first a physician and the other a
brewer. You must know, gentlemen, that this microcosm, or republic inn
miniature, is like the great world, split into factions. Crabclaw is the
leader of one party, and the other is headed by Tapley; both are men of
warm and impetuous tempers, and their intrigues have embroiled the whole
place, insomuch that it was dangerous to walk the street on account of
the continual skirmishes of their partisans. At length, some of the more
sedate inhabitants having met and deliberated upon some remedy for these
growing disorders, proposed that the dispute should be at once decided by
single combat between the two chiefs, who readily agreed to the proposal.
The match was accordingly made for five guineas, and this very day and
hour appointed for the trial, on which considerable sums of money are
depending. As for Mr. Norton, it is not proper that he should be
present, or seem to countenance such violent proceedings,