leading to a ponderous
door, plated with iron, and secured on the inner side by huge bolts, and
a lock, with wards of a prodigious size. A little within stood a second
door, or rather wicket, lower than the first, but of equal strength, and
surmounted by a row of sharp spikes. As no apprehension was entertained
of an escape by this outlet,--nothing of the kind having been attempted
by the boldest felon ever incarcerated in Newgate,--both doors were
generally left open during the daytime. At six o'clock, the wicket was
shut; and at nine, the jail was altogether locked up. Not far from the
entrance, on the left, was a sort of screen, or partition-wall, reaching
from the floor to the ceiling, formed of thick oaken planks riveted
together by iron bolts, and studded with broad-headed nails. In this
screen, which masked the entrance of a dark passage communicating with
the Condemned Hold, about five feet from the ground, was a hatch,
protected by long spikes set six inches apart, and each of the thickness
of an elephant's tusk. The spikes almost touched the upper part of the
hatch: scarcely space enough for the passage of a hand being left
between their points and the beam. Here, as has already been observed,
condemned malefactors were allowed to converse with such of their guests
as had not interest or money enough to procure admission to them in the
hold. Beyond the hatch, an angle, formed by a projection in the wall of
some three or four feet, served to hide a door conducting to the
interior of the prison. At the farther end of the Lodge, the floor was
raised to the height of a couple of steps; whence the whole place, with
the exception of the remotest corner of the angle before-mentioned,
could be commanded at a single glance. On this elevation a table was now
placed, around which sat the turnkeys and their guests, regaling
themselves on the fragrant beverage provided by the prisoner. A brief
description will suffice for them. They were all stout ill-favoured men,
attired in the regular jail-livery of scratch wig and snuff-coloured
suit; and had all a strong family likeness to each other. The only
difference between the officers of Newgate and their brethren was, that
they had enormous bunches of keys at their girdles, while the latter had
left their keys at home.

"Well, I've seen many a gallant fellow in my time, Mr. Ireton," observed
the chief turnkey of Westminster Gatehouse, as he helped himself to his
third glass of