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lieved the gloom of the darkest era； and their separate masterpieces make some atonement for the environing cowardice and stupidity。 Above all； the Eighteenth Century was Newgate's golden age； now for the first time and the last were the rules and customs of the Jug perfectly understood。 If Jonathan the Great was unrivalled in the art of clapping his enemies into prison； if Jack the Slip…string was supreme in the rarer art of getting himself out； even the meanest criminal of his time knew what was expected of him； so long as he wandered within the walled yard； or listened to the ministrations of the snuff…besmirched Ordinary。 He might show a lamentable lack of cleverness in carrying off his booty； he might prove a too easy victim to the wiles of the thief…catcher； but he never fell short of courage； when asked to sustain the consequences of his crime。
Newgate； compared by one eminent author to a university； by another to a ship； was a republic； whose liberty extended only so far as its iron door。 While there was no liberty without； there was licence within； and if the culprit； who paid for the smallest indiscretion with his neck； understood the etiquette of the place； he spent his last weeks in an orgie of rollicking lawlessness。 He drank； he ate； he diced； he received his friends； or chaffed the Ordinary； he attempted； through the well… paid cunning of the Clerk； to bribe the jury； and when every artifice had failed he went to Tyburn like a man。 If he knew not how to live； at least he would show a resentful world how to die。
‘In no country；' wrote Sir T。 Smith； a distinguished lawyer of the time； ‘do malefactors go to execution more intrepidly than in England'； and assuredly； buoyed up by custom and the approval of their fellows； Wild's victims made a brave show at the gallows。 Nor was their bravery the result of a common callousness。 They understood at once the humour and the delicacy of the situation。 Though hitherto they had chaffed the Ordinary； they now listened to his exhortation with at least a semblance of respect； and though their last night upon earth might have been devoted to a joyous company； they did not withhold their ear from the Bellman's Chant。 As twelve o'clock approachedtheir last midnight upon earththey would interrupt the most spirited discourse； they would check the tour of the mellowest bottle to listen to the solemn doggerel。 ‘All you that in the condemn'd hole do lie；' groaned the Bellman of St。 Sepulchre's in his duskiest voice； and they who held revel in the condemned hole prayed silence of their friends for the familiar cadences：
All you that in the condemn'd hole do lie； Prepare you； for to…morrow you shall die； Watch all and pray； the hour is drawing near； That you before th' Almighty must appear。 Examine well yourselves； in time repent That you may not t' eternal flames be sent； And when St。 Pulchre's bell to…morrow tolls； The Lord above have mercy on your souls。 Past twelve o'clock！
Even if this warning voice struck a momentary terror into their offending souls； they were up betimes in the morning； eager to pay their final debt。 Their journey from Newgate to Tyburn was a triumph； and their vanity was unabashed at the droning menaces of the Ordinary。 At one point a chorus of maidens cast wreaths upon their way； or pinned nosegays in their coats； that they might not face the executioner unadorned。 At the Crown Tavern they quaffed their last glass of ale； and told the landlord with many a leer and smirk that they would pay him on their way back。 Though gravity was asked； it was not always given； but in the Eighteenth Century courage was seldom wanting。 To the common citizen a violent death was （and is） the worst of horrors； to the ancient highwayman it was the odd trick lost in the game of life。 And the highwayman endured the rope； as the practised gambler loses his estate； without blenching。 One there was； who felt his leg tremble in his own despite： wherefore he stamped it upon the ground so violently； that in other circumstances he would have roared with pain； and he left the world without a tremor。 In this spirit Cranmer burnt his recreant right hand； and in either case the glamour of a unique occasion was a stimulus to courage。
But not even this brilliant treatment of accessories availed to save the highway from disrepute； indeed； it had become the profitless pursuit of braggarts and loafers； long before the abolition of the stage…coach destroyed its opportunity。 In the meantime； however； the pickpocket was master of his trade。 His strategy was perfect； his sleight of hand as delicate as long； lithe fingers and nimble brains could make it。 He had discarded for ever those clumsy instruments whose use had barred the progress of the Primitives。 The breast…pocket behind the tightest buttoned coat presented no difficulty to his love of research； and he would penetrate the stoutest frieze or the lightest satin； as easily as Jack Sheppard made a hole through Newgate。 His trick of robbery was so simple and yet so successful； that ever since it has remained a tradition。 The collision； the victim's murmured apology； the hasty scuffle； the booty handed to the aide…de…camp； who is out of sight before the hue and cry can be raisedsuch was the policy advocated two hundred years ago； such is the policy pursued to day by the few artists that remain。
Throughout the eighteenth century the art of cly…faking held its own； though its reputation paled in the glamour of the highway。 It culminated in George Barrington； whose vivid genius persuaded him to work alone and to carry off his own booty； it still flourished （in a silver age） when the incomparable Haggart performed his prodigies of skill； even in our prosaic time some flashes of the ancient glory have been seen。 Now and again circumstances have driven it into eclipse。 When the facile sentiment of the Early Victorian Era poised the tear of sympathy upon every trembling eyelid； the most obdurate was forced to provide himself with a silk handkerchief of equal size and value。
Now； a wipe is the easiest booty in the world； and the Artful Dodger might grow rich without the exercise of the smallest skill。 But wipes dwindled； with dwindling sensibility； and once more the pickpocket was forced upon cleverness or extinction。
At the same time the more truculent trade of housebreaking was winning a lesser triumph of its own。 Never； save in the hands of one or two distinguished practitioners； has this clumsy； brutal pursuit taken on the refinement of an art。 Essentially modern； it has generally been pursued in the meanest spirit of gain。 Deacon Brodie clung to it as to a diversion； but he was an amateur； without a clear understanding of his craft's possibilities。 The sole monarch of housebreakers was Charles Peace。 At a single stride he surpassed his predecessors； nor has the greatest of his imitators been worthy to hand on the candle which he left at the gallows。 For the rest； there is small distinction in breaking windows； wielding crowbars； and battering the brains of defenceless old gentlemen。 And it is to such miserable tricks as this that he who two centuries since rode abroad in all the gl