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d his tax。 A threatening voice； an arched eyebrow； an arrogant method of fingering an unloaded pistol； conspired with the craven； indolent habit of the time to make his every journey a procession of triumph。 He was capable of performing all such feats as the age required of him。 But you miss the spirit； the bravery； the urbanity； and the wit； which made the adventurer of the seventeenth century a figure of romance。
One point only of the great tradition did Harry Simms remember。 He was never unwilling to restore a trinket made precious by sentiment。 Once when he took a gold ring from a gentleman's finger a gentlewoman burst into tears； exclaiming； ‘There goes your father's ring。' Whereupon Simms threw all his booty into a hat； saying； ‘For God's sake； take that or anything else you please。' In all other respects he was a bully； with the hesitancy of a coward； rather than the proper rival of Hind or Duval。 Apart from the exercise of his trade； he was a very Mohock for brutality。 He would ill…treat his victims； whenever their drunkenness permitted the freedom； and he had no better gifts for the women who were kind to him than cruelty and neglect。 One of his many imprisonments was the result of a monstrous ferocity。 ‘Unluckily in a quarrel；' he tells you gravely； ‘I ran a crab…stick into a woman's eye'； and well did he deserve his sojourn in the New Prison。 At another time he rewarded the keeper of a coffee…house； who supported him for six months； by stealing her watch； and； when she grumbled at his insolence； he reflected； with a chuckle； that she could more easily bear the loss of her watch than the loss of her lover。 Even in his gaiety there was an unpleasant spice of greed and truculence。 Once； when he was still seen in fashionable company； he went to a masquerade； dressed in a rich Spanish habit； lent him by a Captain in the Guards； and he made so fine a show that he captivated a young and beautiful Cyprian； whom； when she would have treated him with generosity； he did but reward with the loss of all her jewels。
Moreover； he had so small a regard for his craft； that he would spoil his effects by drink or debauchery； and； though a highwayman； he cared so little for style； that he would as lief trick a drunken gamester as face his man on Bagshot Heath or beneath the shade of Epping Forest。 You admire not his success； because； like the success of the popular politician； it depended rather upon his dupes than upon his merit。 You approve not his raffish exploits in the hells of Covent Garden or Drury Lane。 But you cannot withhold respect from his consistent dandyism； and you are grateful for the record that； engaged in a mean enterprise； he was dressed ‘in a green velvet frock and a short lac'd waistcoat。' Above all； his picturesque capture at Hockcliffe atones for much stupidity。 The resolution； wavering at the wine glass； the last drunken ride from St。 Albansthese are inventions in experience； which should make Simms immortal。 And when he sits ‘by the fireside a good deal chagrined；' he recalls the arrest of a far greater maneven of Cartouche； who was surprised by the soldiers at his bedside stitching a torn pair of breeches。 His autobiography； wherein ‘he relates the truth as a dying man；' seemed excellent in the eyes of Borrow； who loved it so well that he imagined a sentence； ascribed it falsely to Simms； and then rewarded it with extravagant applause。
But Gentleman Harry knew how to tell a simple story； and the book； ‘all wrote by myself while under sentence of death；' is his best performance。 In action he had many faults； for； if he was a highwayman among rakes； he was but a rake among highwaymen。
A PARALLEL
（THE SWITCHER AND GENTLEMAN HARRY）
HAGGART and Simms are united in the praise of Borrow； and in the generous applause of posterity。 Each resumes for his own generation the prowess of his kind。 Each has assured his immortality by an experiment in literature； and if epic simplicity and rapid narrative are the virtues of biography； it is difficult to award the prize。 The Switcher preferred to write in the rough lingo； wherein he best expressed himself。 He packs his pages with ill…spelt slang； telling his story of thievery in the true language of thieves。 Gentleman Harry； as became a person of quality； mimicked the dialect wherewith he was familiar in the more fashionable gambling…dens of Covent Garden。 Both write with out the smallest suggestion of false shame or idle regret； and a natural vanity lifts each of them out of the pit of commonplace on to the tableland of the heroic。 They set forth their depredation； as a victorious general might record his triumphs； and they excel the nimblest Ordinary that ever penned a dying speech in all the gifts of the historian。
But when you leave the study for the field； the Switcher instantly declares his superiority。 He had the happiness to practise his craft in its heyday； while Simms knew but the fag… end of a noble tradition。 Haggart； moreover； was an expert； pursuing a difficult art； while Simms was a bully； plundering his betters by bluff。 Simms boasted no quality which might be set off against the accurate delicacy of Haggart's hand。 The Englishman grew rich upon a rolling eye and a rusty pistol。 He put on his ‘fiercest manner；' and believed that the world would deny him nothing。 The Scot； rejoicing in his exquisite skill； went to work without fuss or bluster； and added the joy of artistic pride to his delight in plunder。 Though Simm's manner seems the more chivalrous； it required not one tithe of the courage which was Haggart's necessity。 On horseback； with the semblance of a fire…arm； a man may easily challenge a coachful of women。 It needs a cool brain and a sound courage to empty a pocket in the watchful presence of spies and policemen。 While Gentleman Harry chose a lonely road； or the cover of night for his exploits； the Switcher always worked by day； hustled by a crowd of witnesses。
Their hours of leisure furnish a yet more striking contrast。 Simms was a polished dandy delighting in his clothes； unhappy if he were deprived of his bottle and his game。 Haggart； on the other hand； was before all things sealed to his profession。 He would have deserted the gayest masquerade； had he ever strayed into so light a frivolity； for the chance of lightening a pocket。 He tasted but few amusements without the limits of his craft； and he preserved unto the end a touch of that dour character which is the heritage of his race。 But； withal； he was an amiable decent body； who would have recoiled in horror from the drunken brutality of Gentleman Harry。 Though he bragged to George Combe of his pitiless undoing of wenches； he never thrust a crab…stick into a woman's eye； and he was incapable of rewarding a kindness by robbery and neglect。 Once at Newcastlehe arrayed himself in a smart white coat and tops； but the splendour ill became his red…headed awkwardness； and he would have stood aghast at the satin frocks and velvet waistcoats of him who broke the hearts of Drury Lane。 But if he were gentler in his life； Haggart was prepared to fight with a more reckless courage when his trade demanded it。 It was the Gentleman's boast