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of three centuries。 And if； being a philosopher； you neglect the obvious
plagiarism； you may induce from these similarities a cunning theory
concerning the uniformity of the human brain。 But the easier explanation
is； as always； the more satisfactory； and there is little doubt that in
versatility the thief surpassed his historian。
Had the chap…books still been scattered in disregarded corners； they
would have been unknown or misunderstood。 Happily； a man of genius
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came in the nick to convert them into as vivid and sparkling a piece of
literature as the time could show。 This was Captain Alexander Smith；
whose Lives of the Highwaymen； published in 1719； was properly
described by its author as ‘the first impartial piece of this nature which
ever appeared in English。' Now； Captain Smith inherited from a
nameless father no other patrimony than a fierce loyalty to the Stuarts； and
the sanguine temperament which views in horror a well…ordered life。
Though a mere foundling； he managed to acquire the rudiments； and he
was not wholly unlettered when at eighteen he took to the road。 His
courage； fortified by an intimate knowledge of the great tradition； was
rewarded by an immediate success； and he rapidly became the master of
so much leisure as enabled him to pursue his studies with pleasure and
distinction。 When his companions damned him for a milksop； he was
loftily contemptuous； conscious that it was not in intelligence alone that he
was their superior。 While the Stuarts were the gods of his idolatry； while
the Regicides were the fiends of his frank abhorrence； it was from the
Elizabethans that he caught the splendid vigour of his style； and he owed
not only his historical sense； but his living English to the example of
Philemon Holland。 Moreover； it is to his constant glory that； living at a
time that preferred as well to attenuate the English tongue as to degrade
the profession of the highway； he not only rode abroad with a fearless
courtesy； but handled his own language with the force and spirit of an
earlier age。
He wrote with the authority of courage and experience。 A hazardous
career had driven envy and malice from his dauntless breast。 Though he
confesses a debt to certain ‘learned and eminent divines of the Church of
England；' he owed a greater debt to his own observation； and he knew
none betterhow to recognise with enthusiasm those deeds of daring
which only himself has rivalled。 A master of etiquette； he distributed
approval and censure with impartial hand； and he was quick to condemn
the smallest infraction of an ancient law。 Nor was he insensible to the
dignity of history。 The best models were always before him。 With
admirable zeal he studied the manner of such masters as Thucydides and
Titus Livius of Padua。 Above all； he realised the importance of setting
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
appropriate speeches in the mouths of his characters； and； permitting his
heroes to speak for themselves； he imparted to his work an irresistible air
of reality and good faith。 His style； always studied； was neither too low
nor too high for his subject。 An ill…balanced sentence was as hateful to
him as a foul thrust or a stolen advantage。
Abroad a craftsman； he carried into the closet the skill and energy
which distinguished him when the moon was on the heath。 Though not
born to the arts of peace； he was determined to prove his respect for letters；
and his masterpiece is no less pompous in manner than it is estimable in
tone and sound in reflection。 He handled slang as one who knew its
limits and possibilities； employing it not for the sake of eccentricity； but to
give the proper colour and sparkle to his page； indeed； his intimate
acquaintance with the vagabonds of speech enabled him to compile a
dictionary of Pedlar's French； which has been pilfered by a whole battalion
of imitators。 Moreover； there was none of the proverbs of the pavement；
those first cousins of slang； that escaped him； and he assumed all the
licence of the gentleman… collector in the treatment of his love…passages。
Captain Smith took the justest view of his subject。 For him robbery； in
the street as on the highway； was the finest of the arts； and he always
revered it for its own sake rather than for vulgar profit。 Though； to
deceive the public； he abhorred villainy in word； he never concealed his
admiration in deed of a ‘highwayman who robs like a gentleman。' ‘There
is a beauty in all the works of nature；' he observes in one of his wittiest
exordia； ‘which we are unable to define； though all the world is convinced
of its existence： so in every action and station of life there is a grace to be
attained； which will make a man pleasing to all about him and serene in
his own mind。' Some there are； he continues； who have placed ‘this
beauty in vice itself； otherwise it is hardly probable that they could
commit so many irregularities with a strong gust and an appearance of
satisfaction。' Notwithstanding that the word ‘vice' is used in its
conventional sense； we have here the key to Captain Smith's position。
He judged his heroes' achievements with the intelligent impartiality of a
connoisseur； and he permitted no other prejudice than an unfailing loyalty
to interrupt his opinion。
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Though he loved good English as he loved good wine； he was never so
happy as when （in imagination） he was tying the legs of a Regicide under
the belly of an ass。 And when in the manner of a bookseller's hack he
compiled a Comical and Tragical History of the Lives and Adventures of
the most noted Bayliffs； adoration of the Royalists persuaded him to miss
his chance。 So brave a spirit as himself should not have looked
complacently upon the officers of the law； but he saw in the glorification
of the bayliff another chance of castigating the Roundheads； and thus he
set an honorific crown upon the brow of man's natural enemy。 ‘These
unsanctified rascals；' wrote he； ‘would run into any man's debt without
paying him； and if their creditors were Cavaliers they thought they had as
much right to cheat 'em； as the Israelites had to spoil the Egyptians of their
ear…rings and jewels。' Alas！ the boot was ever on the other leg； and yet
you cannot but admire the Captain's valiant determination to sacrifice
probability to his legitimate hate。
Of his declining years and death there is no record。 One likes to
think of him released from care； and surrounded by books； flowers； and
the good things of this earth。 Now and again； maybe； he would muse on
the stirring deeds of his youth； and more often he would put away the
memory of action to delight in the masterpiece which made him immortal。
He would recall with pleasure； no doubt； the ready praise of Richard
Steele； his most appreciative critic； and smile contemptuously at the
baseness of his friend and successor； Captain Charles Johnson。 Now； this
ingenious writer was wont to boast； when the ale of Fleet Street had
empurpled his nose； that he was the most intrepid highwayman of them all。
‘Once upon a time；' he would shout； with an arrogant gesture； ‘I was
known from Blackheath to Hounslow； from Ware to Shooter's Hill。' And
the truth is； the only ‘crime' he ever committed was plagiarism。 The self…
assumed title of Captain should have deceived nobody； for the braggart
never stole anything more difficult of acquisition than another man's
words。 He picked brains； not pockets； he committed the greater sin and
ran no risk。 He helped himself to the admirable inventions of Captain
Smith without apology or acknowledgment； and； as though to lighten the
dead…weight of his sin； he never skipped an opportunity of maligning his
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victim。 Again and again in the very act to steal he will declare
vaingloriously that Captain Smith's stories are ‘barefaced inventions。'
But doubt was no check to the habit of plunder； and you knew that at
every reproach； expressed （so to say） in self…defence； he plied the scissors
with the greater energy。 The most cunning theft is the tag which adorns
the title…page of his book：
Little villains oft submit to fate That great ones may
enjoy the world in state。
Thus he quotes from Gay； and you applaud the aptness of the quotation；
until you discover that already it was used by Steele in his appreciation of
the heroic Smith！ However； Johnson has his uses； and those to whom the
masterpiece of Captain Alexander is inaccessible will turn with pleasure to
the General History of the lives and adventures