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the General History of the lives and adventures of the most Famous
Highwaymen； Murderers； Street…Robbers； &c。； and will feel no regret that
for once they are receiving stolen goods。
Though Johnson fell immeasurably below his predecessor in talent； he
manifestly excelled him in scholarship。 A sojourn at the University had
supplied him with a fine assortment of Latin tags； and he delighted to
prove his erudition by the citation of the Chronicles。 Had he possessed a
sense of humour； he might have smiled at the irony of committing a theft
upon the historian of thieves。 But he was too vain and too pompous to
smile at his own weakness； and thus he would pretend himself a
venturesome highwayman； a brave writer； and a profound scholar。
Indeed； so far did his pride carry him； that he would have the world
believe him the same Charles Johnson； who wrote The Gentleman Cully
and The Successful Pyrate。 Thus with a boastful chuckle he would
quote：
Johnson； who now to sense； now nonsense leaning；
Means not； but blunders round about a meaning
Thus； ignoring the insult； he would plume himself after his drunken
fashion that he； too； was an enemy of Pope。
Yet Johnson has remained an example。 For the literature of
scoundrelism is as persistent in its form as in its folk…lore。 As Harman's
Caveat； which first saw the light in 1566； serves as a model to an unbroken
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
series of such books； as The London Spy； so from Johnson in due course
were developed the Newgate Calendar； and those innumerable records；
which the latter half of the Eighteenth Century furnished us forth。 The
celebrated Calendar was in its origin nothing more than a list of prisoners
printed in a folio slip。 But thereafter it became the Malefactor's Bloody
Register； which we know。 Its plan and purpose were to improve the
occasion。 The thief is no longer esteemed for an artist or appraised upon
his merits： he is the awful warning； which shall lead the sinner to
repentance。 ‘Here；' says the preface； ‘the giddy thoughtless youth may
see as in a mirror the fatal consequences of deviating from virtue'； here he
may tremble at the discovery that ‘often the best talents are prostituted to
the basest purposes。' But in spite of ‘the proper reflections of the whole
affair；' the famous Calendar deserved the praise of Borrow。 There is a
directness in the narration； which captures all those for whom life and
literature are something better than psychologic formul。 Moreover；
the motives which drive the brigand to his doom are brutal in their
simplicity； and withal as genuine and sincere as greed； vanity； and lust can
make them。 The true amateur takes pleasure even in the pious
exhortations； because he knows that they crawl into their place； lest the
hypocrite be scandalised。 But with years the Newgate Calendar also
declined； and at last it has followed other dead literatures into the night。
Meanwhile the broadside had enjoyed an unbroken and prosperous
career。 Up and down London； up and down England； hurried the Patterer
or Flying Stationer。 There was no murder； no theft； no conspiracy； which
did not tempt the Gutter Muse to doggerel。 But it was not until James
Catnach came up from Alnwick to London （in 1813）； that the trade
reached the top of its prosperity。 The vast sheets； which he published
with their scurvy couplets； and the admirable picture； serving in its time
for a hundred executions； have not lost their power to fascinate。 Theirs is
the aspect of the early woodcut； the coarse type and the catchpenny
headlines are a perpetual delight； as you unfold them； your care keeps
pace with your admiration； and you cannot feel them crackle beneath your
hand without enthusiasm and without regret。 He was no pedantJemmy
Catnach； and the image of his ruffians was commonly as far from
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
portraiture； as his verses were remote from poetry。 But he put together in
a roughly artistic shape the last murder； robbery； or scandal of the day。
His masterpieces were far too popular to live； and if they knew so vast a
circulation as 2；500；000 they are hard indeed to come by。 And now the
art is wellnigh dead； though you may discover an infrequent survival in a
country town。 But how should Catnach； were he alive to…day； compete
with the Special Edition of an evening print？
The decline of the Scoundrel； in fact； has been followed by the
disappearance of chap…book and broadside。 The Education Act； which
made the cheap novel a necessity； destroyed at a blow the literature of the
street。 Since the highwayman wandered； fur… coated； into the City； the
patterer has lost his occupation。 Robbery and murder have degenerated
into Chinese puzzles； whose solution is a pleasant irritant to the idle brain。
The misunderstanding of Poe has produced a vast polyglot literature； for
which one would not give in exchange a single chapter of Captain Smith。
Vautrin and Bill Sykes are already discredited； and it is a false reflection of
M。 Dupin； which dazzles the eye of a moral and unimaginative world。
Yet the wise man sighs for those fearless days； when the brilliant
Macheath rode vizarded down Shooter's Hill； and presently saw his
exploits set forth； with the proper accompaniment of a renowned and
ancient woodcut； upon a penny broadside。
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
CAPTAIN HIND
JAMES HIND； the Master Thief of England； the fearless Captain of
the Highway； was born at Chipping Norton in 1618。 His father； a simple
saddler； had so poor an appreciation of his son's magnanimity； that he
apprenticed him to a butcher； but Hind's destiny was to embrue his hands
in other than the blood of oxen； and he had not long endured the restraint
of this common craft when forty shillings； the gift of his mother；
purchased him an escape； and carried him triumphant and ambitious to
London。
Even in his negligent schooldays he had fastened upon a fitting career。
A born adventurer； he sought only enterprise and command： if a
commission in the army failed him； then he would risk his neck upon the
road； levying his own tax and imposing his own conditions。 To one of
his dauntless resolution an opportunity need never have lacked； yet he
owed his first preferment to a happy accident。 Surprised one evening in a
drunken brawl； he was hustled into the Poultry Counter； and there made
acquaintance over a fresh bottle with Robert Allen； one of the chief rogues
in the Park； and a ruffian； who had mastered every trick in the game of
plunder。 A dexterous cly…faker； an intrepid blade； Allen had also the
keenest eye for untested talent； and he detected Hind's shining qualities
after the first glass。 No sooner had they paid the price of release； than
Hind was admitted of his comrade's gang； he took the oath of fealty； and
by way of winning his spurs was bid to hold up a traveller on Shooter's
Hill。 Granted his choice of a mount； he straightway took the finest in the
stable； with that keen perception of horse…flesh which never deserted him；
and he confronted his first victim in the liveliest of humours。 There was
no falter in his voice； no hint of inexperience in his manner； when he
shouted the battle…cry： ‘Stand and deliver！' The horseman； fearful of
his life； instantly surrendered a purse of ten sovereigns； as to the most
practised assailant on the road。 Whereupon Hind； with a flourish of
ancient courtesy； gave him twenty shillings to bear his charges。 ‘This；'
said he； ‘is for handsale sake '； and thus they parted in mutual compliment
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and content。
Allen was overjoyed at his novice's prowess。 ‘Did you not see；' he
cried to his companions； ‘how he robbed him with a grace？' And well
did the trooper deserve his captain's compliment； for his art was perfect
from the first。 In bravery as in gallantry he knew no rival； and he
plundered with so elegant a style； that only a churlish victim could resent
the extortion。 He would as soon have turned his back upon an enemy as
demand a purse uncovered。 For every man he had a quip； for every
woman a compliment； nor did he ever conceal the truth that the means
were for him as important as the end。 Though he loved money； he still
insisted that it should be yielded in freedom and good temper； and while
he emptied more coaches than any man in England； he was never at a loss
for admirers。
Under Allen he served a brilliant apprenticeship。 Enrolled as a