Partridge was now highly comforted, as his fears of having offended were at once abolished, and his pride compleatly fatisfied by Jones having owned himself in the wrong, which fubmiffion he instantly applied to what had principally nettled him, and repeated, in a low muttering voice, "To be fure, Sir, your knowledge may be fuperior to mine in fome things; but as to the grammar, I think I may challenge any man living. I think, „, at least, I have that at my finger's end.

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If any thing could add to the fatisfaction which the poor man now enjoyed, he received this addition by the arrival of an excellent shoulder of mutton, that at this instant came smoking to the table. On which, having both plentifully feafted, they again mounted their horfes, and fet forward for London.

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CHA P. XIV.

What happened to Mr. Jones in his Journey from St. Albans.

THEY

HEY were got about two miles beyond Barnet, and it was now the dusk of the evening, when a genteel looking man, but upon a very shabby horse, rode up to Jones, and asked him whether he was going to London, to which Jones anfwered in the affirmative. The gentleman repli

ed, "I fhould be obliged to you, Sir, if you will

VOL. III.

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"accept of my company; for it is very late, and I am a stranger to the road." Jones readily complied with the requeft; and on they travelled together, holding that fort of difcourfe which is ufual on fuch occafions.

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Of this, indeed, robbery was the principal topic; upon which fubject the ftranger expreffed great apprehenfions; but Jones declared he had very little to lofe and confequently as little to fear. Here Partridge could not forbear putting in his word. Your Honor," faid he, "may think it a little, but I am fure, if I had a hundred pound bank note in my pocket, as you have, I should be ,, very forry to lofe it; but, for my part, I never was lefs afraid in my life; for we are four of ,, us, and if we all ftand by one another, the best man in England can't rob us. Suppofe he should have a pistol, he can kill but one of us, and a man can die but once. That's my com,, fort, a man can die but once.

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Befides the reliance on fuperior numbers, a kind of valor which has raifed a certain nation among the moderns to a high pitch of glory, there was another reafon for the extraordinary courage which Partridge now difcovered; for he had at prefent as much of that quality as was in the power of liquor to beftow.

Our company were now arrived within a mile of Highgate, when the ftranger turned fhort upon

Jones, and pulling out a piftol, demanded that little bank note which Partridge had mentioned.

Jones was at first somewhat shocked at this unexpected demand; however, he presently recollected himself, and told the highwayman, all the money he had in his pocket was entirely at his fervice; and fo faying, he pulled out upwards of three guineas, and offered to deliver it; but the other anfwered with an oath, That would not do. Jones anfwered coolly, He was very sorry for it, and returned the money into his pocket.

The highwayman then threatened, if he did not deliver the bank note that moment, he must shoot him; holding his pistol at the fame time very near to his breast. Jones inftantly caught hold of the fellow's hand, which trembled fo that he could fcarce hold the pistol in it, and turned the muzzle from him. A ftruggle then enfued, in which the former wrested the pistol from the hand of his antagonist, and both came from their horfes on the ground together, the highwayman upon his back, and the victorious Jones upon him.

The poor fellow now began to implore mercy of the conqueror; for, to fay the truth, he was in ftrength by no means a match for Jones. "Indeed, Sir," fays he, "I could have had no intention to fhoot you; for you will find the pistol was not loaded. This is the first robbery I ever attempted, and I have ,, been driven by distress to this.

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At this inftant, at about a hundred and fifty yards diftance, lay another person on the ground, roaring for mercy in a much louder voice than the highwayman. This was no other than Partridge himself, who endeavouring to make his escape from the engagement, had been thrown from his horse, and lay flat on his face, not daring to look up and expecting every minute to be shot.

In this posture he lay, till the guide, who was no otherwife concerned than for his horses, having fecured the stumbling beaft, came up to him and told him, his Mafter had got the better of the highwayman.

Partridge leapt up at this news, and ran back to the place where Jones stood with his fword drawn in his hand to guard the poor fellow, which Partridge no fooner faw, than he cried out, " Kill the villain, Sir, run him through the body, kill him this inftant."

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Luckily however for the poor wretch he had fallen into more merciful hands; for Jones having examined the piftol, and found it to be really unloaded, began to believe all the man had told him before Partridge came up; namely, that he was a novice in the trade, and that he had been driven to it by the distress he mentioned, the greatest indeed imaginable, that of five hungry children, and a wife lying in of a fixth, in the utmost want and mifery. The truth of all which the highwayman.

most vehemently afferted, and offered to convince Mr. Jones of it, if he would take the trouble to go to his house, which was not above two miles off; faying, "That he defired no favor, but upon condition of proving all he had alledged."

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Jones at first pretended that he would take the fellow at his word, and return with him, declaring that his fate fhould depend entirely on the truth of his ftory. Upon this the poor fellow immedi. ately expreffed fo much alacrity, that Jones was perfectly fatisfied with his veracity, and began now to entertain fentiments of compaffion for him. He returned the fellow his empty pistol, advised him to think of honefter means for relieving his diftrefs, and gave him a couple of guineas for the immediate fupport of his wife and his family; adding, "He wifhed he had more for his fake, but the hundred pound that had been mentioned, was not his » Own."

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Our Readers will probably be divided in their opinions concerning this action; fome may applaud it perhaps as an act of extraordinary humanity, while thofe of a more faturnine temper will confider it as a want of regard to that justice which every man owes his country. Partridge certainly faw it in that light; for he teftified much diffatisfaction on the occafion, quoted an old proverb, and said, He should not wonder if the rogue attacked them again before they reached London."

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