ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Production Note Project Unica Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2015 ?fi3Unhappy, friendlefs Man ! How hard thy Fate 3 Whole only Crime is being Unfortunate. Are Jailors fuffer’d in fuch Ails as theie ! To ftrip the Wretch, who cannot pay his Fees ? Is there no kind Samaritan will lend Relief, and lave him from th’ accurfed Fiend ?A N ORA TIO N ON THE OPPRESSION O F JAILORS: Which was fpoken in the Fleet Prifon, on the 20th of February 173-2 (as advertiied in the Daily-Qojl of that Day) and carefully taken in Short-Hand by one of the Audience, who hopes he ihall not incur the Difpleafure of the Orator in publifhing a Thing fo manifeilly tending to the Good of the Publick. Quam inique comparatum eft, ii, qui minus habent, Ut femper aliquid addane divitioribus ! Ghtod ille unciatim vix demeufo de fuo, Suum defraudavi gtvium comparjtt mifety Jd - univerfum abripiet, haud exijlimavs guanto laborepartum. —— Terkmcì^ LONDON: Printed for A.Moore, near St. Qauh; and Sold at the Pamphlet-Shops in London and Weftminjier. Price 6 d.\0&aoHM l 3 3 A N ORATION ON THE OPPRESSION O F f A I L 0 R S. E are often referr’d to Beads for Injlruffion • as to the Ant and Bee for an Example of Indujlry j to the Dog, the Serpent, the Dove, for their Fidelity, Cunning, and Innocence ■ but I wonder none of the Sages have advifed us to learn QompaJJion and Humanity towards our Fellow-Creatures, from the Monkey: For if what I have heard from thofe who A 2 have[ 4 ] have often hunted them in the Weft-Indies, merits Faith, we may from this Animal be taught not only this beneficent Virtue, but aifo a. generous Friendjhip : For when a Monkey is wounded, the others in the Company immediately chew green Leaves, fuch as by Nature they know proper, apply them to the Wound to ftaunch the Blood, and will ufe their utmoft Endeavour, though they are often killed for their Charity by the Sportfmen, to carry off and prevent the hurt Monkey from falling into the Hands of his Purfuers. You know, Gentlemen Fellow-Sufferers, I was fome Days ago, by the arrogant, arbitrary Command of Th------s B—f-------¿1, our D—p—ty W—d—n, draggd away in a violent. Manner nolens volens to C—b—t\ the Tipftaff’s, a Fellow, whofe Fame will never die as long as there fhall remain a Report of the Truly Honourable Committee! In his Spunging-Houfe,where I was fix Days, nay more than fix whole Days, detained againft my Confent, I heard the Figure of a Man exclaiming againft the late A6t for the Relief of Infol-vents, who, in my Opinion, was much more defpicable than, and ought to be put to School to, this Species of Animals I juft men-mentioned. It is, ({aid he, fpeaking of the Abt) an Encouragement of Vdlany • thofe Rogues who are releafed are worfe than Highwaymen, and no Punifbment is bad enough for them. Let 'em rot and be d-----d. They are a Burthen to the ho- neft Part of Mankind, and the fooner they are at the D----/ the better. I fall lofe above 500/. by this c----dAPI. I took the Liberty to ask if his De’ tor or Debtors were infolvent ? 1 know Sir, replied he, you'll retort, That I can in fuch Cafe lofe nothing. Tes, Sir, I lofe the Satisfaction of feeing the Law punifh them, and of receiving humble and fubmijfive Letters frctn, and keeping my Hat on to Fellows, whom I myfelf once courted for their Cuflom, and who, though they once look'd above me, now ftayid in Aive of the forrieft Rafcals the Sewn of the People can afford } fuch as while they domineer over them, are ready to lick the Diijl off my Shoes who give them Bread. Thefe are the Executioners of my Will and Pleafure. I call them my Lyons, and I throw them now and then a dead Dog of a Debtor. I asked if he had read the Reports of the Committee ? I never, faid he, read any Thing with greater Pleafure, and I think f[ 6 ] if the Jailes roe re rewarded for their Vigilance and feady Government, it would he of great Serjice to Trade. Difcipline is neceffary amongfuch a Crew of Thieve s, and, for my Part, 1 cant be of Opinion that the imprifond Debtors have been handled with more Rigour than they juflly deferved. I was ftrangely furprized that an Account of Extortions and Cruelties, which I could not read but with thegreatef Horror and A/loniJhment^ to think we had among us Men more devoid of Humanity than the Florida Cannibals, could -admi-nifier Satisfaction to any Reader ! The Cruelty of the Pyrates is Mercy compar’d to the Miferies which have reign’d in our Jails 5 to which, alas ! I wifh I could fay, I hope, the Charitable InfpeCtion of the Committee has put an End. But from the late peremptory Carriage and Behaviour of theD-p-tyW—d—n, it is obvious that he is treading the Steps of his vile PredeceiTor, B—mb—dge, and endeavouring to play the lame Diabolical Game over again. God forbid that I ihould harbour fo unchriilian a Wifh as that he may fhare the fame Fate ! No, far be from me the Deiire of an Injury to any Man; but as Self-Prefervation is the chief Law of Nature, I think it behoves us[ 7 ] us all, I fpeak to my Fellow-Sufferers in general, to prepare our Pelves again ft any dreadful Invafion on our Rights and Privileges, by throwing afide ail Feuds and Animofities, which, my Friends, I have oft with Tears perceived to reign amongft us, and all to a Man unite againft the common Enemy (whilft he deferves that Name) that we may be the better able to defend ourfelves ihould any Attempts be made to break in upon our Peace and Quietnefs, to hinder us even from eating the Bread of Sorrow with Comfort, and to form ftill Prifons in Prifons within a Jail. Let us conlider we are a little Community among ourfelves, a Body Politick, whereof not a Single Member fhould Puffer but the Whole ihould be concerned. But ah ! on what a weak Foundation does that HouPe ftand which is divided againft itfeif! While Pome through Fear or Self-Intereft, bafe groveling Principles ! fide with thofe, who, when they are found to be no longer ferviceable, will caft them off like Dogs, to repent too late their mif-taken Confidence. But this may Peem needlefs to obPerve here, for I cannot expert that one ftngle Sheep of this timorous Flock dare be prefent at this Time; tho’I do[ 8 ] do not at all queition but they, poor Men! fecretly wifh well to the Caule in which 1 freely engage, but are too much aw’d by the Infolence of their Keepers, their hard ¿Egyptian Task-Mailers ! to make any Complaint, which feveral of them have own’d to me they would do, were a Committee to appear; but as the Cafe is they dar'd not be feen to converfe with one who is not in the W—d—n’s Intereft, for Fear of incurring his high and mighty Difplea-fure. Thefe Perfons therefore deferve rather our Pity, Gentlemen, than Contempt, Refentment or ill Will. However, I can’t help exprefling my Joy, to find the Number ofthispu/illani?noiisHercI\s fo infignificantly fmall, and that there is fo vail a Majority oi Lion-like Men among us poflefled with the true Englijh and Heroick Spirit, fcorn-ing to bow their Necks to Slavery and Oppreflion. I would not here be mifun-deritood to irritate any of you to take up Arms or Weapons againil Oppreflion ,• but fo to Hand by one another as to be ready to atteil the Truth of any juft Complaint, and friendly to aid and afliil each other by all lawful Means, to the utmoil of our Power. And now before the Parliament freaks up, to fet forth our Grievances in an[ 9 ] an Humble Petition to their Honours, that they may fee how hardly we are dealt by ^ for, How can we expebt Redrefs unlefs we crave it ? While we feem eafy and undifturb’d, they will imagine we are fo, and be glad of it. Let us therefore no longer be iilent, deceiving them and our-felves, or in fecret grown under this heavy Weight of Oppreifion, while we have fo powerful and charitable a Committee of Englijhwen to apply to, who will never flop their Ears to the Complaints of the Diftreifed : Let it be truly and faithfully reprefented to them, That notwithstanding their great Care and moft laudable Endeavours, by the wholefome Laws enabled, to prevent Extortions and other Abufes in the feveral Jails of this Kingdom, yet many unhappy Prifoners, immur’d within thefe Walls, labour under the greatejl, from their Head and numerous pettyTyrants: Let it be made known, That feveral of our Attornies, Agents, and Servants have been deny’d Admittance into the Gate, whereby many of us have received great Detriment in our Affairs many been deprived for a Time even of the neceifary Provisions and Suifenance of Life i and this too, amongit fome, in the B midit[ 10"] mitift of Sicknefs: Let them be acquainted, That many Charities are concealed and with-held f om the neceifitous Prifoners ; and thofe which are made known, unequally and partially difcributed to thofe who have little or no Pretence (having no Need) to partake of Charity, while fome Perfons, who are really in a neceifitous and ftarving Condition, have been denied aud excluded the Participation thereof; But I fhould detain you all Night were I to ennumerate the many Hardjhips we have, alas! too juft Reafon to complain of; neither is it my Bufinefs to dictate a Thing of this Nature here ; but I muft earneftly recommend it to the Con-iideration of more Heads than one, and whatever A ififtance my poor Skill can any ways afford, fhall be heartily at your Service. in this manner, I fay, being juftly bold in each other’s Defence, and fcorn-ing the vile, ignoble, mean, and fervile Pofture of holding a Candle to the Devil upon any Account whatfoever. And no doul t but the Glorious Committee, who once redreJJ'ed our Wrongs, will repeat that God-1 be Ad, whenever by our Complaints and Cries for Juftice they fhall fee Oc-cafion. Here*__Here can I forget the generous few, Who, touch’d with human woe, red re dive fought Into the horrors of the gloomy jail ? Unpitied, and unheard, where Mifery moans ; Where Sicknefs pines $ whereTnirft andHanger burn, And poor Misfortune feels the laih of Vice. While in the land of liberty, the land Whole every ftreet, and public meeting glows With open freedom, little tyrants rag’d : Snatch’d the lean morfel from the ftarving mouth j Tore from cold wintry limbs the tatter’d robe 5 Even robb’d them of the laft of comforts, lleep ; The free-born BRITON to the dungeon chain’d, Or, as the lull of cruelty prevail’d, At pleafure mark’d him with inglorious itripes $ And crufh’d out lives by various namelefs ways, That for their country would have toil’d, or bled. Hail patriot-band ! who, fcorning fecret icorn, When Juitice, and when Mercy led the way, Dragg’d the detected monfters into light, Wrench’d from their hand Oppreffion’s iron rod, And bad the cruel feel the pains they ga.ve. Yet fop not here, let all the land rejoice, And make the bleiling unconfin’d, as g-eat. Much fill untouch’d remains ; in this rank age, * Mr. Thomson’s WINTER: B t Much[ I* ] Much is the patriot’s weeding hand requir’d. The toils of law, (what dark infidious men Have cumbrous added to perplex the truth, And lengthen fimple juftice into trade) Oh glorious were the day ! that law theie broke, And every man within the reach of right. Were fuch a Report made by lefs Authority, could it gain Credit! could we believe men for the fake of filthy Lucre, Men eafy and above Want, could fnatch the Bread from the Mouth of a half ftarvcd Wretch; or pumfh with the fevereft ri 'or-tures thofe perilling Creatures for endeavouring (as it’s natural) the efcaping from their Mifery ! fhould we not tax an Author as actuated by Revenge or ill Will who Could tell us that a Jailor, and an En^lifhtnan^ could with Iron Machines skrew the Head of a poor Wretch till the Blood gufh’d from his Lars andNofe, and and this in his Jollity and Mirth, that the Groans of the unhappy fricndlefs Man might heighten the Entertainment, and the Diftortions of his Features, thro’ Ex-cefs of Pain, afford an agreeable Spectacle to himfeif and the Company he regaled! yet this has been done ! and the Death of the unfortuuate Man was the Confequence[ 13 ] of this and other Barbarities he fuffer’d for being liable to the VidiTitudes of human Affairs. I wifh the Reafon Diogenes gave for Charity being bellow’d on Beggars rather than Philofophers, had the fame Weight with relentlefs Creditors • That they would re field it is poffible they may one Day fall under the fame Misfortune, and from Companion to themfelves learn to pity others. But I am fo partial to my Country as to believe it produces very few Monders like him, who gave ground for this Harangue ,• and that many Creditors have een led on by Pettifoggers (in Fee with Jailors) who have made them believe the unhappy perifhing Debtor w7as able, but too obilinate, to do them Juflice; and have been kept from being Eye-Wit-neffes of their deplorable Situation, by being told the Prifoners would be brought to a more fpeedy Compliance by the Creditor’s not appearing : For the Englifh are allowed in the general, by their Enemies, to be a brave and compaffionate People, and it’s impoflible for me to believe that fuch Numbers could be left to perifh by Stench, Want, and Nailinefs, by being cramm’d together in a Room where the Surface was not large enough to fuffer them[ H ] them to lie clown ; by being drain’d of what little they had for Suitenance by in-fatiable and inhuman Jailors, and then debarred from the Support their Friends would bring them ; by being forced to lie with lick and dying Perfons; nay, by being coupled with dead and putrid Corpfe; by being beaten by infamous Slaves of their Tyrants, loaded with Irons, and thrown into damp and noifome Dungeons ; and being vilely defrauded of the Charities which compaHionate Chriftians have fent to appeafe their Hunger, and refeue them from the moil cruel Death ; had thefe Barbarities been known to the greater Part of their Creditors, I can’t be induc’d to believe but they would have thought the Punifhment too fevere for the Crime (however indifereet the Debtor had been) and have put an End to the Cruelty. It is true, fome Men have been fo inhuman as to profefs, They had rather fee their Debtors perifo than be paid the Debt ; and one I myfelf knew, that juftly met with a Creditor of the fame Way of thinking, who threw him into, and let him rot, in a Jail. An Expreifion he had himfelf often ufed for thofe wTho were in his Debt. Another melancholly Initance I heard of an[ >5 1 an obdurate Creditor, who met with a worfe Fate; for he died (though not in a Jail) under the greateft Horror and Com-pundhion of Mind imaginable; whereas the other might have had Leilure to repent and quiet his Confcience. To this cruel inexorable Man, who was, I think, a Merchant in Thames-Street, fruitlcfs Applications were daily made by an unhappy Debtor of his in the Marjbalfea, who had formerly been a very great Trader himfelf, but through various unforefeen Accidents, which no human Care could pollibly have prevented, he at length was plung’d into the Misfortune from which he now became an humble Suppliant to be releas’d. The Merchant foon tir’d with his Impoi trinities, as he called them, fpurn’d at the Meifenger, who was the unhappy Gentleman’s Wife, and vow’d never to fee her or read a Letter from her Husband more, without he was well ajfured the Contents were to his Satisfaction. In vain did the diílreííed Woman, almoil linking with the Burden of her intolerable Grief, ex-poflulate with this more than Barbarian the mean Circumflances of her Husband, his lick Condition, his numerous Family, and the Mifery they were all reduced to by[ 16 ] by his Cruelty. Not all the Sighs or Tears, not all the Remonftrances and Sul million of the Lady could in the leait molliate his Heart; he flung away in a violent Rage with this moil inhuman Ex predion! If he does die *---- 77/ have his Body to make Dice of his Bones. Who can deferibe the Shock the Lady felt at thefe Words ? Nor had they a much lefs Effect on him they were meant to. Infhort, what with Grief at the Mifery his Wife and Family fhared with him, and the Violence of a Diilemper contracted in the Jail, he lan-guiilied fome few Days more and died. Before his Death, he exprefly deiired fome Friends to put h's Corpfe into a fquare Box, and fend it, by a Porter, with a Letter he had writ, to the Merchant, his Creditor’s Houfc. They did fo, and he being abroad, the Letter and Box were left. About two o’ Clock in the Morning, from an Entertainment, where he had met with Abundance of Pleafure and Diveriion, he came Home, And in this Elevation of Spirits, his Servant gave him the fatal I.otter, which he had no fooner read and calf his Eyes upon the Box which ftood in the Entry, but his Courage forfeok him at once, ordering the Body tor 17 ] to be removed out of the Houfe, he went up to Bed, fell into ftrong con vulfive Fits, and died amidft the Agonies of Defpair. The Contents of the Letter were found to be, r j f. ' SIR, YOU have your Beßre, herewith is my Body, make Dice of my Bones. But we muft not conclude from fome few Particulars, of the general. We have had fo many Examples of the Charity and Companion of the Englijh Nation to Strangers, that it would be abfurd to imagine they had no Bowels for their own Countrymen. The Infpection of the Committee, the univerfal Satisfaction expreiled on the detecting thefe Cruelties, and the ProfpeCt of the Authors of fuch unheard Barbarities meeting with condign Punifh-ment, are Demonftrations that the Fnglißj in general abhor Oppreilion, are juft and compallionate. But either Way, the Pro-peniity of the Nation to Mercy and Hu-mamty is demonftrable ; for thofe who are for concluding from Particulars, muft neceflarily be convinced from the Behaviour of that Glorious Committee of £»- C glißmen,[ >8 ] alifotnen, who had no other than Motives of Charity and Companion, to make ’em endure the noifome Stench of Dungeons, theunwhoifome Smells arifmg from Rooms where a Number of People, deprived of all Means of Cleanlinefs, were coop’d up together, without the Liberty of eafmg Nature in any other Place, and where the Number of the Sick and Dying furpailed that of the Healthy. Neither the Danger of Infection, nor the long Detail which the unhappy Prifoners gave of their Sufferings, could prevent thefe Gentlemen vifiting the loathfome Dungeons in which they ianguifhed, nor exhauft their Patience. They were actuated by an Englijb Spirit of Humanity and Juflice - and as they were in one Senfe Representatives of the Nation, fo were they in this Generous, this Chriflian Employ, which will doubt** lefs perpetuate their Names to lateft Memory, giving a Specimen of the Englijb Abhorrence to Cruelty and Oppreffion, and their natural Propenilty to Mercy and Companion. Their Reports will, I hope, be read with Horror and Defoliation of thofe Inftruments of Cruelty, and the Names of thefe Glorious, thefe Cbrijlian Patriots be for ever after mentioned with that[ 19 ] that RefpeCf and Veneration as are due to Deliverers ; to Gentlemen who have brought to publick View, and by that Means opened a Way to put a Stop to Barbarities, which being fullered by fome, and heard by other Foreigners, have abroad given us the Character of a People void of Humanity, cruel, revengeful, and impolitick. I hope too, that the Mi-ieries the unhappy Prifoners languifhed in, and which thefe never fiifficiently to be praifed and efleemed Gentlemen have ex-pofed in their Reports, will caufe Reflection in thofe who pretend they are not accountable for what they have acted in Conformity to the Law. For if they knew, as I am perfuaded few Creditors did, the wretched Condition of thofe they imprifoned, and were confcious the Rigour they exercis’d occalion’d the Death of their Debtors, they mult, in foro con-fcientia, condemn themfelves of the Murder ; and, without a fine ere Repentance, they will find it prefs fore upon them on their Death - Beds, be a Check upon the Hopes of having their Prayers received, and make them doubt, if not defpair, of that Mercy from their God, they deny’d their Fellow-Creatures. The poor Wretch C 2 who[ 20 ] who has fallen by their Pride, Cruelty, or Revenge, will then prefent himfelf to their frighten’dConfcience, deprefs’d withWant, loaded with Irons, and groaning under the Cruelties of avaritious and harden’d Jailors, to reproach, to enumerate the Miferies they, deaf to Entreaties, gave them to, and to flop the Ears of Mercy by their Cries of Juilice. * Ah little think the gay licentious proud, Whom pleafure, power, and affluence furround 5 They, who their thoughtlefs hours in giddy mirth, And wanton, often cruel, riot wafte ; Ah little think they, while they dance along, How many feel this very moment, death And all the fad variety of pain. How many fink in the devouring flood, Or more devouring flame. How many bleed, By fliameful variance betwixt man and man. How many pine in want, and dungeon gloom- j Shut from the common air, and common uie Of their own limbs. How many drink the cup Of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread Of mifery. Sore pierc’d by wintry winds, How many ihrink into the fordid hut Of chearleis poverty. How many fhake * Mr. Thomson’s WIN TE R. With[ 21 ] With all the fiercer tortures of the mind, Unbounded paffion, madneis, guilt, remorfe 5 Whence tumbled headlong from the height of life, They furniih matter for the tragick mufe. Even in the vale, where Wiidom loves to dwell, W ith Friendihip, Peace, and Contemplation join’d How many, rackt with honeil paflions, droop In deep retir’d diftrefs. How many itand Around the death-bed of their deareft friends, Like wailing penfive ghofts awaiting theirs, And point the parting pang. Thought but fond man Of thel’e, and all the thoufand nameleis ills, That one inceflant llruggle render life, One fcene of toil, of anguifh, and of late, Vice in his high career would itand appall’d, And heedlei’s rambling impulfe learn to think; The conicious heart of Charity would warm, And his wide with Benevolence dilate j The fecial tear would riie, the ibcial figh j And into clear perfe&ion, gradual bliis, Refining ftill, the fecial pailions work. The grievous Diftrefs, which the Warden or his Deputy, without any Offence given, inflicts on me, has fo much difor-dered my Health, that I am not able to offer any more, at prefent; but mult defer it till another Opportunity. 1 iliall only add a few Lines, which the Wits of Grub- Jlreet[ ** ] jlreet did me the Honour to approve, by inferting them., to my Surprize, in their Journal, with which I fhail conclude. WHen Knaves of Juftice ceaie t’opprefs mankind; Or truth and honour we in Jailors find : When G-------*r’s honefty outweighs his Pride ; Or ’mongft the poor fhail ill-got wealth divide : When CB' —d's white, invidious, fickly face Shall know a blufh, or fhow one Sign of grace: When their vile Predeceflbrs are forgot; And on their Tcutcheons there remains no-blot : When Tipilaffs fhail forget to take their fees ; Or their poor Pris’ners find a moment’s eafe : When C-------/’s heart and tongue fhail once agree, And think, or fpeak, what’s found Divinity : When lP------T.e in ilyneis fhail behind him come, And in the praife of his dear felf be dumb: When all the reft of this oppreffive tribe, Bailiffs and Turnkeys, fhail refufe a bribe : rfhen:will Ifalfe to my dear Cloe prove, u4ud think no more of Poetry and Love.Lately Publijhed, jfâSOP Un v e i l’d : Or, The Beauties oÎDeformity : Being a Poetical Translation of feveral Curious Fables out of Æ