I am confined in the condemned cells, and am visited by my mother and Mr. Mason – The popular quacks of the day beset me, and proffer great kindness in furtherance of their own views.

In consequence of my being capitally convicted, I was transferred to the condemned cells, and my fare was altered from what it had previously been, to bread and water, ⁹⁵ that salutary change being in such cases always made, in order, I suppose, to induce the prisoner to profit by the pious exercise of fasting, as well as by that of prayer. For the greater security of my person, I was now put in irons. ⁹⁶ My late companion, the burglar, who had also been found guilty, soon rejoined me. He appeared still gay and careless, and failed not to comment, with some asperity, on my being so dunghill, ⁹⁷ as not to affect to make the awful sentence about to be pronounced against me, a matter of merriment.