Some Pleasure Derived from Adversity.

They had not been able to procure beds before twenty ruffians rushed into the house, headed by the fanatic who had fled from our hero’s arm. Resistance was vain. They first set free his comrade, and then arrested our travellers, on a charge of a riot and assault, committed by them on a party of peaceful brethren and sisters, who were laudably engaged in religious exercises; and of wounding, and attacking illegally, detaining, / and imprisoning a county elector, who was proceeding with a neighbour to attend the poll the next day, and was of the country interest.’ They were all accordingly bound, and carried at that late hour, by order of the justice, to prison. The evidence indeed against them was strong, and appearances unfavourable; for there were many witnesses of their riotous conduct, as we have described, at the inn, and of Dr. Sourby’s interference and quarrel with Mr. Cantwell and his followers, and his disgrace, and hasty retreat from the village. There was another motive also, which weighed much with the justice; the election of assemblymen for that place came on the next day, and a most violent division prevailed between those who were for the candidate in the proprietary, and the one in the country interest. ³⁹⁴ The justice was for the latter, and the assailants of our travellers were of the same kidney; while our forlorn trio were suspected to be spies / of the proprietary party. They were therefore, sans ceremonie, lodged in a strong apartment of the gaol, about seven feet square, which was paved with flags, and lighted by a small porthole guarded with grates; there was neither chair, table, or bed, but some straw thickly laid on the pavement. Dr. Sourby began to lament his fate, and asked the Irishman, who had laid himself quietly down for a nap, what he thought would be their fate? ‘Why, by my shoul, ³⁹⁵ if I am to judge by the consciences of our prosecutors, they will swear us all to the gallows.’