IfIswingbythestring
　　Ishallhearthebellring1
　　Andthenthere’sanendofpoorJenny。’
　　Imentionthisbecauseitwouldbeworththeobservationofanyprisoner，whoshallhereafterfallintothesamemisfortune，andcometothatdreadfulplaceofNewgate，howtime，necessity，andconversingwiththewretchesthataretherefamiliarizestheplacetothem；howatlasttheybecomereconciledtothatwhichatfirstwasthegreatestdreadupontheirspiritsintheworld，andareasimpudentlycheerfuland
　　merryintheirmiseryastheywerewhenoutofit。
　　Icannotsay，assomedo，thisdevilisnotsoblackasheis
　　painted；forindeednocolourscanrepresenttheplacetothe
　　life，notanysoulconceivearightofitbutthosewhohave
　　beensuffersthere。
　　Buthowhellshouldbecomebydegreeso
　　natural，andnotonlytolerable，butevenagreeable，isathing
　　unintelligiblebutbythosewhohaveexperiencedit，asIhave。
　　ThesamenightthatIwassenttoNewgate，Isentthenewsof
　　ittomyoldgoverness，whowassurprisedatit，youmaybe
　　sure，andspentthenightalmostasilloutofNewgate，asIdid
　　init。
　　Thenextmorningshecametoseeme；shedidwhatshecould
　　tocomfortme，butshesawthatwastonopurpose；however，
　　asshesaid，tosinkundertheweightwasbuttoincreasethe
　　weight；sheimmediatelyappliedherselftoalltheproper
　　methodstopreventtheeffectsofit，whichwefeared，and
　　firstshefoundoutthetwofieryjadesthathadsurprisedme。
　　Shetamperedwiththem，offeredthemmoney，and，inaword，
　　triedallimaginablewaystopreventaprosecution；sheoffered
　　oneofthewenches#100togoawayfromhermistress，and
　　nottoappearagainstme，butshewassoresolute，thatthough
　　shewasbutaservantmaidat#3ayearwagesorthereabouts，
　　sherefusedit，andwouldhaverefusedit，asmygoverness
　　saidshebelieved，ifshehadofferedher#500。
　　Thenshe
　　attackedtheothermaid；shewasnotsohard-heartedin
　　appearanceastheother，andsometimesseemedinclinedto
　　bemerciful；butthefirstwenchkeptherup，andchangedher
　　mind，andwouldnotsomuchasletmygovernesstalkwith
　　her，butthreatenedtohaveherupfortamperingwiththe
　　evidence。
　　Thensheappliedtothemaster，thatistosay，themanwhose
　　goodshadbeenstolen，andparticularlytohiswife，who，as
　　Itoldyou，wasinclinedatfirsttohavesomecompassionfor
　　me；shefoundthewomanthesamestill，butthemanalleged
　　hewasboundbythejusticethatcommittedme，toprosecute，
　　andthatheshouldforfeithisrecognisance。
　　Mygovernessofferedtofindfriendsthatshouldgethis
　　recognisancesoffofthefile，astheycallit，andthathe
　　shouldnotsuffer；butitwasnotpossibletoconvincehimthat
　　couldbedone，orthathecouldbesafeanywayintheworld
　　butbyappearingagainstme；soIwastohavethreewitnesses
　　offactagainstme，themasterandhistwomaids；thatistosay，
　　IwasascertaintobecastformylifeasIwascertainthatI
　　wasalive，andIhadnothingtodobuttothinkofdying，and
　　prepareforit。
　　Ihadbutasadfoundationtobuildupon，asI
　　saidbefore，forallmyrepentanceappearedtometobeonly
　　theeffectofmyfearofdeath，notasincereregretforthe
　　wickedlifethatIhadlived，andwhichhadbroughtthismisery
　　uponme，fortheoffendingmyCreator，whowasnowsuddenly
　　tobemyjudge。
　　Ilivedmanydayshereundertheutmosthorrorofsoul；Ihad
　　death，asitwere，inview，andthoughtofnothingnightand
　　day，butofgibbetsandhalters，evilspiritsanddevils；itisnot
　　tobeexpressedbywordshowIwasharassed，betweenthe
　　dreadfulapprehensionsofdeathandtheterrorofmyconscience
　　reproachingmewithmypasthorriblelife。
　　TheordinaryOfNewgatecametome，andtalkedalittlein
　　hisway，butallhisdivinityranuponconfessingmycrime，as
　　hecalleditthoughheknewnotwhatIwasinfor，makinga
　　fulldiscovery，andthelike，withoutwhichhetoldmeGod
　　wouldneverforgiveme；andhesaidsolittletothepurpose，
　　thatIhadnomannerofconsolationfromhim；andthento
　　observethepoorcreaturepreachingconfessionandrepentance
　　tomeinthemorning，andfindhimdrunkwithbrandyand
　　spiritsbynoon，thishadsomethinginitsoshocking，thatI
　　begantonauseatethemanmorethanhiswork，andhiswork
　　toobydegrees，forthesakeoftheman；sothatIdesiredhim
　　totroublemenomore。
　　Iknownothowitwas，butbytheindefatigableapplication
　　ofmydiligentgovernessIhadnobillpreferredagainstme
　　thefirstsessions，Imeantothegrandjury，atGuildhall；soI
　　hadanothermonthorfiveweeksbeforeme，andwithoutdoubt
　　thisoughttohavebeenacceptedbyme，assomuchtimegiven
　　meforreflectionuponwhatwaspast，andpreparationforwhat
　　wastocome；or，inaword，Ioughttohaveesteemeditasa
　　spacegivenmeforrepentance，andhaveemployeditassuch，
　　butitwasnotinme。
　　Iwassorryasbeforeforbeingin
　　Newgate，buthadveryfewsignsofrepentanceaboutme。
　　Onthecontrary，likethewatersinthecavitiesandhollows
　　ofmountains，whichpetrifyandturnintostonewhateverthey
　　aresufferedtodropon，sothecontinualconversingwithsuch
　　acrewofhell-houndsasIwas，hadthesamecommonoperation
　　uponmeasuponotherpeople。
　　Idegeneratedintostone；I
　　turnedfirststupidandsenseless，thenbrutishandthoughtless，
　　andatlastravingmadasanyofthemwere；and，inshort，I
　　becameasnaturallypleasedandeasywiththeplace，asif
　　indeedIhadbeenbornthere。
　　Itisscarcepossibletoimaginethatournaturesshouldbe
　　capableofsomuchdegeneracy，astomakethatpleasantand
　　agreeablethatinitselfisthemostcompletemisery。
　　Here
　　wasacircumstancethatIthinkitisscarcepossibletomention
　　aworse:
　　Iwasasexquisitelymiserableas，speakingof
　　commoncases，itwaspossibleforanyonetobethathadlife
　　andhealth，andmoneytohelpthem，asIhad。
　　Ihadweightofguiltuponmeenoughtosinkanycreature
　　whohadtheleastpowerofreflectionleft，andhadanysense
　　uponthemofthehappinessofthislife，ofthemiseryof
　　another；thenIhadatfirstremorseindeed，butnorepentance；
　　Ihadnowneitherremorsenorrepentance。
　　Ihadacrime
　　chargedonme，thepunishmentofwhichwasdeathbyour
　　law；theproofsoevident，thattherewasnoroomformeso
　　muchastopleadnotguilty。
　　Ihadthenameofanoldoffender，
　　sothatIhadnothingtoexpectbutdeathinafewweeks’time，
　　neitherhadImyselfanythoughtsofescaping；andyetacertain
　　strangelethargyofsoulpossessedme。
　　Ihadnotrouble，no
　　apprehensions，nosorrowaboutme，thefirstsurprisewas
　　gone；Iwas，Imaywellsay，Iknownothow；mysenses，my
　　reason，nay，myconscience，wereallasleep；mycourseoflife
　　forfortyyearshadbeenahorridcomplicationofwickedness，
　　whoredom，adultery，incest，lying，theft；and，inaword，
　　everythingbutmurderandtreasonhadbeenmypracticefrom
　　theageofeighteen，orthereabouts，tothree-score；andnowI
　　wasengulfedinthemiseryofpunishment，andhadaninfamous
　　deathjustatthedoor，andyetIhadnosenseofmycondition，
　　nothoughtofheavenorhellatleast，thatwentanyfartherthan
　　abareflyingtouch，likethestitchorpainthatgivesahintand
　　goesoff。
　　IneitherhadahearttoaskGod’smercy，norindeed
　　tothinkofit。
　　Andinthis，Ithink，Ihavegivenabrief
　　descriptionofthecompletestmiseryonearth。
　　Allmyterrifyingthoughtswerepast，thehorrorsoftheplace
　　werebecomefamiliar，andIfeltnomoreuneasinessatthe
　　noiseandclamoursoftheprison，thantheydidwhomade
　　thatnoise；inaword，IwasbecomeamereNewgate-bird，as
　　wickedandasoutrageousasanyofthem；nay，Iscarce
　　retainedthehabitandcustomofgoodbreedingandmanners，
　　whichallalongtillnowranthroughmyconversation；so
　　thoroughadegeneracyhadpossessedme，thatIwasnomore
　　thesamethingthatIhadbeen，thanifIhadneverbeen
　　otherwisethanwhatIwasnow。
　　InthemiddleofthishardenedpartofmylifeIhadanother
　　suddensurprise，whichcalledmebackalittletothatthing
　　calledsorrow，whichindeedIbegantobepastthesenseof
　　before。
　　Theytoldmeonenightthattherewasbroughtinto
　　theprisonlatethenightbeforethreehighwaymen，whohad
　　committedrobberysomewhereontheroadtoWindsor，
　　HounslowHeath，Ithinkitwas，andwerepursuedtoUxbridge
　　bythecountry，andweretakenthereafteragallantresistance，
　　inwhichIknownothowmanyofthecountrypeoplewere
　　wounded，andsomekilled。
　　Itisnottobewonderedthatweprisonerswerealldesirous
　　enoughtoseethesebrave，toppinggentlemen，thatwere
　　talkeduptobesuchastheirfellowshadnotbeenknown，and
　　especiallybecauseitwassaidtheywouldinthemorningbe
　　removedintothepress-yard，havinggivenmoneytothehead
　　masteroftheprison，tobeallowedthelibertyofthatbetter
　　partoftheprison。
　　Sowethatwerewomenplacedourselves
　　intheway，thatwewouldbesuretoseethem；butnothing
　　couldexpresstheamazementandsurpriseIwasin，whenthe
　　veryfirstmanthatcameoutIknewtobemyLancashirehusband，
　　thesamewholivedsowellatDunstable，andthesamewhoI
　　afterwardssawatBrickhill，whenIwasmarriedtomylast
　　husband，ashasbeenrelated。
　　Iwasstruckdumbatthesight，andknewneitherwhattosay
　　norwhattodo；hedidnotknowme，andthatwasallthe
　　presentreliefIhad。
　　Iquittedmycompany，andretiredas
　　muchasthatdreadfulplacesuffersanybodytoretire，andI
　　criedvehementlyforagreatwhile。
　　’DreadfulcreaturethatI
　　am，’saidI，’howmaypoorpeoplehaveImademiserable？
　　HowmanydesperatewretcheshaveIsenttothedevil？’
　　He
　　hadtoldmeatChesterhewasruinedbythatmatch，andthat
　　hisfortunesweremadedesperateonmyaccount；forthat
　　thinkingIhadbeenafortune，hewasrunintodebtmorethan
　　hewasabletopay，andthatheknewnotwhatcoursetotake；
　　thathewouldgointothearmyandcarryamusket，orbuya
　　horseandtakeatour，ashecalledit；andthoughInevertold
　　himthatIwasafortune，andsodidnotactuallydeceivehim
　　myself，yetIdidencouragethehavingitthoughtthatIwasso，
　　andbythatmeansIwastheoccasionoriginallyofhismischief。
　　Thesurpriseofthethingonlystruckdeeperintomythoughts，
　　anygavemestrongerreflectionsthanallthathadbefallenme
　　before。