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scrupulous respect for a potent； if unwritten； law。 Neither might nor right
was permitted to control the issue。 A gaily attired； superbly mounted
highwayman would hold up a coach packed with armed men； and take a
purse from each； though a vigorous remonstrance might have carried him
to Tyburn。 But the traveller knew his place： he did what was expected of
him in the best of tempers。 Who was he that he should yield in courtesy
to the man in the vizard？ As it was monstrous for the one to discharge
his pistol； so the other could not resist without committing an outrage
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upon tradition。 One wonders what had been the result if some
mannerless reformer had declined his assailant's invitation and drawn his
sword。 Maybe the sensitive art might have died under this sharp rebuff。
But none save regicides were known to resist； and their resistance was
never more forcible than a volley of texts。 Thus the High… toby…crack
swaggered it with insolent gaiety； knowing no worse misery than the fear
of the Tree； so long as he followed the rules of his craft。 But let a touch
of brutality disgrace his method； and he appealed in vain for sympathy or
indulgence。 The ruffian； for instance； of whom it is grimly recorded that
he added a tie…wig to his booty； neither deserved nor received the smallest
consideration。 Delivered to justice； he speedily met the death his
vulgarity merited； and the road was taught the salutary lesson that wigs
were as sacred as trinkets hallowed by association。
With the eighteenth century the highway fell upon decline。 No doubt
in its silver age； the century's beginning； many a brilliant deed was done。
Something of the old policy survived； and men of spirit still went upon the
pad。 But the breadth of the ancient style was speedily forgotten； and by
the time the First George climbed to the throne； robbery was already a
sordid trade。 Neither side was conscious of its noble obligation。 The
vulgar audacity of a bullying thief was suitably answered by the
ungracious； involuntary submission of the terrified traveller。 From end to
end of England you might hear the cry of ‘Stand and deliver。' Yet how
changed the accent！ The beauty of gesture； the deference of carriage； the
ready response to a legitimate demandall the qualities of a dignified art
were lost for ever。 As its professors increased in number； the note of
aristocracy； once dominant； was silenced。 The meanest rogue； who could
hire a horse； might cut a contemptible figure on Bagshot Heath； and feel
no shame at robbing a poor man。 Oncein that Augustan age； whose
brightest ornament was Captain Hindit was something of a distinction to
be decently plundered。 A century later there was none so humble but he
might be asked to empty his pocket。 In brief； the blight of democracy
was upon what should have remained a refined； secluded art； and nowise
is the decay better illustrated than in the appreciation of bunglers； whose
exploits were scarce worth a record。
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James Maclaine； for instance； was the hero of his age。 In a history of
cowards he would deserve the first place； and the ‘Gentleman
Highwayman；' as he was pompously styled； enjoyed a triumph denied to
many a victorious general。 Lord Mountford led half White's to do him
honour on the day of his arrest。 On the first Sunday； which he spent in
Newgate； three thousand jostled for entrance to his cell； and the poor devil
fainted three times at the heat caused by the throng of his admirers。 So
long as his fate hung in the balance； Walpole could not take up his pen
without a compliment to the man； who claimed to have robbed him near
Hyde Park。 Yet a more pitiful rascal never showed the white feather。
Not once was he known to take a purse with his own hand； the summit of
his achievement being to hold the horses' heads while his accomplice
spoke with the passengers。 A poltroon before his arrest； in Court he
whimpered and whinnied for mercy； he was carried to the cart pallid and
trembling； and not even his preposterous finery availed to hearten him at
the gallows。 Taxed with his timidity； he attempted to excuse himself on
the inadmissible plea of moral rectitude。 ‘I have as much personal
courage in an honourable cause；' he exclaimed in a passage of false dignity；
‘as any man in Britain； but as I knew I was committing acts of injustice； so
I went to them half loth and half consenting； and in that sense I own I am a
coward indeed。'
The disingenuousness of this proclamation is as remarkable as its
hypocrisy。 Well might he brag of his courage in an honourable cause；
when he knew that he could never be put to the test。 But what palliation
shall you find for a rogue with so little pride in his art； that he exercised it
‘half loth； half consenting'？ It is not in this recreant spirit that
masterpieces are achieved； and Maclaine had better have stayed in the far
Highland parish； which bred him； than have attempted to cut a figure in
the larger world of London。 His famous encounter with Walpole should
have covered him with disgrace； for it was ignoble at every point； and the
art was so little understood； that it merely added a leaf to his crown of
glory。 Now； though Walpole was far too well…bred to oppose the demand
of an armed stranger； Maclaine； in defiance of his craft； discharged his
pistol at an innocent head。 True； he wrote a letter of apology； and
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insisted that； had the one pistol… shot proved fatal； he had another in
reserve for himself。 But not even Walpole would have believed him； had
not an amiable faith given him an opportunity for the answering quip：
‘Can I do less than say I will be hanged if he is？'
As Maclaine was a coward and no thief； so also he was a snob and no
gentleman。 His boasted elegance was not more respectable than his art。
Fine clothes are the embellishment of a true adventurer； they hang ill on
the sloping shoulders of a poltroon。
And Maclaine； with all the ostensible weaknesses of his kind； would
claim regard for the strength that he knew not。 He occupied a costly
apartment in St。 James's Street； his morning dress was a crimson damask
banjam； a silk shag waistcoat； trimmed with lace； black velvet breeches；
white silk stockings； and yellow morocco slippers； but since his
magnificence added no jot to his courage； it was rather mean than
admirable。 Indeed； his whole career was marred by the provincialism of
his native manse。
And he was the adored of an intelligent age； he basked a few brief
weeks in the noonday sun of fashion。
If distinction was not the heritage of the Eighteenth Century； its glory
is that now and aga