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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
GEORGE BARRINGTON
AS Captain Hind was master of the road； George Barrington was （and
remains for ever） the absolute monarch of pickpockets。 Though the art；
superseding the cutting of purses； had been practised with courage and
address for half a century before Barrington saw the light； it was his own
incomparable genius that raised thievery from the dangerous valley of
experiment； and set it； secure and honoured； upon the mountain height of
perfection。 To a natural habit of depredation； which； being a man of
letters； he was wont to justify； he added a sureness of hand； a fertility of
resource； a recklessness of courage which drove his contemporaries to an
amazed respect； and from which none but the Philistine will withhold his
admiration。 An accident discovered his taste and talent。 At school he
attempted to kill a companionthe one act of violence which sullies a
strangely gentle career； and outraged at the affront of a flogging； he fled
with twelve guineas and a gold repeater watch。 A vulgar theft this； and
no presage of future greatness； yet it proves the fearless greed； the
contempt of private property； which mark as with a stigma the
temperament of the prig。 His faculty did not rust long for lack of use；
and at Drogheda； when he was but sixteen； he encountered one Price； half
barnstormer； half thief。 Forthwith he embraced the twin professions； and
in the interlude of more serious pursuits is reported to have made a
respectable appearance as Jaffier in Venice Preserved。 For a while he
dreamed of Drury Lane and glory； but an attachment for Miss Egerton； the
Belvidera to his own Jaffier； was more costly than the barns of
Londonderry warranted； and； with Price for a colleague； he set forth on a
tour of robbery； merely interrupted through twenty years by a few periods
of enforced leisure。
His youth； indeed； was his golden age。 For four years he practised
his art； chilled by no shadow of suspicion； and his immunity was due as
well to his excellent bearing as to his sleight of hand。 In one of the
countless chap…books which dishonour his fame； he is unjustly accused of
relying for his effects upon an elaborate apparatus； half knife； half scissors；
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
wherewith to rip the pockets of his victims。 The mere backbiting of envy！
An artistic triumph was never won save by legitimate means； and the hero
who plundered the Dulce of Lr at Ranelagh； who emptied the pockets of
his acquaintance without fear of exposure； who all but carried off the
priceless snuff…box of Count Orloff； most assuredly followed his craft in
full simplicity and with a proper scorn of clumsy artifice。 At his first
appearance he was the master； sumptuously apparelled； with Price for
valet。 At Dublin his birth and quality were never questioned； and when
he made a descent upon London it was in company with Captain W。 H
n； who remained for years his loyal friend。 He visited Brighton as the
chosen companion of Lord Ferrers and the wicked Lord Lyttelton。 His
manners and learning were alike irresistible。 Though the picking of
pockets was the art and interest of his life； he was on terms of easy
familiarity with light literature； and he considered no toil too wearisome if
only his conversation might dazzle his victims。 Two maxims he
charactered upon his heart： the one； never to run a large risk for a small
gain； the other； never to forget the carriage and diction of a gentleman。
He never stooped to pilfer； until exposure and decay had weakened his
hand。 In his first week at Dublin he carried off 1000； and it was
only his fateful interview with Sir John Fielding that gave him poverty for
a bedfellow。 Even at the end； when he slunk from town to town； a
notorious outlaw； he had inspirations of his ancient magnificence； andat
Chesterhe eluded the vigilance of his enemies and captured 600；
wherewith he purchased some months of respectability。 Now；
respectability was ever dear to him； and it was at once his pleasure and
profit to live in the highest society。 Were it not blasphemy to sully
Barrington with slang you would call him a member of the swell…mob； but；
having cultivated a grave and sober style for himself； he recoiled in horror
from the flash lingo； and his susceptibility demands respect。
He kept a commonplace book！ Was ever such thrift in a thief？
Whatever images or thoughts flashed through his brain； he seized them on
paper； even ‘amidst the jollity of a tavern； or in the warmth of an
interesting conversation。' Was it then strange that he triumphed as a man
of fashionable and cultured leisure？ He would visit Ranelagh with the
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most distinguished； and turn a while from epigram and jest to empty the
pocket of a rich acquaintance。 And ever with so tactful a certainty； with
so fine a restraint of the emotions； that suspicion was preposterous。 To
catalogue his exploits is superfluous； yet let it be recorded that once he
went to Court； habited as a clergyman； and came home the richer for a
diamond order； Lord C's proudest decoration。 Even the assault upon
Prince Orloff was nobly planned。 Barrington had precise intelligence of
the marvellous snuff…box the Empress's own gift to her lover； he knew
also how he might meet the Prince at Drury Lane； he had even discovered
that the Prince for safety hid the jewel in his vest。 But the Prince felt the
Prig's hand upon the treasure； and gave an instant alarm。 Over…
confidence； maybe； or a too liberal dinner was the cause of failure； and
Barrington； surrounded in a moment； was speedily in the lock…up。 It was
the first rebuff that the hero had received； and straightway his tact and
ingenuity left him。 The evidence was faulty； the prosecution declined；
and naught was necessary for escape save presence of mind。 Even
friends were staunch； and had Barrington told his customary lie； his
character had gone unsullied。 Yet having posed for his friends as a
student of the law； at Bow Street he must needs declare himself a doctor；
and the needless discrepancy ruined him。 Though he escaped the gallows；
there was an end to the diversions of intellect and fashion； as he
discovered when he visited the House of Lords to hear an appeal； and
Black Rod ejected him at the persuasion of Mr。 G。 As yet unused to
insult； he threatened violence against the aggressor； and finding no bail he
was sent on his first imprisonment to the Bridewell in Tothill Fields。
Rapid； indeed； was the descent。 At the first grip of adversity； he forgot
his cherished principles； and two years later the loftiest and most elegant
gentlemen that ever picked a pocket was at the Hulksfor robbing a harlot
at Drury Lane！ Henceforth； his insolence and artistry declined； and；
though to the last there were intervals of grand