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acquaintance with the vagabonds of speech enabled him to compile a
dictionary of Pedlar's French； which has been pilfered by a whole battalion
of imitators。 Moreover； there was none of the proverbs of the pavement；
those first cousins of slang； that escaped him； and he assumed all the
licence of the gentleman… collector in the treatment of his love…passages。
Captain Smith took the justest view of his subject。 For him robbery； in
the street as on the highway； was the finest of the arts； and he always
revered it for its own sake rather than for vulgar profit。 Though； to
deceive the public； he abhorred villainy in word； he never concealed his
admiration in deed of a ‘highwayman who robs like a gentleman。' ‘There
is a beauty in all the works of nature；' he observes in one of his wittiest
exordia； ‘which we are unable to define； though all the world is convinced
of its existence： so in every action and station of life there is a grace to be
attained； which will make a man pleasing to all about him and serene in
his own mind。' Some there are； he continues； who have placed ‘this
beauty in vice itself； otherwise it is hardly probable that they could
commit so many irregularities with a strong gust and an appearance of
satisfaction。' Notwithstanding that the word ‘vice' is used in its
conventional sense； we have here the key to Captain Smith's position。
He judged his heroes' achievements with the intelligent impartiality of a
connoisseur； and he permitted no other prejudice than an unfailing loyalty
to interrupt his opinion。
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Though he loved good English as he loved good wine； he was never so
happy as when （in imagination） he was tying the legs of a Regicide under
the belly of an ass。 And when in the manner of a bookseller's hack he
compiled a Comical and Tragical History of the Lives and Adventures of
the most noted Bayliffs； adoration of the Royalists persuaded him to miss
his chance。 So brave a spirit as himself should not have looked
complacently upon the officers of the law； but he saw in the glorification
of the bayliff another chance of castigating the Roundheads； and thus he
set an honorific crown upon the brow of man's natural enemy。 ‘These
unsanctified rascals；' wrote he； ‘would run into any man's debt without
paying him； and if their creditors were Cavaliers they thought they had as
much right to cheat 'em； as the Israelites had to spoil the Egyptians of their
ear…rings and jewels。' Alas！ the boot was ever on the other leg； and yet
you cannot but admire the Captain's valiant determination to sacrifice
probability to his legitimate hate。
Of his declining years and death there is no record。 One likes to
think of him released from care； and surrounded by books； flowers； and
the good things of this earth。 Now and again； maybe； he would muse on
the stirring deeds of his youth； and more often he would put away the
memory of action to delight in the masterpiece which made him immortal。
He would recall with pleasure； no doubt； the ready praise of Richard
Steele； his most appreciative critic； and smile contemptuously at the
baseness of his friend and successor； Captain Charles Johnson。 Now； this
ingenious writer was wont to boast； when the ale of Fleet Street had
empurpled his nose； that he was the most intrepid highwayman of them all。
‘Once upon a time；' he would shout； with an arrogant gesture； ‘I was
known from Blackheath to Hounslow； from Ware to Shooter's Hill。' And
the truth is； the only ‘crime' he ever committed was plagiarism。 The self…
assumed title of Captain should have deceived nobody； for the braggart
never stole anything more difficult of acquisition than another man's
words。 He picked brains； not pockets； he committed the greater sin and
ran no risk。 He helped himself to the admirable inventions of Captain
Smith without apology or acknowledgment； and； as though to lighten the
dead…weight of his sin； he never skipped an opportunity of maligning his
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
victim。 Again and again in the very act to steal he will declare
vaingloriously that Captain Smith's stories are ‘barefaced inventions。'
But doubt was no check to the habit of plunder； and you knew that at
every reproach； expressed （so to say） in self…defence； he plied the scissors
with the greater energy。 The most cunning theft is the tag which adorns
the title…page of his book：
Little villains oft submit to fate That great ones may
enjoy the world in state。
Thus he quotes from Gay； and you applaud the aptness of the quotation；
until you discover that already it was used by Steele in his appreciation of
the heroic Smith！ However； Johnson has his uses； and those to whom the
masterpiece of Captain Alexander is inaccessible will turn with pleasure to
the General History of the lives and adventures of the most Famous
Highwaymen； Murderers； Street…Robbers； &c。； and will feel no regret that
for once they are receiving stolen goods。
Though Johnson fell immeasurably below his predecessor in talent； he
manifestly excelled him in scholarship。 A sojourn at the University had
supplied him with a fine assortment of Latin tags； and he delighted to
prove his erudition by the citation of the Chronicles。 Had he possessed a
sense of humour； he might have smiled at the irony of committing a theft
upon the historian of thieves。 But he was too vain and too pompous to
smile at his own weakness； and thus he would pretend himself a
venturesome highwayman； a brave writer； and a profound scholar。
Indeed； so far did his pride carry him； that he would have the world
believe him the same Charles Johnson； who wrote The Gentleman Cully
and The Successful Pyrate。 Thus with a boastful chuckle he would
quote：
Johnson； who now to sense； now nonsense leaning；
Means not； but blunders round about a meaning
Thus； ignoring the insult； he would plume himself after his drunken
fashion that he； too； was an enemy of Pope。
Yet Johnson has remained an example。 For the literature of
scoundrelism is as persistent in its form as in its folk…lore。 As Harman's
Caveat； which first saw the light in 1566； serves as a model to an unbroken
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series of such books； as The London Spy； so from Johnson in due course
were developed the Newgate Calendar； and those innumerable records；
which the latter half of the Eighteenth Century furnished us forth。 The
celebrated Calendar was in its origin nothing more than a list of prisoners
printed in a folio slip。 But thereafter it became the Malefactor's Bloody
Register； which we know。 Its plan and purpose were to improve the
o