
stopped even those she had on her Back from escaping: For the Squire no sooner
heard of her having abused his Sister, than he swore twenty Oaths he would send
her to Bridewell.
    Mrs. Western was a very good-natured Woman, and ordinarily of a forgiving
Temper. She had lately remitted the Trespass of a Stage-coach Man, who had
overturned her Post-chaise into a Ditch; nay, she had even broken the Law in
refusing to prosecute a High-way-man who had robbed her, not only of a Sum of
Money, but of her Ear-rings; at the same Time d-ning her, and saying, »such
handsome B-s as you, don't want Jewels to set them off, and be d-nd to you.« But
now, so uncertain are our Tempers, and so much do we at different Times differ
from ourselves, she would hear of no Mitigation; nor could all the affected
Penitence of Honour, nor all the Entreaties of Sophia for her own Servant,
prevail with her to desist from earnestly desiring her Brother to execute
Justiceship (for it was indeed a Syllable more than Justice) on the Wench.
    But luckily the Clerk had a Qualification, which no Clerk to a Justice of
Peace ought ever to be without, namely, some Understanding in the Law of this
Realm. He therefore whispered in the Ear of the Justice, that he would exceed
his Authority by committing the Girl to Bridewell, as there had been no Attempt
to break the Peace; »for I am afraid, Sir,« says he, »you cannot legally commit
any one to Bridewell only for Ill-breeding.«
    In Matters of high Importance, particularly in Cases relating to the Game,
the Justice was not always attentive to these Admonitions of his Clerk: For,
indeed, in executing the Laws under that Head, many Justices of Peace suppose
they have a large discretionary Power. By Virtue of which, under the Notion of
searching for, and taking away Engines for the Destruction of the Game, they
often commit Trespasses, and sometimes Felony at their Pleasure.
    But this Offence was not of quite so high a Nature, nor so dangerous to the
Society. Here, therefore, the Justice behaved with some Attention to the Advice
of his Clerk: For, in Fact, he had already had two Informations exhibited
against him in the King's-Bench, and had no Curiosity to try a third.
    The Squire, therefore, putting on a most wise and significant Countenance,
after a Preface of several Hum
