 me did not
prove so strong, as for their part they heartily wished it had, but that there
were a number of suspicious circumstances respecting me. When I was brought up
to them upon the deck of the vessel, I spoke as fine an Irish brogue as one
shall hear on a summer's day; and now all at once there was not the least
particle of it left. In searching me they had found upon me fifteen guineas; how
should a poor beggar lad, such as I appeared, come honestly by fifteen guineas?
Besides, when they had stripped me naked, though my dress was so shabby, my skin
had all the sleekness of a gentleman. In fine, for what purpose could a poor
beggar, who had never been in Ireland in his life, want to transport himself to
that country? It was as clear as the sun that I was no better than I should be.
This reasoning, together with some significant winks and gestures between the
justice and the plaintiffs, brought him over to their way of thinking. He said,
I must go to Warwick, where it seems the other robber was at present in custody,
and be confronted with him; and, if then every thing appeared fair and
satisfactory, I should be discharged.
    No intelligence could be more terrible than that which was contained in
these words. That I, who had found the whole country in arms against me, who was
exposed to a pursuit so peculiarly vigilant and penetrating, should now be
dragged to the very centre of the kingdom, without power of accommodating myself
to circumstances, and under the immediate custody of the officers of justice,
seemed to my ears almost the same thing as if they had pronounced upon me a
sentence of death! I strenuously urged the injustice of this proceeding. I
observed to the magistrate that it was impossible I should be the person at whom
the description pointed. It required an Irishman; I was no Irishman. It
described a person shorter than I; a circumstance of all others the least
capable of being counterfeited. There was not the slightest reason for detaining
me in custody. I had been already disappointed of my voyage and lost the money I
had paid down through the officiousness of these gentlemen in apprehending me. I
assured his worship that every delay under my circumstances was of the utmost
importance to me. It was impossible to devise a greater injury to be inflicted
on me, than the proposal that, instead of being permitted to proceed upon my
voyage, I should be sent under arrest into the heart of the kingdom.
    My remonstrances were in vain
