1831.] a Legend of the Old Time in London. 291 



a lanthern hanging on the end of a barber's pole caught my sight I 

 hastened into the shop, with the intention of destroying myself with the 

 first razor I could lay my hands on ; but the shop was quite full. I sat 

 down in a corner, doggedly waiting for my time, and paying no heed to 

 the conversation that was going on, till my master's name struck on my 

 ear. I listened his trial, condemnation, and coming execution, were 

 the general talk. I started up, and with a feeling of thankfulness to 

 God that there was something yet to live for I think I cried out so I 

 rushed out of the shop, hurried hither I am not too late to to supply 

 my master's place to-morrow." 



The young man sank exhausted in a chair, and dropped his head on 

 the table. The astonished magistrate leant forward, cautiously extended 

 his hand, seized his hand-bell, and rang loud and long, beginning at the 

 same time to call over the names of all the servants he had ever had from 

 the first time of his keeping house. 



But at the first jingle of the bell Simon started up from the chair, and 

 said, " Aye, I am your prisoner now." 



" Yes, Sir, yes/' said the Recorder. " Geoffrey ! Williams ! very 

 true, Sir by your leave, Sir Godwin ! Ralph ! there's your prisoner, 

 Sir," he added to the one wondering servant, who answered this 

 multitudinous call. 



The sequel may be told in a few lines. A reprieve for Edwards was 

 immediately sent to Newgate, which was followed up by a pardon ; for 

 having been found guilty, of course he could not be declared innocent. 

 The wretched wife of the merchant died by her own hand, on the 

 morning of her husband's reprieve. Simon was tried for Lambert's 

 murder, of course found guilty, and sentenced to death ; but in con- 

 sideration of the extraordinary circumstances attending his case, this 

 sentence was changed into transportation for life. My Lord Chief 

 Justice Hale delivered a very voluminous judgment on the occasion ; 

 the main ground on which he proceeded, seems to have been, that as 

 Simon had not been legally discharged by Edwards, he might still be 

 considered in the light of his servant, and that he was therefore, to a 

 certain degree, justifiable in defending his master's life. 



Simon died on his passage. Edwards, from the time of his release, 

 became a drivelling idiot : he lived several years. It was not till the 

 death of the old man that a secret was discovered it was ascertained 

 that Simon was a natural son; and that, in preventing the intended 

 assassination of the Merchant, he had unconsciously saved the life of his 

 Father. 



2 P 2 



