6JO DICK TunriN. 



afforded by traditionary gossip. The story is still rife in Yorkshire, 

 though there are several claimants for the distinction : two highway- 

 men, of the respective names of Nix and Nevisdeon, and a third, the 

 redoubted Jack Harris, of whom in the life of Wm. Page, (one of 

 the same fraternity), we find the following account: ." This was 

 Harris, the famous highwayman who robbed on the black mare (a 

 sort of Black Bess we presume), he committed a robbery in the 

 morning in Surrey, on a gentleman who knew him perfectly well, 

 and therefore Harris rode for it with such speed, trusting to the good- 

 ness of his mare, that in the evening, about sunset, he appeared on 

 the bowling-green at York, and pulling out his watch, showed it to 

 the gentlemen present. But notwithstanding this prodigious per- 

 formance, as the riding of 190 miles in one day, so positive was the 

 evidence against him, that he was convicted upon it. The old Duke 

 of Richmond, as we remember, was so charmed with the vastness of 

 the performance and the bravery of the man, that he interceded for 

 his life and obtained it, on condition that Harris would give him his 

 word and honour that he would never be guilty of the like offence 

 again." Here we have the very feat, as well as the black mare ; 

 but, perhaps, Harris was only an alias for Turpin, and the date of 

 " Page's Memoirs," 1758, favours the supposition. 



Respecting this remarkable ride, nothing, however, is with cer- 

 tainty known. In the mean time, the honours must be divided. The 

 performance of such a feat we hold to be physically impracticable 

 in a single day ; but it would seem from the variety of claimants, 

 that somebody must have atempted it. 



Of Turpin's personal appearance we can say nothing, never having 

 met with a portrait of that distinguished character. Of his dispo- 

 sition we suspect, from the anecdote of an old lady at Loughton, 

 whom he roasted on a fire, that he was not the gentlest of mankind ; 

 though, in others which we have heard of his saluting a lady at 

 Mary-le-bone Gardens, and telling her that " she might now boast of 

 being kissed by Turpin," savours of gallantry. That he had a social 

 taste, is evidenced by his domestication with King in the cave, in 

 Epping Forest ; and his shooting his bosom-friend, was, we are 

 inclined to think, the result of mere accident. Such a struggle 

 would make any man nervous. 



The story of the round and reversed horse-shoes, is well authenti- 

 cated ; and the manner in which he afterwards baffled his pursuers, by 

 riding his horse backwards. An old Inn, at Kew, was one of his 

 haunts j and there is still an ancient oak, a leafless, naked tree, that 

 flings up its bare branches like the antlers of a stag, which bears his 

 name, and which, in his reverence for it, and because, concealed by its 

 trunk, Turpin lingered in that lonesome common to attack the 

 traveller, the proprietor of the soil has encircled with a railing. 

 That he was a dastard, the courage with which he died at once re- 

 futes ; and that he was unwilling unnecessarily to shed blood, an 

 anecdote which is told of Lord Mohun will evidence. 



This eccentric nobleman had a passion for rencontres with high- 

 waymen, and rode out by night alone, well armed, well provided 

 with cash, to court assault. Turpin often passsed him, but would 



