188 THE LIFE OF 



was likely to become a shining ornament to the profession, but in 

 a luckless hour he was discharged. 



About this period of Tom's career, Billy Cobbelt was blazing 

 away in all directions, through the medium of his Political Re- 

 gister. Public attention was roused by his fulminations, and 

 Tom thought it would be no bad plan to turn wandering pam- 

 phlet seller. He strolled about the country, retailing the liegister 

 and other publications of a similar stamp : small profits but 

 quick returns seemed to be putting him in the way of making a 

 fortune. He had, however, calculated without his host, for wjien 

 at Truro, the authorities gave him to understand that he had 

 been operating as an unlicensed hawker; the reward of which 

 was imprisonment in Bodmin jail for three months. 



On his liberation, Tom felt his courage not a whit abated; 

 pamphlets he would sell, be the consequences what they might. 

 He returned to Plymouth, and, in the course of his career, sold 

 certain papers which reflected in some manner on General Brown, 

 then residing in the Plymouth Citadel : he was tried for selling 

 a libellous publication, and was provided with a lodging in Exeter 

 jail for six months. 



Once more free, Tom resumed his favorite occupation, of 

 hawking pamphlets; and, in the course of his peregrinations, 

 found the way to Penryn. Certain political papers which he had 

 disposed of there, again brought him under the cognizance of 

 the law : he was convicted of selling libellous publications, and 

 was sentenced to eight months imprisonment in Bodmin jail. 

 During his confinement here, he was provided with handcuffs 

 and fetters, which were applied with the view of giving weight 

 and steadiness to his character. 



Released for the third time. — "Adventures are to the adven- 

 turous," thought Tom. He provided himself with anew stock 

 of pamphlets, and strolled about the country, dispensing politics 

 to the country people : he was, however, brougiit up, all standing, 

 at Yealmpton, conducted to Devonport, tried for hawking without 

 a licence, convicted, and sent to Exeter jail for three months. 



Being freed once more, Tom piirchased a licence, and again 

 appeared on the stage as an itinerant bookseller : but his evil genius 

 still pursued him; he soon found himself in one of the dungeons 

 of the Plymouth Guildhall, where he remained for six weeks. 



Out again. Still dabbling in pamphlets and politics; but 

 safely — under the protection of a licence. When the time of this 

 licence had expired, Tom's exchequer did not posses funds, 

 sufficiently ample, to purchase a new one; and his character had 

 become so marked, that he found it no easy matter to procure 

 one, even when he had mustered a sufficient sum for the purpose, 

 which he did a few days afterwards. At length, he obtained the 

 needful document at Honiton. Between the expiration of his 

 old licence, and the procuration of a new one, he had sold in 

 Plymouth, an account of the sentences pronounced on suc!i 



