Page:A Sketch of the Life of George Wilson, the Blackheath Pedestrian.djvu/12

 lested, with the gainful produce of their trade in their pockets—such things as these are above my vulgar comprehension.

Give me leave to assure your Worships, that the profession of walking, which has rendered me so obnoxious in your grave views, is not altogether a matter of choice; but,as was once said of the blindness of his mare, by a Hibernian fellow-subject, "it is not my fault, but my misfortune." I had much rather ride. Far be it from me to impute any thing to your Worships decree against me, but the most strict impartiality and conscientious views of justice: it is my duty, therefore, in this place, to disclaim all belief to rumours and insinuations of a contrary complexion. For there have been those in your neighbourhood who have had the contumacy to suggest, that had there been any thing of a likelihood that I should fail in my attempt, I should have experienced no interruption to the last moment of the time allotted me.

However, Gentlemen, be the result to my for tunes what they may, the exertions of your resistless authority have given a new turn to my adventures, and forced me to become an Author in the shape of my own Biographer. Wretched historian!—miserable topic! Many, however, of the generous patrons, to whose notice this affair has casually introduced me, and to whom I have told my story, were pleased to think it worth committing to paper, as giving to the curious public some account of an unfortunate man, for whom they have kindly taken an interest, and whom they consider as rather unfairly persecuted. I adopt the friendly suggestion, in the humble hope that this effort may produce, under their