Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/198

182 Insolvent Act; but their charges are generally double or treble those of the more respectable regular practitioner. A few, however, have been actual practitioners; but some aberrations of conduct having offended "the Court," it has struck them off its rolls. They generally practise about the police-offices, and at the Old Bailey, "for the defence;" that is to say, for the prisoners; in which way they become the acquaintance and familiars of the blackest rogues and thieves in or about town. The history of one will serve for that of all; though we must premise, there are two persons of the same initial letter, which is all we shall say for distinctions' sake. Our hasty sketch of Mr. B. commences fifteen or sixteen years ago, when we find him standing in the pillory, at Blandford in Dorsetshire, for threatening to inform against a glover, on the stamp duty, and demanding money to forego the action! Then it was he was struck off, with some severe notice of the chief justice; and ever since he has lived by his wits, as an informer generally, but we have reason to believe we have seen him on the lay also; at least he has been present when things have been done. In summer time he visited Margate, Brighton, and other fashionable resorts, laying the gambling-tables under