Part 14

1. _Sarah Malcolm_,[1] executed _March_ 7, 1732, for murdering Mrs. _Lydia Duncombe_ her mistress, _Elizabeth Harrison_, and _Anne Price_; drawn in _Newgate. W. Hogarth (ad vivum) pinxit & sculpsit._[2] Some copies are dated 1733, and have only _Hogarth pinx_. She was about twenty-five years of age.[3] "_This woman put on red to sit to him for her picture two days before her execution._"[4] Mr. _Walpole_ paid _Hogarth_ five guineas for the original. Professor _Martyn_ dissected this notorious murderess, and afterwards presented her skeleton, in a glass case, to the Botanic Garden at _Cambridge_, where it still remains.

[1] On _Sunday_ morning, the 4th of _February_, Mrs. _Lydia Duncombe_, aged 80, _Elizabeth Harrison_, her companion, aged 60, were found strangled, and _Ann Price_, her maid, aged 17, with her throat cut, in their beds, at the said Mrs. _Duncombe's_ apartments in _Tanfield-Court_ in _The Temple. Sarah Malcolm_, a chare-woman, was apprehended the same evening on the information of Mr. _Kerrol_, who had chambers on the same stair-case, and had found some bloody linen under his bed, and a silver tankard in his close-stool, which she had hid there. She made a pretended confession, and gave information against _Thomas Alexander, James Alexander,_ and _Mary Tracey,_ that they committed the murder and robbery, and she only stood on the stairs as a watch; that they took away three hundred pounds and some valuable goods, of which she had not more than her share; but the coroner's inquest gave their verdict _Wilful Murder_ against _Malcolm_ only.--On the 23d her trial came on at _The Old Bailey_: when it appeared that Mrs. _Duncombe_ had but 54 _l._ in her box, and 53 _l._ 11 _s._ 6 _d._ of it were found upon _Malcolm_ betwixt her cap and hair. She owned her being concerned in the robbery, but denied she knew any thing of the murder till she went in with other company to see the deceased. The jury found her guilty of both. She was strongly suspected to have been concerned in the murder of Mr. _Nesbit_ in 1729, near _Drury-lane_, for which one _Kelly_, alias _Owen_, was hanged; the grounds for his conviction being only a bloody razor found under the murdered man's head that was known to be his. But he denied to the last his being concerned in the murder; and said, in his defence, he lent the razor to a woman he did not know.--On _Wednesday, March_ 7, she was executed on a gibbet opposite _Mitre-court, Fleet-street_, where the crowd was so great, that a Mrs. _Strangways_, who lived in _Fleet-street_, near _Serjeant's-Inn_, crossed the street, from her own house to Mrs. _Coulthurst's_ on the opposite side of the way, over the heads and shoulders of the mob. She went to execution neatly dressed in a crape mourning gown, holding up her head in the cart with an air, and looking as if she was painted, which some did not scruple to affirm. Her corpse was carried to an undertaker's upon _Snow-hill_, where multitudes of people resorted, and gave money to see it: among the rest a gentleman in deep mourning, who kissed her, and gave the people half a crown. She was attended by the Rev. Mr. _Pedington_, lecturer of _St. Bartholomew_ the Great, seemed penitent, and desired to see her master _Kerrol_; but, as she did not, protested all accusations against him were false. During her imprisonment she received a letter from her father at _Dublin_, who was in too bad circumstances to send her such a sum as 17 _l._ which she pretended he did. The night before her execution, she delivered a paper to Mr. _Pedington_ (the copy of which he sold for 20 _l._), of which the substance is printed in _The Gentleman's Magazine_, 1733, p. 137. She had given much the same account before, at her trial, in a long and fluent speech.

[2] The words "_& sculpsit_" are wanting in the copies. In the three last of them the figure also is reversed.

[3] "This woman," said _Hogarth_, after he had drawn _Sarah Malcolm_, "by her features, is capable of any wickedness."

[4] "_Monday Sarah Malcolm_ sat for her picture in _Newgate_, which was taken by the ingenious Mr. _Hogarth_: Sir _James Thornhill_ was likewise present." _Craftsman, Saturday, March_ 10, 1732-3.

2. An engraved copy of ditto.

3. Ditto, mezzotinto.

4. Ditto, part graven, part mezzotinto.

The knife with which she committed the murder is lying by her.

5. Another copy of this portrait[1] (of which only the first was engraved by _Hogarth_), with the addition of a clergyman holding a ring in his hand, and a motto, "No recompence but Love."[2]

In _The Grub-street Journal_ of _Thursday, March_ 8, 1732, appeared the following epigram:

"To _Malcolm Guthrie_[3] cries, confess the murther; The truth disclose, and trouble me no further. Think on both worlds; the pain that thou must bear In that, and what a load of scandal here. Confess, confess, and you'll avoid it all: Your body shan't be hack'd at _Surgeons Hall_: No _Grub-street_ hack shall dare to use your ghost ill, _Henly_ shall read upon your post a postile; _Hogarth_ your charms transmit to future times, And _Curll_ record your life in prose and rhimes.

"_Sarah_ replies, these arguments might do From _Hogarth, Curll,_ and _Henly_, drawn by you, Were I condemn'd at _Padington_ to ride: But now from _Fleet-street Pedington's_ my guide."

The office of this _Pedington_[4] may be known from the following advertisement in _The Weekly Miscellany_, N° 37. _August_ 25, 1733. "This day is published, Price Six-pence, (on occasion of the Re-commitment of the two _Alexanders_; with a very neat effigies of _Sarah Malcolm_ and her _Reverend Confessor_, both taken from the Life) The Friendly Apparition: Being an account of the most surprising appearance of _Sarah Malcolm's_ Ghost to a great assembly of her acquaintance at a noted Gin-shop; together with the remarkable speech she then made to the whole company."

[1] A copy of it in wood was inserted in _The Gentleman's Magazine_, 1733, p. 153.

[2] This print was designed as a frontispiece to the pamphlet advertised in _The Weekly Miscellany_. (See text, above.)

[3] The Ordinary of _Newgate_.

[4] Mr. _Pedington_ died September 18, 1734. He is supposed to have made some amorous overtures to _Sarah_.

6. The Man of TASTE. The Gate of _Burlington-house. Pope_ white-washing it, and bespattering the Duke of _Chandos's_ coach. "_A satire on_ Pope's _Epistle on Taste. No name._" It has been already observed that the plate was suppressed; and if this be true, the suppression may be accounted for from the following inscription, lately met with at the back of one of the copies.

"Bot this book of Mr. _Wayte_, at _The Fountain Tavern_, in _The Strand_, in the presence of Mr. _Draper_, who told me he had it of the Printer, Mr. _W. Rayner._[1]

"J. Cosins."

On this attested memorandum a prosecution seems meant to have been founded. _Cosins_ was an attorney, and _Pope_ was desirous on all occasions to make the law the engine of his revenge.

[1] _Rayner_ was at that time already under prosecution for publishing a pamphlet called, "_Robin's_ Game, or Seven's the Main." Neglecting to surrender himself, he was taken by a writ of execution from the crown, and confined to the _King's Bench_; where he became connected with Lady _Dinely_, whole character was of equal infamy with his own.

7. The same, in a smaller size; prefixed to a pamphlet, intituled, "A Miscellany of Taste, by Mr. _Pope_," &c. containing his Epistles, with Notes and other poems. In the former of these Mr. _Pope_ has a tie-wig on, in the latter a cap.

8. The same, in a size still smaller; very coarsely engraved. Only one of them is noted by Mr. _Walpole_.

A reader of these Anecdotes observes, "That the total silence of _Pope_ concerning so great an artist, encourages a suspicion that his attacks were felt though not resented. The thunders of the poet were usually pointed at inglorious adversaries; but he might be conscious of a more equal match in our formidable caricaturist. All ranks of people have eyes for pencil'd ridicule, but of written satire we have fewer judges. It may be suspected, that the 'pictured shape' would never have been complained of, had it been produced only by a bungler in his art. But from the powers of _Hogarth, Pope_ seems to have apprehended more lasting inconvenience; and the event has justified his fear. The frontispiece to _Smedley's Gulliveriana_ has been long forgotten; but the _Gate of Burlington house_ is an object coveted by all who assemble prints of humour.--It may be added, that our painter's reputation was at the height ten years before the death of _Pope_, who could not therefore have overlooked his merit, though, for some reason or other, he has forborne to introduce the slightest allusion to him or his performances. Yet these, or copies from them, were to be met with in almost every public and private house throughout the kingdom; nor was it easy for the bard of _Twickenham_ to have mixed in the conversation of the times, without being obliged to hear repeated praises of the author of _The Harlot's Progress_."

The sheet containing this page having been shewn to a friend, produced from him the following remark: "That _Pope_ was silent on the merits of _Hogarth_ (as one of your readers has observed) should excite little astonishment, as our artist's print on the _South Sea_ exhibits the translator of _Homer_ in no very flattering point of view. He is represented with one of his hands in the pocket of a fat personage, who wears a hornbook at his girdle. For whom this figure was designed, is doubtful. Perhaps it was meant for _Gay_, who was a fat man, and a loser in the same scheme."--"_Gay_," says Dr. _Johnson_, "in that disastrous year had a present from young _Craggs_ of some _South-sea_ stock, and once supposed himself to be master of twenty-thousand pounds. His friends persuaded him to sell his share; but he dreamed of dignity and splendour, and could not bear to obstruct his own fortune. He was then importuned to sell as much as would purchase an hundred a year for life, which, says _Fenton_, will make you sure of a clean shirt and a shoulder of mutton every day. This counsel was rejected; the profit and principal were lost, and _Gay_ sunk under the calamity so low that his life became in danger.--The Hornbook appended to his girdle, perhaps, refers to the Fables he wrote for the Duke of _Cumberland_. Some of your ingenious correspondents, or Mr. _Walpole_, who is _instar omnium_, may be able to give a further illustration. The conclusion to the inscription under this plate--_Guess at the rest, you'll find out more_--seems also to imply a consciousness of such personal satire as it was not prudent to explain. I may add, that the print before us exhibits more than one figure copied from _Callot_. Among the people going along the gallery to raffle for husbands, the curious observer will recognize the _Old Maid_ with lappets flying, &c. afterwards introduced into the scene of _Morning_. Dr. _Johnson_, however, bears witness to the propriety of our great poet's introduction into a satire on the 'disastrous year of national infatuation, when more riches than _Peru_ can boast were expected from the _South Sea_; when the contagion of avarice tainted every mind; and _Pope_, being seized with the universal passion, ventured some of his money. The stock rose in its price; and he for a while thought himself _The Lord of Thousands_. But this dream of happiness did not last long: and he seems to have waked soon enough to get clear with the loss only of what he once thought himself to have won, and perhaps not wholly that.'"

It appears from _Pope's_ correspondence with _Atterbury_, that the stock he had was at one time valued at between twenty and thirty thousand pounds; and that he was one of the lucky few who had "the good fortune to remain with half of what they imagined they had."--"Had you got all you have lost beyond what you ventured," said the good Bishop in reply, "consider that your superfluous gains would have sprung from the ruin of several families that now want necessaries."[1]

[1] Letters to and from Bishop _Atterbury_, 1782, vol. I. p. 71.

* * * * *

1733.

1. The Laughing Audience. "1733. Recd. _Decbr._ 18 _of the Right Honnble. Lord Biron_ Half a Guinea being the first Payment for nine Prints 8 of which Represent a Rakes Progress and the 9th a Fair, Which I promise to Deliver at Michaelmass Next on Receiving one Guinea more. Note the Fair will be Deliver'd next Christmass at Sight of this receipt the Prints of the Rakes. Progress alone will be 2 Guineas each set after the Subscription is over."

The words printed in _Italicks_ are in the hand-writing of _Hogarth_.

2. The _Fair_[1] [at _Southwark_]. _Invented, painted, and engraved by W. Hogarth._. The show-cloth, representing the Stage Mutiny, is taken from a large etching by _John Laguerre_ (son of _Louis Laguerre_, the historical painter), who sung at _Lincoln's-Inn Fields_ and _Covent-Garden_ Theatres, painted some of their scenes, and died in 1748. _The Stage-Mutineers_, or _A Playhouse to be let_, a tragi-comi farcical-ballad-opera, which was published in 1733, will throw some light on the figures here represented by _Hogarth_. See also the _Supplement_ to _Dodsley's_ Preface to his Collection of Old Plays, and the "Biographia Dramatica, 1782."

It is remarkable that, in our artist's copy of this etching, he has added a paint-pot and brushes at the feet of the athletic figure _with a cudgel in his hand_, who appears on the side of _Highmore_.[2] From these circumstances it is evident that _John Ellis_ the painter (a pupil of Sir _James Thornhill_, a great frequenter of _Broughton's_ gymnasium, the stages of other prize-fighters, &c.) was the person designed. _Ellis_ was deputy-manager for Mrs. _Wilks_, and _took up the cudgels_ also for the new patentee. Mr. _Walpole_ observes that _Rysbrack_, when he produced that "exquisite summary of his skill, knowledge, and judgment," the _Hercules_ now in Mr. _Hoare's_ Temple at _Stourhead_, modelled the legs of the God from those of _Ellis_. This statue was compiled from the various limbs and parts of seven or eight of the strongest and best-made men in _London_, chiefly the bruisers, &c. of the then famous amphitheatre in _Tottenham Court road_.

In _Banks's_ Works, vol. I. p. 97. is a Poetical Epistle on this print, which alludes to the disputes between the managers of _Drury-Lane_, and such of the actors as were spirited up to rebellion by _Theophilus Cibber_, and seceded to _The Haymarket_ in 1733. _Cibber_ is represented under the character of _Pistol_;[3] _Harper_ under that of _Falstaff_. The figure in the corner was designed for _Colley Cibber_ the Laureat, who had just sold his share in the play-house to Mr. _Highmore_, who is represented holding a scroll, on which is written "it cost £.6000." A monkey is exhibited sitting astride the iron that supports the sign of _The Rose_, a well-known tavern. A label issuing from his mouth contains the words: "_I am a gentleman._"[4] _The Siege of Troy_, upon another show-cloth, was a celebrated droll, composed by _Elkanah Settle_, and printed in 1707; it was a great favourite at fairs. A booth was built in _Smithfield_ this year for the use of _T. Cibber, Griffin, Bullock,_ and _H. Hallam_; at which the Tragedy of _Tamerlane_, with _The Fall of Bajazet_, intermixed with the Comedy of _The Miser_, was actually represented. The figure vaulting on the rope was designed for Signor _Violante_, who signalized himself in the reign of _Geo._ I.; and the tall man exhibited on a show-cloth, was _Maximilian_, a giant from _Upper Saxony_. The man flying from the steeple was one _Cadman_, who, within the recollection of some persons now living, descended in the manner here described from the steeple of _St. Martin's_ into _The Mews_. He broke his neck soon after, in an experiment of the like kind, at _Shrewsbury_, and lies buried there in the churchyard of _St. Mary Friars_, with the following inscription on a little tablet inserted in the church-wall just over his grave.[5] The lines are contemptible, but yet serve to particularize the accident that occasioned his death.

Let this small monument record the name Of _Cadman_, and to future times proclaim How, by an attempt to fly from this high spire Across the _Sabrine_ stream, he did acquire His fatal end. 'Twas not for want of skill, Or courage, to perform the task, he fell: No, no,--a faulty cord, being drawn too tight, Hurry'd his soul on high to take her flight, Which bid the body here beneath, good night.

A prelate being asked permission for a line to be fixed to the steeple of a cathedral church, for this daring adventurer, replied, the man might fix _to_ the church whenever he pleased, but he should never give his consent to any one's flying _from_ it. It seems that some exhibitor of the same kind met with a similar inhibition here in _London_. I learn from _Mist's_ Journal for _July_ 8, 1727, that a sixpenny pamphlet, intituled, "The Devil to pay at _St. James's_, &c."[6] was published on this occasion, Again, in _The Weekly Miscellany_ for _April_ 17, 1736. "_Thomas Kidman_, the famous Flyer, who has flown from several of the highest precipices in _England_, and was the person that flew off _Bromham_ steeple in _Wiltshire_ when it fell down, flew, on _Monday_ last, from the highest of the rocks near _The Hot-well_ at _Bristol_, with fire-works and pistols; after which he went up the rope, and performed several surprising dexterities on it, in sight of thousands of spectators, both from _Somersetshire_ and _Gloucestershire_." In this print also is a portrait which has been taken for that of Dr. _Rock_, but was more probably meant for another Quack, who used to draw a crowd round him by seeming to eat fire, which, having his checks puffed up with tow, he blew out of his mouth.[7] Some other particulars are explained in the notes to the poetical epistle already mentioned.

[1] In the Craftsman, 1733, was this advertisment; "Mr. _Hogarth_ being now engraving nine copper-plates from pictures of his own painting, one of which represents the Humours of a Fair, the other eight the Progress of a Rake, intends to publish the prints by subscription, on the following terms: each subscription to be one guinea and a half: half-a-guinea to be paid at the time of subscribing, for which a receipt will be given on a new-etched print, and the other payment of one guinea on delivery of all the prints when finished, which will be with all convenient speed, and the time publicly advertised. The Fair, being already finished, will be delivered at the time of subscribing. Subscriptions will be taken in at Mr. _Hogarth's_, the _Golden Head_, in _Leicester Fields_, where the pictures are to be seen."

[2] _Highmore_ was originally a man of fortune; but _White's_ gaming-house, and the patent of _Drury-Lane_ theatre, completely exhausted his finances. Having proved himself an unsuccessful actor as well as manager, in 1743 he published _Dettingen_, a poem which would have disgraced a Bell-man. In 1744 he appeared again in the character of _Lothario_, for the benefit of Mrs. _Horten_. From this period his history is unknown. If _Hogarth's_ representation of him, in the print entitled _The Discovery_, was a just one, he had no external requisites for the stage.

[3] In a two-shilling pamphlet, printed for _J. Mechell_ at _The King's Arms_ in _Fleet street_, 1740, entitled "An Apology for the life of Mr. _T---- C----_, comedian; being a proper sequel to the apology for the life of Mr. _Colley Cibber_, comedian; with a historical view of the stage to the present year; supposed to be written by himself in the stile and manner of the Poet Laureat," but in reality the work of _Harry Fielding_; the following passages, illustrative of our subject, occur. "In that year when the stage fell into great commotions, and the _Drury Lane_ company, asserting the glorious cause of liberty and property, made a stand against the oppressions in the patentees--in that memorable year when the Theatric Dominions fell in labour of a revolution under the conduct of _myself_, that revolt gave occasion to several pieces of wit and satirical flirts at the conductor of the enterprize. I was attacked, as my father had been before me, in the public papers and journals; and the burlesque character of _Pistol_ was attributed to me as a real one. Out came a _Print_ of _Jack Laguerre's_, representing, in most vile designing, this expedition of ours, under the name of _The Stage Mutiny_, in which, gentle reader, _your humble servant_, in the _Pistol_ character, was the principal figure. This I laughed at, knowing it only a proper embellishment for one of those necessary structures to which persons out of necessity repair." p. 16, &c.--Again, p. 88.--"At the Fair of _Bartholomew_, we gained some recruits; but, besides those advantages over the enemy, I myself went there in person, and publickly _exposed_ myself. This was done to fling defiance in the Patentee's teeth; for, on the booth where I exhibited, I hung out _The Stage Mutiny_, with _Pistol_ at the head of his troop, our standard bearing this motto,--_We eat._"--Whether this account which _Cibber_ is made to give of his own conduct is entirely jocular, or contains a mixture of truth in it, cannot now be ascertained. _Hogarth_ might have transplanted a circumstance from _Bartholomew_ to _Southwark_ Fair; or _Fielding_, by design, may have misrepresented the matter, alluding at the same time to _Hogarth's_ print.

[4] Mr. _Victor_, speaking of this transaction, observes, that "the general observation was, what business had _a gentleman_ to make the purchase?"

[5] In _The Gentleman's Magazine_ for 1740, p. 89, is no bad copy of verses "on the death of the famous _Flyer_ on the Rope at _Shrewsbury_". It is therefore here inserted.