A "find lady" presumably an anonym of the period, finds herself in the fastness of a spunging house; she is made as welcome as circumstances will permit; a bottle of wine, the refreshment customary, is ordered, and the stern hearts of the sheriff's men are appealed to, while bail is sent for. It was a well-known practice at the beginning of the century, and earlier, to pay some obscure individual a trifling fee to become security on emergencies. Similar fictitious householders were always in attendance, and producible from the bar-rooms in the neighborhood. In the present case a professional limb, of the Hebrew persuasion, is presented, decently made up for the occasion, to tender himself as bondsman for the lady's due appearance. It is evident, however, that a suspicious recognition is taking place; 'Harry Holdfast, Officer of the Four Counties,' or his deputy, does not, judging from his expression, seem to approve of the surety, and the Jew looks somewhat disconcerted under his inspection. The tears of the unfortunate captive, and the plausible reassurance--as to the respectability of the bail offered--of her chaperone, or duenna, are powerless to move the stoic breast of the experienced catchpole
Alternative Title:
Jew bail rejected
Description:
Title etched below image., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Watermark.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 1st, 1802, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
