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CHAPTER XIII.

Examined before the Lord Mayor.—Fully committed, tried, and cast.—My Father's Faith and Assurances.—My Disappointment on being transported for Seven Years.—Contract the Gaol Distemper, and am reduced to the point of Death.—Recover my Health, and am sent on Board a Transport for Botany Bay.

The next day, Monday, we were taken to the Mansion-House for examination, before the Lord Mayor. The owner of the handkerchief being in attendance, one of the officers acquainted his lordship, that observing both Bromley and myself to be very busy in the crowd assembled in Cheapside, the preceding day, and suspecting our designs, he had watched us narrowly, and at length observed Bromley to take a handkerchief from a gentleman's pocket, which he immediately endeavoured to convey to me; but before he could do so, he, the witness, laid hold of him, and took the handkerchief from his hand; on which (he stated) I endeavoured to escape, but that he pointed me out to his brother, who happened to be with him, and desired him to secure me, while he himself called back the gentleman who had been robbed, and informed him of