BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
that the baker affected to be learned in astronomy, the Philosopher, taking
advantage of the first opportunity, walked up to him, and with his best bow
inquired if he had seen the strange alternating star outside. The baker
expressed his surprise at the question, but by the application of a well-timed
compliment, was induced to follow his interrogator. Mackcoull led him to the
end of a house, where, by looking upwards in a line with the gable, he professed
to have seen the phenomenon, which only appeared at intervals. Before the
baker was placed in a proper position, our hero eased him of his pocket-book ;
and while the astronomer, whoseaenthusiasm had been fairly kindled, went home
to fetch his glass, in order to examine this erratic wonder more thoroughly,
Mackcoull embraced the opportunity of a retnrn chaise; and, urging on the
driver by a liberal reward, was speedily at his old haunt in Drury Lane. Here
he found his associates, whom he treated, and boasted that he had given the
baker a lesson in astronomy which he would not speedily forget.
After experiencing all the varieties of fortune to which the life of a gambler
is subject, Mackcoull, at the age of twenty-eight, married a female with whom
he had been long intimate, and who kept a swell lodging-house. Previous to
this, he had become so notorious that the police had their eye on him in all
directions, and he now deemed it prudent to act with circumspection. He
avoided his old haunts ; and being amply supplied with pocket-money by his
wife, he amused himself as an amateur pugilist, attended the houses of the
fancy, and occasionally the theatre, taking advantage of any inviting opportunity
that might occur.
Although he deemed it prudent to give over general practice with his own
hand, Mackcoull entered with great spirit into the ‘‘ receiving department.”
For some time he made the house of his mother and sister the depdt of the
stolen goods ; but this resort becoming insecure, he converted a portion of his
own house, much against his wife’s wishes, into a receptacle for articles of value.
The recess chosen for this purpose, from its having formerly been a window, he
called “Pitt’s Picture,’’ in allusion to the w-indow taxes. This impolitic step,
as he afterwards admitted, was unworthy of an adept. “ Pitt’s Picture ” was
discovered, and a warrant issued to apprehend Mackcoull. All attempts at
negotiation were found unavailing j and he was under the necessity of proceeding
on his travels. In the spring of 1802 he went to Hamburg, where he
assumed the name of Moffat. Here he took out a burgess ticket-rented the
ground flat of a counting-house, and professed to be a merchant collecting goods
for the interior of Germany. As soon as he acquired a sufficient smattering of
the German language, he frequented gaming-houses of the higher order, where,
as Captain Moffat from Scotland, he is said to have played frequently at billiards
with the then Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin, and lightened his highness of
his superfluous cash.
While residing at Hamburg, he occasionally passed into the interior of
Germany, and visited the fair of Leipsic. Having been at length compelled
to seek safety in flight, he removed to Rotterdam ; but here he was particu
