Hogarth, in 1729, received a Commission from Sir Archibald Grant of Monnymusk, Bart., who was one of the Committee, to paint a portrait picture of his brother Commissioners with Bambridge, and the irons used by him in the Fleet. Bambridge is decidedly nervous--and a poor prisoner is introduced into the picture, though I cannot find, from the Report, that he really was before the Committee of the House. [Illustration: A PRISONER IN IRONS.] These prosecutions somewhat purified the atmosphere of the Fleet, but still there were grumbles, as there naturally will be when men are restrained in their liberty, and are left to brood upon their miseries, and incarceration; but the little pamphlet,[112] which airs these grievances, deals principally with the hardships of fees, and the dilapidated state of the Common Side. The title-page prepares one for a not over cheerful ten minutes' reading. "When Fortune keeps Thee Warm; Then _Friends_ will to Thee swarm, Like BEES about a _Honey_ pot: But, if she chance to frown, And rudely kick Thee down, Why then--What then? _Lie there and ROT._" The writer says that after the reign of Huggins and Bambridge, the Chapel was adorned--and the great Hall adjoining, formerly for the Use of the Prisoners, "is now made into a commodious new Coffee House, and thought to be as Compleat a one, as any in Town (wherein one of the Warden's Servants is put, to be useful upon Occasion). _Part of the Pews in the Chapel being taken into it to make it compleat,[113] and serves for a Bar and Bedchamber._ "Opposite to the Great Hall, or Coffee Room, is the Begging-Grate, where Prisoners had an Opportunity to speak with a Friend, and sometimes get Sight of one whose Inclinations did not lead him to pay a Visit to the Place, wou'd drop a Shilling, and perhaps some Beer to the Beggars; but now the same, altho' of an ancient standing, is Brick'd up, and the unhappy Persons who can't submit to beg, depriv'd of viewing the Street, or seeing their Chance Friends." So we see, that although the comforts of the inmates had been somewhat looked after, this little privilege, which they had long enjoyed, and, doubtless, as long abused, was taken from them. It was, afterwards, restored. [Footnote 110: "A True State of the Proceedings of the Prisoners in the Fleet Prison, in Order to the Redressing their Grievances before the Court of Common Pleas."] [Footnote 111: A spunging-house.] [Footnote 112: "Remarks on the Fleet Prison or Lumber-House for Men and Women. Written by a prisoner &c., published in the Fleet, 1733."] [Footnote 113: The _italics_ are mine.--J. A.] [Illustration] [Illustration: THE COMMON SIDE OF THE FLEET PRISON.] [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIII.