Very much in the situation of Garrick, as thus described, does the biographer find himself at the threshhold of this concluding chapter. It is not his fault, however, that comic or rather farcical incidents must follow so closely upon the pathetic. But "the course of true love never did run smooth"--a fact of which, as the reader has already seen, my unfortunate friend Wheelwright had had some knowledge, early in his wedded life--and of which he was convinced over again, soon after the events recorded in the last two chapters. It was on a clear frosty morning in March, that one of the watchful guardians of the peace and quiet of the city, connected with the police establishment, did me the unexpected honor of a visit. He stated that a poor but very decent sort of a man had fallen into the hands of the watch during the preceding night, and had been committed to Bridewell by the sitting magistrate, on a charge of assault and battery. According to the report of Dogberry, the man was "quite down-in-the-mouth about it, and," (he added,) "he contests that he is entirely hinnocent. He also says he is acquainted with you, and he thinks if you would be good enough to come up to the hall and see him, no doubt that you would bail him out." "How is that, my friend? A man taken up in a night-row, and now in Bridewell, and says he is an acquaintance of mine--eh?" "So he says, and he looks as though he might have seen better days. We have to deal with many such--but then he don't act as though he was often in such scrapes, no how." "His name?" "Doctor--Wheel--Wheelwright, I think they call him." "O--ah--yes:" another incident, thinks-I-to-myself, in the chequered life of my unhappy friend. "And a _striking_ incident, too, according to the account of the Irish woman who lodged the complaint." "An _Irish_ woman! Mischief in her proper shape again. But, my word for it, if it is my quondam friend Wheelwright, who is in the scrape, he has not struck any body or thing--man, woman, or child." "'Zactly so: that's just what he says; and as he has no friends, he thinks you might stand by him in a pinch, if you knew as how he has been in the lock-up half the night, and has now been walked off to Bridewell." This was a far less agreeable call upon my attention and services than I had ever had the honor of receiving from him before; but still, knowing the honesty of the man, and his pacific character, and fully believing in his representations of innocence, I at once determined to inquire into the circumstances of the case, and, if necessary, make another effort in his behalf.