The String of Pearls (1850), p. 599

It has often been remarked, that one person in London does not trouble himself about his neighbours affairs, as is done in smaller communities, or know what is happening in his immediate vicinity ; but it is likewise true, that nowhere does news travel so fast, or acquire so many exaggerations, as in London.
Thus, then, in the course of a few hours, there was scarcely a person in the metropolis that was not aware of the escape of Sweeney Todd and Mr. Josiah Lupin from Newgate. And not only were they aware of the mere fact of the escape, but women had added so many extravagances to the whole affair, that it was quite wonderful to think of the fertility of invention of the illiterate persons who had added so many wonders and exaggerations to the real facts of the case, which, after all, lay, as the reader knows well, in a very small compass indeed, considering the magnitude of the result.
Nor were the newspapers published on the ensuing morning at all backward in pandering to popular taste by making the affair as striking and as wonderful as they possibly could.
In one quarter of the town it was firmly believed that not only had Todd and Lupin set Newgate on fire, but that they had murdered the governor and half a dozen turnkeys, and then made their way into the Old Bailey through the ruins of the prison over the dead bodies of their victims.
In another part of London it was currently reported that an infuriated mob had attacked the prison, for the purpose of taking out Todd and hanging him forthwith, and that in the midst of the confusion incidental to such a scene, he had succeeded in making his escape in the disguise of a turnkey, with a huge bunch of keys in his hand as a symbol of his profession.
Then again, in the highly religious district of Islington, it was fully believed, and, in fact, cried through the streets, that his Infernal Majesty, in his own proper person, had called at Newgate at about half past twelve at night, and taken away both the prisoners at once without any further ceremony.
But all these idle rumours might be safely left to sink or swim as the incredulity or the credulity of their authors and hearers might determine, since it was after all only to a very few persons that the escape of Sweeney Todd was of the smallest importance, and, to still from that, the fate of Mr. Lupin was of any importance at all.
The persons with whose feelings and wishes we and our readers feel interested, are those to whom the escape of Todd presented grounds for some anxious and
painful reflections; and it is to them and their proceedings that we would now draw the attention of our readers.
One of the first persons to whom the news was taken in a clear and compact unexaggerated form, was Sir Richard Blunt, and at an early hour of the morning he was roused from his rest by a messenger, who presented him with a brief note, containing only the following words from the Secretary of Newgate—
"Sir,
"The prisoner, Sweeney Todd, has escaed from the jail, along with one Josiah Lupin.
"The prisoner, Sweeney Todd, has escaped from the jail, along with one Josiah Lupin. I am, Sir, Yours Obediently,"
""John Smith"
"The deuce he has!" cried Sir Richard, as he sprung out of bed and began to dress himself with unusual speed, for Sir Richard seldom did anything m a hurry, as experience had long since told him how very little was gained by hurry and how much was sometimes lost.
As soon as he got his things on, he descended to his private room, and there found an officer from the prison waiting to give him the particulars of the escape,
which was done in a very few words.
"And they are clear off?" said Sir Richard.
"Quite so, sir."
"Well, after this, I rather think the Secretary of Slate will agree with my opinion, that it is not bolts and locks and bars that are to be tested to, to keep notorious and bold malefactors in prison, but a stout and watch personal superintendence; and until that is the case, there will be continual prison