Chapter II: Part 2

My mind continued still to run upon England; I took a walk to the bay, and met with captain Sclater, bound for England, made a bargain for my passage, told him I had an estate fallen to me, and was going home to take possession of it; got all necessaries for the voyage, took leave of all my acquaintances, and in 1761, went on board; my servant, who still continued in town, begged to accompany me wherever I should go, but being at this time very sick, I was obliged to leave him behind me, tho’ very unwilling. After being on board about three weeks, I began to write; at the same time telling the captain, I had sent the most valuable of my papers home in the West India fleet. We had a long passage of nine weeks, and the day before we made Falmouth, a most terrible hurricane came on, the oldest person on board had never before seen the like: we resigned our selves to the mercy of God, and the mountains of waves; however, we at length put into Falmouth, in a shattered condition. Captain Sclater and I went directly on shore, I then told him my intention of going up to London by land. I had a negroe of his to sell, but could not get my price for him; the gentleman I applied to, knowing my friend, desired me to be perfectly easy, as I might have ten or twenty pounds to carry me to town; I took only ten guineas, and gave him my note for it. I also settled with the captain, and gave him a note for thirty-five pounds, for the payment of my passage, and other matters betwixt us.

I set out for London along with part of the guard that came with the money, brought over in the Lisbon packet; my friend at Falmouth lent me one of his horses; when we came to Exeter I took a post-chaise, but not before I had borrowed twenty guineas of the landlord, who really thought I was a sharer in this fine prize, and master of the packet. The whole sum was imagined to be seventy thousand pounds. I made a bold attempt, and got some of this money, and should have got much more, but for the want of a partner. I put this and the rest of my money into the seat of the chaise, suffered a man to ride behind to the next post town, where I quitted the chaise, put the money in a box, and had it sent to town by the next waggon, and which came very safely to my hands. I was vain enough to think with proper assistance, I could have got hold of the greatest part of this cargo of money. I set out post for town on horse-back; my behaviour all the way was such as gave every body satisfaction, from the genteel treatment they all had from me on the road; they gave me the greatest character, which I turned to the best advantage, and made several little sums by the way. On searching my pockets in London, I found myself possessed of more than one hundred pounds; but thought of having another push at the treasure, which was expected in town every hour; I went to the inn in Friday-street, told the book-keeper all the circumstances relating to the money, and where I had left them on the road, with other descriptions that gave him satisfaction; and that my concern in the cash was considerable; he told me, I should be heartily welcome to all the money he had, accordingly he brought me eight guineas; after expressing my concern for giving him so much trouble, I walked away from him.

I did not think of visiting him any more; but went to Mr. Lane’s in Drury-lane, where I hired a chariot, with a coachman and footman, in order to pay a visit to my father, whom I had not seen for fourteen years; my good father was glad to see me, I promised him to go again shortly, but never did more. The misfortunes I have undergone, has been, I am certain, intirely owing to the continual state of rebellion, that I lived in with my dear parents; and God for such unnatural practices, has been pleased to bring me to this most just and deserved punishment, I am now shortly to suffer. Oh! that from my sad fate, children would learn obedience to their parents, which will be attended with every desirable advantage on earth; be a blessing to themselves, and an honour to the human race; the enjoyment of peace and felicity in this world, and the sure and certain hope of enjoying the life which is to come. Were it known to the world, who my parents are, it could give them no satisfaction; I have been a disgrace to them, and would wish disobedient children to be warned from perpetrating those infamous actions, which may in the end work their own ruin; and such deeds, that their unfortunate parents, could neither foresee nor prevent. If children did but properly consider, the very fear of bringing their innocent parents to disgrace and shame, would prevent them from pursuing those wicked practices which end in being publickly exposed to a censorious world, and suffering an ignominious death.

I sought out all places of gaming and horse-races, till my money was all existed. I hired a post-chaise, with an intention of going to Dublin, and went in this manner to Birmingham, where I defrauded a great many tradesmen; and at my departure, hired a horse for Park-Gate, waiting some time for a fair wind, my money running very short; but at length a fair wind springing up, I went on board, and there passed for Maddocks the wire dancer’s brother, who had but lately been cast away in his passage from this port to Ireland. The passengers were much afraid least the same fate should attend us, as did him and his unfortunate companions; one of whom was Theophilus Cibber, the famous comedian. But God’s holy name be prais’d, we had a very fine passage, and arrived very safely in the port of Dublin.

I went on shore, and took me a lodging, and went the next night to the Play-House, in Crow-Street, where I made application to Mr. Barry, as the brother of Mr. Maddocks, and that I wanted to perform in my deceased brother’s way, though my real intention was only to borrow money of him. Mr. Barry told me he must see some of my performances first: well knowing my own inability in performances of that kind, without broken bones, I desisted from Mr. Barry and thought of making my market of Mr. Mossop; but he told me it was too late in the season to engage any performers. Meeting with these two rebuffs, I went to a Goldsmith, to cheapen some buckles; he sent his boy to my lodgings with two pair of Bristol-stone buckles, set in silver: I sent the boy back for two small rings; In his absence, I marched off with the buckles, and sold them at a Bagnio for my own price. The next day the buckles were advertised, and in a few days after I was taken at the same house by the master of the Bagnio; for they were fools enough to tell of their prize to several neighbours, that they had bought two fine pair of buckles very cheap, and found themselves now in danger of much trouble for their simplicity: but the good nature of the master, got me off from any other punishment than that of making them a recompence for their loss. I bought me a regimental suit of cloaths, and visited the milliners as an officer; at one shop I desired them to put up a box of the best sorts of their lace to shew a lady, and send the servant with me, with which the milliner most readily complied; we went directly to my lodgings, where I directly ordered her to go and fetch me some handkerchiefs; in the interval I pushed off with the laces, and sold them all the next morning. I was immediately advertised, and taken by a thief catcher, but at the earnest intercession of his wife, he let me go; I went for the country, and at Thomolin, I was again taken by the description in the same advertisement, and brought back to Dublin; but I made the people robbed, so easy with my flattering behaviour, they did not care much what came of me, so that I meditated, and accomplished my escape, after a good supper, and drinking plenty of wine.

Money was now low with me, so that I was obliged to step into a linnen-draper’s shop, and steal some handkerchiefs, made sale of them directly, and with the money paid for my passage to Park-Gate, where I found a ship bound to the Isle of Man, on which going directly on board, landed at Douglas, but I found nothing could be done here, the people being all as great thieves as myself. So in a little vessel bound for Scotland, I got on board, who landed me at Dumfries; where the moment I got on shore, I paid a visit to the merchants (the meanest shopkeeper is so here) the milliners and others, and picked up enough in defrauding them to support me tolerable. But the town being small, business promised but a short continuance. I made the best of my way to Edinburgh, the horse I brought with me, I sold to a drover for three pounds; and put up at one Browne’s, of whom I borrowed a clean shirt to go to the play, enquired for the manager of the house, which proved to be Mr. Digges; I wanted him to engage me on the same terms as I had made application to Messieurs Barry and Mossop, he said I should perform the next week, but that was too late for me. I then went to the Parliament-Close, to a silver-smith’s, cheapened some of his buckles, and according to my usual method, desired him to put up two pair and two rings, let his servant go with me to my lodgings; when I sent back for something more, then went out and sold them to Mrs. Japp, at a Bagnio, where I refreshed myself for two days: but by some accident, was taken and committed to the Talbooth-Goal, where I lay for three weeks, brought to my trial, and acquitted, but ordered to depart the city in three days. I must say I had very great favour shewn me, as any person could have, which was more than I either expected or deserved. On my being discharged, I hired a horse, and stole some handkerchiefs, and rode away for Berwick, where the horse was sold. I had no opportunity nor time to deal with the good people of Berwick, so went on board a ship bound for London, to which place we had a long and tedious passage: on our arrival, I thought proper to take with me, the bundle of one of the passengers, what suited me I kept, and the rest was sold.

I made but a short stay in London, hired a horse for Bristol, sold him there, and bought a stallion, with which I went to Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, there sold him, and stole a silver watch, besides some small parcels of laces. I did not like this of all the places I had ever been at; and set off directly for London, where I sojourned but a few days, went down to Portsmouth, took lodgings at a very creditable house, told my landlady I was a dealer in lace, desiring she would recommend me, which she did to several shops, where I got several pieces, went over to Gosport among the silver-smiths, and got some small booty there. I hired a horse in Portsmouth for London: within four miles of Kingston, I came up with two seamen, stopp’d, and demanded their money and watches, they gave me four guineas, and a silver watch; I left them, wishing them safety to London. Between Wandsworth and Vaux-Hall, I stopped a gentleman and lady in a post-chaise, robbed them of thirteen guineas, the post-boy got off his horse and ran away; but after I had secured the money, I rode after him, brought him back, and gave him a hearty flogging: the gentleman then returned me thanks in a very kind and hearty manner, and I wished him and his lady a good night. I went that night to Vaux-Hall, and between the hours of eleven and twelve, I stopped the Portsmouth machine, for which I was apprehended, and carried before the sitting justices in the Borough, where they searched me, but found nothing, yet my pistols were in my breeches pockets; I was discharged as they had no proof of any thing I had done amiss: I called for my horse, and mounted, crying out to them, if any one could ride that horse better than I, they might follow me; I went directly into London, and was taken very bad, so that I was obliged to go through a salivation for one month. I then began to be short of money, and was obliged to go a thieving again; accordingly I took a hackney coach, being still very weak, and not able to walk, I went to a milliner’s, or lace shop, near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill, and stole twelve yards of point lace, to the value of thirty-six pounds, which I sold. I began to get strength daily, so one day took a walk to the Park, and so to Chelsea, where I hired a horse to ride about a little while, being tired with walking; I put my horse up at the Horse and Groom, in order to regale myself over a pint of mull’d wine: and seeing there a fine grey mare, with new bridle and saddle, I made enquiry of the owner’s name in the house, and found it was Simpson; in a short time, desired the ostler to put the bridle and saddle on the mare, as I thought Mr. Simpson stayed longer than he promised; the man without the least suspicion brought the mare out, I mounted and rode into London, and at the end of Fleet-Market, was stopped by the owner, he asked if I had not that mare at Chelsea; I very frankly assured him I had, and was going on a very hasty message from the master of the Horse and Groom, into Bishopsgate-Street, and was to return with all speed; he said it was very well, and left me to proceed where I would. I went into the Borough, and left the mare in pawn for six guineas. I went the next morning to Hyde-Park-Corner, and hired a Spanish Mare to go to Hounslow, went round the country to Epping, robbed two milliners of some lace, came back to town, and left the mare in pawn for four guineas with the landlord of the Catherine-Wheel Inn, in Bishopsgate-Street. I went out again in a few days, and at the upper end of Tyburn-Road, I hired another horse to take an airing, but went only round to Whitechapel, and left him in pawn at the Chaise and Horses there, for four pounds. A great number more horses I hired in like manner, my method was always to get the names of the stable-keepers, and of all the gentlemen’s horses that stood with them, that I possibly could. I always called them familiarly by their names, thought I might have the knowledge of them, and their mentioning some gentleman that the acquaintance might arise from, I immediately joined with them, in affirming that it was so. I do think I have been advertised near a hundred times, for horses hired in this manner. As I had hitherto escaped, I thought it now high time to leave off dealing with the stable-keepers, and turn my hand to other branches, in which I had not been less successful.

I went into Leicester-fields to take lodgings, and the gentlewoman of the house dealt very largely in lace, which I did not know of before; I told her I was just come from the West Indies; she took me for a gentleman of distinction, as I had a servant in livery along with me. I told her, I should be glad to see some of her lace to make me ruffles; she shewed me some point, at four pounds ten shillings: I stole one piece, containing twelve yards; I sold six yards, and sent the other six to pawn: the person I sent it to, stopped it, although she had taken in pawn many pieces that she knew to be stolen by me before. This event grieved me very much, as I was under the necessity of turning out again. I went to a watch-maker’s in the Strand, and finding the master out, I asked his wife, if my watch was done? she not knowing but I had bespoke one, shewed me a great many; I stole a fine gold watch in this time, and went away: I met, just there, with one Smith, a bailiff’s follower, to whom I sold the watch. I went into another watch-maker’s, being short of money, finding only a woman in the house, she shewed me three watches, one of which I took by force, ran out of the shop with it, and got clear off. This was in the morning. I went to a pawnbroker’s and pledged it for two guineas.

I soon heard of a particular milliner’s shop at Charing-cross, Mrs. Moore, where business might be done; agreeable to this information, I hired a woman servant, sent her to Mrs. Moore’s, and desired she would tell the milliner, I was lately come from abroad, and wanted some shirts, neckcloths, and other things, to the amount of eighty pounds, all of which were brought to me; but there being no black neckcloths, I requested Mrs. Moore to go back for some, and soon after sent the maid to desire her to bring two dozen; in this interval, I made off into the country, and sold all, pretending to be a dealer in lace myself. I came back to London in a few days, and paid a visit to Mr. Snow, on Ludgate-hill as one just come from Portsmouth, where I had landed from the West Indies; I desired him to shew me some handsome rings, to shew to a young lady; as I told him, he put up two that I had chosen, at six and seven guineas price; he sent his boy with me to a tavern at Temple-bar, where on our arrival, I sent the boy back for two rings, that his master had forgot; he went very readily his way, and I also with my booty. I pawned these rings to a certain man, F—— Pr——, near Covent-garden, for three guineas and a half. I have pawned a great many things with this man, that I am very certain he knew to be stolen; he always received every thing from me without any hesitation, reluctance, or denial, although he is a pretended honest man.

I then took my horse that I had standing by Covent-garden, and rid to the George at Hounslow; where sitting over a pint of wine, I resolved within myself that I would rob the first man I met. Going over the heath, I met with one Mr. Simpson, a dealer in lace, as he told me; him I robbed of fifteen pounds in money, and his silver watch; then I pushed off for Henley on Thames, and meeting with the master of the Crown inn in that town, I robbed him of a gold watch, and thirty-five shillings; afterwards went to Henley, had a pint of wine, and then returned to London. The very next night I went out again, and near the turnpike by Battle-bridge wells, I robbed two post-chaises, one of thirteen pounds, and the other of somewhat less; I came into town directly, put up my horse as usual by Covent-garden, and refreshed myself. I then fell ill, I believe from a fall from my horse; I made application to a doctor, and soon got well. I paid a visit to Vauxhall: going over Westminster-bridge, I robbed two gentlemen of their watches, and thirty shillings in silver, which was all they had, having left the remainder of their money with Mr. Tyre, at Vauxhall. I made directly for Covent-garden, put up my horse, and lay at a bagnio that night: I got up the next morning early, and set out for the last Ascot-heath races, where I lost a good deal of money; in short the chances run against me. In returning home, I was obliged to leave my horse in pawn at Hounslow, being short of money.

I turned out on Tuesday the 27th of September last, I took coach and paid a visit to Mrs. Dixon, a milliner, in Broad-street, Carnaby-market; the last and fatal place for me, and for which fact I am most deservedly to die. I asked her for a pair of minionet ruffles, but at this time she not having any thing to suit me (though she seemed vastly desirous to serve me) for ruffles, which I pretended to want, she very politely begged I would come again the next day; which in full expectation of bettering myself, I determined not to rob her now, which with ease I could have done, as she was intirely unsuspecting, and treated me with vast gentility and politeness; declaring, that if I would come the next day, she would shew me some very fine patterns of lace and ruffles. Mrs. Dixon undoubtedly took me for a gentleman; and in this she was no farther deceived than hundreds of people had been before her. Mrs. Dixon described what passed betwixt us very exactly upon my trial; that I tossed the pieces of lace about, pretending they were not fine enough, as indeed, for my purpose, they were not: according to my old custom, I clapped my hand to my head, as if not well, and had I found any lace I approved, to have taken my handkerchief out to cover it as usual. Mrs. Dixon asked me, if I was not well, and I answered her in the affirmative; and as I had been telling her before of my buying ruffles in Jamaica, she said very smartly, sir, perhaps the air of England does not agree with you, and you may not intend to return again; to which I replied, that I certainly should, having not only a ship, but other property of great consequence there; then I took my leave of her, promising to come on the morrow, and bring a lady along with me: I accordingly went, and all things were ready for my reception; many pieces of lace were shewn me, all of them very fine indeed; I fixed my eye on a genteel and well fancied piece, began to examine my handkerchief, according to art; but two pair of eyes being too many for me, under pretence of my wanting some lace for a cravat, Mrs. Dixon sent her maid out for them; I instantly grasped my prize, slid it into my pocket, and went away, without buying any thing. Undoubtedly Mrs. Dixon was heartily vexed, to see herself so dexterously slung; but however, her prudence now began to rouze itself; for she made use of the most probable means either to regain the lace, discover the thief, or both. Upon some occasions, it is certainly not amiss _to set a thief to catch a thief_; but be that as it may, I am pretty certain, had not Mrs. Dixon taken the expedient of having her lace advertised at a pawnbroker’s, she would never have seen thief or lace more. A pawnbroker is a most villainous employment: they not only exist by griping and grinding the faces of the poor, but are places of refuge for things stolen, few of them ever making enquiry how the party came by what they offer in pledge, and the less sum of money is demanded, the less is their desire to have it redeemed, or take notice of any advertisement; on seeing any such, they can directly make away with the matters in dispute, or send it amongst the Jews stolen cargoes to Holland.

On my marching off with Mrs. Dixon’s lace, I took a chair, and went to Strand-Lane, not with any intention to dispose of what I had got, but falling into conversation with Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Rogers, asked them if I might dine there, and was answered in the affirmative, discharged the chair, and dined with them on Pig; they both to me were utterly unknown before. After dinner I pulled out the lace, shewed it to them, then pretended to be short of Money, and but just come from Jamaica; I prevailed on Mrs. Rogers to go and pledge part of it, but not to take notice to Davis, what she was gone about. As soon as she was gone, I sent Davis with the other pieces I cut of, with the same injunction, not to tell the other. Though the whole of my trial is in the main, true, yet with regard to the time, Davis who pledged, and Brooks the pawnbroker, are both wrong; for it was past one o’clock when I stole it, two when I got to Strand-Lane, and at least three, when Mrs. Rogers went out with the first, as she justly swore. I mention not this by way of reflection, but that witnesses should consider when upon oath, they are to speak the whole truth, and in this instance it is certainly a falsehood. I made a most pitiful and shuffling defence; as indeed who could do otherwise under the vast load of guilt, I had to sustain, being under a stupid infatuation, and certain that my race was run. I could very easily have escaped or eluded the most diligent search made after me, for I saw the advertisement, had information of Davis’s being in custody for pledging the lace, and warned if any thing was amiss, that I would immediately fly, for fear of the bad consequences which might ensue; but all this I slighted; indeed I saw destruction before me, yet determined to make use of no means to shun it: by the persuasion of a certain person who has been exceeding kind and serviceable to me under my troubles, I went to Goodman’s-fields, stayed all night, returned the next day which was Tuesday the 4th of October; on our return, I heard of the enquiry made after me at this house, by very suspicious persons; however, having bought the Beggar’s Opera, I was determined to go, and did, to see that play this evening: after the play was done, I returned to my lodging, and was told, two ill-looking fellows had been to see for me, and that they were at an alehouse just by; on this intelligence, I stood some time like one confounded or in a trance, and at length went into my room; where I had been scarce a quarter of an hour, till the constable and my old friend Mr. Fuller, the thief-catcher, burst the door open, and accosted me with, _Oh, Captain, is it you!_ then took me with my friend to Covent-garden round-house, and the next day before Sir John Fielding, who committed me to New-prison, as before mentioned: I saw several of my old acquaintances about Sir John’s, and some who have deserved what I have met with; but they say they are now turned honest, though I greatly fear it is all a sham: but I was to them all unknown, at least with regard to my old pranks; they did think I dealt on the highway, and also in horses; but my old friend Mr. Fuller knew something of me with regard to horses, not much to his benefit: how can it possibly be so to people who have any concern with those of my unhappy profession?

During my long course of wickedness, I never was addicted to common or profane swearing, to excess in eating, drunkenness, and but little to women; to none of these I can charge the errors of my life, my faults are all my own seeking and doing, without the advice, privity, or solicitation of any person whatever: I never was fond of even conversing with thieves and robbers, though at accidental meetings I have met with several, who guessing I was of their profession, would set forth the advantage of associates, or appearing in company to rob and plunder the honest and unwary part of mankind. Pallister and Duplex, lately executed at Coventry, who called themselves family men, and the heads of a great gang, pressed me violently to go on the highway with them and their companions, but all they could say was in vain. I never would make use of, or indeed knew the flash or cant language, in which these two men were very expert. Of all my acquaintance, men or women, Benjamin Campbell Hamilton, and Mrs. Pembruge[2] were by far the worst; of the latter I have already given a particular relation; but of the former I neglected to mention, that after his being acquitted at the Old Bailey, (my evidence not being sufficient against him, or his mother Catherine Hall, in Newtoner’s lane) he soon went into foot-pad and street robberies, with other idle boys, committing a vast number in the fields and streets; he was with his companions taken, tried, and executed at Tyburn on the 16th of May, 1750, with Lewis, May, and Giddis, his associates, and behaved under sentence, on the way, and at the place of execution, with the utmost hardiness and unconcern, not at all forced or constrained, but talked to the mob, and his fellow sufferers in the cart, with as much disengaged ease, as if he had been going to a ball or merry-making, and continued so to within a few minutes of his death; for at the place of execution, his behaviour was most intolerably indecent, talking and laughing aloud as the executioner was tying them up; making use of most scandalous and blasphemous expressions, at the instant of his launching into eternity; and yet astonishing as it may seem, this active, wild and extravagant youth, had only lived seventeen years.

And now, O Lord God Almighty, who by thy powerful hand, and out-stretched arm, hast for the salvation of my soul, and the benefit of thy creatures, (to whom I can make no other reparation, than to make known to the public the injuries I have done) been pleased through a series of unexampled acts of injustice, brought me down to this most deserved sentence and doom; for my benefit, and that of thy most extensive mercy and goodness. Oh! that I could make recompence to the multitudes I have injured; but no means have I but this, by laying all my crimes, as red as crimson, before the world. To thee, O most merciful God, I most humbly prostrate myself: grant me in this world, knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.

C. S.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Warehouses or shops for the sale of European goods, are so called in America.

[2] The Editor has been looking over some papers, shortly to be published, in which an account is given of a woman, that in all respects far out-strips Mrs. Pembruge. This creature, it seems, whose preceding life had been far from good, was met with in the fields by a person who was vastly taken with the plausableness of her demeanour, an intimacy began; she being in the utmost distress, was furnished with money, wearing apparel, and lodging; was supported in a plentiful manner for five years, and with a house the three last years, for which she received all the rent, amounting to thirty pounds a year, besides an allowance of seven shillings per week in money; but the ingratitude, baseness and corruption of manners of the wretch, can never be parallelled: sloth, sluttishness, whoredom, drunkenness, and gluttony, marked all her days; one of the most merciful and compassionate of men, and the kindest benefactor to her, was treated with every mark of ingratitude, and loaded with every kind of reproach; deprived of his peace, happiness, content, property, reputation, and even an attempt made to take away his life. What will be the end of this woman, cannot be ascertained; though it is far from being improbable her days will be either finished on a dunghill, or at the gallows.

If there is any thing in the marks on human bodies, as the books of Astrology and Divination would feign, this person is assuredly

“Mark’d on the back, like Cain, by God’s own hand.
Wander, like him, accurst thro’ all the land.”

Bad as this mirror of her sex was, she had an ancient grey-headed life guardian, for her privy-councellor, confident, and servant, yet far worse than she: with this old fellow she had lived in adultery previous to the acquaintance above-mentioned, which continued, as opportunity offered, to the time the pious old soldier assisted the woman to rob her benefactor of all his property, with which they retired, as to a place of refuge, among the foot-guards, and black-guards, in Peter street, Westminster. This man makes vast pretentions to religion, and a good name; yet it is plain, as the account saith, he has no just pretentions to either.

_Maxims, Hints, and Remarks, by way of Caution to the Public, to
prevent or detect the Designs of Thieves and Sharpers from being
carried into Execution._

I. Never place many different articles on the counter at one time; nor turn your back on the pretended customer, but let some other person put the different articles up, whilst you are intent upon the business before you.

II. It is in general to be suspected if a person pulls out a handkerchief, lays it down, and takes it up often, some ill is intended; this was my constant practice with milliners and others, in what lay in a small compass. It never failed of success.

III. The shopkeeper on seeing such methods as this made use of, should remove the handkerchief from off their goods; which will give the sharper reason to suspect his design is seen through.

IV. It is very common at haberdashers and other shops, which deal in small articles, for every one that is wanted to be paid for, the tradesman applies to his till for change; his eyes being fixed thereon, then is the time something the nearest at hand on the counter is moved off.

V. It is very easy to discover a thief or sharper from an honest person; for the sharper asks for fifty things, none of which will do, tosses them backwards and forwards, shuffles what can conveniently be done aside, and moves off with the prize, promising to come again.

VI. Watch-makers and silver-smiths are imposed on principally thus; in a morning or evening the sharper, well dressed, as a sea-officer, will go to their shops, look at watches, buckles, rings, &c. when a variety of these are laid on the counter, if opportunity offers, the handkerchief is made use of with great advantage: should that fail, then the goods are ordered to a tavern, coffee-house, or private house, as best suits for ellegance or honesty; then the person is instantly sent back for something omitted, whilst the prize is secured, and the sharper moved off another way. Though this is an old and stale trick, it is amazing how successful the practitioners in it still are.

VII. Watch-makers should be extremely careful of strangers in their shops; as many watches are always lying on the work-board, and others hanging up, they should never have their eyes off the person: the handkerchief is here made use of to great advantage; if the watch is hung up, it damps any sound or tattling that might be made, and screens it intirely from the sight of the owner.

VIII. There is something in the very aspect of a cheat and sharper, which may be easily seen through: I know from experience, he continually has his eyes fixed on the shopkeeper, or person he has to deal with; has his body always in motion, whether standing or sitting. The eye of a thief continually follows the person he intends to deal upon.

IX. Dyers, scourers, and other persons, who have the property of many in their possession, should not let the appearance of a sharper, be it as genteel as it will, ever be parted with, but first by enquiring the name, and looking in their books for it; and should they by chance hit on a name, be sure to send the things in question home to the owner’s house yourself, or send them with necessary cautions, not to part with them on any account, but to the right owner. Women and servants should never act on these occasions, in the absence of the master; or be against sending for him from a neighbouring tavern, coffee-house, &c.

X. Pickpockets are the most easily guarded against, of any kind of thieves; it is people’s carelessness makes so many of this kind of rogues; nor is there more of any kind detested than of these. Whether through pride or negligence, I cannot say, but if people will go with their coats loose, a good handkerchief hanging half way out of their pocket, or the pocket flap thrust within, so that the contents, as pocket-books, &c. may easily be seen, and as easily taken away. The fob made so wide, and the chain and seals hanging down so long, that the watch will draw out as easy as water run through a pipe. People who go into crowds, or frequent the publick offices, should have their pockets open on the inside of the coat, which can easily be done; or else, as is customary with many, to have them on each side the coat, breast high; and to have a small strong strap, to button over the watch-chain, on the waistband of the breeches, will effectually and for ever prevent picking of pockets, and the loss of things of so much value. The smaller way in cutting women’s pockets, &c. is but little practiced now; so that warning all people to take care, and be on their guard in churches and publick assemblies, and they will scarce have cause to complain.

XI. Footpads and street-robbers are neither to be guarded against, or prevented, in my opinion, but by the vigilance and continual care of the magistrates, in putting down bad houses, seizing suspected robbers, and clearing the streets of whores. None of this kind of thieves can expect to continue in their trade above a month or six weeks, and the greatest part of them not half so long.

XII. Highwaymen are also very easily detected, by the method made use of by Justice Fielding, for stable-keepers to fend an account to him of the suspected robber’s horse, and a necessary description of his person, especially if it answers that of the described robber. But the method of thief-taking rather increase than diminish the number of robbers. And large rewards for taking highwaymen, &c. is certainly wrong, as old robbers are left unpunished, or taken, and young raw thieves hanged in their stead. The former are thief-makers, and who furnish business for the thief-takers.

C. S.

* * * * *

The preceding narrative, with the hints and remarks, are the work of the unhappy sufferer himself. The Editor has been very faithful in adhering to the letter of the narration; and cannot help looking on it as the most extraordinary history of the kind, and of the greatest service to the public of any thing similar to it in the whole world. Unhappy for me, I knew nothing of the prisoner’s intentions till Tuesday morning the 22d of November, the day before he suffered, by one of Mr. Akerman’s servants; with some difficulty I got a sight of the manuscript, the reading of which filled me with amazement; and instantly determined as it would be for the publick benefit for it to be printed, and resolved to see the prisoner, and agree with him directly; the time was short, the copy to be read over betwixt us, and many questions to be asked. I went into the Press-yard to him, where I found a man of a genteel appearance, a likely person, thin narrow face, somewhat cloudy brow’d, about five feet nine inches high, of a spare slender make, his demeanour courteous and affable, and his countenance, though pale, carried the vestigia not only of serenity but innocence. On apprizing him of my business, he said, “Sir, I know you not; but trust and hope you are an honest man: my intentions in the publication, is much against the inclination of my relations; I do it to make all the satisfaction in my power, for the numberless injuries I have done to mankind, and to pay my funeral expences, the executioner, the servants and others, to whom I am indebted. It is worth a good deal of money, but I will leave to your generosity what I am to have for it: the Ordinary has hitherto refused me the Sacrament, under pretence of not being prepared, but in reality, to get from me an account of my life and transactions, for which he would not have given me one farthing, or his charity extended so far towards me, as to furnish me with a little food to keep soul and body together till the time of my death. That is no part of his business. I have been supported by a gentlewoman through my imprisonment in Newgate, in a most kind and christian manner; for which I trust God will bless and reward her a thousand-fold. What is farther wanted concerning me, the undertaker will inform you of himself, or let you know where the gentlewoman is to be found; who has got some other papers concerning me, and will deliver them to you.”

We had just finished our business, when Mr. Cruden, famous for being the author of a Concordance of the Sacred Scriptures, the best ever yet seen in the Christian world, and well known in the republic of letters, came into the prison, to pray with and comfort the five unfortunate men; who very cordially, and with great fervency, joined with him in prayer: Mr. Cruden adapted his whole prayer, which was delivered extempore, to their present deplorable condition, with great propriety and simplicity, to move them to a sense of their guilt, to a firm trust and affiance in God’s mercy, and the certain hope and expectation, on their sincere repentance, of enjoying a state of eternal bliss in the world to come, through the blood, merits, and intercession of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of all mankind: that their state of probation here, was intended to qualify them, for a much more high and happy state; and would be their own fault if they did not attain it. To die, was natural to all men; but the time when, or place where, not worthy a wise man or a Christian’s notice. Then most heartily recommending them to God, and the word of his grace, admonishing them to be chearful and resigned, he left them.

He had not been departed long, till Mr. Ordinary himself appeared; but alas! what a falling off was here! Instead of his presence being agreeable to them, as a Christian pastor should be, they looked upon him as come for nothing but his own advantage; and rather to disturb them with insignificant and impertinent questions, than to take care of their poor souls; besides being honoured with execrations from some of the bye-standers, for none but the Protestant prisoners were suffered to be in Mr. Ordinary’s room: Mr. Cruden, on the contrary, desired all present to join with him, and left the door open all the time of prayer. Speckman and Broughton had the better of master Ordinary, who was obliged to leave them without accomplishing the only end he visited them for; who on coming out of the room, and perhaps smelling a rat, came up to the Editor of this narrative, with an assurance and countenance that carried the _true Shannon dip_, asked what he came there for; and whether he wanted any thing with _them there men_; in which being answered in the negative, he vouchsafed to stalk away, blown up with his own sufficiency and consequence.

Mr. Akerman, the keeper, to his eternal honour be it said, all this time was busily employed in procuring food, at his own expence, for the poor naked and starving prisoners, who many of them were at the point of death with the goal distemper; but the Christian reader will not be frightened at this, when he is told this distemper was only hunger. On parting with Mr. Speckman, he solemnly declared, as he trusted in God’s mercies, that every part of his copy was strictly true; and now being satisfied of its publication, he should die without fear, and with perfect resignation. The Editor, on recollecting his person, and having seen him under sentence of death in the beginning of the year 1751, made enquiry of the authenticity of many robberies, &c. here related, and has found them all true in every respect.

The prisoner requested some person might come to him from me in the morning. I requested a worthy friend to do so; who went into the Press-Yard, and the prisoner speedily came down; who, on putting his leg up to have his setters taken off, lifted up his hands and eyes towards heaven, and said in a kind of extasy, _This is the finest Morn, that ever I have seen_. As soon as this was performed, he was taken on one side to be haltered and pinioned, which he suffered to be done with patience and resignation; praying with uncommon fervency all the time. And then going with this friend to the upper end of the Press-Yard, they read and prayed together for some time, and was then asked if he had any thing farther to say concerning his life; replied, It is all truth, but if Mr. S. finds any thing therein, which may be thought not for the public good, that may be left out if he pleases. At the conclusion of this he addressed himself to the people, requesting their prayers, for his happy entrance into eternity; declaring that he deserved to die, but had great consolation in his last moments; that he never had beat, ill treated, or murdered any one, save in one instance of the post-boy.

The friend was then desired to take some money out of his left breeches pocket, which proved to be eight-pennyworth of half-pence, and to give them to one of the servants who attended on him, desiring his acceptance of that and his wig, which he had ordered to be sent to him: Then wishing farewell to his friend, Mr. Melville a prisoner, and the persons about him; was led by the officer to the cart: which for the first time was hung in mourning, this added much to the solemnity of the occasion. On the way to, and at the place of execution, he was perfectly resigned to his irrevocable doom; and to the last carried himself with the greatest decency and devotion, in full expectation and hope of enjoying the life to come, in the blessed regions of eternal day.

His body was taken care of by his friends, put into a coach and carried to an Undertaker’s in Moorfields, where on searching his pockets, there was found a prayer copied by him from a printed one, two farthings, half a walnut-shell, into which was thrust a long narrow slip of paper, on which he had wrote, “_I beg of you to let your trust be in God, for there is your trust, and in no man living_;” intending it for the young woman before mentioned. His body was decently interred on Sunday evening the 27th of November, in Tindall’s Burying-ground, Bunhill-fields; aged 29 years: and the service of the church of England, at his own request when living, was there performed.

Since writing the above, I have seen the Ordinary’s Account of Speckman and the other criminals, and that he hath given what he calls the Life of Speckman; which if the reader will give himself the trouble of perusing, he will find nothing but absurdity and contradiction; and that the unhappy man, at the instant of his being turned off, told him was nothing but deceit, asked Master Ordinary forgiveness, whose truly Christian disposition was on this imminent occasion pleased to comply, and pray for the sufferer. This undoubtedly is a laudable act, though the Ordinary did no more than his duty, which I hope he’ll not think too much for him, to make his only rule and guide for the time to come: as a pastor of such a flock he hath much to do, and his constant presence and residence as near the scene of action as the keeper; the necessity and obligation of taking care of the souls of the prisoners, should go hand in hand with that of the care of their bodies.

Such a wretched paper as the public is drenched with every execution, it is hoped they will be no more bothered with, but if that should be the case, it is confounded hard to pay six-pence for two sheets of whited brown paper rubbed over in a very slovenly manner, but the writing itself is truly inimitable, none but himself can be his parallel; finally, should it ever fall in Mr. Ordinary’s way, to find any of his brother pastors neglecting their duty, he will recommend to them the following spirited admonition of a most famous poet on occasion of the corrupted state of our national clergy, and under the similitude of a shepherd; which cannot fail of bringing them back to their original purity and usefulness.

“Of other care they little reckoning make,
Than how to scramble at the shearers feast,
And shove away the worthy bidden guest;
Blind mouths! that scarce themselves know how to hold
A sheep-hook, or have learn’d aught else the least
That to the faithful herdman’s art belongs!
What recks it them? what need they? they are sped;
And when they lift their lean and flashy songs,
Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw;
The hungry sheep look up, but are not fed,
But swol’n with wind, and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly and foul contagion spread;
But that two handed engine at the door,
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more.”

FINIS.

Transcriber’s Notes

pg 13 Changed: he was sitting in the parlour, sombody came in
to: he was sitting in the parlour, somebody came in

pg 13 Changed: there was a watch stolen, so stoped
to: there was a watch stolen, so stopped

pg 15 Changed: for several days and nights; aad
to: for several days and nights; and

pg 18 Changed: I dared to continue any intercouse
to: I dared to continue any intercourse

pg 19 Changed: my commiting such a rash action
to: my committing such a rash action

pg 26 Changed: credit every where; but being disatisfied
to: credit every where; but being dissatisfied

pg 27 Changed: about thirty miles from the the places
to: about thirty miles from the places

pg 30 Changed: till my money was all exausted
to: till my money was all exhausted

pg 32 Changed: the the milliners and others
to: the milliners and others

pg 34 Changed: I went to a miliner’s
to: I went to a milliner’s

pg 38 Changed: meeting with the master of the the Crown inn
to: meeting with the master of the Crown inn

pg 39 Changed: I answered her in the affirmitive
to: I answered her in the affirmative

pg 41 Changed: by the persuation of a certain person
to: by the persuasion of a certain person

This book uses goal instead of gaol throughout.