Page:Comical adventures of the late Mr James Spiller.pdf/20

20 Obadiah Mouſetrap. guilty, put the queſtion to himſelf and then conſider it well, whether he thinks, (though he be called to no account for it in this life) the cries and groans of ſucceeding generations that lie under the oppreſſions and diſtreſs which he before had cauſed, and brought upon them, will have no impreſſion upon his final JUDGE, that may move him to reward and puniſh his treaſons? That man who would ſell his truſt, I am perſuaded, would not boggle at any thing for gain; than is, I mean, if he could conceive himſelf ſecure from the power of the law and therefore, the following proceedings of our good friend Obadiah Mouſetrap, will, in my opinion, be the eaſier juſtified, or at leaſt excuſed.

Our friend Obadiah Mouſetrap, who was a Quaker, and a commander of a trading veſſel, was juſt returned from a voyage, into the river of London, when he had a couple of cuſtom-houſe officers, as is uſual, immediately clapt on board him: But it happened, that two or three days after, the fly old fox had a mind to found