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 got an itch of thieving, could in no manner leave it off.

I had an opportunity of commencing a coiner, but that was such a beggarly and yet so dangerous a business that I would never embark in it. Nor could I ever yet be brought into the society of house-breakers. No person could be more dextrous in stealing gold watches than I from the ladies’ sides, either at the park, playhouse, or at church I was also very dextrous in gaming, and at one time cleared 73 guineas. The uncommon success I had, made me go into the country, where at Cambridge, Sturbridge fair, and at New Market, I expertly performed the same pranks over again and at Ipswitch I rob’d a Dutchman of a portmanteau, by pretending to be his wife in an inn, and in which was a very large quantity of gold and silver.

But afterwards coming up to London and venturing boldly into a fine silversmith’s shop, while none were there, I was perceived by a shop-keeper over the way: but as I had a glance of him