Page:London spy, or, The frauds of London described (3).pdf/3

 For these necessary and salutary purposes the following description was written, to put the unwary on their guard, that they may avoid the snares of deceivers; to display the various practices made use of, to cheat and defraud, and to caution them against credulity and plausible fiction, which too often are productive of as bad consequences as the more barefaced crimes herein specified.

The reader will observe, that in general I have addressed myself to countrymen and women, for the following reasons: As they are at a distance from London and perhaps having imbibed too favourable and flattering ideas of its wealth, magnitude, and grandeur may be induced thereby to repair to the metropolis, rather than remain in the country; and before they have been in town twenty-four hours are frequently ruined by the sons and daughters of dissipation, who lie in wait to deceive and destroy all who are so unfortunate as to fall into their clutches. In order likewise, to put those whose business demands their presence in London, on their guard against frauds, cheats, and imposters, I have displayed the various new methods they practise in pursuit of their villanous and ilicit proceedings, the better to enable my