Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/120

104 the frauds committed by "scuffle-hunters, mud-larks, light horsemen and heavy horsemen, upon the trade of the river Thames" that do not exist.

The means of perpetrating these robberies are taken away, by the ships unloading in the docks, (three great basins, or more, enclosed with walls) into which it is impossible to penetrate improperly, and out of which no one goes without search, of whom there can be the most distant doubt as to accuracy of conduct. Aided by the active exertions of the marine-police, those extensive establishments have extinguished nearly all the old methods of robbing the ships and quays; in lieu of which, new and more daring acts of piracy have been adopted. Of these we shall speak hereafter; these observations being only used objectively, we shall here dismiss the subject for the present, to resume the course we just now pointed out—the exposure of such villains as extract your money by putting you in fear of personal injury.

If buffers and mock auctioneers intimidate by their vehemeat manner of pressing their wares upon you, no less do the KEEPERS STALLS