Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/62

46 too, had better profit by the advice, and not submit to be drawn of their secret by the offers of preposterous wagers, the usual method of coming at a knowledge of the contents of your pockets, I verily believe some street robberies proceed from this very cause, and are perpetrated by the friends, or companions of the sufferers themselves, who probably commit no other offence during their lives. This last is, to be sure, a mere supposition, but I could not otherwise account for three or four such robberies that have been circumstantially detailed to me; but it is much more probable that a person thus excited to the commission of crime, would continue in the same course until the hour of detection arrived.

Although we again disclaim to treat of those offences and evils that have ceased, yet we should be guilty of a dereliction of duty were we to omit noticing the

That upon very rare occasions, start up in the neighbourhood of this metropolis. Indeed, so seldom are they now heard of compared to what