are not a greater set of fools in the world than your hackneyed thieves: they have been known to throw themselves in the way of certain detection, or, to stand, like the silly penguin, to be knocked down; when, at the same time, a good run for it, would have preserved them in safety.
N.B. But should a pickpocket take to his heels, and be easily distinguished from his followers, it is not always advisable to stop him; unless indeed, you are fond of a bit of a spree, or admire being in trouble, as is exemplified in the simple narrative of a writer "on the police," who has not thought proper to give us his name. He says, "that he detected a daring noon-day robber, and brought him to conviction.[1]" Again, he observes, "To be candid, I must confess that my cure for stagging, was accelerated by means of certain bruises and fractures which I received from the hands of three or four of these gently, and that close to my own house. Very few shopkeepers would undergo a second tune, so much trouble and expenceas I then did; and, therefore, I do not blush to avow that I forfeited my recognizance in one instance, and have passed over the detection of several others to avoid consequences so
- ↑ See New Monthly Magazine, 1st June, 1817— signed "A Constant Reader." page 309.
