His family gave him but little trouble: indeed, they ministered to his pleasure during his hours of relaxation—and, with all his faults, it is pretty generally admitted that he was remarkably kind and indulgent to his docile pets.
The sociable evenings in his house at Sheffield were in many ways pleasurable ones.
The police speak of him as being a clever fellow, who, as a cracksman, was A1 in his profession.
The London police speak of him with respect, and it takes a good deal for them to get over their contempt for provincial people in the burglarious and other professions.
Though he gave evidence of having a thorough contempt for the suffering inflicted on persons, it has been asserted “that he would not kill a mouse” if he had been required to do so.
He further declared that if he had to kill his meat he should have to go without it all his life.
Whether from curiosity or interest, he had studied carefully the major portions of the Scriptural writings, had read opinions on them, and manifested much skill in controversy on theological questions.
One afternoon when Peace lived in the Brocco he had a long conversation with the Rev. Dr. Potter on religious topics, and astonished that gentleman by the knowledge of the subject.
Even the most prejudiced against the convict, and who knew anything of his antecedents, admit that he was not a man adicted to drinking intoxicating liquors. He appears to have had a horror of a drunken man, and it is asserted that he never exceeded, save in very rare instances, the bounds of moderation.
This, the more remarkable, seeing that his fiddling at public-houses would lead him into the habit of taking more than was good for him. It is, however, quite clear that he had strength of mind sufficient to resist any such temptation.