Money was now low with me, so that I was obliged to step into a linnen-draper’s shop, and steal some handkerchiefs, made sale of them directly, and with the money paid for my passage to Park-Gate, where I found a ship bound to the Isle of Man, on which going directly on board, landed at Douglas, but I found nothing could be done here, the people being all as great thieves as myself. So in a little vessel bound for Scotland, I got on board, who landed me at Dumfries; where the moment I got on shore, I paid a visit to the merchants (the meanest shopkeeper is so here) the milliners and others, and picked up enough in defrauding them to support me tolerable. But the town being small, business promised but a short continuance. I made the best of my way to Edinburgh, the horse I brought with me, I sold to a drover for three pounds; and put up at one Browne’s, of whom I borrowed a clean shirt to go to the play, enquired for the manager of the house, which proved to be Mr. Digges; I wanted him to engage me on the same terms as I had made application to Messieurs Barry and Mossop, he said I should perform the next week, but that was too late for me. I then went to the Parliament-Close, to a silver-smith’s, cheapened some of his buckles, and according to my usual method, desired him to put up two pair and two rings, let his servant go with me to my lodgings; when I sent back for something more, then went out and sold them to Mrs. Japp, at a Bagnio, where I refreshed myself for two days: but by some accident, was taken and committed to the Talbooth-Goal, where I lay for three weeks, brought to my trial, and acquitted, but ordered to depart the city in three days. I must say I had very great favour shewn me, as any person could have, which was more than I either expected or deserved. On my being discharged, I hired a horse, and stole some handkerchiefs, and rode away for Berwick, where the horse was sold. I had no opportunity nor time to deal with the good people of Berwick, so went on board a ship bound for London, to which place we had a long and tedious passage: on our arrival, I thought proper to take with me, the bundle of one of the passengers, what suited me I kept, and the rest was sold.
I made but a short stay in London, hired a horse for Bristol, sold him there, and bought a stallion, with which I went to Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, there sold him, and stole a silver watch, besides some small parcels of laces. I did not like this of all the places I had ever been at; and set off directly for London, where I sojourned but a few days, went down to Portsmouth, took lodgings at a very creditable house, told my landlady I was a dealer in lace, desiring she would recommend me, which she did to several shops, where I got several pieces, went over to Gosport among the silver-smiths, and got some small booty there. I hired a horse in Portsmouth for London: within four miles of Kingston, I came up with two seamen, stopp’d, and demanded their money and watches, they gave me four guineas, and a silver watch; I left them, wishing them safety to London. Between Wandsworth and Vaux-Hall, I stopped a gentleman and lady in a post-chaise, robbed them of thirteen guineas, the post-boy got off his horse and ran away; but after I had secured the money, I rode after him, brought him back, and gave him a hearty flogging: the gentleman then returned me thanks in a very kind and hearty manner, and I wished him and his lady a good night. I went that night to Vaux-Hall, and between the hours of eleven and twelve, I stopped the Portsmouth machine, for which I was apprehended, and carried before the sitting justices in the Borough, where they searched me, but found nothing, yet my pistols were in my breeches pockets; I was discharged as they had no proof of any thing I had done amiss: I called for my horse, and mounted, crying out to them, if any one could ride that horse better than I, they might follow me; I went directly into London, and was taken very bad, so that I was obliged to go through a salivation for one month. I then began to be short of money, and was obliged to go a thieving again; accordingly I took a hackney coach, being still very weak, and not able to walk, I went to a milliner’s, or lace shop, near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill, and stole twelve yards of point lace, to the value of thirty-six pounds, which I sold. I began to get strength daily, so one day took a walk to the Park, and so to Chelsea, where I hired a horse to ride about a little while, being tired with walking; I put my horse up at the Horse and Groom, in order to regale myself over a pint of mull’d wine: and seeing there a fine grey mare, with new bridle and saddle, I made enquiry of the owner’s name in the house, and found it was Simpson; in a short time, desired the ostler to put the bridle and saddle on the mare, as I thought Mr. Simpson stayed longer than he promised; the man without the least suspicion brought the mare out, I mounted and rode into London, and at the end of Fleet-Market, was stopped by the owner, he asked if I had not that mare at Chelsea; I very frankly assured him I had, and was going on a very hasty message from the master of the Horse and Groom, into Bishopsgate-Street, and was to return with all speed; he said it was very well, and left me to proceed where I would. I went into the Borough, and left the mare in pawn for six guineas. I went the next morning to Hyde-Park-Corner, and hired a Spanish Mare to go to Hounslow, went round the country to Epping, robbed two milliners of some lace, came back to town, and left the mare in pawn for four guineas with the landlord of the Catherine-Wheel Inn, in Bishopsgate-Street. I went out again in a few days, and at the upper end of Tyburn-Road, I hired another horse to take an airing, but went only round to Whitechapel, and left him in pawn at the Chaise and Horses there, for four pounds. A great number more horses I hired in like manner, my method was always to get the names of the stable-keepers, and of all the gentlemen’s horses that stood with them, that I possibly could. I always called them familiarly by their names, thought I might have the knowledge of them, and their mentioning some gentleman that the acquaintance might arise from, I immediately joined with them, in affirming that it was so. I do think I have been advertised near a hundred times, for horses hired in this manner. As I had hitherto escaped, I thought it now high time to leave off dealing with the stable-keepers, and turn my hand to other branches, in which I had not been less successful.
I went into Leicester-fields to take lodgings, and the gentlewoman of the house dealt very largely in lace, which I did not know of before; I told her I was just come from the West Indies; she took me for a gentleman of distinction, as I had a servant in livery along with me. I told her, I should be glad to see some of her lace to make me ruffles; she shewed me some point, at four pounds ten shillings: I stole one piece, containing twelve yards; I sold six yards, and sent the other six to pawn: the person I sent it to, stopped it, although she had taken in pawn many pieces that she knew to be stolen by me before. This event grieved me very much, as I was under the necessity of turning out again. I went to a watch-maker’s in the Strand, and finding the master out, I asked his wife, if my watch was done? she not knowing but I had bespoke one, shewed me a great many; I stole a fine gold watch in this time, and went away: I met, just there, with one Smith, a bailiff’s follower, to whom I sold the watch. I went into another watch-maker’s, being short of money, finding only a woman in the house, she shewed me three watches, one of which I took by force, ran out of the shop with it, and got clear off. This was in the morning. I went to a pawnbroker’s and pledged it for two guineas.
I soon heard of a particular milliner’s shop at Charing-cross, Mrs. Moore, where business might be done; agreeable to this information, I hired a woman servant, sent her to Mrs. Moore’s, and desired she would tell the milliner, I was lately come from abroad, and wanted some shirts, neckcloths, and other things, to the amount of eighty pounds, all of which were brought to me; but there being no black neckcloths, I requested Mrs. Moore to go back for some, and soon after sent the maid to desire her to bring two dozen; in this interval, I made off into the country, and sold all, pretending to be a dealer in lace myself. I came back to London in a few days, and paid a visit to Mr. Snow, on Ludgate-hill as one just come from Portsmouth, where I had landed from the West Indies; I desired him to shew me some handsome rings, to shew to a young lady; as I told him, he put up two that I had chosen, at six and seven guineas price; he sent his boy with me to a tavern at Temple-bar, where on our arrival, I sent the boy back for two rings, that his master had forgot; he went very readily his way, and I also with my booty. I pawned these rings to a certain man, F—— Pr——, near Covent-garden, for three guineas and a half. I have pawned a great many things with this man, that I am very certain he knew to be stolen; he always received every thing from me without any hesitation, reluctance, or denial, although he is a pretended honest man.
I then took my horse that I had standing by Covent-garden, and rid to the George at Hounslow; where sitting over a pint of wine, I resolved within myself that I would rob the first man I met. Going over the heath, I met with one Mr. Simpson, a dealer in lace, as he told me; him I robbed of fifteen pounds in money, and his silver watch; then I pushed off for Henley on Thames, and meeting with the master of the Crown inn in that town, I robbed him of a gold watch, and thirty-five shillings; afterwards went to Henley, had a pint of wine, and then returned to London. The very next night I went out again, and near the turnpike by Battle-bridge wells, I robbed two post-chaises, one of thirteen pounds, and the other of somewhat less; I came into town directly, put up my horse as usual by Covent-garden, and refreshed myself. I then fell ill, I believe from a fall from my horse; I made application to a doctor, and soon got well. I paid a visit to Vauxhall: going over Westminster-bridge, I robbed two gentlemen of their watches, and thirty shillings in silver, which was all they had, having left the remainder of their money with Mr. Tyre, at Vauxhall. I made directly for Covent-garden, put up my horse, and lay at a bagnio that night: I got up the next morning early, and set out for the last Ascot-heath races, where I lost a good deal of money; in short the chances run against me. In returning home, I was obliged to leave my horse in pawn at Hounslow, being short of money.
I turned out on Tuesday the 27th of September last, I took coach and paid a visit to Mrs. Dixon, a milliner, in Broad-street, Carnaby-market; the last and fatal place for me, and for which fact I am most deservedly to die. I asked her for a pair of minionet ruffles, but at this time she not having any thing to suit me (though she seemed vastly desirous to serve me) for ruffles, which I pretended to want, she very politely begged I would come again the next day; which in full expectation of bettering myself, I determined not to rob her now, which with ease I could have done, as she was intirely unsuspecting, and treated me with vast gentility and politeness; declaring, that if I would come the next day, she would shew me some very fine patterns of lace and ruffles. Mrs. Dixon undoubtedly took me for a gentleman; and in this she was no farther deceived than hundreds of people had been before her. Mrs. Dixon described what passed betwixt us very exactly upon my trial; that I tossed the pieces of lace about, pretending they were not fine enough, as indeed, for my purpose, they were not: according to my old custom, I clapped my hand to my head, as if not well, and had I found any lace I approved, to have taken my handkerchief out to cover it as usual. Mrs. Dixon asked me, if I was not well, and I answered her in the affirmative; and as I had been telling her before of my buying ruffles in Jamaica, she said very smartly, sir, perhaps the air of England does not agree with you, and you may not intend to return again; to which I replied, that I certainly should, having not only a ship, but other property of great consequence there; then I took my leave of her, promising to come on the morrow, and bring a lady along with me: I accordingly went, and all things were ready for my reception; many pieces of lace were shewn me, all of them very fine indeed; I fixed my eye on a genteel and well fancied piece, began to examine my handkerchief, according to art; but two pair of eyes being too many for me, under pretence of my wanting some lace for a cravat, Mrs. Dixon sent her maid out for them; I instantly grasped my prize, slid it into my pocket, and went away, without buying any thing. Undoubtedly Mrs. Dixon was heartily vexed, to see herself so dexterously slung; but however, her prudence now began to rouze itself; for she made use of the most probable means either to regain the lace, discover the thief, or both. Upon some occasions, it is certainly not amiss to set a thief to catch a thief; but be that as it may, I am pretty certain, had not Mrs. Dixon taken the expedient of having her lace advertised at a pawnbroker’s, she would never have seen thief or lace more. A pawnbroker is a most villainous employment: they not only exist by griping and grinding the faces of the poor, but are places of refuge for things stolen, few of them ever making enquiry how the party came by what they offer in pledge, and the less sum of money is demanded, the less is their desire to have it redeemed, or take notice of any advertisement; on seeing any such, they can directly make away with the matters in dispute, or send it amongst the Jews stolen cargoes to Holland.
On my marching off with Mrs. Dixon’s lace, I took a chair, and went to Strand-Lane, not with any intention to dispose of what I had got, but falling into conversation with Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Rogers, asked them if I might dine there, and was answered in the affirmative, discharged the chair, and dined with them on Pig; they both to me were utterly unknown before. After dinner I pulled out the lace, shewed it to them, then pretended to be short of Money, and but just come from Jamaica; I prevailed on Mrs. Rogers to go and pledge part of it, but not to take notice to Davis, what she was gone about. As soon as she was gone, I sent Davis with the other pieces I cut of, with the same injunction, not to tell the other. Though the whole of my trial is in the main, true, yet with regard to the time, Davis who pledged, and Brooks the pawnbroker, are both wrong; for it was past one o’clock when I stole it, two when I got to Strand-Lane, and at least three, when Mrs. Rogers went out with the first, as she justly swore. I mention not this by way of reflection, but that witnesses should consider when upon oath, they are to speak the whole truth, and in this instance it is certainly a falsehood. I made a most pitiful and shuffling defence; as indeed who could do otherwise under the vast load of guilt, I had to sustain, being under a stupid infatuation, and certain that my race was run. I could very easily have escaped or eluded the most diligent search made after me, for I saw the advertisement, had information of Davis’s being in custody for pledging the lace, and warned if any thing was amiss, that I would immediately fly, for fear of the bad consequences which might ensue; but all this I slighted; indeed I saw destruction before me, yet determined to make use of no means to shun it: by the persuasion of a certain person who has been exceeding kind and serviceable to me under my troubles, I went to Goodman’s-fields, stayed all night, returned the next day which was Tuesday the 4th of October; on our return, I heard of the enquiry made after me at this house, by very suspicious persons; however, having bought the Beggar’s Opera, I was determined to go, and did, to see that play this evening: after the play was done, I returned to my lodging, and was told, two ill-looking fellows had been to see for me, and that they were at an alehouse just by; on this intelligence, I stood some time like one confounded or in a trance, and at length went into my room; where I had been scarce a quarter of an hour, till the constable and my old friend Mr. Fuller, the thief-catcher, burst the door open, and accosted me with, Oh, Captain, is it you! then took me with my friend to Covent-garden round-house, and the next day before Sir John Fielding, who committed me to New-prison, as before mentioned: I saw several of my old acquaintances about Sir John’s, and some who have deserved what I have met with; but they say they are now turned honest, though I greatly fear it is all a sham: but I was to them all unknown, at least with regard to my old pranks; they did think I dealt on the highway, and also in horses; but my old friend Mr. Fuller knew something of me with regard to horses, not much to his benefit: how can it possibly be so to people who have any concern with those of my unhappy profession?
During my long course of wickedness, I never was addicted to common or profane swearing, to excess in eating, drunkenness, and but little to women; to none of these I can charge the errors of my life, my faults are all my own seeking and doing, without the advice, privity, or solicitation of any person whatever: I never was fond of even conversing with thieves and robbers, though at accidental meetings I have met with several, who guessing I was of their profession, would set forth the advantage of associates, or appearing in company to rob and plunder the honest and unwary part of mankind. Pallister and Duplex, lately executed at Coventry, who called themselves family men, and the heads of a great gang, pressed me violently to go on the highway with them and their companions, but all they could say was in vain. I never would make use of, or indeed knew the flash or cant language, in which these two men were very expert. Of all my acquaintance, men or women, Benjamin Campbell Hamilton, and Mrs. Pembruge[2] were by far the worst; of the latter I have already given a particular relation; but of the former I neglected to mention, that after his being acquitted at the Old Bailey, (my evidence not being sufficient against him, or his mother Catherine Hall, in Newtoner’s lane) he soon went into foot-pad and street robberies, with other idle boys, committing a vast number in the fields and streets; he was with his companions taken, tried, and executed at Tyburn on the 16th of May, 1750, with Lewis, May, and Giddis, his associates, and behaved under sentence, on the way, and at the place of execution, with the utmost hardiness and unconcern, not at all forced or constrained, but talked to the mob, and his fellow sufferers in the cart, with as much disengaged ease, as if he had been going to a ball or merry-making, and continued so to within a few minutes of his death; for at the place of execution, his behaviour was most intolerably indecent, talking and laughing aloud as the executioner was tying them up; making use of most scandalous and blasphemous expressions, at the instant of his launching into eternity; and yet astonishing as it may seem, this active, wild and extravagant youth, had only lived seventeen years.
And now, O Lord God Almighty, who by thy powerful hand, and out-stretched arm, hast for the salvation of my soul, and the benefit of thy creatures, (to whom I can make no other reparation, than to make known to the public the injuries I have done) been pleased through a series of unexampled acts of injustice, brought me down to this most deserved sentence and doom; for my benefit, and that of thy most extensive mercy and goodness. Oh! that I could make recompence to the multitudes I have injured; but no means have I but this, by laying all my crimes, as red as crimson, before the world. To thee, O most merciful God, I most humbly prostrate myself: grant me in this world, knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.
C. S.