Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/118

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102
MODERN CONTRIVANCES.

portions; and the wine was bartered away to one J——y, in Holborn, for linens; but was afterwards recovered by action at law, when all those facts came out. One M——l made an abortive effort to continue the fun, as F——r used to call it; but failed for want of that gumption, or decidedly rogues' tricks, which is necessary in the performance of great actions.

Upon this occasion, who can doubt, but that great bargains were to be met with! But then the time it takes up, and the circumspection necessary to avoid being taken in, besides the chances that exist against the recurrence of the same ingenious devices (little Williams being dead) contribute to render an experiment unsafe.


IN PERAMBULATING THE STREETS

Either for business or for pleasure, the stranger will have to withstand a great number of subtle contrivances to come at his money, which we shall treat upon in the last place; meantime, we will speak of those other more violent means, where the person is touched, or his mind is intimidated, to come at the same ends, viz. obtaining the property of the unwary stranger.

This is the most philosophical mode of arrangement; and as every thing is done now-a-days