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reader will easily perceive it is not introduced for its own
sake； but for some observations and reflections naturally
resulting from it； and which； if but little to his amusement；
tend directly to the instruction of the reader or to the
information of the public； to whom if I choose to convey such
instruction or information with an air of joke and laughter； none
but the dullest of fellows will； I believe； censure it； but if
they should； I have the authority of more than one passage in
Horace to allege in my defense。 Having thus endeavored to
obviate some censures； to which a man without the gift of
foresight； or any fear of the imputation of being a conjurer；
might conceive this work would be liable； I might now undertake a
more pleasing task； and fall at once to the direct and positive
praises of the work itself； of which indeed； I could say a
thousand good things； but the task is so very pleasant that I
shall leave it wholly to the reader； and it is all the task that
I impose on him。 A moderation for which he may think himself
obliged to me when he compares it with the conduct of authors；
who often fill a whole sheet with their own praises； to which
they sometimes set their own real names； and sometimes a
fictitious one。 One hint； however； I must give the kind reader；
which is； that if he should be able to find no sort of amusement
in the book； he will be pleased to remember the public utility
which will arise from it。 If entertainment； as Mr。 Richardson
observes； be but a secondary consideration in a romance； with
which Mr。 Addison； I think； agrees； affirming the use of the
pastry cook to be the first； if this； I say； be true of a mere
work of invention； sure it may well be so considered in a work
founded； like this； on truth； and where the political reflections
form so distinguishing a part。 But perhaps I may hear； from some
critic of the most saturnine complexion； that my vanity must have
made a horrid dupe of my judgment； if it hath flattered me with
an expectation of having anything here seen in a grave light； or
of conveying any useful instruction to the public； or to their
guardians。 I answer； with the great man whom I just now quoted；
that my purpose is to convey instruction in the vehicle of
entertainment； and so to bring about at once； like the revolution
in the Rehearsal； a perfect reformation of the laws relating to
our maritime affairs： an undertaking； I will not say more
modest； but surely more feasible； than that of reforming a whole
people； by making use of a vehicular story； to wheel in among
them worse manners than their own。
INTRODUCTION
In the beginning of August； 1753； when I had taken the duke of
Portland's medicine； as it is called； near a year； the effects of
which had been the carrying off the symptoms of a lingering
imperfect gout； I was persuaded by Mr。 Ranby； the king's premier
sergeant…surgeon； and the ablest advice； I believe； in all
branches of the physical profession； to go immediately to Bath。
I accordingly wrote that very night to Mrs。 Bowden； who； by the
next post； informed me she had taken me a lodging for a month
certain。 Within a few days after this； whilst I was preparing
for my journey； and when I was almost fatigued to death with
several long examinations； relating to five different murders；
all committed within the space of a week； by different gangs of
street…robbers； I received a message from his grace the duke of
Newcastle； by Mr。 Carrington； the king's messenger； to attend his
grace the next morning； in Lincoln's…inn…fields； upon some
business of importance； but I excused myself from complying with
the message； as； besides being lame； I was very ill with the
great fatigues I had lately undergone added to my distemper。
His grace； however； sent Mr。 Carrington； the very next morning；
with another summons； with which； though in the utmost distress；
I immediately complied； but the duke； happening； unfortunately
for me； to be then particularly engaged； after I had waited some
time； sent a gentleman to discourse with me on the best plan
which could be invented for putting an immediate end to those
murders and robberies which were every day committed in the
streets； upon which I promised to transmit my opinion； in
writing； to his grace； who； as the gentleman informed me；
intended to lay it before the privy council。
Though this visit cost me a severe cold； I； notwithstanding； set
myself down to work； and in about four days sent the duke as
regular a plan as I could form； with all the reasons and
arguments I could bring to support it； drawn out in several
sheets of paper； and soon received a message from the duke by Mr。
Carrington； acquainting me that my plan was highly approved of；
and that all the terms of it would be complied with。 The
principal and most material of those terms was the immediately
depositing six hundred pound in my hands； at which small charge I
undertook to demolish the then reigning gangs； and to put the
civil policy into such order； that no such gangs should ever be
able； for the future； to form themselves into bodies； or at least
to remain any time formidable to the public。
I had delayed my Bath journey for some time； contrary to the
repeated advice of my physical acquaintance； and to the ardent
desire of my warmest friends； though my distemper was now turned
to a deep jaundice； in which case the Bath waters are generally
reputed to be almost infallible。 But I had the most eager desire
of demolishing this gang of villains and cut…throats； which I was
sure of accomplishing the moment I was enabled to pay a fellow
who had undertaken； for a small sum； to betray them into the
hands of a set of thief…takers whom I had enlisted into the
service； all men of known and approved fidelity and intrepidity。
After some weeks the money was paid at the treasury； and within a
few days after two hundred pounds of it had come to my hands； the
whole gang of cut…throats was entirely dispersed； seven of them
were in actual custody； and the rest driven； some out of the
town； and others out of the kingdom。 Though my health was now
reduced to the last extremity； I continued to act with the utmost
vigor against these villains； in examining whom； and in taking
the depositions against them； I have often spent whole days； nay；
sometimes whole nights； especially when there was any difficulty
in procuring sufficient evidence to convict them； which is a very
common case in street…robberies； even when the guilt of the party
is sufficiently apparent to satisfy the most tender conscience。
But courts of justice know nothing of a cause more than what is
told them on oath by a witness； and the most flagitious villain
upon earth is tried in the same manner as a man of the best
character who is accused of the same crime。 Meanwhile； amidst
all my fatigues and distresses； I had the satisfaction to find my
endeavors had been attended with such success that this hellish
society were almost utterly extirpated； and that； instead of
reading of murders and street…robberies in the news almost every
morning； there was； in the remaining part of the month of
November； and in all December； not only no such thing as a
murder； but not even a street…robbery committed。 Some such；
indeed； were mentioned in the public papers； but they were all
found on the strictest inquiry； to be false。 In this entire
freedom from street…robberies； during the dark months； no man
will； I believe； scruple to acknowledge that the winter of 1753
stands unrivaled； during a course of many years； and this may
possibly appear the more extraordinary to those who recollect the
outrages with which it began。 Having thus fully accomplished my
undertaking； I went into the country； in a very weak and
deplorable condition； with no fewer or less diseases than a
jaundice； a dropsy； and an asthma； altogether uniting their
forces in the destruction of a body so entirely emaciated that it
had lost all its muscular flesh。 Mine was now no longer what was
called a Bath case； nor； if it had been so； had I strength
remaining sufficient to go thither； a ride of six miles only
being attended with an intolerable fatigue。 I now discharged my
lodgings at Bath； which I had hitherto kept。 I began in earnest
to look on my case as desperate； and I had vanity enough to rank
myself with those heroes who； of old times； became voluntary
sacrifices to the good of the public。 But； lest the reader
should be too eager to catch at the word VANITY； and should be
unwilling to indulge me with so sublime a gratification； for I
think he is not too apt to gratify me； I will take my key a pitch
lower； and will frankly own that I had a stronger motive than the
love of the public to push me on： I will therefore confess to
him that my private affairs at the beginning of the winter had
but a gloomy aspect； for I had not plundered the pu