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The History of the Life of Jonathan Wild, the Great
The History of the Life of Jonathan Wild the Great Author:Henry Fielding Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: JONATHAN WILD'S ADVICE TO HIS SUCCESSOR. PRINTED FROM A MANUSCRIPT SAID TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY JONATHAN WILD WHILE UNDER CONDEMNATION IN NEWGATE. CO... more »NTAINING SEVERAL USEFUL HINTS AND INSTRUCTIONS, WHEREBY THE ART OF THIEF-TAKING IS MADE EASY TO THE MEANEST CAPACITY. 1758. JONATHAN WILD'S ADVICE- TO HIS SUCCESSOR. Since the dead warrant is come down, and our wdtHary l.ia ontrpated me to prepare for execution. I think it a duty incumbent on me to give-my advice to any person who shall hereafter tread in the same path which I have, for so many years past, trodden with impunity. Though, now, alas! old iPather Grey-beard, the Law, has overtaken me, and I have no other prospect left than the unpleasant view of St. Tyburn ; as 1 find there is no shuffling from the point, nor hopes of a reprieve, I shall lay down a plan whereby any future successor may pursue my occupation without the dreadful apprehension of a Paddington fate, or the least fear of incurring the displeasure of the national or legislative power. Mi3forlunel;iingsjuinning to the unfortunate, and we we often improve by calamity; for what a life of ease and indolence conceals from the mind very often a little accident reveals and sets before us in a conspicuous light; so has my present misfortune afforded several new hints, which, though too late for my purpose, may be of great service for the future to any one who may hereafter rise up with a genius similar to mine, and teach him where- ff Ixii RULES FOR THIEF-TAKING. by he may evade the situation I am now in ; and I do not in the least doubt but some one or other may think it worth his while to revive my occupation, especially when he is assured of the means to render himself secure; it being a function of no small profit, requirin...« less