with his brother the first time, and by
himself the second. I took the money to go a second time out
of mother's house, off the chimney-piece, where she had left
a sixpence. It was the first night _Jack Sheppard_ was
played. There was great talk about it, and there were nice
pictures about it all over the walls. I thought him a very
clever fellow; but Blueskin made the most fun. I first went
to the markets, and begun by stealing apples. I also knew a
lad, ----, who has been transported, and went with him two or
three times. The most I ever got was 10s. out of a till."

The Inspector's _Report on Juvenile Delinquency at Liverpool_
contains much matter of the same kind; but sufficient has
been already quoted to shew the injurious effects of the
deification of great thieves by thoughtless novelists.

The Rev. Mr. Villette, the editor of the _Annals of Newgate_, published in
1754, relates a curious sermon, which he says a friend of his heard
delivered by a street-preacher about the time of Jack's execution. The
orator, after animadverting on the great care men took of their bodies,
and the little care they bestowed upon their souls, continued as follows,
by way of exemplifying the position:--"We have a remarkable instance of
this in a notorious malefactor, well known by the name of Jack Sheppard.
What amazing difficulties has he overcome! what astonishing things has he
performed! and all for the sake of a stinking, miserable carcass, hardly
worth the hanging! How dexterously did he pick the chain of his padlock
with a crooked nail! how manfully he burst his fetters asunder, climb up
the chimney, wrench out an iron bar, break his way through a stone wall,
make the strong door of a dark entry fly before him, till he got upon the
leads of the prison, then, fixing a blanket to the wall with a spike, he
stole out of the chapel! How intrepidly did he descend to the top of the
turner's house! how cautiously pass down the stair, and make his escape to
the street-door!

"Oh, that ye were all like Jack Sheppard! Mistake me not, my brethren--I
don't mean in a carnal, but in a spiritual sense; for I propose to
spiritualise these things. What a shame it would be if we should not think
it worth our while to take as much pains, and employ as many deep thoughts
to save our souls as he has done to preserve his body!

"Let