d the ranks of temperance.

'For over a year I lectured in public, and got drunk in
private--glorious times! But at last people began to suspect that I was
inspired by the spirit of alcohol, instead of the spirit of reform. A
committee was appointed to wait on me and smell my breath--which they
had no sooner done than they smelt a rat--and while some were searching
my heart, others searched my closet, and not only discovered a bottle of
fourth-proof, but uncovered a pile of counterfeit bank notes, there
concealed. Reacting like a man of genius, my conduct was both forcible
and striking; I knocked three of the brethren down, jumped out of the
back window, scaled a fence, rushed through an alley, gained the street
and was that afternoon on a steamboat bound for New York.

'On the passage, I observed a gentleman counting a pile of money; he was
a country merchant, going to purchase goods. The weather was intensely
warm, and many of the passengers slept on deck; among these was the
country merchant. He lay at a considerable distance from the others and
the night was dark. I stole upon him, and passed my long Spanish knife
through his heart.--He died easy--a single gasp and all was over. I took
his money, and threw his body over to the fishes. 'Twas my second
murder--it never troubled me, for I never had a conscience. I entered
New York, for the first time, with a capital of three thousand dollars,
got by the murder of the country merchant; and this capital I resolved
to increase by future murders and future crimes.

'I will now relate a little incident of my life, which will serve to
show the bitterness of my hatred towards all mankind. For several years
I had lived in various families, in a menial capacity, my object, of
course, being robbery, and other crimes. It chanced that I once went to
live in the family of a wealthy gentleman, whose wife was the most
beautiful woman I ever saw; and her loveliness inspired me with such
passion, that one day, during her husband's absence, I ventured to clasp
her in my arms--struggling from my embrace, she repelled me with
indignant scorn, and commanded me to leave the house instantly. I
obeyed, swearing vengeance against her, and her family; and how well
that oath was kept! About a week after my dismissal from the family,
being one night at the theatre, I saw Mr. Ross, the husband of the lady
whom I had insulted, seated in the boxes. Keeping my eye constantly upon
him, I saw him whe