Notwithstanding This There Are In England Another Species Of
Villains, Who Also Murder, And That Oftentimes For The Merest
Trifle, Of Which They Rob The Person Murdered.
These are called
footpads, and are the lowest class of English rogues; amongst whom
in general there reigns something like some regard to character.
The highest order of thieves are the pickpockets or cutpurses, whom
you find everywhere; and sometimes even in the best companies. They
are generally well and handsomely dressed, so that you take them to
be persons of rank; as indeed may sometimes be the case: persons
who by extravagance and excesses have reduced themselves to want,
and find themselves obliged at last to have recourse to pilfering
and thieving.
Next to them come the highwaymen, who rob on horseback; and often,
they say, even with unloaded pistols, they terrify travellers, in
order to put themselves in possession of their purses. Among these
persons, however, there are instances of true greatness of soul,
there are numberless instances of their returning a part of their
booty, where the party robbed has appeared to be particularly
distressed; and they are seldom guilty of murder.
Then comes the third and lowest, and worst of all thieves and
rogues, the footpads before mentioned; who are on foot, and often
murder in the most inhuman manner, for the sake of only a few
shillings, any unfortunate people who happen to fall in their way.
Of this several mournful instances may be read almost daily in the
English papers.
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