The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard - Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and Escapes by Daniel Defoe
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page 3 of 43 (06%)
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OF
_London_ and _Westminster_. GENTLEMEN, _Experience has confirm'd you in that everlasting_ Maxim, _that there is no other way to protect the_ Innocent, _but by Punishing the_ Guilty. _Crimes ever were, and ever must be unavoidably frequent in such populous Cities as yours are, being the necessary Consequences, either of the_ Wants, _or the Depravity, of the lowest part of the_ humane _Species_. _At this time the most flagrant Offences, as_ Burning of Dwellings; Burglaries, _and_ Highway Robberies _abound; and_ Frauds _common_ Felonies, _and_ Forgeries _are practic'd without Number; thus not only your Properties, but even your very Lives are every way struck at_. _The_ Legislative Power _has not been wanting in providing necessary and wholesome Laws against these_ Evils, _the executive part whereof (according to your great Privileges) is lodged in your own Hands: And the Administration hath at all times applyed proper Remedies and Regulations to the_ Defects _which have happen'd in the_ Magistracy _more immediately under their Jurisdiction_. _Through the just and salutary Severities of the Magistrates, publick excessive_ Gaming _has been in a manner Surpress'd; and some late Examples of divine Vengeance have overtaken certain of the most |
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