I need not mention the case to you, my dear friend, but my account of
the art would be imperfect without it. The case is, when the person
who desires to have pleasant dreams has not taken care to preserve,
what is necessary above all things,
A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
May 2, 1786
_The Retort Courteous_
"John Oxly, Pawnbroker of Bethnal Green, was indicted for
assaulting Jonathan Boldsworth on the Highway, putting him in fear,
and taking from him one Silver Watch, value 5_l._ 5_s._ The Prisoner
pleaded, that, having sold the Watch to the Prosecutor, and being
immediately after informed by a Person who knew him, that he was not
likely to pay for the same, he had only followed him and taken the
Watch back again. But it appearing on the Trial, that, presuming he
had not been known when he committed the Robbery, he had afterwards
sued the Prosecutor for the Debt, on his Note of Hand, he was found
Guilty, DEATH." -- _Old Bailey Sessions Paper_, 1747.
I chose the above Extract from the Proceedings at the Old
Bailey in the Trial of Criminals, as a Motto or Text, on which to
amplify in my ensuing Discourse.
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