Chapter Seventh.

“Dog Rob dog.”—Ned growS WILD IN WICKEDNESS.-A CHALLENGE TO FIGHT.-PREACHING IN ASTLEY'S THEATRE.NED AND HIS WIFE CONVERTED. THE HAPPY HOME. THE SEQUEL TO THE PROJECTED PRIZE-FIGHT.NED TELLS THE STORY OF HIS CONVERSION.-NO EMPLOY

MENT.

Chapter Seventh.

JUST before Ned's conversion he was involved in many robberies, and was regarded as the boldest spirit among the fraternity that rejoiced in his fellowship. Running foot and boat races, and getting drunk on the proceeds, fighting with friends and foes, ill-treating his wife, and starving his children, and committing thefts either of a petty character or on a large scale, he was not the man to be controlled or changed by human power. As a sample of some of his minor robberies, the following may be given :

Being acquainted with an iron-moulder in a small way of business, who was a receiver of stolen goods, Ned, with two companions, frequently took him a truck-load of pig-iron, weighing about a quarter of a ton, obtained from the barges. To avoid creating suspicion of being concerned in the proceedings, the three thieves had to put the pig-iron on his premises before the receiver was up in the morning. As soon as they arrived inside his gates with their load, they would not only put their own five hundredweight of iron into the scales, which would weigh half a ton, but took the same quantity from one of the stacks in the yard, so as to make their weight double what it would otherwise have been. It would

seem that this system of deceiving the receivers of stolen goods is commonly carried on among practised thieves, by whom it is called, not inappropriately, "Dog rob dog." The receivers of stolen plate are frequently duped in this way. In most cases the plate is presented without being weighed, and is put, without a moment's delay, into the crucible, that it may be melted. The molten mass runs into sand moulds in the shape of long bars. It is then weighed, and booked to the thieves' account, at so

much per ounce. The receivers are compelled, to avoid detection, to keep a good stock of these bars upon the premises; and the thieves seize upon what they would call "half a chance" to steal a few of these silver bars, and throw them into the crucible to add to their "swag."

At this period of his life, Ned's uncontrollable nature became even more wild, and he spent his days in committing most aggravated offences, such as making his way through the city sewers, and tempting servants to drop silver spoons down the gully-holes. On one occasion, while in the sewers, he was nearly drowned, and this seemed to alarm him sufficiently to lead to the discontinuance of these wild adventures. He was deeply in debt, was shunned by all respectable honest people; and found it exceedingly difficult to procure a suitable cottage for his family. The house in which he lived at the time of his conversion was obtained under false pretences, and the landlord was abused by the neighbours for permitting such a low-life man to occupy one of his cottages. He was, however, determined not to quit it, as it presented peculiar facilities for carrying on his nefarious practices;