who would not, for his sake, shew mercy to that poor man, and give him back his horses ?"

After farther instruction, a real and most gracious change appeared in him, of which he discovered the most convincing evidence: he attained to a happy assurance of his interest in Christ; and, on the scaffold where he suffered, spoke so wonderfully of the Lord's dealings with him, as left a conviction on the spectators, and forced them to acknowledge a glorious truth and reality in the grace of God.

"It was my lot, a few years ago," says Dr. Lettsom," to be attacked on the highway by a genteel looking person, well mounted, who demanded my money, at the same time placing a pistol to my breast. I requested him to remove the pistol, which he instantly did I saw his agitation, from whence I concluded he had not been habituated to this hazardous practice; and I added, that I had both gold and silver about me, which I freely gave him, but that I was sorry to see a young gentleman risk his life in so unbecoming a manner, which would probably soon terminate at the gallows; that, at the best, the casual pittance gained on the highway would afford but a precarious and temporary subsistence; but that, if I could serve him by a private assistance more becoming his appearance, he might farther command my purse; and, at the same time, I desired him to accept a card containing my address, and to call upon me, as he might trust to my word for his liberty and life. He accepted my address, but I observed that his voice faltered. It was late at night; there was, however, sufficient starlight to enable me to perceive, as I leaned towards him on the window of

my carriage, that his bosom was overwhelmed with conflicting passions; at length, bending forward on his horse, and recovering the power of speech, he affectingly said, I thank you for your offer-American affairs have ruined me-I will, dear Sir, wait upon you.' Two weeks afterwards, a person entered my house, whom I immediately recognised to be this highwayman. I come,' said he, "to communicate to you a matter that nearly concerns me, and I trust to your honour to keep it inviolable.' I told him that I recollected him, and I requested him to relate his history with candour, as the most effectual means of securing my services; and such was the narrative, as would have excited sympathy in every heart. His fortune had been spoiled on the American continent, and, after a long imprisonment, he escaped to this asylum of liberty, where, his resources failing, and perhaps with pride above the occupation of a sturdy beggar, he rashly ventured upon the most dreadful alternative of the highway, where, in his second attempt, he met with me. I found that his narrative was literally true, which induced me to try various means of obviating his distresses. To the commissioners for relieving the American sufferers application was made, but fruitlessly at length he attended at Windsor, and delivered a memorial to the queen, briefly stating his sufferings, and the cause of them. Struck with his appearance, and pleased with his address, she graciously assured him of patronage, provided his pretentions should, on enquiry, be found justified. The result was, that, in a few days, she gave him a commission in the army; and, by his public services, twice has his name appeared in the gazette among the promo

tions. After some years' employment in the service of his sovereign, this valuable officer fell a victim to the yellow fever in the West-Indies.

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"A second time I was attacked and robbed, and at the instant seized the criminal, whom I knew. He fell on his knees, returned the money he had taken from me, and prayed forgiveness. I told him that I could not commute felony; he must instantly depart; and advised him to go to sea, and never suffer me to see him again. About two years afterwards, on visiting a person in the country, I met with this offender; upon enquiring into his situation, I found he had since been married, and was become a respectable farmer."

Dr. Conder, during his residence at Cambridge, having taken a ride to Peterborough for the benefit of the air, on his return, he saw a gentleman in a private lane, at some distance, standing by his horse. As he approached, the supposed gentleman mounted, and, coming up to him, demanded his money. The doctor (then Mr. Conder) immediately recognized, him as a former inhabitant of Cambridge, but thought it prudent to conceal his knowledge. Not satisfied with receiving all his cash, to the amount of several guineas, the highwayman asked him for his watch. This being a family piece, he pleaded hard to retain it but the man persisting in a menacing tone in his demand, he surrendered it, though not without strong symptoms of reluctance.

The doctor was a man of tender sympathy. This amiable quality soon suppressed all concern for personal safety, and the property thus violently wrested from him; and led him to commiserat

an unhappy man, whose evil practices were leading him, in hasty strides, to the chambers of death, and to attempt to reclaim him. He immediately addressed him with great civility, enquired what way he was going, and proposed, if agreeable, to ride in company, assuring him, at the same time, that he need not entertain the least fearful apprehension upon his account. His obliging manner won upon the highwayman, and opened the way to a familiar conversation.

During the robbery itself, the man, with all his assumed courage, could not conceal the agitation of his mind. From this circumstance the doctor took occasion to suggest that his present mode of subsistence, separate from its moral turpitude, was both unwise and dangerous, as the small sums generally collected at one time in these adventures were inadequate to the risk, as they required the frequent exposure of his person, and must subject him to perpetual alarms. The robber urged the common plea of necessity. The doctor represented, that it was an unpleasant and commonly a fatal necessity, as it was not only a trespass upon the rights of society and the authority of God, but would subject him to a dreadful penalty in the life that now is, as well as in that which is to come. Here he intreated him to desist from these pernicious habits-urged him to repentance, assuring him that there was forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, for the most atrocious offenders, and that he did not doubt, if he implored direction from above, but Providence would so direct his way, as to enable him to "provide all things honest in the sight of all

men."

This conversation appeared to make a deep impression; the immediate effect of which was, the robber took the watch, and returned it to him, saying, "he conducted himself so much like a gentleman, that he could not think of retaining it." The doctor replied, that he greatly valued the watch, and received it with pleasure; but acknowledged that he had a higher object in view than the restoration of his property.

As they continued their discourse, he took the money out of his pocket, and tendered that also to the doctor, saying, that his conscience would not permit him to keep it. But the doctor absolutely refused receiving it, begging him not to consider it as forced from him, but as the gift of benevolence to a necessitous man. At this instance of generosity he appeared additionally affected.

Coming nearer to Cambridge, the robber told him that he was under a necessity of leaving him, and, on parting, wept considerably, saying, he hoped he should attend to his advice. He then took a cross road, on the skirts of the town; but, having previously committed other robberies in the neighbourhood, was almost immediately identified and seized. The doctor leizurely continued his ride, and, on his arrival at Cambridge, was greatly surprised to meet him in the street, in the custody of the persons who apprehended him. On his commitment to the castle, he sent for his spiritual monitor, who found him in very great distress. During his confinement, both before and after trial, he made him repeated visits, which were rendered eminently useful; and at his execu