Political Economy of Robbery 



my revolver out of my belt, on which the ancient and 

 reverend gentleman cried, " Oh ! pray don't ! " in a tone 

 of some anxiety), " and the third man v/ould probably run 

 away." 



"It is the squeamishness about shooting robbers that 

 causes robbery to continue," said Harry. " A friend of 

 mine lately killed two with a right and left rifle-shot in 

 Mexico, and the road has been much safer since. The 

 common view to take is, that the robber is to be considered 

 more than the traveller." 



"Yes ! " said I. " Now the robber who selects this pro- 

 fession is (if he has studied Adam Smith) conscious that 

 the little industry required, the rapid profits returned, and 

 the exciting and romantic character of his trade, would draw 

 so many persons into it, that there would soon be nobody 

 left to rob, unless^ observe me, unless there were certain 

 drawbacks. One of those drawbacks, the bandit is well 

 aware, consists in the liability to be shot in the ordinary 

 course of his business." 



" But," replied the reverend gentleman, " if you shoot 

 him, you precipitate a human soul into eternity unprepared ; 

 and what an awful thought is that ! " 



" I am by no means sure that a prudent and pious thief, 

 going on what he knew to be a perilous expedition (and if 

 he was going to rob us, who carry an arsenal of pistols 

 openly, he ought to pay us the compliment of thinking it a 

 perilous expedition) — I am by no means sure, I say, that 

 he would not get himself specially and provisionally shrived 

 of his sins in case of accident ; and, indeed, I think the 

 scrupulous traveller has a right to suppose that such would 

 be the case, and despatch him accordingly at so advantageous 

 a conjuncture." 



" By-the-bye," said he, " the robbers sometimes shoot 



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