84 MEMOIR OF ALFRED SMEE. [CHAP. VIII. 



To prevent this interference with the scheme of creation, which has 

 formed Quakers or good people, and burglars or evil people, I write 

 earnestly that thou mayest be primed with arguments to resist the inven- 

 tion of the enemy, and retain those whom worldly-minded men call felons, 

 to balance the order of creation. 



Remember, it is only by a strong pull, a long pull, and a pull altogether, 

 that it is possible, with the present morbid temper of the public, to 

 preserve to society the burglar and garrotter ; but with great exertions they 

 may be retained for the blessed operations of a second Elizabeth Fry. 



I remain, 

 MEETING HOUSE, Thy affectionate Teacher, 



November 18th, 1862. AN ELDER. 



Arguments. 



1. The first great argument for not hanging burglars and garrotters 

 is the terrible example which would be set to others, as the capture and 

 execution of a few would have such an effect upon the remainder, that 

 there would be speedily none left, and at once an important section 

 of the community would disappear. In my young days a burglary or 

 highway robbery was never heard of, but it is only since the human 

 mind has been more enlightened, and the beautiful model of Thugs 

 has been exposed to view in the British Museum, that the taste for 

 burglary and garrotting has been developed; but to stop suddenly the 

 progression of the thinking mind, would be to fly in the face of 

 Providence, who has created both bad and good. So, we Friends and 

 thinking people must stop so terrible an exigence, and preserve the 

 garrotter and burglar to the world. 



Police Argument. 



2. If we regard the consequences of the burglar and garrotter, we 

 find that the guardians of the peace, frightened out of all propriety, 

 have doubled the police force, and thus we see how beautifully evil produces 

 good, for winter is coming on, many honest men will have employment 

 in the police, and be kept by an over-fattened public simply to look after 

 them. It is quite clear that this additional force will cause the garrotter 

 and burglar to take sufficient exercise before they obtain their end. 

 And it may be likened to the wise dispensation in natural history, which 

 causes the tiger to prowl for a long time before it finds its victim, and 

 to seize it with more relish from the keen appetite it has obtained in its 

 pursuit. 



As long as burglars are not hung they do not care now very much 

 about the inconvenience of being caught ; and whilst they take all reason- 

 able care to overcome or escape the police, they constantly get away, and, 

 in fact, are so rarely taken, that their chase causes them to experience 

 the same pleasing excitement which the Indian feels in hunting the 

 tiger. 



Fire-arms Argument. 



3. Lancashire is now weeping from lack of employment, owing to 

 the dearth of cotton, but Birmingham thrives by reason of the burglar 



