CHAPTEK VI 



ROBBERY AND ADVENTURE 



The whole art and mystery of coach-robbing 

 began to be studied at a very early date. In 

 the Loudon Gazette during 1G84 we find the 

 following extremely explicit advertisement : — 



"^ GENTLEMAN (paffing with others in the 

 Northampton Stage Coach on Wednefday the 

 14th inftant, by Harding Common about two miles 

 from Market-street) was fet upon by four Theeves, 

 plain in habit but well-horfed, and there (amongft 

 other things) robbed of a Watch ; the defcription of 

 it thus, The Maker's Name was engraven on the 

 Back plate in French, Gulimus Petit a Londres ; it 

 was of a large round Figure, flat, Gold Enamelled 

 without, with variety of Flowers of different colours, 

 and within a Landskip, and by a fldl the Enamel was 

 a little cracked ; It had alfo a black Seale-Skin plain 

 Cafe lined with Green Velvet. If any will produce 

 it, and give notice to Mr. Samuel Gibs, Sadler near 

 the George Inn Northampton, or to Mr. Crofs in 

 Wood Street, London, he fhall have a Guinea reward." 



It is to be feared that the gentleman who 

 thus mourned his watch never regained it. 



Trom this time forward, until well into 

 the nineteenth century, highwaymen and the 



