the characters of merchants' wives, the new member and another of the gang appeared as country traders, and Mary's favourite retained his former character of footman. They took lodgings at different inns, and agreed that if any of them should be apprehended, the others should endeavour to procure their release by appearing to their characters, and representing them as people of reputation in London. They had arrived to such a proficiency in their illegal occupation, that they were almost certain of accomplishing every scheme they suggest ed; and when it was inconvenient to make use of words, they were able to convey their meaning to each other by winks, nods, and other intimations.

On her return to town, she hired a real footman, and her favourite, who had long acted in that character, assumed the appearance of a gentleman. She hired lodgings in the neighbourhood of CoventGarden, that she might more conveniently attend the theatres. She proposed to her associates to reserve a tenth part of the general produce for the support of such of the gang as might through illness be rendered incapable of following their iniquitous occupations; and to this they readily assented.

This infamous association was now become so notorious a pest to society, that they judged it prudent to leave the metropolis, where they were apprehensive they could not long remain concealed from justice. They practised a variety of stratagems with great success in different parts of the country; but, upon revisiting London, Mary was committed to Newgate, on a charge of having picked a gentleman's pocket; for which she was sentenced to transportation.

She remained in the above prison near four

months,

months, during which time she employed a considerable sum in the purchase of stolen effects. When she went on board the transport vessel, she shipped a quantity of goods nearly sufficient to load a waggon. The property she possessed ensured her great respect and every possible convenience and accommodation during the voyage. On her arrival in Virginia, she disposed of her goods, and for some time lived in great splendour and elegance.

She soon found that America was a country where she could expect but little emolument from the practices she had so successfully followed in England; and therefore she employed every art that she was mistress of to ingratiate herself into the esteem of a young gentleman who was preparing to embark on board a vessel bound for the port of London. He became much enamoured of her, and brought her to England. While the ship lay at Gravesend, she robbed him of all the property she could get into her possession, and, pretending an indisposition, intimated a desire of going on shore, in which her admirer acquiesced; but she was no sooner on land, than she made a precipitate re

treat.

She now travelled through several parts of the country, and by her usual wicked practices obtained many considerable sums. At length, she returned to London, but was not able to find her former accomplices.

She now frequented the Royal Exchange, the theatres, London Bridge, and other places of public resort, and committed innumerable depredations on the public. Being detected in picking a gentleman's pocket upon London Bridge, she was taken before a magistrate, to whom she declared that her name was Jane Webb; and by that appellation she was committed to Newgate.

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On her trial, a gentleman, who had detected her in the very act of picking the prosecutor's pocket, deposed, that a person had applied to him, offering sol, on condition that he should not appear in support of the prosecution; and a lady swore, that on the day she committed the offence for which she stood indicted, she saw her pick the pockets of more than twenty different people. The record of her former conviction was not produced in court; and therefore she was arraigned for privately stealing, and on the clearest evidence the jury pronounced her guilty. The property being valued at less than one shilling, she was sentenced to transportation.

A twelvemonth had not elapsed before she returned from transportation a second time; and on her arrival in London she renewed her former prac

tices.

A lady going from Sherborne Lane to Walbrooke was accosted by a man who took her hand, seemingly as if to assist her in crossing some planks that were placed over the channel for the convenience of passengers; but he squeezed her fingers with so much force, as to give her great pain, and in the mean time Mary picked her pocket of thir teen shillings and a penny. The gentlewoman, conscious of being robbed, seized the thief by the gown, and she was immediately conducted to the comptor. She was examined the next day by the lord mayor, who committed her to Newgate in or

der for trial.

At the ensuing sessions at the Old Bailey, she was tried on an indictment for privately stealing, and the jury brought in the verdict " guilty in consequence of which she received sentence of death.

After

After conviction, she seemed sincerely to repent of the course of iniquity in which she had so long persisted, punctually attending prayers in the chapel, and employing great part of her time in private devotions. The day preceding that of her execution, she sent for the woman who nursed her child, then about three years old; and after informing her that there was a person who would pay for the infant's maintenance, earnestly intreated that it might be carefully instructed in the duties of religion, and guarded from all temptations to wickedness.

On the following morning, she appeared to be in a serene state of mind; but being brought into the press-yard, where the executioner approached to put the halter about her, her fortitude abated ; however, in a short time her spirits were again tolerably composed.

She was conveyed to Tyburn in a mourningcoach, being attended by a clergyman, to whom she declared her firm belief in all the principles of the protestant religion.

At the place of execution, she employed a considerable time in fervent prayer. She suffered on the 18th of March, 1740; and her remains were, by her particular desire, interred in St. Pancras churchyard.

STOCKS.

A wooden machine to put the legs of offenders in, for securing disorderly persons, and by way of punishment in divers cases, ordained by statute; &c.

It contains holes enough for two or three offenders: these holes are of different sizes; the machine

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