Ir presenting to the public the Diary of a Celebrated Burglar and Pickpocket, the Edith' deems it proper to accompany it with a few remarks in relation to the work itself and the authdor Many persons, in reading these highly interesting sketches, have been led to believe that it If the production of some highly imaginative writer, who thus endeavors to pass off upon I e public as realities what only existed in his own brain.
This theory has no foundation in few and those who are acquainted with the localities referred to, and the habits and condo, of the individuals engaged in depredating upon society, will recognize at oncthe hand of a fitj. For a few years he continued his depredations ufW society, until at last he became conscious of the deep degradation of his profession and the -d,. In this emergency he applied to the Proprietors of the National. Lnefit to be derived therefrom. The Biography of any man may be studied with profit, and-es- pecially is this the case when the individual has acted a prominent part in the affairs of life or in his particular profession.
It serves to point out the rocks and sand-bars that beset the way of life, and on which the young and inexperienced are in danger of shipwrecking their characters Bad fortunes, while it shows them how others, having been beset by temptations from without and within, succumbed to the lurking foe, and incurred the disgrace and anathemas of their fel- tows or how they rose above the tempter, and, seizing upon the chart of honesty, boldly struck out in life to achieve for themselves, by honorable means, a worldly competency, or a name that would shine above that of their companions.
In this autobiography the careful reader will dis- cover that the life of a thief, although filled with exciting incidents, is not, by any means, to be envied. He has no resting-place and no true bosom friend upon whom he can rely in the hour of trial and when such a one is dearer than life itself. The thief is never at ease, not knowing at -hat moment the hands of the officer of justice will be laid upon him and his ill-gotten gains be torn from his grasp. He is a stranger to that peace of mind which makes life joyous and strepgthens hope in the heart.
He has a sort of enjoyment or amusement, but it is only when the realities of life are drowned and courage is raised to that of the brute by frequent draughts ,t the intoxicating bowl. He has no associates but the lewd and the infamous; he has no one to l9ve but the debauched and depraved cyprian. Thus it will be seen that the author, while de- picting his daring adventures and hairbreadth escapes, he also shows the dismal prison dungeon, the terrors and debauchery of a thief's life, and the utterly unsatisfactory nature of.
