was made to His Majesty by mr. Recorder, when they were all four, viz. John Guest< no role > , Thomas Smith< no role > , William Beckwith< no role > , and Robert Tilling< no role > , ordered for Execution.

John Guest< no role > and Thomas Smith< no role > were indicted, for that they on the 2d of February , about the hour of five in the night of the same day, the dwelling house of William Howes< no role > did break and enter, and steal out from thence thirty pair of silver shoe buckles, value 16 l. six pair of knee-buckles, value 24. s. and four silver Stock-buckles, value 10 s. the goods of the said William.

To this indictment Smith pleaded guilty, and Guest was convicted on the evidence of William Howes< no role > , Joseph Goston< no role > , and one mrs. Montgomery, to whom part of the broken silver was sold. Smith was stopt and apprehended in Hounds-ditch offering some of the buckles to sale; and Guest was taken in Monmouth street , selling an Alapeen coat stolen from one mr. Lee; besides which, some of mr. Howes's Buckles, &c. being found upon him, he was taken before Justice Welch, and by him committed to goal.

After their conviction, their behaviour was apparently regular and becoming their unhappy situation, daily attending the duties of the chapel, being instructed there in those necessary things, which they had too lightly regarded all the former part of their lives; and having proper books given them to employ themselves during their consinement in their cells, which, as Guest could not read, Smith read to him.

Thomas Smith< no role > gave the following account of himself; that he was about 21 years of age; born at Layton-Buzzard in Bedfordshire ; his father and mother were in the farming and labouring way; sent him to school where he learned to read and write moderately well, till being of a proper age to be put out apprentice , he was bound to George Edwards< no role > a Turner , in Swallow-street St. James's Westminster , to whom he served about five years; and then went off to sea , without his master's consent, being ill treated, and half starved, as he said, by a woman who lived with his master. He fail'd in the volunteer capt. Kent, in which he entered himself about Christmas was two years, was out a cruising 14 months, and returned in February, 1759. During that time though they took several prizes, particularly two French Turkeymen off the Barbary coast , between that and Sardinia , yet never any shares were divided among the crew. When his master heard of his return home, he went to seek and claim him aboard the privateer at Deptford , but he was gone ashore, and in two or three days returned to his master of his own accord, and wrought with him till the beginning of August last.

Masters of families should learn from the fate of this unhappy youth to revive and keep up good order and government in their houses, and especially teach them to remember their Creator in the days of their youth; and though there should be no family prayer or instruction duly dispensed to them as a family, which is become too rare among the lukewarm and nominal christians of this age, yet at least every one of each family should for their own safety and preservation read and pray in private as constantly as they receive or expect the renewed mercies of the day. This practice would preserve multitudes from sin, misery, and utter ruin. This lad owned that his master never made him repeat his catechism or prayers, nor instructed him at home, he added indeed, that he was no scholar; however he went to church on Sundays and took his' prentice with him.

While on board the privateer, he never saw either prayer book or bible, nor heard any mention of prayers, reading or instruction, during the whole 14 months he was aboard. They came ashore bare of clothes, money and every necessary; in a few months he sell into bad company both of men and women, who help'd to seduce him into this wicked course. Guest was one of them;