[Footnote 86: The Author has often had occasion to witness the extreme ignorance of the younger part of this class, when called upon to give evidence in judicial proceedings.--Of the nature of an oath they had not the least conception,--nor even of the existence of a Supreme Being.] Profligate and depraved as the lower orders of the People appear to have been for several centuries in this great Metropolis, it would seem that the practice of married females resorting to Public-houses, and mixing generally in tap-rooms with the idle and dissolute, is an evil habit of a very modern date; for the period is not even too remote to be recollected, since it was considered as disgraceful for Females who pretended to any degree of modesty to be seen in a Public-house.--It is however now to be lamented that the obloquy of thus exposing themselves has as little influence, as the rude and obscene language they uniformly hear uttered. _Another cause_ of the increase of crimes, may be traced to the bad and immoral education of Apprentices to Mechanical employments. Although many of their Masters may not be, and certainly are not, composed of the class whose manners have just been depicted, yet their habits lead them too generally to Public-houses, where no inconsiderable proportion of their earnings are expended;--where low gaming is introduced, producing ruin and distress to many families even among the inferior ranks, who might otherwise have moved through life with credit and reputation. The force of such an example on young minds is obvious.--No sooner does an apprentice advance towards the last year of his time than he thinks it incumbent upon him to follow the example of his master, by learning to _smoke_.--This accomplishment acquired (according to his conception), he is a fit associate for those who frequent Public-houses. He resorts at first to those of a lower class, to avoid his master or his relations.--There he meets with depraved company; while he conceives he is following only the example of those whose manners and habits he has been taught, by example, to imitate, he is insensibly ensnared.--Having arrived at the age of puberty, and meeting profligate females in those haunts of idleness, his passions become inflamed.--The force of evil example overpowers him.--He too becomes depraved.--Money must be procured to administer to the new wants which are generated by depravity.--Aided by the facilities held out by Old Iron Shops, he pilfers from his master to supply those wants, or associates himself with Thieves, whose acquaintance he made in progress of his seduction.[87]