Crime & punishment > Notes of conversations with H. M'Donald, N. Sutherland, and H. M'Intosh, (who were executed at Edinburgh, April 22, 1812,) during the time they were under sentence of death

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After the former edition of this tract was put
to press, I received from Mr Porteous an addi¬
tional communication, of which the following is
the substance:—It was written in answer to a
request I had made to him, to give me any in¬
formation he had been able to procure, either
from these young men, or others in jail, res¬
pecting the way in which they had at first been
led astray, as I thought this might furnish an
impressive warning to others. Though the
whole letter is rather long for insertion, yet the
substance of it is too interesting to be omitted.
“ I perceive,” says Mr Porteous, “ there are
three sources of evil, which are dangerous to
the youth in Edinburgh. 1st, The want of prin¬
ciple in many parents, who allow their children
to go at large almost daily, but particularly on the
Lord’s day, when they become an easy prey to
every worthless idler or street-walker. 2d, The
great number of recruiting parties in the city,
who go about, night and day, and lead idle
thoughtless boys into evil company, into drink¬
ing houses, and the society of infamous women.
3d, The daring impudence of these vile prosti¬
tutes, who lie in wait at every corner to entrap
and entice. I found from_ the history of several
of the rioters, that after they were led astray by
these abandoned females, they became totally
disinclined to work at any regular employment.
They became regardless of their parents and of
their homes; and as at the same time there
were perpetual demands made upon them by