Star. — London, England, 1817-12-29 00:00:00

THE FORTUN4TE YOUTH. (FROM A seoninna !AMR.) We thought It our duty to caution the Public against an adventurer who had bet too socr.essfully obtained credence to his tale of mtery and wonder. There is'such a primeness in man kind to believe the marvellous, and presumed wealth exercises such a magical power over the understanding, that we have been desirous for some time paqt to expose the pro ceedings of K the fortunate youth." chime relation of them may serve as instructions against similar imp.- sitioos, and at tke same time prevent the mischief in fi.reign countries, which is but too probable, by ma terials being afforded for deceptions, under the slab rances that the youth had been abused by unwarrant able charges. We were, however, requested to sus peed our communications until researches in progress had been completed. Our Readers know the rank, and saw our original statement confirmed " by Ni. Weatherby, the solicitor and confidential friend of the Fortunate Youth." The hero of the tale is now about eighteen years of age, and is the youngest son of a respectable fa mily, residing on the Ckippingham Estate, near New market The early talents and solidity of character displayed by him attracted general notice; and he appeared a boy of such promise, that no expense was spared to cultivate his mind, and qualify him for the Church. A neighbouring Clergyman was his first tutor, and hoas thence he was seat to Dr. BUTLIA'S &unitary, at Zhrewsbury. There was some doubt as to the regularity of his conduct while in that seminary, for be did not him self make favourable report of it when questioned on the subject at w late period ; but it is now understood that Di. BUTLIIII gives him the highest character for general conduct whilst under his care. Young Cceraeou bad stated, that amongst other causes for reproof, he obtained more money than Dr. BtrtLaa,.approved, and a letter was sent to his friends rernonstrAtiag against the indulgence of his ettrava genet. 1 t is now believed that he procured his .trioney,(if lie had any excess, which may belloubted) frum a family in the neighbourhood, although he sought to convert the incident of his riches at that. time into one of the proofs of has subsequent fable. Still he pursued his education so as to acquire the reputation of an excellent :chola', and daring his vacations he conducted himself with so much pro priety, that be WAS alwary,s a welcome guest with a family who patronized him; and his manners were so prepossessing, that, notwithstanding a countenance which was not, il strictly examined, a letter of credit, he became ;p general favourite with every visitor. About three months since a report prevailed that the young CAwrrou had come into possessioo of an immense lortone under most extraordinary circum stances. The father first mentioned the grovel fact, and the son soon afterwards authenticited the state ment, and gave the following detail of the adventure which rendered him so fortuitously one ol the richest subjects in the world: About eighteen months previously he bad been op bis return to school. A sebo9 l -fallaW who was te have accompanied . him had, by WWI usistake, dad him the day before, and be was lit to go alwaa In the st4ge. On wiring at Birmisgbam, be was shown into an ion parlour, where an old gentle 4 WAS sitting, and erbobscame his companion tor the of the journey to Shrewsbury. In the course of sltss old gentleman and himself entered into a warns cation on the subject of the South American contest. 'Ai dispute continued to the journey% end. IMO they parted . 4s •dyerseries I The' ueet mining, to his great surprise. the old sban sent for him, and on his coining tote the room, said, " Young man, you were right in your argu. meat yesterday. I admire your spirit, candour, and bold Maintenance of your opinions r you shall find in, me from henceforth a friend." From that time be lavished malty favours on him ; money to the amount which attracted Dr. BUTLilest notice and displeasure and the envy of all his comrades, who nevertheless paid homage to the superiority which be acquired by the power of ccnferring favours"; and chip ill his boys hood be proved the irresistible influence of gold, and found that the word praxis should have been substi tuted for that of pad atilt, in the ethical maxim of the animus. Some months afterward% the old man, who had hitherto promised only a censiderable establishment in the Church, sent for him, and, declaring that be felt his life was ebbing fast away, announced his in- • tendon to make over to him immediately, by a deed :f d if d t, the whole of his immense property. — " If," h e , L should live, contrary to my expecte does, / shall then be a dependent on your gratitude and bounty." From that moment the old man ini tiated him in all his secrets, enacted hie whow to con dart bis extensive pecuniary transaction% g a ve hho list of the various names be was obliged to assume to) ~eat his property in foreign countries, en d m ated 'all the adventures of his extraordinary, and, is some .respects, eliwipmf life. Many of, these secrets he hod mem N ever to divulge, and others be should only eraibld as the development became necessary factious eesee tioolf kh trust and nooagmeui of his moo,. Six weeks afterwards the old man died at a saws ku village pear Shrewsbury, and, in conformity with his last command% a lawyer of great eminence and respectability at Liverpool (Mt. 8.) was sent for, sad who took back with him all the paribments, pa. per% am belonging to the old mai, except the deed of gift, which young CAnnon •woold Offer part with maid his owe possession. At the-expiration of six =oaths, the lawyer (Mr. fl.) *turned and pee him up' all the tide-deeds, papers, &e. and at the same titles etisermookated to him that he had almost bound less weld*, bat the preservation of the greater part depeadmi ma his prudence, secrecy, and conformity to got igiopedese sad promedings of the old man, his w e bemfastor- *iodine were immedi ately buried is a garden of oat of the estates, and the only perm (except sae of his schoolfellows of eleven yen 0/11, who saw die interment of the itrung•box), to whom he owsiblost any part of the momentous story of hie Mcßae, was his mother, and who avowed she bad bees is possession of the secret of his at. gooey withootever having betrayed the confidence. The oseeneet was now arrived when he Might'ex, wa i t essfieneo, bat not yon-give fall publicity to oho aunt of wool4s he possased. Aoied some of • ,z.. bb property was derived from soma which aireetml the most serious interests olds, highest pereeMesm io even counts". • The snot abject of the old man, his I= i bad bees to sequin octet influence, by easy Diode at possible into his trammels; . nay ! • of this 'mysterious dominion had been an Maim Ortmier Passion even than avarice. Most of the go; reign Sovereigns therefore. owed him money. The Empress of Russia was a debtor to the amount- Of n hundred thossand pounds, bat she regularly rid illlooo per annum interest. Prince Emmen was also in his list for a large sue. Mad on the King of Spain he had immense claims. His principal estate, lay, indeed, in that country, but be bad also large estates in Germany. Italy, Sicily, and fo England—Many great moagages and vevare ins unknown to the presumed successors, and amongst the latter he cited the painful case of his being one day obliged to dispossess his dearest friend elan inheritance on which he relied, or make him d dent on his generosity for the- restitution. • e il i clusive of three millings in the Funds, he had palaces in Madrid and Naples; many sets of dia monds ; and he intimated that the old man had been largely concerned in the diamond trade, and that he owed'tbe foundation of his fortune to that traffic.-- At another time be stated that his benefactor had been the soul of the South American insurrection, and that he had solemnly sworn to him on his death bed to continue the same aids; he was now, there fore, sending out great supplies of„„stlips, arms, Ste.' He named two ships; the Asia and Fortitode, as be. longing to him, and represented that he met a deputy on the high road whenever he wished confidential communication, as he dared riot trust the utterance of his secrets, where there was any possibility of his being overheard or suspected. . When speaking on the South American subject, tears came into hi* eyes at the mention of two of his Spanish friends, who had perished in that country under the most cruel tortures. The South American affairs were indeed his favourite theme and inex haustible topic. Ac every communication he however concluded with the most solemn injunctions of secrecy, since he must leave the country it any of the above partite. Jars transpired, being resolved never to submit to any legal jurisdiction which would infallibly be attempted. To frustrate inquiry, he had forbidden all his agents, bankers, to acknowledge any transaction with him, but still he was in continual anxiety on that subject, and had reason to apprehend that attempu bad already boa made to intercept and peruse his papers and correspondence. He, however, had warned those of his family whom he suspected, against the . indulgence of a curiosity ruinous to himself, and inevitably fatal to them. Some few days afterwards most of the abOve de tails having • appeared in a country paper,, and been copied interthe London papers, young C. pretended to be almost kande, and accused his family of having betrayed his interest to gratify a pernicious vanity, but when be was appeased, he pledged himself to contiase the liberal arrangements he had resolved on making, for the provision of hit relatives. Half a million of money was to heappropriated to this noble object, and the details ap ropriatinn were such as augmented thereon' t tima: on of his principles and knowledge. -- His brother immediately took suitable uteasotes to altos into SAlalleei College, with an iasoillie of 46000 per estemm, 'sad young C. on being asked abet his father had said on the information being gives, that he was to have an estate purchased for him with the 4100,000 destined to be his portion Re plied with emotion, es he barn into tears. • For some reasons which young C. would not as sign, the realisation of his premises was to be deferred until the In of Jetteery; 1818—but to su.taia ,his statements in the intervil, and lull the suspicions of an anxious suspense, he desired his father to take him to to. W. at Newmarket, who, after the first intro duction was over, and the lather had retired, received directions from young C. to make his wig. To the observation that he was a minor, he replied, that the property being tursesiat, he had the legal right. ,In the next interview, be desired Mr. WiATHIMIT to be one of the Executors, to which he agreed, if the father or brother were joined with him, and at the third in terview be insisted that Mr. WI should 'accept of a legacy to a considerable amount, but this Mr. W. Vaud, although young C. always affirmed be had acceded to the proposition. The Will was made, and• a copy given 'young •CatwsTon. From thit time the interviews with Mr. W— became more frequent. and Mr. W— re ceiving instructions to purchase various estates. opened a correspuedince with the agent of Lord CHOLVONDILIT, &c. The knowledge Of this tact enadeproselytes of the most sceptical, sod applica dons from all quarters, and on all subjects. were ad dressed to young Cewsecin, in the view of deriving benefit from the• distribution of his treasures. Every one who had. any thing to sell, whether of real oe personal property, made their offers, and so one received direct refnials. Negocations were • opened at the same time for change of name, armorial honours, and such distine fions as his pride suggested, or his weans seemedi to justify ; but although he sometimes affirmed that a British Earldom would be added to his Spaniels titles of Nobility, it is not belived that be was war• ranted in such an assertion by any direct arrange ment with his Majesty's Ministry. The want of ready money was, no doubt, for some time. a subject of much solicitude to the Crosse e. 1818. but his tale had acquired so much confidence, that a relative to whom he old AlO%OOO had been promised on thereetpayday, entreated him to make use of 41,200 laying idle in Oaks's bank at Bury.— The offer was accepted. and young C. was So to grasp the prise, that his servant arrived 'wit= check at tbs. bank before the doori were opened. This circumstance, and the employment of a cOalepaat groom as the resolver of such a large sum, exam( some seapicloas, sad the clerk was sent over to young C. with the mosey: Young C. gave him one pound for his trouble, put 499 into the purse, which was min earels4 left about, to be seen full of bank notes, and 41,100 were placed in the bank of Messrs. Hariweew and Elm. at Neetmarket, who afterwards opened a credit of 111,Que in favour of young C. with their correspondents * Mews. Cox and Bra. Man, Charinterossi - LIBERTY OF THE PRESS. • - • • WEIMAR, DECEMBER rl. • • The Gaverntnelit has addressed the following Cir. j oar to the Residents and Charges d'Affaires of the' 'Grand Duchy : " It has frequently happened, for some time putt that some of the Charges d'Affaires of the Grand Duchy have transmitted to Government complaints on the p-art of foreign diplomatists, in regard to sr• ticks inserted in the public journals of the Grand Duchy. These reports can have no other - object than dot of causing the publication of such arti cles to be prohibited in future, or et inflicting punishment upon the authors of such as have been already published. But none of these purposes can be accomplished in this manner ; and Messrs. the Charges d'Affaires ought to know, according to the anterior cornmeal -cation made to them by the Government—. • 0 ist. That the Ceaserehlp of ;he Press has been totally she- Used in the Grand Duchy of Weimar by the funtlantental stitution of the /keen, which all the Siverelgas and States of the Confederation have eolessaly guaranteed; sad couleauestly, thee there gain ao legal mesas ef preventing the petaientsess of al* Ohs that Isay prove offensive. e , ad. That to the ease of well-founded consplalare, spina Is: parlous and ohbecsaming aseenions published in print, the As, than and Editors of sock preducdoos mew, after an wanes'. tiou as to the importance of the matters complained of, be pre corded against in a mode conformable to the Ordinance or the filth April. But Messrs. the Charges d'Affaires will easily perceive, that, in order to apply the penalties therein decreed, an accusation communicated verbally is nut sufficient; but that it will be necessary to have com plaints in writing, addressed to the undersigned Mi nister, and founded chiefly neon the consideration that the good understanding between the Colic of the Grand. Duchy and that of the complaining Mi nister, Iraq not be interrupted. II In referring anew to the fundamental law of the ith of May, 1816, and to the ordinance of the 13th April of the same year, such of you as, by receiving and transmitting the expressions of disapprobation above alluded to, chewing that they were strangers to the spirit and intent of our constitution and legis latien—these presents will, at the same time, convey to all the Residents find Charges d'Affaires of the Grand Duchy the instruction, that they shall no longer receive nor report upon any verbal complaints made to them with respect to articles and passages in the public Journals of the Grand Duchy, but shall reject such communications ; and observe that, in order to any proceeding in such cases, the complaints must be addressed, in. due form, to the undersi Minister of State, and founded upon the considera; lien above-mentioned. 66 ref the rear, the Grand Ducal Rescript sub joined to these presents, and of the same date, is coin meniCated to you as a proof of the anxiety of his Royal Highness the Grand Duke to do justice in all aims of such complaints as may be presented to him, 'as far as may be compatible with the constitution of the country. 66 Third Department of the Ministry of State. (Signed) II COUNT EDIANCI. " Weimar, Novekbei $4, -1617." FRENCH PAPERS. • PARIS, DECEMBER CS. A brochure has beet seized, intituled, 14 On the State of Liberty in France." The author M. Scbef fer, sod the printer, M. Guile, have been sited to ap. pear no Saturday next before the Tribunal of Cor-1 rectional Police. The suit of the Duke of CULLUM% for annulling the sale in 1793, of the Theatre Francais, before the first Chamber of the Tribunal de Premiere Instance, et the Department of the Seine, M. Dunn was heard for the Dukes M. TAII , IIIII is to be heard in eight days on behalf of the Sieur Jutuets, the present pro prietor of the Theatre Francais. CIiAiBER OF DEPUTIES, DECEMBER lc The discussion was resumed on the Projet respect ing the Press. An Amendment was proposed in Article 22, by M. BLANQUART BAlLLitli g to give a right of dvil action to any person aggrieved by a work deposited, although not circulated. This was opposed by MM. Baum:or, as VLLLELI and MOSTC6LM, as having been already decided against in principle, by the Amendment which took' away, the prosecution of authors for works merely de. posited and not circulated I and on the ground that the right of civil action and criminal prosecution could not in this case be separated. M. Durour (de PEure) moved the previous question. • M. on Commas spoke of the absurdity of takin g greater care of individuals than of the public interest, and supported the previous question. M. JoLuvrr maintained, on the other hand, that there was a material distinction ; and that, by reject mg the Amendment, they would open a door to pri vate vengeance. M. de CASSAIOWOLLIIII supported the M. BrQUZY quoted Art. 25, to prove that it was intended to make a distinction betwettn public offen ces and private injuries. M. BULAILT supported the Amendment. and wished the chamber to reflect again upon the deter mination it bad come to with respect to the exemption of an *then from prosecution for was deposited, but not circulated. M. Houma.) eppos*4l the Amendment, as being pernicious in its consequences. M. de BoicaLD ridiculed the idea of making the deposit equivalent to a publication. The discussion was closed. The Chamber, after having rejected the _previous question, adopted the' Amendment of M. Blanquart Balboni. On the 115th Article respecting prosecutions and ac. dens, with reference to the deposit, being read, M. BILLART wished to know by what means' the epoch el the publication of a work was to be suer.' taineti?..-After some discusson, it was agreed to strike out the article. To the 26th Article, for abrogating preceding laws contrary to the present, JACQUINOT PIIIIPZLIME proposed to add, that it should not take away the effect of former laws, coneerning songs, pamphlets, figures, or images, coa ster, to good morals. DVEONT (do PEure) considered the penal code sufficient, and mend the previons•question. • hi, CORNiT D'lmocar *batted, that these .waa no law to punish blasphemy. He p ropowd, fore, to Wend this amendment of M. Jacq , pelone to works hostile to religion and to dn• ing of former works, either seditious, i L blasphemous. M. de COURIFOISER contended that this I n; its abuse, be converted into an attack ur n opinions, which would be at variance with u The Count de MARCELLUS warmly supi Amendment last m ved. The previous question was then negatis, amendment of M. Jacquinot agreed to. The discussion continued on the amen. by M. Cornet d'lncourt. M. BELLART stated, that works against were regularly taken cognizance at in the M. CORNET D'INCoURT aererd to part of his pruplisition, but i..sisied on ch.. er co , i t respecting the reprinting of former work,. This was got rid of by the prrvii,us i n . Two Articles were read, mowed by M. and M. de la 13:1UALTI, to the effect that the Press should only continue tdl the Ist 1820, and that in the interval a Proj, t of L,„ be presented for applying the Trial by Jr'ay t of the Press. M. de Vu.eut—That wculd la! c. ntrAry to Royal prerogative. ' M de SAINT Carat opposed the lturnimen: The previous question was carried by .4'l !Daintily M. DUVERGIER DE HAVRANNE Wit!,4!seW sition nearly similar, which had for its 6 1 -' gage the Givernnient to pr , oose, m ter 1819, a new law respeering the offEnces ni th j ,_ ':', lip The scrutiny was then pn.ceeJed in ~ i t th, Project. The numbers were—Fut the Ytojeo, against it, 111. It was ordered that each Bureau should n,in- Committee-men, to torn) a Committee on the Bt. the preparatory examination to commence on day. —Adjourned. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 18.47. Pit.ICE OF STOCKS TEM DAY AT "CWELVE Reduced ll—Cops. shit—For Drains. SO 4 per Cent. OIIF-5 per Cent. Nan shut la& Roods 04 94 pr.—Exchequer Sills 12 *2O pr. FLANDERS MAIL. This morning brought us a Mail from . The ptincipal article which it presents, .it this ful crisis respecting the Liberty of the Press, Circular by the Ministers of the Grand Duke WlLltidetit addressed to the Residents and CI. d'Affaires of the Grand Duchy. The history of document may be briefly stated. The Auitri.o. Prussian Ministers same time ago proceeded to mar to obtain the suppression or correction n Journals published there. The answer is penred the same spirit that dictated that of the British ' net to a similar application made by BONAPARTE years ago, to have the London Press put ur, straint for speaking too freely, as he conceived, n' acts. The Minister of State briefly informs plainants that all censorship having by law bee:: lished in the Grand Duchy, such publicAtivasc4l be prevented ; but the parties may seek their re. P °ge in the manner provided for by the laws. This cigar, as might be expected, also appeals in the French Papers, where the same subject now occup'ss the public attention, but wiser., alas, the proposed Amendment on the Project of the Law, to have al questions relative to the Press tried by a Jury has bees got rid of by the previous question, without even a division. These Journals contain also some other articles, no devoid of interest, and which we subjoin. The law relative to the Tea Trade has been passed in tie Upper Chamber of the States General: Wa I'3l thYl elli nra far cos BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 2s. • Mr. Williams, the English Adjutant-General, his just arrived here from Valenciennes. We learn from Douay, that it is Mr. Contort., Counsellor in the Royal Tribunal at Paris, who has arrived to defend M. Maubreuil, Marquis d'Orvanit. In the sittings of the 18th Mr. Couture pleaded for above three hours, with equal eloquence and strength of argument ; an immense crowd was present. On the 19th the Advocate-General spoke. Sentence will very soon be passed. "P .e 'tcluino. pose Toth.. r referri that I his tt;g, the d , , et; fused. "th :oh-, printe SUppo r t e whole Sectic hiv e d, a idormt T In have] ;aim rt i, Diet. the Court disco :I Clink 111'0 rict. sure i condi i by M. and r to pr. Ist )t L 4,.. s., the A t tier it Upon ntrAry to he di! Tl . rt►lmen: iy 4,, it wie the High i` 2 " ll a pr o the N s 65j, , zt to tt7r &sun snort esriot t he p 4 , n dt, w mem Proj ec t, were 'laws ould n t b 4 on the Buit folio !nem np ctse the F TAR. whit but 'Ott said 11, IA.C. this cVEO'cLot: A .20 pr. Cani man read ▪ front Fland diets ..t this eve Am the Press, is miss rand Duke ass; is and ass plisl e history of t e Auitrial weeded to 9' rztu ▪ rectlon of so abu rer is penned !re British Csb ONAPARTILW tttlh s put under r. oneeivect, dorms thee post y law bee:: al-. rev dications can-, opp ek their redrtis Fat tws. This Cir. Th , , , , I 0 GHENT, DECEMBER 117. An Antwerp Journal announces that a report is in circulation at the Hague, that Prince Frederic had just been invested with all the dignities which the Prince of Orjage had resigned. We mention report without believing it.—C4esst Journal, Dec. E 7. HAGUE, DECEMBER 22. ; The First Cbainber of the States-General bii agreed to the Law respecting the Tea Trade. SECOND CHAMBER OF THE ITATZ3 GENERAL, DEC. '22. The debates were opened on the second project cf a law relative to the duty on successions. Alta a long debate, in which the discourse of M. Reyphics against the law was particularly distinguished, [ha question was put to the vote, and decided in favour of the project, by a majority of 70 to 26. In the Sitting of the 2U, several petitions being presented and laid on the table, Mr. Kemper h 47 :, g obtained leave to speak, made, in French and Dutch, a proposal to the effect that the petitions of Mesas. Gnyat and Cauchois Lemaire, - at present lxing the table, (in which they complain of a viol4;ion of the fundamental law in their persons, and rectf.re that a Supreme Court of Justice may be named be- fore which they may call to account the Agent guilty of this violation), may be made the scher: .f