The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-09-17 00:00:00

- •
tITIUORDINARY ANECDOTE of
RIGHWAiIL4N.

On It late re-perusal of A novel, entitled,lamed
and- Ete'anal), or .I.lll*. ;r4 of tbe Houses of Sairanimifeld
CbrtroO, Written by ilse Rev. Edmund Mar-
Shall, of Charirg, in Kent, deceased, I thought,
Mr. Editor, the following extraordinary anec.tote
would be acceptable to most of your readers : the
work is founded entirely on fag, and eve:), cha-
rade/ was 0:1Ce living. I recoiled, that the author,
being asked reseeding the truth of what is here
narrated, said, that he received it from Colonel S.
to whom the partici were known. B.
" Our worthy Nabob was returning to the castle
when his carriage w.s suddenly attacked 11, a high-
wayman, apparently about thirty years of age, and
of a very gentlemanly deportment. Sir Gregory
very readily surrendered his pu:se, at the same
time offering his watch ; but, to his no little sur-
prise, the highwayman told him, " that his purse
and watch ware tao inconsiderable for his attention
—what he demanded was the 1,5301. he had that
morning received from I:1r. Musgrave.' True,'
said the Nabob, I have this =nuns been relud-
antly constrained to accept the identical sum you
specify, and here it is, if you insist upon it, at your
service ; but indeed, young man, you teens design-
ed fur better purposes than the very .:ishonourable
life you li.tve adopted. There is something in
your appearance that induces me td ofer you my
services in a more essential way I you, I believe.
know my character. I should not b. sorry to have
a second opportunity of meetini::. ; and if you can
cootHe in me. that no incOnvemence shall arise to
you from the interview, it shall take place this day
fortnight at the St. Alban's Tavern, London.'
The honour of Sir Gregory Grafton,' returned the
highwayman, ' is a point so well established, that I
have not the least hesitation in giving him my pro•
raise. to meet him at eight o'clock in the evening of
the day and place appointed.' Having received the
mouey. the highwayman bowed gracefully and gal-
loped off. Sir Gregory was on this day ergaged
to dine with a nobleman of high military rank and
char-ado. and when the rest of the company had
withdrawn, he mentioned his evening's engagement
with the highwayman ; And can you really be-
lieve.' exclaimed his Lordship. that a man who
has placed his life in your hands, will be true to his
appointment r Most certainly.' replied the Ba-
ronet ; and to remove every doubt of the robber
being a man of honour, however he may in this in-
stance have departed from it, if you will promise
secresy you may be of the party; and you must
pledge your honour, should the gentleman, fur such
I am suie he i,, be of your Lordship's acquaintance,
he must not be suffered to entertain the most distant
idea that you are informed of what has passed.' The
conditions being acceded to, they adjourned to the
tavern.

" Within five minutes of eight o'clock, the Mili-
tary Peer drew out his watch. And now, Baro-
net.' said he, what are your odds that the
highwayman will keep his appointment.' Five
hundred guineas to fifty, my Lord, that he will be
punctual.' At that instant the clock struck, and
a waiter entered, saying, that a gentleman Inquired
for Sir Gregory Gretton, and he was imme-
diately followed by the person he had arica:lced.
After spending• a very pleasant and cherful evening
together, the highwayman, who, by the cockade in
his hat, was a military charaaer, took his leave.
Well. my Lord, what think you of my friend,
is he not a noble fellow e And Is hat will
you likewise think of me,' asked the Noble-
man, ' for my forbearance, to express surprise at
seeing him enter the Room ? He is an officer in my
own regiment. His only foible is that of deep play,
which has. I presume, occasioned the extraordirsar y
effort which introduced Lim to you. I will tale
care that his commission shall be disposed of, and
the money applied to your use ' 'So fir from any
wish of restitutiars,' said the Nabob, ' I shall very
willingly make the Captain a present of the money,
if he will resolve, from this moment, to abandon
the gaming-table, and devote himself seriously to
the ditties of his profession.' Astonished at suds ge-
nerosity, the Peer not only pledged himself for the
Captain, but also promised to patronise him in Lis
profession. This gentleman, it still living, is a field
officer in the Briti►h army."

03 Thursday night the Coroner's Inquest was held
at the Swan public-house, Salisbury-court, Fleet.
street, on the body of Jame MA who hung herself
in her chambers the same morning. She had tied a
shawl round her neck, which being made fast to the
post of a tent bedstead, the unfortunate woman
strangled herself ; her knees rested on the bed,
and the struggle to deprive herself of exigence,
must have been vio!ent, as the bed post was raft
more than four feet and a half from the flour. As-
sistance being procured, every means were used by
a professional gentleman, to rccover hcr, but to no
purpose. Tie deceased, for several Jays preceding,
had shown strong symptoms of mental derange-
ment, and the Jury were induced. on the dearest
view of the circumstance, to pronounce a verdia of
Lienacy.

PitlCt OF ST. CILS.
strt IY et.

_ . . .
a :,er C *Mt. Cons - _ -
!A• orr Cent. NA‘ y
Vlc Lowly rickee•
C.a.:. for •• • •• • • • • •
T. DISH, ti.ock Broker,
4, Cornhllt, and 9, t 'haring Cron.

MICE oF IRIsII S
G Ueb. per cent
GK.nrl Canal Loan, 6 p cent.
R. 09.1 Ca.tal Lrun, 6 per cent..