The National Register.
London, England, 1817-09-29 00:00:00

THE UNFORTUNATE J. VARTIE.

This poor youth, only 19 years of age, convicted of what
~ has • been called " England's unpardonable an," and now
awaiting the execution of the law, by a premature and igno.
missions death, powerfully excites the bell3e of pity. The
strong emotions of the prosecutor, on hearing the verdict, will
do hint lasting honour. The duty lie owed to his country
obliged him to prosecute. That fulfilled, his plea for mercy
• was urgent, and his heart was evidently in his petition. The
ease is ao instructive one to youth, and however it may ter-
minate for tire oshappy object of this narrative, it is to be
earnestly hoped that the lesson will not be thrown away on
those who, like poor Vartie, might he otherwise exposed to
fetal temptations.
Vartie was born in Westmoreland, of very honest, though
poor, aud now almost broken-hearted parents. He so far
profited by the education they gave him, that hebecoine whise
very young a tutor to the children of a lady of title in the
neighbourhood where he first drew his breath. Hopes of site.
ecediug better near the metropolis, hrought him to gravesend,
the Curate of which place was a Westmoreland man, and
knowing Vartie, induced his friend, the keeper of a respect.
able boardiug.schoul there, principally on account of the
youth's excellent character and good talents, to take him as
an assistaat tillsomethiug better should offer. Here, for con.
siderably more than a year, Vartie behaved so as to enahle
Mr. Giles to give evidence at the Illd Bailey, that " lie was
Correct in every sense of the verrd." The Gravesend Bank
took him as a clerk, without any other security than his good
character ; and in their service also he conducted himself
in the most satisfactory manour up to the moment of the act
which has rendered his life a forfeit to justice. He was not
expensive s he was of retired and very studious habits : he
was to eussession of every comfort ! What was, then, the
cause ut such a faille; off t Two causes appear the must
prominent. He had ceased to be regular in his attendances
on Divine Worship—ond whilst his naiad was called off from
attending to religions disties,a sudden temptation was thrown
4n his way. it is singular, that the object which principally
occupied his time, and left him no leisure for theiniblic or
private offices of religion was the study of filbrew !
Whilst intebt on improving himself thus in knowledge, he
little suspected that be was weakening the defences of his
*oral being. The nature of the temptation too was con.
sected with his peculiar turn for improvement. He wrote a
most excellent hand, egbal, as many people observed, to cop-
per-plate : lie could imitate closely the handwriting of other
persons, and prided himself upon this faculty. The accidental
abseuce of one of the clerks of the Gr ud Bank gave
Vartie some very unexpected opportunities, and, at this time,
the arch enemy of his peace aud the destroyer of his life
suggested the temptation by which lie fell. Heescaped front
England; changed his name, and entered, not into the vortex
of dissipation at Paris, but into a college at Abbeville, en.
gagiog for two years there at 951. per annum, for the purpose
of imaroviug his mind, by study ! Unprsciisod in the world,
and little suspecting the effects of ungmsarded couduct, he
wrote awarnrtis e ut his Hight, his change of name, and where
• Ist bid taken refuge, and sent a letter to a frioud by she com-
mon post. This, as those who know the world would expect,
procured his capture, and aided his conviction. And miss a
youth, whose premising talents gave hope that he would be
a blessing to society, and an ornament to his country, is by one
act cm off from hope, and downed to as early stud disgracClul
death !
'1 he youth, the experience, the invariable good character of
this poor 1441, up to the fatal .noiuma, will doubtless be weigh-
ed by tho.e whose province it is to temper justice with mercy.
The Learned Judge humanely promised the agitated and
anxious' presecutin , that his earnest intercessions should not
pass otiretnentuereti. We will not anticipate the result; nor
do we presume to offer an opinion whirls mightperbadis be
indueneed ay one feelings for the poor crimivat, and for his
once prowlsy affectionate parents. We are on% Mang too,
that out • paragraphs bhonldaslunte the tone of sermons—uto
yet we trust, we in.4y, without impropriety, draw one moral
from the heart-rending talc helost ns. It is, " that he who
thinkeihlte sisuuhd take heed lest he fall" —the most
innocent and the most wary have all daily and hourly need to
keep its mind the proer so suitable to our common nature—
" Lead us not auto temp•asion."

Execcrions.. —on Saturday lest, Thomas Arinstrong, for
letting tire so his factory at 31ancliester ; Jenny Liseethain,
for uttering forged notes at Aslitim-under.Line ; John Wild,
fora similar offence at Oldham ; John Ashworth, for the s•ime
at Manchester ; and Pat. M*lllanitti, for a like offence at Liver-
pool, were executed at Lancaster, yousuaut to their sentences;
making eleven persons who hare suites ell the awful sentence
of death at tins Idle Assure, and St Xof them for -der!
A mit:die-aged men, geateely dressed, called at the house of Mr.
Pounta'sn, in Oilbert.street, ilainpetead road, on Monday evening.
with a genteel dressed female, about I S years of age. On being in.
formed Mr. F. was not within, lie exclaimed, "GA bless me; I was
4113 re ke was to go to the Theatre, but hoped to have been in time."
Re then desired the young female to go to her the carriage,
and desired her to wait whilst he scratched a letter to Mr. P. lie was
shewn up stairs to write the said letter, and soon pulled the bell; he
met the servant at the bottom of the stairs, and said he must go to
Mr. F. at the Theatre. It was afterwards discovered that he nad con•
trimd to steal a watch, 151. and two gold seals.
Thursday Jenkins, servant in husbandry to Mr. Parsons.
of Pelynt. near Lux, laid his hand on the tip bar of a style he was
passing on his way home, when a violent blow from a sharp instru-
ment severed hi; rcre from his right hand. Not a word was
spoken, nor a person seen, nor can any reason be assigned toe the
eruel act, tie being a very inoffensive young inan, and not having
had the least altercation with any one.

A few days since e huy came to Mr. Richards, a cheesmooger,
in Oxford —street. with a letter. purporting to come from the Rev.
Mr. Edwards, of Wigniore-stieet, requesung that a ham aunt two
lunms of butter might he sent by the bearer, and that half a hundred
of eggs might be s...•at in half an hour. The shopman let him have
the ham mid butter, and at the time specified the eggs were sent;
when, to their surprise, it was discovered that no order whatever was
rent, and, of course, the whole was a cheat.
A man and woman were apprehended 011 Niontlity at Little Wal-
tham, in ESKeI, where they had been very aziecessful in passing
urged Hank of Englund notes. On being watched. a farmed ii. note
was found on the man, and some counterfeit silver and four formed iI.
in the wonian's month. which she intended to swallow, but was foiled
by the Cunstabl., (to. I.lowever, received a severe bite of the thumb.
They have been examined at Chelmsford, and are remanded.

On Monday, the Bth inst. the lust et:nie was laid of
the Margiiis of Auglesea's Column ; its elevation is 100
feet from the Lase, standing. upon a rock, :360 feet above
the level of the Menai ; forming a most beautiful and
picturesque object, as viewed in the surrounding scenery
to a van expanse.