The Sun.
London, England, 1801-09-04 00:00:00

THE BLACKHEATH SIFINDLEg.

Miss Rahertioz has just published a. pamphlet,
from hez,apartments.in Huntingdon.Gaol, entitled,
" Who are 4e-S',Evindlers P" which is:fone ,Of the
greatest curiosities in, literature, ever produeed.—
Sech a' jumble of Billingsgate abuse, rnethedis-
tical cant, affefted mystery, and language ren.
dered • laughable by 'abStifirfigiffes, never Before
came tirl.eet; out; notice. We cannot call it a defence
Of her cxyndua; it is a general abuse of all who have
had the misfortune of having dealings with tier;
Miss Sharpe, her companion, excepted. Even per-
sons whom she admits. behaved well to she at-
tacks, accusing all of robbery, Plunder, &c. The
idea of writing the book, she says, was suggested
by reading in the Newspapers the account of the
late;trial against .Creasy ; and the objet -of its
publication Ys to raise money to pay Miss Sharpe's
lodgings. She begins with the following* para-
graph : •
" Such various contradictory and ludicrous ac-
.
'counts haVe been published in the newspapers and
periodical—publications, that to the serious and re_
fleeting mind, which does not go,offs whiz, like
gunppwder, at every nine days wonder, it Must
appear-mysterious. I appear as the Baroness Mun-
thausen of the present century. It -is astonishing,
.while
.so much is said of the Heroine of this extraor-
dinary tale,, no obkrvations have been made upon
the coaduet ofthe most aaive agents in the scene of
fraud, treachery, and plunder." • •
She now proceeds to,examlne every Witness that
-appeared on the trial, and to traduce them all, even
Creasy., as swindlers and cheats. lt seems that
Oakley, by -taking back the goods-he had put into
her house, blew up. her enchanted castle, and dis-
pelled her magic. Against him, therefore, she is
particularly severe. She accuses Creasy of seizing
all her 'plate, jewels, clothes, &c. and:of having
even taken Miss Sharpe's effeas (worth I soot.), and
having appropriated them' to his own use, the ac-
counts between her and him being only about 14001.
and he taking goods worth several. thousands. In
no part, hoWe'ver, does she state her family, or any
part' of her 'own history, except for seven 'years
back, since her connection with the TCroom's.hill
School. She insinuates that her ancestors were con-
cerned in the Rei)ellion of the year -17+5 ; that a
Mr. Robinson, • near Edinburgh, will take her
part ; that a Nobleman called'On Oakley 'to com-
plain- the furniture was not good enough ; that this
Nobleman is gone abroad e, that a. Mr. Cunning_
ham, in Egypt; will return, and do her justice ;
that she will make -all her enemies sweetly repent
of their condua, by process --against them -in
.a
Court of Law ; that she has been ruined, by-the ano-
nymous letters of some unknown Jezebel, who is
jealous she (Miss R.) will take away her husband
she still insinuates that she,has the Faseally Estate
in Scotland, which may be there, she says,-though
the lawyers cannot find it our. In this mysterious
manner she speaks of herself, but discloses no faells
that were not generally known before: She cam.
plains of the number of anonymous. Letters sent to,
her, and the cmience of-pOstage,; of the ill usage of
the Gaoler, who has made.a public show of her, to
his' own great emolument:, of the insults of. those
'who have.come to gaze at her, Particularly of the
women ; and concludes with a most furious threat
apinst the Newspapers, for the storks they have
published respefting her. The whole Book is such
a farrago ;of rant and. wildness, that we' think it
would prove her insane in a Court of Law. It is
so pages in length. The following extras are
from the concluding part.
" Many of my, former acquaintance who visited
me,, professed to know and believe the dolrines of
the seriptures. Had the} followed Job's advice to'his
friends (ch. t. 3, v. 5), ", altogether held their peace,
it had been their wisdom ;" or had they followed
Job's, example, and " searched out the cause they
knew not" (ch. 29, V. i 6), it. would have saved
them great disgrace and many painful refleCtions.
Besides the contrariety of circumstances, and the
variety of 'reports, prove there is something
.yet
unfathomed by them. I
,have always been accus-
tomed to great abullance,' never 'till now, knew,
the want of any thing: I left all the propteery on
the premises,. even -my -clothes, and the chief of my
papers
,andletters. I left a foriner establishment,
ivhieh.was'Very comfortable.. Thenew.habitation
was not finished, therefore I could have had no enjoy-
ment of it'; here I am kept for' the bricks.and mor-
tar, boards and paint, yet have no more to 'spew for
it than-a daub of paint on a petticoat, which would
be more' valuable without it. Though lam released
from the intrusions of nominal friends, the Master.
of the Ceremonies (Drage, the keeper) here has ad-
mitted a great deal of company into the presence.
chamber. I have been a very fashionable hostess ;
they have left me as empty. as they came, and I was
.glad when they were gone.

•
I feel gratefully impressed with that kind respeCl
and attention, with which .I have been treated b).• the
•Right Hon. the Earl'of Sandwich, the respeCtable
Magistrates of this County, who personally waited
on me; and interfered for my repose and better ac-
commodation, Sir- A. Macdonald, Chief Baron of
the Exchequer, likewise at the Assies, severely
reprimanded the Keeper of this place, who has put
many a piece of metal in his pocket by making
speelacle of nit, and from whoin I hate received, a

great :deal, of insolence this. man 'agreed, when I
.first came here, toJet me..have a private room in the
house; but went from his. agreement, saying, he
would neverhaVe. another prisoner in the house-:
yet has since aaually 11,ad debtors and, two or three
felons in its •

" I,wish here to acknowledge the kindness a
silent Obseiver," Mrs.Wardell,:" afriend indrab;"
Mrs.• Leslie, Mr. Mackie.; Mr..and Mrs. SWeeting
and their family„ and my dear Miss Sharpe, whose
great kindness'and attention to me is a Striking con-
trast- to the condn of those, who Stuck close as
leeches, while they could get any thing from me,,but
whO now stand aloof in-the day of calamity. Miss
Sharpe was subpoenaed by Creasy, and Jcept in town
Ave-weeks, -to bear'' testimony hi the. cause ; but
though he (by the' advice of his Attorney) has/frau-
dulently taken from her all her property, and still
keeps it, without giving her any adebuut, and
we hate beencreduced to great extrernitiesi Miss Si

. ,
I told them;.--sloe would not defile 'her 'binds-with a
bribe,- nor her, mouth with perjury; they saw fit
to -keep her out ot..Court, fearing she might be
a ' means of overturning .the evidence produced -.to
blacken my charaaer,' and thus screen their
own, fratidulent- condo il :though at present en-
veloped with a shade of obscurity; it will in
the end, prove a snow-ball,- that has gathered as it
rolled;' the sun will shine 'and dissolve it ; then
who will remember it ever was.? Miss Sharpe had two
,guineas given her for all this loss Of time and deten-
tion, by a man who sold our furniture, Clothes, '&c.took our plate and valuables,. -an& keeliS'posse4sion
of the premises can which all the 'money has -been-
expended,- that they make me de'afor for.." •
Page ji to 33. "' Among other ludicrous things
that have -appeared in the newspapers, Is a paragraph
that I went about to obtain credit in men's
surely, in this attire, 1-Coulci not ask for Credit on
Miss Robertson's ''ek'eebur-it: It stated, that Mr.
Pierce, a respeaable tradesman of Sr,‘ with
whoth I have. dealt sonie years, met /he: Will. Mr.
P. say this in a Court of JUstiee ? Thqll-a've like-
wise caught hold of names and: connections,,-without
any proper inquiry or reflection on •th-'alistirdity.of
jumbling so many .clistind. a nddifFirent finPilies into
One r::lative Conne4ion. I hive had many new al-
liances since I have been here, and was told by a
Mr. Ailnutt, of B. n, thai i had.said I was re_
laced to zthe M-'s of and that .induced.
him to bring all the Officers of his Regiment to stare.
at me, and pay the Gaoler before 'my 'face for the

" The same Mr. Allnutt likewise said, when I
complained ofseven people -(strangers) coming into
the room while I was in bed, that six of them being
women, did away the gaoler's indecency in bringing
them. I have cracked this nut,
.and" find all was
shell.; it neither:contained the kernel of politeness,
or the milk of humanity. •
" I canhot'forget the good wishes of niy sex at
my presentation.. Polly Drage said, ", Father, don't-
let her be in the house, put her down ainong the
felons." She did not relied, when I was laid low, I
could- see through the 'windows of her stockings.
Mrs, Bustle Ifroth the George), who had many
triages from the`b,ii; to .the bar's quarre, advised
the women not to let me-sleep with' any Of them,
" straw was good.
,enough
.now; I haVhalpienty
of beds." PhillY, -the Milliner, did measure Me
'as sparingly as 'her. ribbons; she declared, ".1
deserved to be banged, because she hated Piesby-
teriaNs."
"-These women came in flocks, with all themen •
they could lay hbld of. Drage has hiid a Virginia
harvest this summer ; hut, liketobziC.',:o; when it is
smocked, it 'May make the ord gihirdian's :eyes
w 4 ter.

" Dear Reader ! be not moved. with. indignation
at these unpolished damsels ; though they did. open
the bed-curtains to shew me to the men, it might be
customary to them'; " use is second dature," men
may be no strangers behind their, ,curtains.
" I now 'have.tny apartment. to Myself, through
the interference of the Sheriff, and others, who re-
member the etymology. of the word decemy.- Why
are you surprized at the women's kvant of it ? the
wisesrman did not find one
,goOd.Worrian in a thou-
sand. I did, not, expel to find many. here; I ,am
usually favoUred with the company of one of a thou-
sand. If you have nye& long in the world, you
have reason to lament job's Wile has so numerous a
sisterhood ; and will ngree with use, that a wise
'woman is
anis. 'not describe d in the British.
,
Speaking of the Newspaperii she says A ball
is heating; and a cannon ready ; let the tongues be-
ware, or they may be bio,zyn down the,throat.by the .
ford air--when it is fired, it 'will fetch the
lers one by one out of *their devices, reach "the.
Sun," knock. down.sonie of, " the: -oats". (either
Evening or Morning),, cause 5" the Star" to
,fall,,
shake " the World," and shew the " Crowder" of
" the 'Mirror of tile hiniseff in his own
Vass. , .

" These.Flackneymen have conveyed me in their
vt.bides all over England. I could not travel with_.
'out support ; they must pay for my time] ettett!rqs—
;not omitting a netzti .fait and boots—thel: are not
Worn out; no, if friend 'in a tornerßes one of It "sort,
and when the Seljant,bas drilled them,, they will
be reviewed at Westrtrinstei.

" In my btll', there will be--post,chaises, and
subpoenas for • the long-eared chamber-maid of Pen-
zance--the sponsors of " Madame Douglas and
Miss and many others—" they'say, I
-was very ill; and travelled there for the%benefit of
my health ; and by way of imprOying it, /walked
out in the night," to enjoy the Februgry fogs I
was " !veiled" with thick darkness; now the days
are longer, and the sun shines—l may be able to see
clearly their absurdity ; and Mr. Francis Hodson
(of (of Cambridge), and Mr. 'Monk (of Chester), may
wish it had been as dark. in their printhig-officds.
Among other costs, are several jouruies to Maid_..
stone. When all theSe come to be tried, I' fear they
will not stand a chance of being acquitted.
cc They, say my mother is a laundress ; wish
•
they would employ her to wash their fingers dean
from the canker of base metal,. aftd the Newspapers
from the stains of libellous calumny ; the porter will
never be fatigued by carrying the burden of my.ad."
versaries' wisdom.. ' .

" If the cunning, HAM is not cut up in-Egypt,
or soaked in the Mediterranean, I shall soon see it
dressed at• the bottom of ,My table ;—I like it—
and know it is a good sorts,: as it was fed, by the
Hill of 1-I****b****gb ; besides, this pbor leg
walked through the path of difficulty, .and may
prOve of great 'use -tOint in exploring it—a bit of
loft. peter will wipe the 'dust off the sheets at
St. Andrew's—then may read Tully—seatch 'the
bave•ofrebeiStriiin, and, if makes-a pretty
apology, I will giye him a view neat title page .to
liarton's work. This wind is due North, if it
freezes the locks, let him thit 9friViTS help break'
the ice; and he shall be (warmed, and let eydy One
take his own. -

" Some may not like their share-4 have mea-
sured it in their own basket, and it is right they
should have their due—to other's it will be " Sam-
son's riddle 3," the enemy' roared loud) and met me

•
with fury ; Aknow.l shall rend hitn, but will,not
give the Caste of thp honey, They ni
take iotne • clays to sxpoandit--their stock run-,
low—a great deal.of wit ,was exhausted to prove
they were dirpes.itt their' azun a'epare:

" Are the, gates 9f g-azers„ open 1 the eyes of
slumberers shall awake to a new scene--:4et
.therri
retheMber it is -.their .owri doihg—l thank them for from the aceiLlent, of .the ro,: i or
way--and asash haft paid good inTerest.for- my cre-
dit,' hope I shall be allowed clmpao ijd interest for
mr t;;ne, and shall
,ebarge dish.clouts .and a ser.:
a
vant's wages,•for tw-,,hiny the diity Marks offlini.v
,feet=--that I trust will be turned into a straiter
road—=better lightedand with plain cli'reCtion:.
posts: More be said On this subieLft in the
next "'Bask 'ye illaityrs,' or "
"I have offered in' ;hese pages nothing but fa6o;
and simple truthit is -hastily uritt.en in a day Of
prssing need, with a hope that it will furnish MiSs
.Sharpe with the means of paying for her lodgings ,
and other necessaries ; had the society, 'of witicit
she is an honourable tnetnber-arra an ornament fifteen
years, " freely as. they'. have freely re-
cehied," their " groundless suspicions" and "
reasonable thoughts" would not have sullied paper,
at
,a period when-, that article is-so scarde 'and dear
--.-nor would these fad; have been stated to the
world at largi, if Creasy had restored ,Miss S. as
much of her property as .would supply her-present
need.... Dare he call himself an honest man, while
hedetains property that has been charged to us
upwards of 70001. when his acceptances were only
for 1454 ?

" The truth of this I am willing, with a clear
conscience, to attest on,oath, if requisite. In the
hands of that God who judgeth righteous judg-
inent, -and who will avenge ate- of -my adversa-
ries," I leave thy cause—with prayer for their
,conviction and reformation: 'And thosse rtuho hime
nal seta the 3,zoindiers, miy read them for Oae
Shilling aid Sixpkce.''

LAW REPORT.

„KING's BENCH, GUILDHALL.
II&VOAL LOAD KENYON AND A SPECIAL JCtY•

BARING V. HENNEXELL.

Mr. Glans stated, that this was an Milian to
recover an average loss on a Policy on the.ship San
Pietro, laden with 268 casks of currants, and bound
to the port of London. By the 'operation of the
common memorandum upon every Policy of
Ina
turance; theie could be no .-average loss, unless a
ship stranded ; but if there was a stranding, the
condition of the engagement on the part of the as.
surers, to Tay an axerage loSs, was.concluded. The
'present case came before the' Court on admissions,
and on the evidence of the Captain of the Ship, as
contained in his•answers to-interrogatories. •Tt ap.
geared from such admissions and evidence, that the
.vessel arrived off Dover on the zd of NoveMber
last, and= came to her moorings on the t ith ;, that
On the 18th and loth she unloaded part Of her cargo,
and on the zoth hawled out, and proceeded to un-
load the remainder of her cargo-in the port of Lon-
don ; that coming up the Pool, which was full of
vessels, 'a Brig' ran foul of her bow and another of
her stern, in consequence of which she was driven
Aground, and continued in that situation an hour,
during which period several vessels ran foul of her.
The only question was, whether this was a strand-
ing ? He did "nor mean to contend that every touch,
ing the ground was a stranding ; but if a ship's tak.
ing the ground, from whatever cause• it might pro-
ceed, and remaining there some time, was not to
be considered, he knew not what a Stranding
was. Was it necessary a ship should be driven
aground by the operation of the. wind ? The effeet
was precisely_ the same,. whether she was grounded
by the violence of the wind,' or by coming
.m con-,
tart. with another. Did. the principle upon which a,
ship was to he deemed have stranded, depend upon
the nature Or the ground on which she sested,,,;.the
means by which, she was cast there, or the :length
of time she remained in that situation ? He Maip-
tained, that a vessel striking' the, ground, and
sticking there, was to all. intents and purposes , a
stranding.
The laths' of the case were taken for granted.
• .Mr. ERSKINE observed, that Underwriters had
wisely adopted the memorandiim upon all Policies
of Insurance for their security, and were by its
operation, freed from the liability to indemnify the
assured, except in the case of a general average loss,
or a ship having stranded : the, situation of Under.
writers would be precarious indeed, if such an ac.
cident as had happeneel,to the ship in question could
be considered as a stranding. He doubted not but
that many of the Jury had beed on an aquatic excur,
sion down the river, and had stopped at some of The
houses on its banks to regale themselves with white
bait ;' if they had, they must have seen, in 'passing
through the Pool, numbers of such stranded vessels.
How often did it happen, that ships in the River,
by going too near the one ,side or the other, when
the tide was ebbing, were grourided,_ and remained
in that condition till the tide raised them up again.
tie called that to be a stranding, when, inconsequence.
of a tempest, and to avoid the danger of the seas, a
Vessel ran aground.--No Underwriter could be safe,
if the bare touching of the ground subjeetcd him to
be called upon for an average loss.
Lord Kewrox said, he was not much acquainted
with nautical terms; but if he was asked whether
this was a stranding, he should say it was not.
The jury found a verdia for the Defendant.

ROWCRAFT AND ANOTHER V. PLACE.