The Sun.
London, England, 1830-03-25 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

AN ANCIENT FATHER.—Yesterday a very pretty-look-,'
ing young woman, about twenty-five years of age, of the
name of Collins, attended before Mr. DYER to identify the
reputed father of her child, a remarkably sickly-looking 1
infant, which she carried in her arms.

Upon Mr. Shadwell, the assistant overseer, laying the
usual documents before Mr. Dyer, the female was desired
to point out the father of her child.

" This is the father," exclaimed the young woman,
blushing deeply as she touched an old man, whose few
silvery hairs bespoke that he had long since arrived (or at
least he ought) at the years of discretion.

" Is that the father of your child ?" inquired the worthy
Magistrate, whose astonishment was excited by seeing such
a patriarchal-looking personage standing in such an awk-
ward situation.

" He, and only he, is the father of this child," replied
the young woman, while a still deeper blush tinged her
face than before.

" I don't think that I am the father of the child," re-
sponded the old man in a faultering tongue.
Mr. DYER observed, that unless he was capable of show-
ing the impossibility of access he was considered in law,
upon the oath of the female, to be the father of the child.
Old man—That 1 am not able to do.
Mr. DYER here asked Mr. Shadwell how much would
satisfy the parish per week ?
Mr. Shadwell—The parish will be satisfied with two
shillings and sixpence per week.
Old man—l am not able to pay that sum ; indeed I- am
not ; besides, I am so reduced that I must apply to the
parish for assistance to enable me to live.
Mr. DYER-An order must be made out, for it is
utterly impossible to let the parish be at the expense.
" I don't think I am the father of the child," said the
old man, "for"—and here he made a full stop.
" You are the father of my child, you wicked old-man,"
rejoined Miss Collins; " and had it not been for your flat-
tering tongue I should never loved."

"Oh Lord !" ejaculated the old man, at the same time
shaking his few silvery locks and tail, as much as to sty
that he doubted the protestations of the female.

Mr. DYER here interrupted any further observations for
the present, by asking the reputed father how much could
he allow per week ?—" Nothing," drawled out the old
man.

Mr. Shadwell—lf you will make the order for two
shillings and sixpence we will be perfectly satisfied.
Miss Collins—Half-a-crown a week is of no use to me,
for it is impossible for me to keep the child for that money ;
besides it will not take the breast, owing to its being so
sickly.

cannot pay that," replied the old man, " for I was
69 years of age last birth-day, and am Very badly off.
At one period of my life I was rich, but I have lost my
fortune, and am now completely reduced."
Mr. DYER—Do you know the circumstances of the de-
fendant? Mr. Shadwell—He has a pension of thirty
pounds per annum, and I believe that is all he is pos-
sessed of.

Mr. DYER—Then we will make an order for two shil-
lings and sixpence per week.

The old man most solemnly assured his worship that he
was not able to pay even sixpence per week. The appeal
was, however, unheeded, and the order was accordingly
made.

The parties were about retiring, and the old man had
just turned his back, when a female, with an infant in her
arms, pushed her way up to the table, and begged that his
worship would order the defendant to pay her the sum of
thirteeen shillings for work and labour done.
Mr. DYER inquired in what manner was the debt con-
tracted? " Oh," replied the applicant, "he knows all
about it, and he cannot deny it, and therefore I wish you
would make him pay me."

Mr. DYER.--.A Magistrate has no power to interfere
with debts, and therefore you must summon hint to the
Court of Requests.
Upon hearing this the countenance of this ancient Don
Juan brightened up, and he left the office. The two fe-
males and the parish officer followed in his wake.