The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-06 00:00:00

THE SHARPERS AT FAULT.

A gentleman residing in the Eastern part of
this county, being on a visit in the metropolis
lately, went one morning to Smithfield Stock
Market, and after examining the stock in the
different pens, chanced to stand looking about
him opposite the Itam Inn, when a person about
.33 yeaxs of age,having the appearance of a gen-
tleman grazier, accosted him, claiming acquaint-
ance, being confident of having seen the gentle-
man before probably at Maidstone, which market
he was in the habit of attending, and after talk-
ing about the price of stock, the hay harvest, &c.
stated that he wag a stranger in London, 'and
had Come up from Northampton, for the purpose
of receiving a sum from a Smithfield butcher for,
some beasts,- of which his brother was a consi-,
derable .breeder, and subsequently proposed, as
it was very warm in the market, to adjourn to.
some inn to partake of sefreshment, which Was
agreed to. Now the gentleman being aware of
the many tricks which are played off by the Lon-
don sharks, had a suspicion that something of
the kind was in hand ; therefore :resolved, as he
was without property to see it out. They ac-
cordingly adjourned to the Rain Inn ; but as
that place has been undergoing repair, the stran-
ger contended that it could not be an inii—
being positively assured that it was one, they
went in, and had not long been seated, before a
third person made his appearance, and in a very
broad dialect, asked them if he had seen. his
Lai-dy, boasted of his having just come up
florn the shires to receive a fortune of 1,5001.,
and after a great deal more iu the same strain,
said he. could spew some gold and silver too,
and immediately drew from his pocket a number
of sovereigns, and threw them on the table, and
also a pocket-book filled apparently with bank
notes. AS the roan from the shires pretended to
be a great simpleton, he said that they were no
gentlemen who could not. chew money ; upon
which the other stranger replied, that was
he in some company he would be kicked out—
that he could show as much money as the other,
and filially proposed to the gentleman to show
some, but he informed him that he had none
about him, and having convinced himself' of
their object, he filially took his leave of them,-
He had scarcely reached the pen opposite the house
before the first stranger again came up to him,
who said it was a pity such a person should have
so much money about .him, and that it would
be a good opportunity to make a little money ;
he had scarcely uttered the words before the
other made his appearance, and offered to • lend
them as much money as they could show ; when
the other proposed to' the gentleman, as he
knew where to get some money, to imMediately
get it, as Such an opportunity might never occur
again. - The gentleman, in order to try hiM,
suggested a. 9 he had plenty of Money to lend him
a portion of hiS; and then they might show to-
gether ; but the stranger replied that would not
be just the thing, as he wanted to show all lie
had,, the gentleman had better get a hundred or
two, and he would take the fellow to an Inn
just below and keep him in conversation till the
other returned. The ' gentleman accompanied'
them to the Inn in order lo know where to find:
them on his return, and after partaking of some'
brandy and 'water, left 'them, not with a View of
obtaining Money, but to call on a friend of his,
in' Fianway-street,' Oxford-street, to consult with
him how the sharks might be taken into custody,
and so. made a public example of. At first it
wasproposed going to a police-offs, Ceand obtaining.
. two or three officers, carry the scheme into exe-
cution, and take the men in charge ; hut Upon
further consideration it was suggested that it
would detain thegentlenian in town, give him a
great deal of trouble, and, therefore; he had
better leave them, and abandon '"the scheme,
which he did, though
Journal.o ghmiicti against his
inclina-
ma