The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-17 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

'the following facts are the details of an occurrence of
the most extraordinary and romantic description that
perhaps ever occurred in this great metropolis. The
facts are so unaccountable, that belief wouhl be staggered,
unless they were too well established. On the afternoon
of Wednesday the 7th inst. Master whose parents
reside in Percy-street, Tottenham-court-road, was at
home for the purpose of spending his half-holiday.—
The boy, who is an interesting lad, about twelve years
of age, had been at a boarding-school for some time in
the country, and was placed at a day-school in the
neighbourhood, in order to have the assistance of masters
to prepare him for a public seminary. On the day
above-mentioned, he was permitted to go out by his mother,
to call upon the relations of the family. He went to an
aunt residing in Gloucester-street, Queen-square, who tried
to persuade him to spend the afternoon with her, as he
was a great favourite. The boy reluctantly declined,
stating that his mama had enjoined him to be home to
dinner at five o'clock, and he had to call upon another
aunt in Dean-street, Soho. After leaving his aunt in
Gloucester-street, he proceeded to Dean-street, and there
the aunt on whom he called, insisted on his stopping
to dinner. In the course of the evening she requested
him to go on an errand to a tallow-chandler in St.
Martin's-lane, for the purpose of reminding him of an
order which had not been attended to. The boy pro-
ceeded on this mission, and was not heard of until Tues-
day morning last. The agony of his parents and all his rela-
tives may be easily conceived when he did not return home.
Alarm was at first felt by his father and mother, but not
considerable, as they knew whither he had gone ; but
when the night arrived, and that night was passed in sleep-
less agony, inquiries were instituted. Search was made at
the hospitals, workhouses, and all other places to which
any person might have been conveyed who was the victim
of transitory accident, but without avail, and until last
Tuesday's post arrived from Bristol, the parents' terrors
were not removed by the intelligence that their darling boy
was alive. A letter then arrived from a. gentleman who
has a seminary in that city, at which, by good luck, the
child had been for six years ; and in this letter the extra-
ordinary account is given of the transaction which we
now. notice. According to the statement contained in
this letter, the boy had only gob as far as the corner
of Chandos-street, in St. Martin's-lane, when he was
seized by a ruffian, who clapped a gig in his mouth,
and placed a plaister over it: In this state he dragged
the boy down to a house in Fleet-market, and there
kept him until the night-coaches left town. The boy was
then placed upon a Bristol coach by the ruffian, after the
plaister and gag had been removed, but was so terrified and
astonished at the adventure, that he could not complain to
the coachman or guard. There were no other passengers
upon the coach, and in a state bordering upon stupefaction,
the youth was conveyed to Bristol by the next morning.
On the journey he knew not whither he was going ; but
when he arrived in Bristol, he immediately recognized the
spot where he had spent his more juvenile days; and,
taking to his heels, flew to his old preceptor, while the
ruffian who had kidnapped him was taking some refresh-
ment in a public-house.
The parents have sent for the boy, but we cannot at
present assign any probable cause for this unaccountable
transaction. In a day or two we shall be able, perhaps, to
give a snore minute detail of the particulars.
The offender has at present escaped, but can be identified,
and it is to he hoped will shortly be brought to justice.—
' Morning Paper.