The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-04 00:00:00

PO LICE.
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RAISING THE WIND.

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MANSIO/I.lloVsl4—ThUraday IWNi, a private
belonging to tho Kent Militia, underwent a second
elaminatiou, charged with being a rogue ainl im.
pester.
The circumstances attached to the conduct of
the defendant are rather singular. It appeared
that this son of Mars had obtained a furlough
(rpm his regiment to visit his friends in London.
tin his arrival in town, his money was exhausted,
and he resorted to the following stratagem to raise
the wind :—Having heard that a soldier belonging
to the Tower Hamlets had acquired much profit
and celebrity for curing all disorders incident to
the human frame, he resolved also to follow the
profession of Aesculapius. With his remaining
pence he accordingly purchased a few phials,
which ho filled with mustard and water, brim-
stone, milk, and other compositions. He then
made his enlrc-in• the peblim-housea about %Visite.
chapel, Spitalfields, and Bishupsigate.street. He
well knew it was necessary to fellow the example•
of our modern empyrics, and assume a viruses.
though he had it not. His deportment in regi.
mental' *as, of course, changed for the grave
countenance and gesteres,of a Doctor. Ile told
his auditors that he had 'Weed botany from his
infancy, and by the aid of herbs and plants he
was enabled to perform cures that would astooiah
Galen himself. His lectures soon drew a number
of credulous people around him, many of whom
laboured under severe disorders. Anxious to gain
relief (no matter from whom), they bought the
soldier's compounds, and he soon collected up.
wards of 40s. in return for his mixtures. A poor
weaver, who had been long afflicted with bad eynif
'purchased a bottle of stuff for 15d. The soldier
told him the composition was worth at least 3011,.
and that none but a poor man should have it at
the rate he had sold it. The weaver said hr bad
been long under the hands of several Surgeons
•witliout having obtained relief, and our military
hero had the politeness to observe, " TniSnr-
geons of London are fools—what I have given
yob will do more good than they can do." Un.
fortunately the ne,aver applied the mixture to his
eyes—it was spirits, mustard, and water, and
other inflammatory ingredients, which increased
his disurder. Several other persons he had served
in a similar way, and when his deception could no
longer be coucualed, he was given in charge 'to a
constable.
The impostor made his appearance at the Man.
sion-house, followed b' a numerous body of sick,
lame, and blind, who attended to give evidence
respecting the various impositions he had prac.
tised.
When called upon for his defence, he produced
his furlough, and said he came from Ashford bar.'
racks. He confessed that he had bought the me-
dicine which he had given the people, and pre-
, tended that he was in a state of intoxication %% hen
he sold it. He observed, in a very simple tone—
" Your Worship, I had drunk a little too much,
and when intessieated, your Warship, I don't
know what 1 am doing."
Here the Atderman, who officiatel for the Lord
Mayor, said, " I'll try if I cannot induce your
officers to pot a few marks on your hack, to make
you remember what you have done."
The people who had been swindled, requested
a restitution of their money, but the soldier as.
serted very coolly, that ha bad not a penny in his
pocket.
Toe Magistrate then ordered the facts of the dc.
fentlatit's conduct to be written on the back of
his furlough, which was nearly expired ; and lie
dismissed him to juin his regiment, where he is
likely to meet with proper punishment.