The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-12-26 00:00:00

FOR ''fill ST3TES.II.I.V.

[The Hero of the fol:owitig story w.lll the brother of
our present Quee:t. Of the truth of the narrative there
is no reas in to donht ; it having been given to the
writer OM the spot where the occurrences took place
to which it refers, awl bring now related without ex-
aggeration or embellishment. The point of view in
ahich the Magistrates are exhibited is designed to ex-
pose, not the legal exercise of authority, but the inso-
lent and silly abuse of power; and is displayed, not
as a political excitement, but as a tale which the
writer had many times told, and which years ago he
would have published had lie had an opportunity.]
Shortly after the celebrated fete at Carlton House,
a foreigner, apparently of condition, alit gli unat-
tended, stopped at the Lion, at Shrewsbury and pro-
ceeded from thence to Oswestry, which is a town
eighteen miles from Shrewsbury, upon the borders of
romantic North Wales.
'I he post-boy, who drove this stranger, returned to
Salop with his mouthful of wonders. The gentleman
had dismissed him before they came ti; the turnpike.
at least a mile from the town—hail taken his leg-
gage, which was only a !mg, in his hand, and had
given him (amazing '.) a go!den scrim-shilling pieta
for himself. An these surprising and suegsieions
circumstances were communicated its iffftifffl confi-
deem by this cottsdrntious postilion to his master,
Aid by his master to the tees! artAoritime, who Wait,
With Lased their warrant, and sent a posse to OM.-
try in pursuit of this Guy Faux.
Arrived at Oswestry, at the sign of the Cross Foxes,
they most fortunately .. fell in with" this mysterious
man. It was the very " seek" of time. He was in
his robe de chanihs... as if ready for bed. Pens, ink,
Itc. were on his tatik, awl he was actuallyfaii n::
dotes • sheet of paper to ("001014Hr( a letter, when he
war thus prorieleatially arrested.
In deshabille as he was, he wis hurried into the
very same chaise in which he had come, and driven be
the very same postbuy back, a prisoner to Shrews-
bury.
The usual ery of " Frenchman," " Foreigner,"
" Spy," was raised, and a crowd collected about the
inn ; treachery, tremion, explosion, 'tar:: lanterns, gun-
powder. se/filighting matches, were all called into ex-
istence by the terrified imaginations of the Salopians,
and by the vigilant fears of the magistracy.
A Quo. um was assembled, before whom this myste-
rious man miscalled upon instantly to give an account
lof himself, which he seemed must unwilling to do.
His reluctance to give an account of liiiiis..lf, and a vi-
sible embarrassoieut of manner were rrry properly de-
termined by :$1 . . Quorum, to be unequivocal proofs
of his guilt, and lie was for his coatmnacy ordered
from their presence into a eeeure apartment and placed
under a guard, not of pirates but of offlecie, whilst the
justices deliGerated.
The dread and threat of confinement, and being as
he actually was, confined, induced him at last to re-
veal his name. With great agitation, and a request
that it might be /rep a secret, he declared himself to
be Tule foam or lita*PiSN leK.
Local Magistrates are not so easily " gulled" with
a " Canterbury tale." " Duke of Brunswick '."—
How dare the fellow? ll'here was the roach and sin,
the outriders, the valets! No, Sir, be was as an
strangers are (I mean those who do nut cut a
splendid fi,rure,) who excitithe curiosity of a very moral
country town. A fellow fled from justice ; a prison-
breaker ; a spy ; a swindler;- at all events he was an
impostor. An iersigaito never once entered into their
domesticatrd--their local heads.
Those very polite and local Gentlemen did not scru•
pie to communicate their very liners! decision to this
stranger. In plain, but Itessest John Bollishnerr, their
verdict was, ...V. Dose of Hato in tcg--ace a most
•evactous IMPOSTOR."
Indignant at their insolence, anxious to he released
from their restraint and vulgarity, hot bapeleis .4
any relief from them; he proposed that if they would
send for Mr. C-- F-------, a gentleman of rack and
fortune, who resided nut far off, k li would set all right ;
he would instantly recognise him. This proposal was,
merely for experiment, obeyed.
Mr. F—. as metal and vigilant, though not vite
so polite as his local brethren, heard the marrellons
story with all necessary alarm and suspicion, awl re-
solved to act with all becoming motion in this most
important if/air. The tale, no doubt, use communi-
cated to him with all the safeguards of emP.,gera.iun
and prijudire. et
Upon the introduction of Mr. F----, the 61 le/imager
was perabitted to ask him " Did he knee Mist" After
a Latinate inspectiOn of his visage and his perton, he,
;Mattered, to the great dismay of the " colprit: and
j the amazing joy of the sage •ions Justices,—" He did

not.