Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-29

that negro child had been missing on
the preceding evening, from the resi-
deace of his father in Kent county, Ie!a-
ware, and was supposet+ t. have aeen
kidnapped: immediately proceeded TO
the place about ten miles distance where
the child was said to be missing. On my
arrival found the parents OF the child
with some OF their nsishbdrs assembled
in the GOODS about half nile from their
dwelling, whose cries aad screams, oCca-
stoned bs the loss of the child, had siarm-
ed the ne'ghbOrhood aad brought the in
habitants together irum tie distance .!
Several miles. Language cannot depict
NY feelings when | arrived at the spot,
aud saw the tears fast rolling down their
sable cheeks, while the Father FIRE i1cntly
tn ew himself with violence on the ground
beating his breast and exciaimihg, 40
my child. my sou could onls have
followed you to the grave /! would to God
that my child had only died, OF had never
been born but now he is stolen, and
will be carried to Georgia where snal!
| never sec Hul IOtCs
On examination, [ learned that the
child had been sent home from the field
where he had been with his father, dur
ing the day Of the s2d, aud that about
sun down he had been heard TO scream
a,oud in the woods through which bis
path led. This was The only information
/ could then obtain. Soon after was
informed BY black man that two u Ell
Of suspicious charac ers had been seen on
the same day scouting through the afore-
said woods. I therefore commenced a
diIigent search with full determination to
fud the child. On the night Of the Gath
I accommodated North West fork bridge,
the place Of general rendezvous Tor these
nerciless beings who deal in the flesh Oi
their fellow men. On the 25th we had
major Maddox arrested on suspicion, and
learned from him that the child had been
stolen and taken by certain Jeremiah
NicOls, and was concealed in tue neigh
borhoOd Of Punch Hall, Caroline county,
Md. A company Of gentlemen OF the
first respectability, volunteered their SER
wees, and We proceeded to the great
swamp near the liue OF Delaware, and
af;e- sea ching the swamp found where
sue person had kindled fire, and APP
p4rentIy ,e,ed some days; here have
since learn. he child was kept. From
thence &c proceed 20 Punch Hall where
we found several adividuals, who had
the character of beng concerned in the
nsfariUus practice Of h mapping. On in
quiry they denied in toe most positive
manner, having any knowledge Of the
hoy. We proposed making search, which
was refused By the occupant Of the house
we then commenced searching the ont
houses, and after considerable time.
found the child in the middle IF a large
stock of fodder that had been placed over
the child with la,se square hollow in
the middle--the wretch Who had placed
hun there, standing sy, While We were
at the placed 4 southern trader arrived
% whom lesrned thE Child had been
scl1.
Thus through tbe aid of kind Prov.
dence we we.e enabled to restore tie dis
Consulate father anu mother, their lost
infant, who had been torn lrOm their
fostering care, aud concealed 6rst in d
sws,np, aud then in . fodder stock for ST.
,eral days upwards OF twenty miles from
the place Of his residence. Nothing could
exceed the JOY evinced by his parents on
his restoratlUn, While they embraced him
with an ardOur OF affection only to be
imagined by parent; their eyes fixed
On their bere.acIors puGl Ell forth floods
of tears. ...,,..
How strongly does the foregoing plead
for energetic measures against The c. ueI
practice Of kidnapping. Parents DO you
love your children do their little play.
full acts amuse and eBllven your freside
when they Chamber on yo&T knees and ex'
cite warm feelings OF affection : Oh then,
remember the Pnor Alrica0, who car
feel keenly as you ; is as susceptible Of
pain and pleasure, but who IS iolehdlesi
and uuprotected-r-mepbcr the satfer'
luss to which he is exposed by the ava
rice oil man, aud stretch forth hiendly
arm to aid him. His blessing will lest
upon you, his prayers will rise sweet
Incense before the Great Supreme oG
your behalf. ,.ad call down his favor upor
you: YOU wiig cap in this world an hun
deed fold, aud in that to GENE lie ever
lasting,
-sH ESQ - ~