Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-04-13
From the New-York Gazette.
MAIL ROBBERS.


sion in the French language, addressed to
Mr.. Hopson, one of The Police Magis-
trates. Having procured translation,
we now give IT to the readers of the New.
York Gazette, as an interesting statement.
The writing and punctuation prove that
this unfortunate young mad has been well
educated. He informs us, that he has a
mother, wife and three children, now liv-
ing at Marseilles, that he has been mid
shipnan in the French nagy, aad that his
father was a comm ander of a frigate in
the same service, and was killed in battle.
He is man of handsome address, and OF
apparent candor.
TRANSLATION.
To Mr.. Hopsos, Police Magistrate, Ney.York.
Sir-Ever since | have been confin-
ed, my intention has been to make gene
raj confession Of crime that brought me
to prison. The disordered state of my
mind, together with the shame of being
exposed to the public, has heretofore pre-
vented me. l was waiting TO speak to
some magistrate in prisate-to open my
heart to him, and to convince him that
was not born to be a criminal. had the
happiness of seeing you on Friday morn
ing last the 9th inst. but you were attend
ed by several persons. | however did
confess that 1 was one of the criminals,
and that was DESTROYS of seeing you in
private. You promised TO come and see
me again, and / had the pleasure only to-
day, Sunday and l have relieved my
heart 10 disclosing every particular of my
crime; and you have permitted me to
write the same.
About three months since | left Capt.
John Browu, came to New Y ork, and
boarded at Mr.. JohDson's, Diversified
No. s. employed myself for some
time 10 working on board several vessels.
and l was waiting for the equipment of
a small schooner belonging to Mr.. Rous-
seau, French Captain, No. 81 Pump-st.
who had promised that should go with
him as mate. The delays exhausted my
pecuniaTy means. owed some money
for my board, some to Frenchman who
had lent me money; some to my shoema-
ker, &c. All this rendered my situation
very painful. When was boarding at
Mr.. Johnson's, i became acquainted with
a young countryman of mine, name Ber-
trand. His good temper soon made us in-
innate friends. He was employed in dress
ing leather, and having nothing to do for
some time past. our misery was rendered
equal. About three weeks ago, more or
less, FrenchmaD about % or 80 years
Of age, calling himself Doctor. boarding
in French boarding house, in Vandewa-
ter-street, No. II, came to our boarding
house. He told me that he was the only
seaman at his house at that time that he
was DESTROYS of going to sea as sailor,
or servant. After having made him some
representations on the subject, took him
on board sloop, which was going to sail
for Port. au- Prince, but the captain told us
he had complete crew. He then gave
me picture of his misery, and l felt a
concern in bis favor on account of his
misfortunes. l spoke of him to my friend
Bertrand, and should have been very glad
to help him, but was as miserable as him
self. He came to see us every day, aud
we soon became intimate. At last, one
day, unfortunate day for us he told me
there was some means Of alleviating our
misery without, however, injuring ma
ture that nothing else was crime, but
taking away the life of fellow being
but that it was natural to share with them
part Of their money-that if we were will
ling to help him 10 his object Bertrand
and y we should go on the Philadelphia
road-stop the mail stage that comes ev-
cry day-and, that, without injuring any
body, we should seize part Of the letters
and that we certainly would find money 10
them. / must confess, sir, and God is
my witness, that my blood was chilled at
these proposals; but the Doctor perceiv-
ing my agitation, soon resumed his philo-
sophical discourse, to try to persuade me,
and we parted without agreeing upon any
thing. This conversation took place in
front Of the door of my boarding house.
went in and told Bertrand what the
Doctor had said. He was as much sur
prised as myself, and we said nothing
more on the subiect.-The next day, the
Doctor took care to call on us again at
our boarding house, and found Bertrand
and myself in our bed room. After
speaking Of various matters, which had
nothing to do with the subject, he resum-
ed the conversation Of the preceding day.
He said all he could and related the many
advantages to those who had been engag-
ed 10 a similar enterprize--that in the
most unfortunate result, that If taken add
convicted, they could only condemn to five
wears Of con6nement-tba he was per-
ISec,iv we'll acouainted with the American