Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-17
THE DISTRESSED FATHER.
London Boz street Office.

Henry Newbery, lad of Is years, and
Edward ChidIey, aged II, were fully
committed for trial. charged with stealing
a silver tea pot from The house of X. II.
Cocks. Esq. Grosvenor-place There was
nothing extraordinary in this case the
younger lad was observed TO go down into
the area of the house, whilst his compan-
ion KEEP: watch, and they were caught en-
deavoring TO conceal the teapot under
some rubbish in The Five Fields; but it
was made peculiarly interesting by the IN
sophisticated distress Of NewberTy's Ia
Their.
The poor old man who. it seems, had
been soldier, and is now journeyman
paviour, refused at first 10 believe tina! bis
son had committed the crime imputed 10
him; and was very clamourous against the
witnesses but as their evidence proceed
ed he himself appeared to become gradual
ly convinced. lie listened with intense
anxiety 10 the various details; hut when
they were flushed, he fixed his eyes in ST.
Ience on his Sun, for a second Or two, then
turning 10 the magistrate, with his eyes
swimming in tears, he exclaimed " have
carried him many score miles On my
knapsack, your honor!"
There was something so extremely pa,
thetic in the tone with which this fond. re-
minscence was uttered by the old soldier,
that every person present, even TO the very
gaOIer himself,was affected by it Z" have
carried him many score miles on my
knapsack your honour" repeated the poor
fellow, whilst he brushed away the tears
from bis check with bis rough UNIV ashed
hand, and then continued but it's all
over now!-He has done-and--so have u"
The Magistrate asked him something of
bis story. He said he had formerly driv-
Ell stage coach in the north OF Ireland, y
that be bad a small share in the proprietor
ship of The coach. About that time he mar
r.d young woman with a little properly,
but he tailed in business, and after endu-
ring many troubles, be enlisted as soldier
in the 18th, OF Royal Irish Regiment of
Foot. and went On service with his vile
and four children. Henry, (lhe prisonerl
was bis second son, and his darling
PRIDE" Al the end Of nine years be was
discharged in the country without pen
sion, or a TREND in the world and com
ing to London, be with some trouble, got
employed as paviour, by the gentlemen
who manage the streets at Mary lie bone.
Two years ago, your honour" he con.
tinued, my poor vile was wearied out
with the world, and she deceased from me,
and | was lett alone with The children
and every night | came home washed
their faces, and put them TO bed, and wash
ed their little bits O. things. and hanged
them g the line 10 dry myself--for I'd no
money, your honor, and so | could not
have bousekeeper to do for them you
know. Well, your honor, was as happy
as well could be, considering my wife de-,
ceased from me ; but some bat people
came TO live at the back OF US, and they
were always striving 10 get Henry amongst
them, and | was terribly afraid something
bad would come OF it, as it was but poor.
ly could do for 'em and so ! made up
my mind to take all my children to Ire.
land. II he had only held up another
week, your honour, we should have gone
and he would have teen ssved. But now
Here the poor man looked at his boy a.
gain, and wept and when the magistrate
tried TO console him, by observing that bis
son would sail Tor Botany Bay, and proba-
bly, de well there-he replied, somew hat
impatiently-" Aye, it's fine talking, your
worship | pray to The great God be may
never sail any where, unless he sails with
me to Ireland" and then after momert's
thought, he asked III the bunblest tone i'm
Oh