Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-12


ofhours, as she had some new musical produc-
ton, which she wish to steady with her. The
mother readily gave her consent and the daugh-
ter left the house, taking with her large music
book, but dispensing with the usual attendance OF
her footman, assigning reason the short dis
lance she had to go. Not the slightest suspicion
was entertained OF any sinister design on her
part, as her manner wasAfree from ernbarrass-
rnent, and she had on that day been perfectly af-
fectonate I'd her mother. The period allotted
fer her stsy had been for some time past, when
her mother despatched one of the servants to re-
conduct her home from her friends's house. In
n few minutes the servant returned with the in
telligence that she had never been there, nor
had any letter requesting visit been sent. The
feelings of the distressed mother may be irua-
gined for, on receiving this account, she natrI-
rally concluded that q second and successful
attempt had been made to carry her daughter
oTagainst her will The servants were sent
in various directions to endeavor to gain the
slightest trace. They returned with as much in
formation as they set out, for not the smallest
clue could be found. Notice was sent to every
coach Office in Londou, to intercept the flight of
the fugitives, If they should attempt leaving
town by any of the mail or stage coaches. All
the toll collectors in the environs of the metrop.
oils were applied to for the purpose Of discover
ing if any carriage containing persons answer.
Ing the supposed description had passed through
their respective gates. All was in vain: every
inquiry was fruitless /; no tidings whatever could
be gained to the direction they had fled liz.
Things had remained in this state for two OF
three days, when the hustle and confusion incl
dental to an occurrence like this having in a
small degree subsidized, the absence of the iden-
t.cal groom was noticed, and it was then obsery-
ed that he had not been seen since few hours
before the servant brought the fictitious letter !;
and ON inquiry being made at his usual lodging,
his wife was found with two children, left quite
destitute, and stated that he had been absent
from her about week. No idea wac, however,
entertained that he was the partner of the young
lady's flight, but it was generally concluded that
he was accessory to her departure, and had been
the principal agent by whom she was entrapped
into the power of those who mad Carried her off
Under these circumstances, application was
made, by t.i, advice of several of the mothers
friends TO the head police Office, for the assis-
lance of Que of the most active and intelligent
officers on the establishment, WHO was to be en-
ploycd in endeayOring to trace out the route the
runaways had taken, or to discover what had
become Of the young lady. The officer select
ed for this purpose, was one of considerable "a
bility, who had been employed in similar mis-
sions before; and on detail of the whole circum-
stances being given to him, he first caused
strict inquiry to be made amongst the servants,
from whom nothing was elected for considera-
bic time, but by dint of persevering in the inter-
rogadon of one of them, who from his manner the
officer was induced to suspect knew more than
he was inclined to tell, it was at last drawn out
that he had frequently seen the groom and his
Eyoung mistress convcrsing very freely together,
and had witnessed, on one occasion, his young.
mistress thrown her arms round the groon,s
neck and repeatedly kiss him. He heard
h.,r md fail
or they should be obscrved she burst into tears,
and then went up into her own apart
meuts. He was induced, from observing this
and several other similar circumstances, to
watch at night; and short time sfter all the
family were supposed to have retired to rest, he
saw the young lady come from the house into her
might cloths, and cross the yard to the stable,
where, after looking up at the house, to see that
she was not observed, she went into the stable,
ana in few minutes the groom followed with
aHght he heard them bolt the stable door, and
then, by means of pair of steps, raised HIM
self up to look through small window, when
what he saw confirmed his suspicious.
The discovery of these facts fully provided
with whom the young lady had eloped, and the
difficulty now was, to discover where they were
gone--Considerable perplexity occurred in
ascertaining this, as no trace of their having
Quilted London could be gained 1t was, there
fore, supposed that they had taken an obscure
lodging in town, where they intended to remain
until the heat of pursuit should have subsidized
aud then to leave the country. The officer,
however, succeeded in finding out that persons
answering this description had been seen on the
road to Liverpool. From this clue it was ascer-
tanned that they had gone to Liverpool about a
fortnight since; that they arrived about twelve
O'clock in the day, evidently much fatieued,
and had apparently walked along way. They
went to one of the meanest public houses in the
town, and the lady retired to a room up stairs.
where she was followed by her companion. She
in his presence changed her shoes and stockings.
large quantity OF luggage was shortly after
brought by porter, and they then hired an a
partrnent for week, at the expiration of which
time the luggage was taken away in hackney
coach, and they had not since been heard of.
The landiady OF the public house said, that on
coming down stairs one day, the door of the room
IN which they lodged being open, she observed
the lady on her knees in a duplicating attitude
towards the man, who was standing, and appear
ed to be inilamed with passion. She presently
afterwards heard the lady sobbing violently.
Application was then made to the police at Lii
verpeoi TO find out the coachman who con-
veyed away the luggage, but after several DAYS
spent IN fruiess inquiries it wes given UP as i'm
possible. However, the officer from London
knowing that if the coachInan was not discover
ed, all further trace was extinct, resolved by
some means TO come at him, and for that purpose
set about the inquiry himself, and in two DAYS
succeeded in finding out the identical coachmaD,
who at first acknowledged carrying the parties,
but then denied it.
The truth, however, was got out by the we'll
timed application of E5 note, which so re-
treshed his memory, that he has been able to say,
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