American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1825-09-30

Meg Merrilies.-We extract the following par
culars Of Jean Gordon the Gipsie, (the Meg Mer-
rifles of Guy Mannering'') from work, just
published in Edinburgh, entitled illustrations Of
the Warerly Novels"
tits impossible to specify the exact date of her
nativity, though it probably about the year $40
She was born at Kirk Yetholm, in Roxburghshire,
the metropolis Of the Scottish gpses, and was mar
ried to gypsy chief, named Patrick Faa, by whom
she had ten or twelve children. In the year 17l4,
one OF Jeans sons, named Alexander Faa, was MUIR
dered by another gypsy, named Robert Johnston,
who escaped the pursuit of justice for nearly ten
years, but was then taken and indicted by his ma
iesty's advocate, for the crime. He was sentenced
to be executed, but escaped from prison. 1t was
easier, however, to escape the grasp OF justice than
to elude the wide spread taons of gypsy vengeance
Jean Gordon traced the murderer like blood hound;
followed him to Holland, and from thence to Ireland,
where she had him seized, and brought him back to
Jedburgh. Here she obtained the full reward other
tolls, BY having the satisfaction of seeing him hang
ed on the Gallowhill. Sometime afterwards, Jean
being at Sourhope, a sheep farm on Bowmont-wa
ter, the good man said to her, WeeI Jean, ye hse
got Rob Johnston hanged at last, and out o. the
way!' sAy, gudeman.' replied Jean, lifting up her
apron BY the TWO corners, and a. that iu' o. gowd
hasna done't.' Jean Gordon's apron 'fu' O. gowd'
may remind some OF our readers of Meg Merrilies
forcibly recalls The stern picture of that intrepid he
roine.
The circumstance in Guy Mannering,' of Brown
being indebted to Meg Merres for lodgings and
protection, when he lost his way near Derncleugh
finds remarkably precise counterpart In an ancc-
dote related by Jean Gordon :-A farmer, with
whom she had formerly beeii on good terms, though
their acquaintance had been interrupted for several
years, lost his way, and was benghted among the
mountains Of Chesiot. A light gmmering through
the hole of dcsolate barn, that had survived the
farm house to which it once belonged, guided him
to place Of shelter. He knocked at the door, and
it was Immediately opened by Jean Gordon 10
meet with such a character in so solitary place,
and probably at no great distance from her clan,
was terrible surprise to the honest man, whose rent
to lose which would have been ruin to him, was
about his person. Jean set up a joyful shout Of
recognition, forcedthe farmer to dismount, and in
the zeal of her kindness, hauled him into The barn.
Great Preparations were making for supper, which
the gudeman of I.ochsde, to increase his anxiety,
observed calculated for at least dozen guests
Jean soon left him doubt upon the subject, but
inquired what money he had about him, and made
earnest request TO be made his purse keeper or the
night, The BARNS would soon be home. The
poor farmer made virtue of necessity, told his sto
ry, and surrendered his gold TO Jeans custody
She made him put few shiings in his pocket, OBJ
serving, it would excite suspicion we're he found
travelling altogether pennyless. This arrangement
baing made, the farmer lay down on sort OF shake.
down, upon some straw, but, as will easily be be-
lieved, slept not. About midnight the gang return.
ed with various articles Of plumber, and talked over
their exploits in language that made the farmer
tremble. They were not long in discovering the'r