The Litchfield County post., 1827-01-19
EXTREME MISERY.

Gulldh0N.-Y esteIdry afternoon Mir. Rogers, a chemist in Cheapside, brought in poor half naked man of colour, who had just been applying to purchase some arsenic at his shop. From his manner, and his extreme destitute condition Mr. Rogers believed he wanted the arsenic for the purpose of tself-deStruction, and, therc- fore, he very humanely brought him before the alderman, in the hope that by receiv- idg some charitable relief, he might be di- vcrted from his miserable purpose.
 The poor fellow had no clothing, except coarse flannel shirt and very ragged can- vass trowsers, and the alderman, having eomplmented MT. Rogers, upon his hu- manity, proceeded to question the wretch ed being before him, as to who and what he was.
 His story was soon told-IIe was stolen was only seven years old, and sold into slavery at Rio Janeiro, where he was christened Louis Guled After some years, he was brought out of slavery by the cap- tain of an English merchant ship, and on his arrival in England he was re-christen- ed John Hampden. From that time he had been chiefly at sea-sometimes in the the royal navy. He had served on board the Mutine frigate, captain de Courcy, at the siege of Algiers after which he was turned adrift, and had ever since been wan dering about London, unable to obtain em- ployment, and "getting more and more miserable every day"
 "Then, if you could find no employment said the alderman, how have you contri- yed to exist so long!" :" Sometimes l go about trying to gather few bones, he replied, holding, up a tattered bag, and if I can find enough to sell for six pence, pay four pence for my nights lodging, and spend the other two pence in food. But sometimes l can't get enough to buy me crust; and then go without food, and, lie down in the streets at night, until the watchman rouses me up from one place and drives me to another.- ] Twice have been sent to prison, three months each time, for asking for. two or three half pence, when | was so faint and hungry, that could not walk about any ! longer and in prison I have had nothing 1 but bread and water because they said l could get employment if would. i But you went to a chemists shop in cheapside, this morning-what was your object in going there' asked the alder l man.
 Il went for hap worth of arsenic-I had no money he replied. .....
 And what did you mean to do with the arsenic?'
 Why-if I must tell the truth, I meant to use it myself, that there might be an end to me at once. I am sick of hunger and nakedness, and of being brow beat, and put down, and imprisoned, by par eel of fellows; many of them not half so good as myself-for miserable as appear now, am gentleman, if I had my right.
 Alderman Crother asked him if he should like to be sent back to his own country, and he replied-' My country /: I have no country It is thirty years and more since I was stolen from my fathers house: and where am I to look for father or for friends, after thirty years! have no country mo friends-no home |: and it would be better should die out of the way.'
 ] The worthy alderman told him his case 1 certainly appeared worthy of much com misseration, and having pointed out to him 1 the wickedness of self destruction, he gave him couple of shillings for his immediate necessities, and directed that he should be taken care of in the Giltspur street comp ter, until something could be done for him,