Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-23
A DUPE TO VILLAINY.

Kings Bench Prison, London. The following
extraordinary case is one Of the NUM- in.
stances in which his vanity and credulitY were
worked opon with success.
Seven ye,r5 ago he rented furnished house
! in Park street, where he was surrounded by the
most dashin, swindIers. One Of the a'erniry,
Captain in the Army, wormed himself into
the confidence Of Meredith, whose house wa:
Immediately opposite 10 that OF noble Lord
who had two or ,hree beautiful daughters. Me-
redilh fAncieG hin self beloved by one Of these
young ladies', aud his friend encouraged the
! fancy for his own purpose, and told Meredith
that if he managed the thing well, he might
gel the girl. The first thing BE- done TO
procure an interview, and Mercdith's friend
! recommended an immediate sponnSnce
| a love-lrtrer was written 20 the lady by the
! lover, and the Captains servant, who WAS to be
well paid, was employed to deliver 1t. This
lrusly messenger delivered the letter TO his
master, who wrote answer in the lady's
name, stating her regret that she could not see
her dear Meredith: as she was obliged 10 go
of to leland in consequence Of his MaJrstv's
determination TO Visit that country. where she
hoped TO see her beloved. MEREDITH, deligh ID
al this avowal propo ed an immediate Journey,
and reque steG the Captains COMPANY The
latter replied, that the ,hing required great
i-caution and saS,, and thai as be ow ! 3OOl or
1901. in Ireland; he cou.d net face ma, country
without that sum. The difficulty was soon
removed. The Captain go the required "a
mount from his dupe, aud of to Dublin they
went; where the correspondence was resumed,
the answer OF the young lady becoming 81 warm
that Meredith wrote 10 her 10 run off with him
at once. "Yes," said she, IN her reply, 81 vii
run away with you, but, unfortunately, my E,m-
ly have become acquainted with my passion for
YOU aud are resolved TO taxi me off TO The seat
Of Nobleman, about 60 miles from town.
shall, however, write 10 you, and let You know
how to proceed" The letter concluded with
slrong appreciation Of the address and talent Of
the servant in managing the correspondence.
This was severe check to Meredith's hopes,
but the Captain cheered him up, aud told HIM
hut his servants assistance would release
gill from the protection of the Devil himself
Another letter was SENT and anolhe received.
The lady described her situation as wielched
in the extreme, and vowed that she could only
Jc happy with her lover, but she could not
move wihost Grbing the servants, for Which
purpose she required couple hundred pounds
The money was supplied, and the time Of
starting was appointed. Meredith was 10 be
ready with his carriage at spot adjoining the
estate on which she was on a visit. He was
punctual.
After having waited for some sine in great
suspense, he perceived lady, elegantly altired,
running hastily towards him. "O dear Mcre> |
18th" she exclaimed, 81 am pn:suGd-t: SER
my life" cried Meredith, and he lifted her into
the carriage. "Hallow!" said two or three
savage looking fellows, who ust sprung out Of !
a ditch, with cuGgels M their hands, "where
are you ga!!oping with our young misiress?",
and, without more words they laid rheil sticks
50 heavily upon the poor inamorafo'S shoulders,
that he yielded up his prize without any further
effort, and drove off in state Of mind and body
not easily TO b. described. 3ut, although Me-
re6iIh's ardour sustained some abatement, tina.
oi the young lady was as ardent as ever
She wrote 10 him, depoting the mishap, aud
told him that her father had resolved TO send
her TO Paris, where she hoped to see the only ,
man she ever loved, and marry him. The
credulous fool still believed hat all was real. ;
and asked his friend, the Captain, to accompa- .,
ny him; bu, the latter spoke Of the expense, G
ana said, that upon such an occasion they ,
ought to have at their command at least ,oOOl !
Meredith had already overdrawn at his bank
'rs; but, at the suggestion of his friend he ac-
;tpted bills 10 that amount, aud handed them I,
o the Captain, who proposed 10 go al on-e q
q FraEce, and said that the money should :
olIow them; as his friend, who discounted ;,
hem, bad promised TO forward the amount ;,
o Paris. The advice was adopted, but no girl Il
vas 10 be found, and no money was forthcoming :.
he Captain then said he would return TO as
ertain the cause Of the delay,bul Meredith was =
ot long by himself, when he learned tina, his .,
sinerested friend had got the bills cashe,i, * :.
etermined to keep the produce for the trouble ):
e hac been at in aiding the acccptor in his pro-
ct Of noble connexion. At the same moment
hat he recei, this disheartening intelligence, g.
letter arrived from the lady, dated London, * Il
pcalling her lover from France A: length =, "
c suspected thai he wa ,ricked, and upon his -,
e'urn to England, he dispatched friend to the 6,
'oblcman, with the whole OF the correspond -,
nee, which was at once declared to be nothing -
Ut hoax, by his Lordship; who said that his :,
aughter had been in Hampshire all the time Il
lr. Meredith was wandering ABOUT on his ~
.uixotic expedition SO blind wa, The unfor, '.