Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-11-07
REFORM PRODUCED BY WITNES.
SING THE TRAGEDY OF GEORGE
BARNWELL.

In 1852 during Christmas holidays,
Ross played George BarnwelI, and Mrs.
Prtchard personated Millwood. Soon
after DR.. Barrowdy, physician to st.
Burtholomew's Hospital, was sent for by
a young gentleman in Great St. Helen's,
an apprentice to a merchant Of great
eminence. He found him very i'll with
slow fever, and heavy hammer pulse,
that no medicine could touch. The
nurse told him that he sighed at times so
deeply, that she was sure there was
something on his mind. The Doctor
sent every one out of the room and told
his patient he was certain there was a
secret distress which lay SO heavy on his
spirits that it would be in vain to order
him medicines unless he would open his
mind freely.
! After much solicitation on the part of
the Doctor the youth confessed there was
indeed something lay heavy at his heart,
but that he would sooner die than divulge
it, as it must be his ruin if it was known.
The Doctor assured him, if he would
make him his confident, he would by
every means in his power serve him,
that the secret, if he desired it, should
remain SO to all the world, but to those
who might be necessary to relieve him.
| After much conversation, he told the
Doctor he was the second son of a gentle
man Of good fortune in Herlordshire;
that he had made an improper acquan-
tance with the kept mistress of a captain
of an Indiaman, that he was within a
,.ft nT
ship; that he had been entrusted with
cash, draughts, and notes, with which he
had made free, TO the amount of POOL;
that going two or three nights before to
Drury lane Theatre to see Ross & Mrs.
Pritchard in their characters Of George
Barnwell and Millwood, he was so for
chilly struck, that he had not enjoyed a
moments peace since, and wished to die
TO avoid the shame he saw hanging over
him.
| The Doctor asked him where his ia
ther was? He replied, that he expected
him there every minute, as he was sent
for by his master upon his being taken
i'll. The Doctor desired the young gen.
teman to make himself perfectly easy,
as he would undertake his father should
make all right; and to get his patient in
promising way, assured him if his ia
iher made the least hesitation, he should
have the money from hun.
The father soon arrived; and the Doc
tor took him into another room, and ate
explaining the whole cause OF his SON
illness, begged him to save the honor q
his family, and the life Of his son. III
father, with tears in his eyes, gave him
thousand thanks; said he would step t
his banker, and bring the money. Will
the father was gone, DIR. Barrowby wen
T. to his patient, and told him every thin,
It would be settled in few minutes to hi
:, satisfaction.
% On the return his father, every thin
& was happily settled. The young ma
N imme ediately recovered and lived to be
IN very eminent merchant.
cr DR.. Barrowby never divulged h
I'd name, hut the story he often mentione
ne in the green-room Of Drury lane The'
On tire; and after telling it one night whe
m Mr. Ross was standing by, he said to hir
lie "You have done some good in your pr,
re fession, more perhaps than many a Gle
H. gyman who preached last Sunday" f
he the patient told him that the play hs
a raised such horror and contrition in h
&C. soul, that he would, if should pleas
ito God to raise friend to extricate hi
to out of his distress, dedicate the rest
on his life to Religion and virtue.
;u- Though Ross never knew his nam
et- nor saw him to his knowledge, he recei
for ed for 9 or 10 years at his benefit a nc
cal SET aled up with 10 guineas, and the
the words-A tribute Of gratitude from o
ach who was highly obliged and saved FRI
a to ruin, by seeing Mr. Ross's performar
on of Barnwell."-[ Dramatic Mirror.
ium0
nnpl CAusEs OF LONGEVITY.