Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-18
Iron the New York Mirror.l
TOM AND BOB, OR A PLOT
DISCOVERED.
BY THOMAS HOOD.

Walk. One evening lately wrapped in
my meditations, l remained till it was
very dark, and the Park was nearly
empty. | had taken my station under
a large tree, near which was bench,
on which two well dressed men were
seated, and apparently in earnest con-
versation. Coming out of my reverie,
began to speculate on the causes
which were most likely to have drawn
my new neighbours to Thu quiet spot.
"Are they" thought ] "members of
parliament, come here to study what
they have to say on some important
question: Are they lovers, seeking
retirement to descant to each other on
the charms ftheir mistresses! Are
they husbands, afraid to face their
wives! Are they"-but all my con-
lectures were put to flight by the first
sentence which reached my ear.
SWELL Tom" said one, "yodr plot is
well laid, but think you will have some
difficulty in disposing of Berkeley"
"Oh, not at ah,'' replied Tom; 81
propose sending him to one Of the West
India Islands, and there are too many
ways there of stoppings aman's breath
for me to be at loss."
els his death absolutely necessarily"
asked the other.
| "Undoubtedly," answered Tom, sfor
you know tho Duke has sworn that Ju.
liza shall never marry Villiers, SO long
as Berkeley is alive
Heaven and earth, thought, swhat
atrocious villains are here? What
Duke are they speaking of? What
Berkeley do they allude toll had no
time for farther reflection.
'True, true, said the other, che must
certainly be put out of the way; bu. |
think your sending him to the West In
dies is clumsey mode of getting rid Of
him. Could not you kill him in DUEL
Nothing could be more easy, my
dear Bob, replied Tom; 'but as dis.
missed Spencer to the other world,
with bullet for his passport, | would
rather try another mode. | think | shall
have aim murdered by slave-driver.,
cannot consent to that, answered
Bob, | don't like the expedient.
Like it or not said Tom, angrily, l
am not aware that it is necessary to
ask your consent in the matter.
Did we not agree to do the thing be-
tween.us, and to 5ivide the cash? asked
his companion; you are inexperienced
in these matters, but | have put a good
many such jobs through my hands al
ready.
Imagine the dismay with which lis
tened to this horrid dialogue! Ny head
swan, my blood ran cold; crept close
to the tree afraid to draw my breath.
| Well, well, said Tom, don't let us
; fall out about it; Berkeley shall die
someway or other. | am glad you
think well of the plot. Our employer
will surely be satisfied, seeing there
are three dukes, seven marquesses, and
nineteen earls engaged in it. The
deuce is in it, if that won't content him.
! Thunder and Lightning! said to N.Y.
self, it is some awful conspiracy is
Matching. Is the town to be burnedl
) Is the house Of commons to be blown
upl
/ When Berkeley is done for, contin.
ued Bob, Villiers will marry Julia.
They will be presented at court, and
: then comes the grand catastrophe. We
there assassinate William.
My brains whirled; / could scarcely
credit my senses; and it was only af.
!, ter pinching my arm that | could be.
lieve / was awake. Is it possible
thought |, that these ruffians could
coolly plot the death of our gracious
J sovereign under the very nose ofhis
palacel Desparadoes that they are.--
! But the king shall live, and Berkeley
shall not be murdered by sTave-drivel
> if | can help it. They had by this time
left the bench, and were walking TO
wards town. Fired with indignation
: | FASTENED after them, guided by tn,
sound of the footsteps. As there wa
no creature near to assist me in secur
ing them, | resolved not to attempt i
: till help was at hand. Step by step,
!, followed them, till they reached Char
! ing-cross, when suddenly springfng for
y ward lseized Bob by the collar, ant
0 called out, Help, help, they are muir
derers! A crowd Immediately gathers
Ie round, and Tom, instead drumming q
r way, stood stock-still. charge 70
all, in the kings name, said to secur
= these twodesperate ruffiansi Bob, VIII
:. had at first remained motionless, no,
:. knocked me down. The police intel
N fered, however and set me on my leg.
! was still as bold ascould be. charp
i'll these two men, said |, Tom and Bol