Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-01

FORTUNE HuNrERs.-For the last two or three
years our city, blessed it is with the most beau
tful girls in creation has been with fortune
hunters of every sort, kind, character, and cendi-
ton. Young fellows with a reputation and without
one, in the possession of a passable personal APP
pearance, and totally destitute of any professions
to decency, have resorted to New York from all
parts OF the earth, in search Of large fortunes
The success OF several Frenchmen aud English
men, who came over here, and married rich girls
| some few years since, excited the cupidity and
the love of great many other foreign loafers,
who, believing their chance as good as their pre-
decessors, packed up their worldly goods in poe
ket handkerchief, and with small stock of money,
and plentiful supply of brass, they came post-haste
to this city, to obtain beautiful girls for wives
and with them large fortunes.
This mania for fortune hunting spread over half
of the habitable globe, and brought hther needy adj
venturers and rascals from all parts of creation who
had been induced to believe that all the rich Young
and lovely girls Of America, resorted to the city of
New York in search Of husband. The conse-
ssence has been that this kind of business was car
ried very extensively last winter and the winter
preceding There was great deal Of folly perpe-
trated, much vowing and signing, but very little
dying plenty of filtration, and numberless engage
ments, many or most of which were broken off.
We know Of several of these kind of matches and
engagements that were made ap at the Springs last
summer. all Of which have been broken off the con-
tracing parties arc now running about the country
in all directions; some half crazy, some are
rejoiced, some are desperate, some are nibbling,
some are angling for another bite, and some young
ladies are going to Europe in search of husbands.
One curious adventure Of this kind, has nearly ri
pened to burst up, within the last week. One Of
these handsome fortune hunters who failed in bust
ness and who now boards at one Of the hotels, mad
love to very beautiful girl about three months ago
He swors to her that he was dying fer, and deter
mined to have her. Though amiable and highly ac-
compshed, she had fortune; the instant he found
this out, he left her to return, at which she
was much reJoiced. He then firtsd with Miss -
of street, who has large fortune. Find
ing that her guardian and brother Sishked his cha
racter and conduct, he endeavored to get her to
elope with him. Her guardian and brother had both
refused him admttance into the house; but one day
the brother him knock at the door, when the
servant, whom he had brbed with So, admitted him
The brother followed him into the house, and threat
ened to kick him into the street. The poor for
tune hunter went to his hotel to get his pistols,
threatening to shoot both her brother and guardian
but up to this time he has shst one and there
fear that he w blow out his brains although he
has threatened it, The young lady is in much trouble
and is afraid that her present state is sort Of pun
ishment for breaking former engagement to young
Dutchman. 1t is a curious affair. But would
advise her. and all other young girls, to look twice
before they leap once into the arms Of a fortune
hunter. r