Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-03-18

with his physical system, his mind was nor
SO affected but that he perfectly understood
has situation, nor were his moral sensibiIities
SO perverted but that he felt heartily asham.
ed Of himself. g. .,T -
His reflections were not of the most agree.
able character us he approached his dwell
ling; nor were they essentially improved as
he entered and noticed the saddened counte-
Dances of his wife and daughters, whose
| gushing tears soon told him how bitterly
painful 10 the soul it was to have husband
and q father come home drunk. He sat
down and unused a while in silence. At
length he reused himself from his stupor, and
with determined tone demanded: !" Where's
my inch auger2" So strange question, in
these circumstances, only added to the sor-
rows of the afflicted family, and they thought
| it best TO let it pass in silence. The question
was soon repeated in still more determined
tore, Where is my inch auger?" " What in
| the world do you want of your inch auger 2"
| inquired his wife mildly. IL want it," was
the reply: The inch auger was produced
He took 1t and commenced boring with all
the energy he was capable into his wooden
mantle-iree. The work was soon completed
and the chips were seen dropping from the
further side into the fire. "There wife,
said he, gill drink no more rum till that hole
grows up." ...E .-... IT,
There was bis plcdge-and having it be-
lore MS eyes as he rose in the morning, and
every time he entered his dwelling during
the day, IL doubtless had a much greater in
tluence upon him than if it had been locked
up in the desk of the Secretary of the Tenn
perance society-and TO his beloved family
the inch auger hole in the wooden mantle
tree was undoubtedly the most valuable
chimney ornament; that could possibly have
been DEVISED Maine Temp Gag.
Hazardous Enterprise "A little moro than
century ago, England was indebted to Ita-
Iy for the greater part of her thrown silk
The superiority of the Italians over the En-
glish in the art Of silk, throwing, was held by
the former of SO great value, that the penalty
Of death was prescribed by their laws against
any one who should make known to q for
eigner the secrets of their manufactures
In this state of things, Mr.. John Lombe, the
youngest Of three brothers of that name, en-
gagged in the silk trade, proceeded to Leg
horn, in the year l7l5, upon the hazardous
enterprise Of endeavoring to possess himself
of knowledge Of TIE silk machinery of that
country.
On his arrival, and before he became
known IN that country, he went. accompani-
ed by friend, to see the Italian silk works.
tions; no person was admitted except when
the machinery was 10 action, and even then
he was hurried through the rooms with the
most jealous precauion. The CELEBRITY of the
machinery rendered it impossible for Mr..
Lombe TO comprehend all the dependencies
and first springs of SO extensive and compli.
Gated work. He went with various per-
sons in various habits-as gentleman. n
priest, or lady /; and he was very generous
notion or q SvBgs B b eqa as neyer find an
ton which his object required.
Despairing Of obtaining adequate informa-
ton from such cursory inspection as he was
enabled to give, he Bethought himself of as
sociating himself with the clergy. and being
man of letters, he succeeded in ingratiating
himself with the priest who confessed the
family 20 which the works belonged. He
seems to heve opened his plans, partly at
least, TO the person, and it is certain that he
found means to obtain his cooperation. Ac-
cordine to the scheme which they had PLAN
ned between them, Mr.. Lombe disguised
himself us youth in want Of employment.
The priest then introduced him to the direc-
tor of the works, and gave him good char
acter for honesty and diligence. and descr'o-
ed him us Injured to greater hardships than
might be expected from his appearance
He was accordingly engaged as hiIatoc-
|
called. His mean appearances procured him
accommodation in the place which his de-
sign made the mos, acceptable to him-the
| mill. While others slept, he was awake ana
diligently employed in his arduous and dam
gerous undertaking. He had possessed hin1-
self of a dark lantern Undertook, wax cam
die, and case Of mathematical instruments.
! In the day time these were secreted in the
hole under the stairs where he used to sleep;
and no person ever indicated the least Curl
osity to ascc,tnin the extent OF the possess
sions Of so mean n lad. He thus went on
making drawings of every part Of this very
grand and useful machinery; the priest Of
len inquired after his poor boy at the works,
and through his agency, Lombe conveyed
his drawings 10 Gloser Unwins; with him
models were made from the drawings, ana
despatched to England piece-meal IN baies
ofsilk. These originals are still, we beiieVes
preservedin the Derby mills.
After I4ombe had completed his design, ne
still remained at the mill, whiting until an
English ship should be on the point OF sail
ing for England. When this opportunity
happened. he left the works and hastenea ON
board. But meanwhile his absence had oc-
casioned suspicion. and an Italian or'g was
despatched in pursuit But the English YES
sci bappily proved the better sailer OF the
two, and escaped. II is said the priest was
put to the torture; but the Gentleman's Ma.
gazine. 10 which we are indebted for most Oh
Inc facts we have stated. says that, after Ml-
Iombe's return TO England, an Italian priest
was much in his company; and ne - "a
oninion that this was either the priest M
Question. or ri least another coniederaie III 'n no
same nffair MIR. Lonbe also brought over
9th him two natives, accustomed 10 the