The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-16
From the Richmond Star.l

About SIX months ago, a man, in the meridian of
le, appeared suddenly in the city and took lodgings
IN verypain house, near the Bell Tavern, on a
cross street, we believe. No one knew him. nor did
he seem TO have any acquaintance in the city. His
address was very gentlemanly and his appearance
indicated rather the man of education and good
standing than one of the humber class. He was
an excellent companion could toss oil his glass and
use smooth tongue, and soon became quite IA
vorlte. He gave his name as Hamilton, from Ayr
shire, Scotland famed portion of the land o. hills,
producing lots OF smart lads and sweet lassies.
In due time Hamilton got fairly settled down, and
lew troubled him with questions, nor did his con-
duct excite cause for any: 1t was at this house that
he became acquainted with MIR. Spence, gentle
man dealing, we believe, between this place and
New York. Ofhim, more anon.
The Scotch are IA wondrous clannish people. The
broad intonatlon and full sounds of their native
tongue never fail TO excite ready response and
II was not singular that the accomplished stranger,
ere long, was brther Scot WI them a.. He man
aged to make acquaintance with some of his most
respectable counrymen, who, delighted at his intel
i.ence, his urbanity and gentlemanly demeanor,
opened their hearts and their houses to him, and in
| bret space he was man of no slight importance
among his counrymen. They liked him-how could
they help It! and as he, was capital boon COM
panon, who right as he TO a hearty reception at
the social board. But this was not enough. He
was rare fellow, and seemed not to want money
but "whar did he KUN fromr There was the rub
HIS own story was that he was down here looking
into matters and things, with the view to specu-
la!ion, and very pausibly he told it too Still time
| might have spoiled his plans; but The cute Sawney
knew his cards and right skiltully he played them.
He needed only to be known as rich man, to clnch
the nail of good favor he had already given.
One day he said to one of his most intimate
friends, that he had some considerable funds, and
he hardly knew what to do with them It was
not, put them in the bankp "Wel, ! suppose l
had better" g How much have you!" "About
$lO,OOO" swell, go with me, and / will introduce
you" So to the Farmers Bank they went, where
Mr Hal lion IDtr rood To tho pol,ta
dent and negotiations opened. His money was In
Treasury Notes.-The very thing the bank wanted
The gentleman showed good deal of tact in making
his sale, which being concluded on satisfactory
terms, they bowed and left; the careful President,
no doubt, thinking over IN his mind whether he
should ask the gentemanly stranger, who, in such
times, had $4,000 to leave idle, to dinner, and
question, and Mr.. Hamilton was asked to dine with
the President of the Farmers Bank. Why not!
From this time all went smoothly. 1t was whispered
down in bank, to the distinguished Mr.. Hamil-
tons credit, and he was made man, weahhy
man. That was enough. Mr.. Hamilton circu-
lated about largely; took dgnitaries by the
hand visited the Governors house was nodding
terms with men of dollars, was no small man at
the Boz dinner, and in fact thoroughly and most
comfortably settled for any small operation he
might feel disposed to undertake. So matters stood
blushlng honors meekly and dscreety, as became
man OF wealth and standing He seemed tho
roughly cat home" Among other pleasant little
parties. to which Mr.. Hamilton condescended to
grant the light of his distinguished countenance
was one, dinner party at an ex-Senators not I'M
known TO fame, where many. OF the ton, among
them the venerable and amlable President of the
Bank of Virginia, (thesc fellows always have a great
penchant for bank ofiicers) were present. At this
feast of the select, Mr.. Hamilton graciously atuned
his pipes for the pleasure of his numerous friends,
and sang for their edihcation, the very significant
words, beginning
|" Little wot ye whats COMM"
sentiment so true and opposite, that one cannot
doubt that the accomplished and musical Mr. Ha-
milton was a bit of wag withal.
| And now commences the Joke. One day kind
friend wanted little money, and as loose change
was not in every mans pocket, he thought it pity
that 50 much of The needful that of Hamon's
should lie idle. The subject preached to him.
and his ready assent to the loan of five or six thou
sands, was obtained. In the negotiations he acted
with consummate SKILL managing his cards to per-
fiction looking at the securities carefully, and
giving his check IN the most approved fashion. The
blind was perfect; and now, who could doubt that
Mr. Hamilton wealthy, courteous generous,
obliging mainland an honest one, too
Things rested in this way for some time At last
the gentleman went to Baltimore and came back
with fair story OF having made some hundreds in
a neat Coffee speculation. This showed him to be
thorough business man. Presently he had word
to say to his friend. He intended to undertake a
drawing on London, to which draft he wanted his
friends endorsement. OF course, there was no
backing out and Mr.. Bamilton's draft on London
was endorsed with a name that we would be glad to
have upon thousand So oursclf. Again the
President Of the Farmers Bank was visited. hands
shaken, and negotiations opened Bills on London
were exactly what the Bank waned-Mr. Hamilton
was gentleman--had deposited $4,000 in bank,
and-hc money for the draft directly in Mr..
Hamiton's brooches pocket In the meantime he
was exceedingly busy attending tobacco sales
went about with samples under his arm, and had
all the appearance OF thrifty, CAREFUL industrious
man.
These matters went on pleasantly, Mr.. Hamilton
was as social as ever, and he looked out sharp,
doubt, for his " Coffee speculation"
3he day Mr. Ha hs sat IN ms sS pn, ne Pa
ger on his nose. :" That draft" said he, "w be
here directly Enough I'm Off" lie was a bust
ness man, cool and quiet. He made extra fuss,
but taking the securities he held for the money
loaned by him, TO his polite and obliging friend the
President of the Farmers Bank, he said his Coffee
speculation would require funds. and he wanted
about $500 on the papers he held; They were all
correct, &c. &c. The President bowed; it was a
done thing, and Mr.. Hamilton got So 900 to specu-
late on Coffee, when probably many of our indus
,rious mechanics and thrifty merchants were unable
to get dollar on good business notes. 1t takes inn
pudence to do these things. Modest worth is kicked
into the gutter. Mr. Hamilton went off on his COT
fee speculation, and in about seven days his draft
London came back, pronounced forgery. The
President started as though he had been shot.
grand swlndler, professional thief and rogue asked
TO dine, in social way. with the President OF the
Farmers Bank Tell it not in Gath Tell il not
ut ALL if you can help it, Such things should die,
Just soon folks &c, good laugh out OF them;
The news, of course, struck the gentleman who
had been bit like a tbunderbot No time was TO be
lost, and he was directly pushing for New York, as
hard as steam could take him.. And now comes the
most curious part OF The whole, While there, he
met spence. and set him upon the scent, with the
promise of rich reward if he got the money In
a few DAYS, Spence reached the city with this ac-
count He met Hamilton in the streets of New
n L .J.. Al, me nt And ITo
accosted him as Hamilton, but il was not until he
limited at the police that he brought him to reason,
and made him admit himself to be the man. They
adjourned TO private room, where the polite and
genflemanly Mr. Hamilton disgorged, first the
money for the draft, say SO 900, and then upon being
farther squeezed, the reward promised, $1,000 was
forthcoming too; and all this to avoid seizure by
the police Spence then LETT him, and made tracks
ton as remarkable as the skill Of Mr. Hamilton, and
a worthy close to plan laid with so much care and