Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-03-18
Russian PiclSpOckats.

Inc FrenCh A'nOassad0r was one day talk-
ing TO prince of the imperial house of Russia
about the extraordinary deXterity of the Pari-
sian thieves, and relating a variety of anec-
does concerning their feats. The grandduke
expressed his opinion that the Petersburgh
pickpockets were quite as clever and to re-
move all doubt on that point from the mind of
the ambassador. he offered to lay him wager
that, if he would dine with him on the follow
ing day, before the removal of the desert his
watch, ring, ard everything else belonging to
his toilet that was not firmly fastened to his
clothes, should be stolen. His excellency ac-
cepted the wager, and the grand-duke immedi-
ately despatched messenger to the director
ofthe police, with request that he would
send him the cleverest and adroitest pickpock.
ct then in custody. He was put into foot
mans livery, fui nished with the necessary in
structions, and promised exemption from pun
ishment and his liberty if he performed his bu-
siness well. The ambassador mentioned his
watch as the article to which the principal at.
tention both of himself and the thief would ma
turally be directed, and the new servant was
ordered to give the grand-duke q sign as soon
as he had secured it. The dinner commenced;
the first course came and was removed the
Greek, Spanish, and French wines, red and
white, glistened in turn in the glasses. The
ambassador was particular careful Of his watch;
and the grand-duke, observing his caution, smi-
/ led sometimes kindly, sometimes half sarcasti-
cally. The new footman was always bustling
about, minging among the o.her servants chan
! ging plates and handing wine. The dinner
was drawing towards a conclusion, and the
grand-dukc was still waiting impatiently for
the preconcerted sign from the thief who, how.
ever, seemed to be completely taken up in
waiting upon the company. All at once the
grand-dukes countenance frightened up, and
turning to the ambassador, who was absorbed
in conversation with his neighbors, he asked
him what O'Clock it was. The ambassador
clapped his hand triumphantly to his pocket,
where a few minutes before he had felt that
his watch was safe, and to the amusement OF
the whole company, but especially of the impe-
rial entertainer, he drew from it a ncatly-trim-
med turnip. Universal laughter ensued, and
the ambassador was somewhat disconcerted
He would have taken a pinch to compose him.
self, but having felt in all his pockets, he dis.
covered with horror that his gold snu:box was
gone too The laughter was redoubled. In
his embarrassment and mortfcatio lion he clapped
his hand as he was in the habit of doing, tc
| =, a., Lon I'll ls,,
which he wore upon it--but thai also was gone
In short, he found that he was completely plum
dered of every thing that was not firmly at
tached TO his dress-ring, snufi:boy, handker-
Chief, gloves, toothpick, keys. The performer
OF this sleight of hand was then brought for
ward. The grand-duke ordered him to restort
the stolen articles, and was not a little surpri
sed to see him produce two watches. and hant
one to himself, and the other to the ambassador
two rings, one of which he gave in like manner
10 the grand-duke, and one 10 the ambassador
and two snufi-boxes, one for the grand,duke
and the other for the ambassador. The prince
now felt in ama2ement in his pockets, as The
ambassador had done before, and found that b,
had been plundered in the very same name
as the latter. He assured his excellency tha
he was totally unconcious of the matter, ant
was going to chide the rogue soundly, but be
thought himself, and thanked him for having
enabled him in so signal manner to win hi
wager lie made him a handsome present
and procured his immediate liberation, admon
shinp him for the future to apply his talent
to more useful purposes-hohrs Russia an,
the Russians