Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-01-07

VI DeT gunt ue settled, that you address he
with respect. and hear her defence with
candor and attention"
Mr Jennings turned pale, swallowed hi
rage, aud replied Speak, sir speak, sir
! am all candor and attention."
~ beg your pardon" returned franklin
III have answered with too much asperity
But this young lady is perfectly innocent
She has high friends. You will consider
her under the protection Of tho American
Ambassador at this Court State TO me
u you please, your reasons for dragging hei
before you in the custody Of policemen"
Awed by Franklins tone, bu, rather in.
furiaied than melted. Mr. Jennings answered
with sarcastic politcuess--
"Certainly, sir. your request is Just one
The case IS this. The young lady came
to my shop this morning. and had brought
out Tor her examination the most expensive
lace. OF which. however, she purchased
none, but, instead, expended ten shillings
for some marrow edging must inform
yon that persons in the dress Of ladies', and
even persons in the rank OF ladies, have
more than once committed thefts Of this
kind, and have ordered one Of the young
men TO watch. This individual saw in a
mirror the young lady. as she was sbont 10
Leave, seize parcel of lace, and carry il
out under cover OF her pocket.handkerchief
We sent directly for policemen-but so
rapid was the flight Of the party, including
yourself, that il was not without considera.
bic difficulty and delay that they were over
taken, when the stolen lace was found 10
her hand We are often obliged 10 forego
the qualification Of Furnishing such INSIDE
meanours by the technical difficulty of prov.
ing the crime upon the criminal. You
preceive how the present case stands.
am willing 10 allow it is but fair you should
be heard, If yon have any thing to say in
reply"
II have much TO saw" resumed Franklin,
smiling with assumed confidence, "enouph
TO satisfy any reasonable man, aud hope
stand before such a one. That the Young
lady took the lace no one can DENY. But
will tell you how she took il. For the
first lime in London. her mind naturally
excited, she was bewildered amid the novel
aud interesting objects around her. The
spIendor Of your establishment dazzled her
eyes and distracted her attention. In COM
pany with her mother aud myself she came
here to see the lace in question, but she
could not have intended to steal il, IL must
answer TO such charge, because ii would
have been impossible for her 10 use such
an article wi,hou, the knowl.dse If her
mother. IL she is a thief her mother and
share her guilt ,herefo,e reoen, % yo,,
that these ladies' can command references
TO raise them above the slightest urearn OF
suspicion-references Sufficient TO satisfy
the most incredulous-the most unressona-
BILE. She is person Of the puresi life and
strongest principles. Not one Of her friends,
and, alter proper examination, not one Of
the public, will ever believe her guilty Of
any thing worse than mere moment Of
bewllderment and absence Of mind"
Upon my word, SIR" said Mr. Jennings,
you have undertaken pretty difficult task
no less than TO convince me that black is
white, and tina, two and two do Mt make
four. Who are you '--snd where are your
references Y
franklin did not succeed in concealing
a certain lrepidation at this blunt demand,
and twas not lost upon Jennings
''My references do not reside in Eng
fehts
"Ahi ha"
II am stranger in your metropolis"
"Oh no !"
"And therefore," added Franklin, "eve-
~ undetermined and iair-play loving En-
gl'shman will say. possessing greater claim
upon your moderation ! can bring you,
from my own conniry-through the official
intervention OF the American Ministers, re-
ietences TO outweigh ihnusand fold-ten
million iold-nll opposite appearances.
can give moral demonstration that the
inienlioned commission by this young lady
Of the act with which she is charged, is an
utter, aud ridiculous iinpossibliiy."
81 have now heard YOU" said Jennings,
"and am sorry 10 say, must, notwiih-
standing. send the lady before magistrate.
The ingenious arguments you have used are
equally applicable to every theft. No re-
ierence-no rank-no character can weigh
against so plain fact, proved by ocular
demonstration. No rational Judge or jury
can doubt she stole the lace. II is my duty
10 make an example Of her. This is not
the hrsi, nor the second time, we have been
robbed by ladies IN rifinont circumstances,
nm a nj IL - -.