Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-21
foreign aflisttllang.

AN INCIDENT AT DOILOGNE.-IbS tuctuu
which our fashionable Englishmen have ofayin,
to the coast of France, when debt and the lik,
mishaps render their own country somewha
too hot to hold them comfortably, causes Bou
logne, and other towns forming the chief places
of rendezvous on such occasions, to present
for the most part, strangely assorted society
and to witness, at times, very curious scenes
We do not precisely ask our readers to believe
the following romantic story i'll all its details
though there is nothing very improbable in any
part of them
Sir George Tindal was young baronet Of
good English family, who came to Boulogne
some years ago under rather peculiar circum
stances. He had been left very young with
command ola good patrimona estate but had
given way so far to the fashionable follies of the
young in high life, as to allow nearly the whole
of it to fly away on the turf as fast as race
horses could carry it. He had still some eX.
pectations, however. A maternal relative, a
merchant, and one Of the richest in the me-
tropolis, was likely, in the course of things, to
leave Sir George his fortune, as his nearest
heir. He was fond ofthe young man, but had
been greatly and perilously alienated by the
conduct and reverses of the latter. 1t was
while meditating on this subject that an idea
struck the ruined baronet. "How successful, Y
thought he, "my uncle has been by his specu.
lations in the funds Might not have a chance
that way also? Might not | cast my poorrem-
nant of means into that great lottery and pull
out prize? may as wei try it, all that ]
have now is scarce worth thinking twice about
shall try, at least"
Poor Sir George He forgot that, though
some seas may be deep, there are others which
cannot be sounded at all that however deep
~ -, tbo 20 a rbanoa IA
getting deeper. He did venture his all in the
stocks. He was successful once, and even
twice Getting inspirited by his good fortune,
he thought he had but to venture further and
to win more. Alas! he was novice, merely,
jim the hands of veteran gamblers Some ofthe
very worst members of the body who speculate
in these matters got him into their hands; and
knowing well what his expectations were, and
where they lay, they led him on by nibble or
two, until, by series of ,ftses, considered not
infamous only on such field Of transactions,
they at length got him placed under q load OF
debts which even all his uncle's means would
with difficulty tighten. Holding him bound by
signatures and bonds, they then waited coolly
for his accession to his prospective inheritance,
knowing well that the same prospect would
keep their victim also within reach Of their grasp
at any time.
Sir George wandered about town for some
months after these mishaps, like a man with a
rope around his neck. During that time he
head many reasonings with himself on an i'm
portant point. The young baronet was natur-
ally possessed Of good sense. lie was well edu-
Gated, and it may be said that his heart was
good, and his intentions were fair towards all
men, under ordinary circumstances; but his
course oflife, and the associations he had formed
had relaxed his moral principles. Thisacquired
defect came now into play. The point which
he canvassed with himself was, whether or not
after having most distinctly ascertained that
he had been the dupe of his creditors, his en-.
gagements with them were binding upon him
His good sense said yes, for they had acted
within the law; his sense OF honor said
the same, for they had his bonds; "but then,
said other internal arguers, "they got these by
base means, and they have not lost one shilling
by me- The article experience was what my
folly bought from them at the price OF a fair for
tune, and with it came no penny out of their
pockets. Besides, if / pay these harpies ! shall
be begeared." The end of the whole was
that the uncle of Sir George died. the young
baronet was left heir; and within few hours
almost after being put in possession of his for.
tune, which was the portable one of an old
moneyed hoarder, the young baronet was on his
waywith it to Boulogne. Thecreditors stormeo
and vowed revenge; but they at first knew not
whittier he might fly, and there are great ditfi
culties attending the recovery OF money from
creditors on the continent in any case.
Sir George fixed himself in small country
house near Boulogne. He had been able tt
carry thithef sufficiency for permanent main
tenance, above 100000, nearly. the amount Q
his funded embarrassments after what h'
called |" fair debts " were privately settled. H'
lived for some time in great secluslon, onl'
occasionally appearing in public. The societ.
which he then met was not OF q character t
trouble itself much about what he had done
or was doing, or was about to do, so long as h
maintained d fashionable appearance and
gentlemanly department so Sir George led
very quiet and undisturbed existence for ;
time, always excepting some little twinge
from a sense of violated honor, until love, tn
universal busybody, came in the way to over
throw the rnnaway's repose. lady made he
appearance in Boulogne, bearing the nam
and style of the Baroness d'Estival. Repor
said that she was an English woman by birth
and the widow of a foreign noble; and she wa
Young, beautiful, and reputed rich. Ere Ion!
such attractions brought all the dangers Q
dangling Boulogne into subjection to the baron
eSS, anu among lIlc IcStoul poiouOi 90" CIV
admired the lady. For time, however, h
was undistinguished by her, nor did he max
any marked advances on his own part A 4,
accident brought round an eclaircissemem. b
a peculiar piece Of awkwardness, as it seemed
on the part of her servant, the cdteche OF tn
baroness was nearly overturned near 81
Georges door. The young baronet sprung out
and, the lady appearing faint and terrified, h
entreated her to alight for few moments
She complied. II was the hour of lunch, an
they lunched together. When the lady. was Q
last about to depart, Sir George begged leay
to take the reins out of the hands OF the awf
ward servant, and escort her home in persor
The result of all was that the baronet becam
an established visifant Of the baroness; ant
having declared his passion, received an al
swer which left him much to hope, while at I'll
same time it promised nothing positive.
Sir George could not be long acquainted wit
the fair baroness without discovering that 81
had one remarkable and somewhat eccentr
taste; she was distractedly fond of angling
perfect female Walton. She had hired for Il
season n large yawl, something between fis