The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-04-13
L0VeT's Stratagem /:
OR, ANGLING TO SOME PURPOSE.

:
lishmen have of flying to the coast o
France, when debts and the like mishap
render their own country somewhat too
hot to hold them comfortably, causes
Bouiogne and other towns forming thc
chief places of rendezvous on such occa
sions, to present for the most part, {
strangely assorted society, and to witnes:
at times, very curious scenes. We dc
not precisely ask our reader to believe
the following romantic storyin all its de.
tails, though there is nothing very i'm.
probable in any part of them.
Sir George Tindal was young baronet
of good English family, who came tc
Boulogne some years ago under rather
peculiar circumstances. He had been
left very young with command of good
patrimonial 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
good expectations, however. a maternal
relative, a merchant, and one of the rich
est in the metropolis, was likely, in the
due course of things, to leave Sir George
his fortune, as his nearest heir. He was
fond of the young man, but had been
greatly and perilously alienated by the
conduct and reverses of the latter. It
was while meditating on this subject that
an idea struck the nearly ruined baronet.
Glow successful" thought he, "my uncle
has been by bis speculations in the funds !!
Might not cast in my poor remnant Of
means into that great lottery, and pull
out prize may as well try it; all
that l have now is scarcely worth think
ing 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 one may be in the
mire; there is chance of getting deeper
He did venture his all in the stocks He
was successful once, and even twice. Get
ting inspirited by bis good fortune, he
thought he had but to venture further
and win more Alas he was novice,
merely in the hands of veteran gamblers
Some of the 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 ruses, considered
not infamous only on such field of
transactions, they at length got him
placed under a load Of debt which even
all his uncle's means would with difficulty
tighten. Holding him bound by sigma
lures and bonds, they then waited coolly
for his accession to his prospective inher-
itance, knowing we'll that the same pros
pect 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 rope around his neck. Dur
ing that time he had many reasonings
with himself on an important point. This
point affected bis whole prospective for
tune. The young baronet was naturally
possessed of good sense; be was well ed
ucated, and it may be said that bis heart
was good, and his intentions fair towards
all men, under ordinary circumstances;
but his course of life, and the associations
be had formed, had relaxed his moral
principles. This acquired defect came
now into play. The point which he can
vassed with himself was, whether or not,
after having most distinctly ascertained
that he had been the dupe of his credi-
tors, his engagements 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 in
ternal arguers, "they got these by base
means, and they have not lost shilling
by me. The article experience was what
nay folly bought from them at the price
of fair fortune, and with it came no
penny out of their pockets. Besides, if
[ pay these harpies, shall be beggared."
The end of the whole was, that the uncle
of Sir George died; the young baronet
was left heir; and within few hours al
most after being put in possession of his
fortune, which was the portable one of
monied hoarder, the young baronet was
on bis way with it to Boulogne. The
creditors stormed and vowed revenge; but
they at first knew not whittier he might
fly; and there are great difficulties attend
ing the recovery of money from creditors
on the continent, in any case.
Sir George fixed himself ip a small
country house near Boulogne. He had
been able to carry thither a suGiciency
for permanent maintenance-above G20,-
600, nearly y the amount of his funded en-
barrassments, after what he called "fair
debts" were privately settled. He lived
for some time in great seclusion, only oc-
casionally appearing in public. The So
ciety which he then met was not of a
character to trouble itself much about
what he had done, or was doing, or was
about to do, so long as he maintained a
fashionable appearance and gentleman
ly department. So Sir George led very
quiet and undisturbed existence for a
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