Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-12-07

the preaching OF Rev. Mr.. CAUGuBy-th, res n
pected Methodist clergyman of this llace,
who preached some years since in En9anl
with extraordinary success, his conyers bt-
ing numbered by thousands. For the pro ;
fession of his new faith the young Ilonrable
was forthwith discarded and dsinheried by
his father, and became Methodist preacher.
Four or five months since, by the successive
deaths Of an elder brother, who was killed at
the battle OF the Alma, and "a titled a,nt-
he came into full possession of fortune Of
fony fec thousand pounds sterling, PER an.
mum, II Large landed estate in ScOtlduj, and
the title of Baron de Percy. Shortly after
he sailed for this country and confined to
preach on this side, Of course with tie sole
lie made the acquaintance Of a young Idly at
school, whom he married after Il courthip of |
five weeks, relying solely on his personal at
fractions, and not at all on his torture and |
title, which he only revealed to her altq they
were married, For reasons which we 90 not
clearly understand he brought his BRIDE to
this place, aud took rooms at the American.
lie sought out Mr.. Caughey there our histo-
ry becomes entirely authentic) and intro
duced himself as II convert of his and II
brother in the ministry, and last Sunday
week he preached by invitation, IN the even
ing, in the Methodist Church, to a larp,
audience, many Of them doubtless attractec
by the novelty of an English Baron in Vt
pulpit. Ills sermon is described to usus re
markable for earnestness rather than for clio.
quence and power it was called Il very rcs-
pectable affur.
Our o'.'-o-e not ,uIy enthusiastic
tutt hunters, but are willing to treat
strangers civilly During the week fol-
lowing he was called on hy some of our first
citizens, and made number of acquaintance
! lie was well dressed, of se,--he talked
considerably on religious subjects as well as
/ OF his history and recent good fortune, and
/ exhibited an extensive acquaintance with
ariStOcratic names aud titles abroad. lie
evidently tried to make himself agreeable to
one or two he made presents Of cheap Jewell
J ~ others he invited to shoot gIine with him
next year on the preserves of his cousin the
Earl Ut DalScith, in Scotland with others
he wished to make arrangements for AN *
tended tour Vi pleasure travel ia ibis country
and in Europe, Palestine &c, and another he
! engaged for year to 60 with him to England
and be tutor in his family at salary Of a
thousand dollars year and found. Soon
I however. some slight discrepancies in his
. Ds fol f,
ticed. 1t was observed too that his CONVEX
sation, though very pious, was not always
grammatical, or refined and his entire lack Of
any credentials seemed little strange Some
said they believed him a sham. Then il be-
came evident that the Baron, however long
ms pedigree, and extensive his estatcs--was
very short Of money lie was constantly ey-
pecting remittancrs from England and Mon
treal, but they did not come With extreme
reluctance, no doubt, he ut last ventured to
ask some OF his newly made friends for such
funds as they could spare him. for Il d,y or
two only till his supplies could arrive. From
one gentleman he obtained a loan Of
forty dollars. lie wished to borrow fCtv
dollars of another 5cntleman-but was ciyjllv
reiused-and IL considerable purchase Of
Jewelry, which he desired to effect at one of
the stores, ais, fell through at the same
time, the check on the Bank Of Nottingham.
England, which the Baron offered in nav, not
being considered rs convenient circulating,
medium here as good New England currency
! Quite likely the Baron took "a...s. ~ thcso
unpleasant Transactions. At any rate o,ly
next morning TUESDAY last he took his de.
parture, informing tire landlord that he
should be back on Friday and wished more
spacious apartments prepared for him in the
mean time lie has not been back since how.
ever, nor, strange a. it may seem. remitted
the forty dollars he borrowed
There are some curious things about all
this tn curious that the "Baron de Percy
should have lit on Burlington for IL stopping
place at this not very pleasant season Of til,
year-it is curious that he should have con
descended to admit entire strangers so readi
ly to his friendship and even to force it upon
them tits curious that So good u man and
minister u boot, should have failed of tell
ing the truth 50 signully as the Baron Ci,
more than once it is very curious too that
with $50 600 yearly income, he didn +
bring money enough with him to paw biz
hotel bill at country village without Dor
rowng-and, not to give too long list o
curlosItics, 1t is Il curious and rather mOrtiCy
ing circumstance that mail robbery shoul,
have taken place in town Just before he left
We hope the Baron will be consderat,
enough not to give our town a bad name
wherever he goes in the extended travels h,
planned for himself on account of tina, un
lucky coincidence.