The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-28
LOST, AND FOUND.
A Very Curious Instance Of Recovery Of Lost
Property. "3"

My tather was u brewer IN very large
way of business in Newport, Isle of
Wight, and of course a man particularly
we'll known in that small country town.
The events now related happened soon
after the old French war, and long before
tho establishment of railways, money-or-
ders, post-ofices, the telegraph, and other
modern conveniences. Communication
by mail was then under very heavy post
age, and all communications and
packages of above a certain weight had to
be sent as "parccls'' by the coaches.
Hence bankers, goldsmiths and others
who were in the habit of sending valua-
BILE packages, when they could not find
responsible person willing to take charge
of such articles, sent such parcels by pri-
vate hands in the luggage of passengers,
rather than go to the expense of carriage
and run the risk of loss by the guard.
My father had repeatedly carried bank
ers' parcels containing large sums from
Newport to London, and brought back
similar parcels in return; but fearing any
further responsibility, he at length de-
clined all such future commissions except
those from his own bankers, and those he
could not we'll refuse. His business
called him good deal to London, and,
as he was methodical and orderly, he got
his full address engraved on heavy brass
plate, which was firmly riveted to the end
OF his black leathern portmanteau. &c.,.
This was in the days of Bank of Eng
land one-pound notes and other paper
money, and these securities answered in
stead of specie with the country banks,
so that there was constant passage and
exchange of money parcels between the
country banks and their London agencies
On the occasion in question, money par
eel had been duly taken to London and
delivered, and the Recipients inquired
| when the party (my father was to return
in order that they might remit the usual
reply parcel. The answer was that his
stay was uncertain, and he begged that
: the bankers would, ifpossible, find anoth.
: er messenger. But just as my father had
} all his luggage packed except the black
; leathern portmanteau, a clerk arrived
from the clearinghouse with an ominous
ly large parcel, whose square folding Of
} strong paper and well-sealed string band.
} conveyed the unpleasant idea that it was
one Of more than ordinary value Al
} first the parcel was altogether declined
and 1t was not until the clerk had assur
ed the intended carrier that it had al
, ready been advised to the Newport bank
ers as sent by him, that it was accepted
T and thrust into the portmanteau. Mean
while the coach was delayed, the coach
, man and guard demonstrating loudly, ant
my father was finally hurried into tn
: inside of the coach, having in the frs
place desired the shoots" Of the inn t,
deposit the portmanteau in the boot o
!. the coach, which being under the feet O
the coachman, was considered the safes
t place. g "&;' s-ss --n
The coach arrived at Portsmouth
, whence the sailing packets transferred tn
? passengers to the Isle of Wight across thu
Solent. There were at that time n.
steamboats,, and when the wind and It'd,
? were contrary, the passage, although onl,
7 OF five miles, often took from two to tire.
hours to accomplish. Great, indeed, wa
? the dismay when, on unloading the coach
the black leathern portmanteau could no
be found. The coachman and guard wer,
! strictly Intercepted, but to no purpose
l All that could be ascertained with Ger
tainty from the coachman and box-sea
, passenger--both Of whom were beyone
, suspicion-was that either one or othe
, of them had had their feet on the cove
2 of the boot the whole night, and that nj
2 single article had been removed, nor hat
9 the boot been once opened. st -
/; Clearly, then, the only thing to be don,
t was to write to the London bankers anl
to the inn-keepcr, with strict charge t
l find out from the ''boots'' what had beer
done with the portmanteau, and to avail
events. On examination, the ''boots'' de
3 clared that he had put the gentleman.
t portmanteau into the coach as he hac
3 done many times before, and that he haG
r at the same time attended to the rest Of
2 the luggage. The reply of the Londor
t bankers was that every inquiry possible
| had been made without discovery, and tina,
7 the parcel contained ten thousand pound.
, of Bank of England notes, payment o.
which they had stopped. 1
This was pleasant story to 20 to the
country bank with, and as it was not q
7 very large concern, the loss SHOULD loss
r occur would be almost ruinous. NY
! father met the partners and stated the
facts. Some proposed advertising; but
3 as the name and address in full was on
: the portmanteau and the owner was &C
! well known as public man, it was