Presence Of Mind.
The Times, 1824-08-30T00:00:00

After receiviti his rents, L,rd C. was in the habit ot' retiritg with his steward to his study; and there, atter cettling his accounts, of' depositing the rnoney in his strong box till the next day, when the steward was sent with it to the baLik. This man had lived with this Lord's father, and was so beloved 4y the familv that they placed iuplicit confidence in hlis integritv and worth. }or some time his Lordshin had, upon inspecting thb banker's hook, anti upton reference to his ptivate accouRt, found that tile sum they credlited him was al- way.s short of tiiat lie sent. T'his being continued, ledl to severe in. vestigations; buL no result that catme out sZtistied him liow the defi ciency could happeni. Somncof the servants Came1 under his displea. sure, and they were at various 1 eriods dismissed. On one ptarticular rent-day, he placed the money in a diffiren: roont still having for his centidant the old steward, who, of course, ioine with his lord in regretting his late losses. ttn tite saime ntght, tLe house-maid went to UilS roomt to see that the shutters were safe - anid, recollecting that she had to clein it out verT early, SilC thlOughit it not worthi while to go to bed, but determined tn lay herselt'down anti sleep on the sofa. She did so, and put out thie candle. When halt a-sleep, she was awaked bv a ttoise at the door, anti she was just goitig to start up and rin"g the bell, thinking it wsis thieves, when itslowly opened, and it walked theold stewraid. Ho looked cautiously routid anid hIesiatted; bitt, seeing no o1ject, went to tte escrutoire where itis lord had lockedi his rents lip i after open- ing the lock, took out what he pleased, and Ltlen re-lIctinug the draw-r, was gobig out, when-the ref1eetton ofthle candle upot) the servant's clothes cauglht iis eye! lie started ; but-site might be asleep, a;td his traasgressions not witnes"ed. To bc assttrred of thib, he wett to the sofe, and fRatifed the catidle back and forwards before her eyes. The girl lay still. He put his hand into hiilsocket, drew out a clasp kttife, and opened it. lie flashed it before her eves. etic girl lay sttll. He the 1 put it to her throat-drew it across and acroas it, till she could teel the edge almost cut her. She was lnolw aware that silence could alone save her' hfe * for dil she move, he would of courme uturder lier. Slic liad prcsence ot'itdina to lay still as leatth. Sstttficd, after this terrible trial, that she itnust be fast asleep, lie closed the knife, and walked out of the room. The frighted girl waited till she heard his foot-stepl ftaint away; sod then she rtislted up to the chenit er of her lord, atid aiwakenittg hitn, she detailed the witole of thie scene, be-gging liis Lordship to sa- tisfy himseel of the truth. Slie had no sonietr told her storv than site fainted. Lord C. hardly credited her; but lie arose, lcav'ing lIady C. to ttake care ot the girl; and, after raising uo his valet and other 1servanlts, proceeded to search fobt*he steward. | i apartments being in a diflerent wing o t'the house, they looked all about, and then cautiously neds their sway toltis room.' One of ithe men climbed up to thte window, and saw the old man counting msoney. H desdccended and told thiY; atid then they rushed into the room, rnd before the villain could hide his prize, they had him3 a prisoner. His Lordship identified the ban!;-notes foitud upon hirn, and lie wL, after a severe examiination. sent to prisoni. Afraid osf being executed, anti dreading to tace his injuredl lord and various other gentlemen who had placed confdence in him, lie put tin end to his lite by Cuttit g his owtn thro.tt-nrot belore he left a letter detailing the sums he had purloined, atid where his master could find theie. J ustice being frustrated by Itis noL being mrade an example of, liis Lordship was not sorry to be spared accusing his old and hitherto supposedl faithful servant, and the whole was hushed ip as tnuCl os potsible. I WereturD to the poor girl. After a great deal of cre, she re- covcred so as again to repeat beforc the sicwaril her evidence ; btit alien sbe camne to that part where she felt thi: knife touch her thr`at, the horror of the circumstance threw her into Convulsions, and she went rtad.-Nerws of Lilertit"re ansd Paohion. Accounits have been received of the dealh of Abrabatt AMontefiore, Esq., at Lvyons, tin the 25t inist. Hie had been indis- posed for a conisiderable tihe, and travelled in hopes of benefitting his health ; he was about ttirty-five years of age, and three y5etis since was well known in the Stock Eixcisange, fitel his extensive speculations, PRRsEAECE OfF MlND.