The Sun. — 1829-01-10 (London, England)

THE EDITOR.  Artiyll Rooms, Regent-street, 9th Jan. 1829.  Ste,—My name hsving-been mentioned as the individual who accompanied Mr. Rowland Stephenson from London on Saturday morning, the 27th ult., I feel myself bound to admit the accuracy of the assertion, and to submit, through your Paper, the following statement : but, in the first instance, I am most anxious to show that a long intimacy and friendship have subsisted between Mr. Stephenson and myself, and to instance some of the proofs of friendship which he has given me, and the deep obligations under which he has laid me. In consequence of partnership differences, I apprehended a run of my creditors upon my establishment, and communicated my apprehensions to Mr. Stephenson, who immediately removed my Uneasiness by desiring me, if necessary, to draw upon him to the amount of 10,0001.  In another emergency he became guare.ntee for me, and remains so, fur the payment of no less a sum than 9,0001. Many other proofs of the most disinterested friendship I could produce, but the two I have mentioned will be quite sufficient to show the dept of gratitude I owed him. Such a benefactor was Mr. Stephenson, who, on a sudden, solicited my protection im Friday the 26th of December, at half-past five in the afternson. He assured me that a circumstance had occurred which rendered it impossible for him again to return to Lombard-street, for he had used some property of the house during the late run, which, in OLIO fortnight after the payment of the dividends, he could have replaced, but the discovery of his having so used it having taken place at the F.anking-house at eleven o'clock that morning, be had not fortitude to bear the interrogations to which lie should be subjected. He had therefore quitted Lombard-street, and if I wished to preserve his life I should afford him a shelter under my roof. I endeavoured to persuade him to allow me to send for his partners, saying, that it would be to their own advantage to replace the Property so used, gad I made  , . .1:to doubt but they ini,4ltt sgitit, be rriemts. He said, " rathee than see either of then, he would blow his brains out m'y parlour," and inirnedi.itely (hew from his pocket a brace of pistols. lie then toll me that he had already attemped suicide in a pawnbroker's shop in Queen-street, Chatipside, but that the pistols lid miSSed fire. I used every effu:.t to divert fr6m hoClible a purpose, and  . . to calm hi!! which lat length ►ucceeded. After a great deal '•f persuasion, he permitted me to send nir his eldest son, and the interview between them being over, I proposed that he should return to his house at Sr. Bartholomew's Hospital, and abide the consequences of the discovery. Having with much difficulty overcome his scruples to this measure, I said I would send for a coach to convey us, when he put his hand into his pocket, saying, "I cannot pay for One; as I have but -6d. in the I directly Went up stairs to borrow Mrs. Welsh's purse. We (Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Horner, of the Colosseum, and myself) then set out and reached the Hospital. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Lloyd entered the room; and told us that the attempt Mr. S. had made upon his life in Queenstreet was known to his partners, and that they were ransacking the drawers. This communication led Mr. Stephenson to abandon at once his former resolution, and to determine upon immediate flight. But be exclaimed " that he had no money." His eldest eon instantly emptied his pockets for his father's service. Mr. Stephenson burst into tears, and rejected the offer, saying he could not use his son's pittance. Mr. Lloyd then said, " I have money, Sir; I have eight Imadred pounds." " Then we will both go," replied Mr. Stephenson. He ordered a few clothes to be got ready, and his carriage, saying he would ge one stage with his own horses. He requested me to accompany him a few miles, that be might, when Lis mind was more collected, give me directions respect• ing his .children.- I consented, and Bristol was the road he determined to take. On my proposing to quit him at Hounslow, he ordered the coachman to proceed to Staines with the same horses, and on the road requested of me, in the name of the mutual and long friendship that bad subsisted between us, to give him one and the last proof of it, and to accompany him until he was on board some vessel. I could not refuse, and we arrived at Pill at nine o'clock on Saturday night, andbad an interview with the Captain of a pilot-yacht, when I recommended• that the boat should be hired for one month, at two guineas a-day,, the terms proposed by the pilot. Mr. Stephenson said, he thought it would be throwing money away unnecessarily, for no doubt they would meet a vessel bound to America within a fortnight. I advised them, when they were at sea, to disclose to the Captain the necessity of their going to America, and if he would take them he should be amply remunerated. Mr. Stephenson asked me, in great distress of mind, where the money -was to come from—they had but 8001. On Sunday morning, at half-past seven o'clock, they went on board. I returned to London, and was in Regent-street at seven on Monday morning—nor have I, as erroneously stated in some of the papers, returned to Mr. Stephensa, or had any letter or communication since, directly or indirectly, from either of the parties. Such is the statement which I beg, through your Paper, to submit to the public. I was totally ignorant when I accompanied Mr. Stephenson of the extent of his embarrassment, or the embarrassments in which he had involved others. I listened only to the dictates of gratitude, which impelled me to render all the service—the only one I was ever able to render him—to the man who had been so long my friend and so often my benefactor. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,