The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sener ee aS Ss SD en erate name of the d Stephen Price, noto- rious under the appellatfon of the Big Beggarman -——But your Royal Highness will pardon me,” cried Ramsey, abruptly checking himself, as he saw a sudden and remarkable change come over the countenance and the manner of the Prince : “3 know that I ought not even to allude to such wretches in your presence—buat the cirvumstances of my narrative canstramed me thes to mention names well caltulated to shock your ears——™ “Do not pause to offer apologies, Mr. Ramsey,” exclaimed his Royal Highness, now recovering from the effects of the various disagreeable remi- niscences which the abrupt mention of the name of Joe Warren, alias the Magsman, had excited in his mind. “Jt is impossible to repress a feeling of disgust at the thought of such men-——Butt pray continue your narrative. You were telling mo that you recognised those two ruffians ;—and I suppose, therefore, that they recogniscd you also” “They did, your Royal Highness,” returned Ramsey; “and I was compelled to implore and beseech them, almost on bended knees—but cer- tainly with tearful eyes—not to betray my tremend- ous secret.” “Did they menace you on that head?” saked the Prince. “No: on the contrary, they promised fairly enough,” observed the resuscitated: “hat whas eeliance could I place in such miscreants ” “Miscreants, indeed!” muttered the heir-ap- parent to himself. “Pray continue your history, sir,” he exclaimed aloud. “I presume that they compelled you to turn pirate 7” “ There was no leiqure for such = proceeding on their part, may it please your Royal Highness,” answered Ramsey: ‘for within a few hours sfter the freebooters had captured and sunk the Fire. fly, one of his Majesty's ships came insight. The Royal George vainly endeavoured to escape from the British frigate ; and the result was that the pirates were captured by the Diana——” “The Diana” echoed the Prince, instanta- neously recollecting that this was the very same frigate in which Tim Meagles had been so uncere- moniously packed off out of the country. “That was the naine of his Majesty's frigate on board of which I was transferred along with: the cest,” answered Ramsey. “It was in virtue of a compact proposed by the captain of the Diana, that the affair proved a bloodless one; and the only persons whom flie captain regarded as pirates were Joseph Warren and Stephen Priee. They were placed in irons, to be kept until the ship should return to England, in order to take their trial according to the usual routine—the result of which will probably be—” “Their death at Execution Dock, I hope,” added the Prince abruptly. “The sooner such rascals are put out of the way, the better. But did you see on board the Diana any one bearing the mame | of Meagles 7” “ Certainly, may it please your Royal Highness” answered Ramaey: “and it was in comsequence of something which occurred relative to himself} tims the Diana eventually put back to England.” “Explain the circumstances,” said the Prinve, wishing to see whether Meagies hed proved at all |: men, communicative to his fellow-passengers on board the Diana, ‘ever?’ said the Prince, interrogatively. ‘to return entirely to your own affairs,” he added, “About ten dkys after the inci@ent: with ~ pirates,” proceeded the resuscitated , *we were overtaken by'a fast-sailine cruiser, just as we were within sight of American land; and this vessel brougtt out despatches for the oxptain of ‘the Dima, ordering him to retarn to forthwith. Yt was well known on Board’ that Mr. Meagles had been sent away in tite first instance on account of some freasonabie affairs in which he Was supposed to hare been hmplicated at home— at least such was the report,—and the original in. structions of the captain were to land lim in America. But the counter-orders seemed to imply that he had either been pardoned; or tliat he was innocent of the matter charged againat him: for the captain, after reading the despatches, told him that he need ‘no longer consider himself a prisoner, ee he was to be taken back to his native “‘ Accursed Letitia Lade {* muttered the Prince to himself. “It was you, wretch as you are, that forced me into the necessity of pleading at the Efome Office for the pardow of Meagies "he added, in the same musing tone to himself, but still apostrophising the absent Amazon. “Did your Royal: Highness make an observa- tion?” asked Ramsey, fancying that he heard the Prince saying 80 “ Yes—no—nothing of importance,” repHed the heir-apparent. “Were you and Meagtes friendly during the voyage heme ™ “J saw but little of him, your Royal Highness,” answered the resuscitated. Ye The truth is that I affected to be seriously indisposed, and was kindly accommodated with a cabin to myself, in which I remained almost constantly: for I reed hardly remind your Royal Higimess that I was in an in- cessant dread of either being recognised, or else of hearing something which might throw me into a confusion calculated to engender the strangest suspicions. Moreover, Meagles had so invratiated himself with the officers of the ship, that even be- fore his pardon arrived, it seemed that he had been treated by them with the atenost considera- tion and attention,—dining at ther mess—con- stantly in their company—emoking, drinking, sing- ing, and card playing——” “ And after his pardon did overtake him, I sup- pose He was more sought after and caressed than “ Bat— without waiting for an answer, “did you escape recognition after all ?—or did those villains, Warren and his accomplice, betray you” “ft escaned recognition—and’ they did not betray me,” replied Philip Raney. “ Bit when we aff landed yesterday at Portsmouth, Joseph Warren took the opportunity to place his finger ayon his lip and make me # sign which was significant enough.” “ What did he mean” demanded the Prince. “T will explain Inyself t your Royal Highness,” returned Rumsey. “ The principal this Warren and Steplten Price relative to the ‘destruction ofthe Fire-ffy and the marder of the crew, are myself and the sailor who, though seri- ousty woanded im the fray, has since completely recovered. Itis true that 2 couple of Warren's named Watkins and Bradley, have agreed to tara king’s evidenee : but their testimony would be to some extent suspicious, from the very posi- GOH GOO a eee ed SS (COLUM