Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE

MONTHLY VISITOR.

OCTOBER, 1801.

SKETCH

OF THE MEMOIRS OF THE CELEBRATED SWINDLER
CHARLES PRICE,

IN

Enriched with a capital Portrait, taken from Life.

Even-handed justice returns the ingredients
Of our poisoned chalice to our own lips.

SHAKESPEARE.

N our biographical department we have been studious of exhibiting MAN under the several forms after which he presents himself to society. Ever varying in his appearance-and accommodating himself to the circumstances in which he may be placed, he is scarcely ever the same for any long period of duration. There are characters, however, in the community, who add to these traits of variation by their dissimulation and hypocrisy. On account of this circumstance, the subject of our me moirs attained to a singular celebrity.

We mean to detail a series of singular facts, scarcely ever before equalled in the annals of depravity. By bringing forward such particulars, we may learn the progress of iniquity-teach the rising generation to guard against its first approaches and warn our readers against those depredations which are daily infesting society. Such examples of Vol. 15. No. 58.

E

wickedness are indeed humiliating to our nature, but they hold forth instructive lessons. In this point of view they are well deserving of our contemplation.

CHARLES PRICE was born about the year 1730, in London-his father lived in Monmouth-street, and carried on the trade of a salesman in old cloaths -here he died in the year 1750, of a broken heart -occasioned, it is said, by the bad conduct of his children.

In early life Charles manifested those traits of duplicity for which he was afterwards so greatly distinguished. One instance shall be mentionedhe ripped off some gold lace from a suit of old cloaths in his father's shop, and putting on his elder brother's coat, went to sell it to a Jew. The Jew, most unfortunately, came and offered it to the father for sale-he instantly knew it, and insisted on the Jew's declaring whence he received it. The boys passing by, he pointed to the elder, on account of his coat, as the person of whom he bought it, and he was directly seized, and severely flogged. His protestations of innnocence were in vain-the father was inflexible-whilst Charles, with an abominable relish for hypocrisy, secretly rejoiced in the castigation.

His father, tired of the tricks and knaveries of his son Charles, put him an apprentice to a hosier in St. James's-street. Here he continued but for a short time-he robbed his father of an elegant suit of cloaths-in which he dressed himself-went to his master in this disguise-purchased about ten pounds worth of silk stockings-left his address, Benjamin Bolingbroke, Esq. Hanover Square, and ordered them to be sent him in an hour's time, when he would pay the person who brought them. His master did not know him-and, to complete the cheat, our hero came back in half an hour in his

usual dress, was ordered to take the goods home, which he actually pretended to do, and thus were both master and father robbed. He was, however, afterwards found out, and discarded. Henceforward, therefore, we are to regard him in society— where he, for a series of years, practised the most qutrageous arts of duplicity.

Soon after this period he set off for Holland, un-. der the assumed name of Johnson.-Forging a recommendation to a Dutch merchant-becomes his clerk-debauches his master's daughter-is offered her in marriage-robs his master, and returns to England. He conducts this business with the most consummate villainy.

He now contrived to become clerk in his majesty's small-beer brewhouse, near Gosport. At this place he behaved himself with so much propriety, that he was on the point of forming a matrimonial connection with his master's daughter. Every thing, however, was soon laid aside by an accidental discovery. The Jew, to whom he had formerly sold the gold lace, happened to live at Portsmouth, by: whom his character was soon disclosed. Thus were. his hopes put to flight; and he was again thrown upon the wide world!

As his wits were never long unemployed for some deceptive ends, he thought of advertising for a partner in the brewery line; and actually issued. the following curious advertisement in the year

1755

" WANTED

"A partner of character, probity, and extensive acquaintance, upon a plan permanent and productive-fifty per cent. without risk, may be obtained. It is not necessary he should have any knowledge of the business, which the advertiser pos esses in its fullest extent; but he must possess a capital of between 500 and 1000 pounds, to purchase materials,

with which, to the knowledge of the advertiser, a large fortune must be made in a very short time. Address to P. C. Cardigan Head, Charing

Cross.

"P. S. None but principals, and those of liberal ideas, will be treated with."

To this advertisement the famous comedian, Samuel Foote, Esq. paid attention. Eager to seize what he thought a golden opportunity, he advanced the sum of 500l. for a brewery-we need not add, that the sum soon disappeared-and Foote was wrung with the anguish of disappointment. Price, however, had the impudence to apply to him again -wishing him to unite in the baking trade; the comedian archly replied: " As you have brewed so you may bake; but I'll be cursed if ever you bake as you have brewed!"

After this unfortunate business, Mr. Price turned methodist preacher, and in this character defrauded several persons of large sums of money.

Advertising in order to get gentlemen wives, he swindled a person of the name of Wigmore of fifty guineas, for which he is indicted; but having refunded a part, effects his escape. These, and other fraudulent practices were long the objects of his ambition; though they are all the sure and certain roads to infamy. Such was his strange propensity.

With astonishing impudence he again sets up a brewery in Gray's Inn Lane; and, after various frauds, he became a bankrupt in 1776. Ever fruitful in resources, he sets out for Germany, but in Holland gets into prison for a concern in a smuggling scheme, by which three hundred pounds were obtained. By his artful defence he escaped, and returned to his native country. Here he once more engaged his attention, by a sham brewery at Lambeth, where he was married. Continuing,

however, to practise his deceptions, he was obliged to decamp went actually to Copenhagen, and, after some time, came back to England, where he was doomed to close his days.

His breweries having failed, he now proceeded to study how in other ways he might most effectually ravage society. Under the pretence, of charity, he obtains money, for which he is imprisoned; and having been liberated, he, as a clergyman, succeeds in various impositions. This eventually brought him to the King's Bench prison, from whose walls he dexterously extricated himself.

A lottery-office keeper was the next subject of his attention; but decamping with a ticket of very large value, this scheme speedily came to a termination. To recount all his tricks would form the contents of a well-sized volume.. Alas! for human depravity,

But we now arrive at that period of our hero's life, when he commenced his ravages upon the bank of England, which ended in his destruction. Such a series of iniquitous devices were never before practised on mankind.

In the year 1780, (under the assumed name of Brank), Mr. Price engaged a servant, a plain simple honest fellow; by whom he passed his notes without detection. He advertised for him and conducted himself towards him in a manner truly curious. Of the advertisement he heard nothing for a week - one evening, however, just as it was dusk, a coachman enquired for the man who had answered the advertisement, saying there was a gentleman over the way, in a coach, who wanted to speak with him.' On this the young 'fellow was called, and went to the coach, where he was desired to step in. There he saw an apparent old man, affecting the foreigner, seemingly very gouty, wrapped up with five or six yards of flannel

« PreviousContinue »