[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 9

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - December 15 - 1774.



We were but imperfectly in formed of the particulars concerning the Sharper who called himself Stuart, whom we have mentioned in out last weeks paper; a correspondent has furnished us with a very circumstantial account of this fellow, which we think will not be improper to insert here; hence it may contribute to unmask the villain --- He appears to be about 27 years of age, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, of a fair complexion, has a fine head of hair, very thick and long, of a light brown; a low forehead, dark grey eyes, an aquiline nose, rather badley shaped, the convexity of which is marked with red; he has two moles on his face, one of which is placed on the left side of his upper lip, a wide mouth, the under lip rather thick, a tolerable good set of teeth, long chin, rather under-hung, broad shoulders, stoops a little, long arms, broad hands, thin bodied, thighs and legs well made, his feet rather long, the middle toes crooked, and spurr’d heels. He came to Whitehaven the 14th of November, and left it the 

30th ; he said he was of the noble family of STUART; pretends that he has been in the Army, and sold out lately, having obtained a place under the Government of Canada. He has the Scotch accent, talks a great deal of his acquaintances and relations, who are all dukes, lords; and baronets; and affects a very great contempt for any person without a title, or a noble extraction. In order to make himself of some personal consequence, he boasts a college education, of being a performer on the harpsichord, of painting portraits in miniature, of fencing etc. but he cannot bear the least examination in any of these accomplishments, being an entire stranger to everything relative to them, except their names -  

---- and so it goes on and on.

He is strongly suspected of being the same person, who, not long since, under the name of Campbell, defrauded some people at Liverpool and Kirkcoidbright. When he left Whitehaven, he was mounted on a light bay horse with a black mane. He took away with him a large brown and white spaniel and it belongs to Mr. Peele, grocer and tobacconist in Whitehaven. 



Since we are favoured with the above accurate account of the imposter, two notable frauds have been discovered in Whitehaven & Kendal, the work of this Stuart and Campbell.



We are informed from good authority, that our theatre will not be opened this winter; Messrs Heatton and Austins company being now at Sheffield, and are, from thence, to proceed to Newcastle.



A few days ago was married in Scotland, Mr. John Burrough of Wigton, to Miss Betty Harding of the same place, a young lady, aged 17, with a handsome fortune.



Last Saturday night, a gentleman at Calderbridge sent a bird here to John Senhouse, Esq.; it was in general white, but the wings of it variegated with the most beautiful colours; the shape of the bill, and other parts of it were much like a woodcock; but the extraordinary softness and whiteness of the feathers on the breast inclined some people to think its northern bird; which was proved by comparing it with one described by Pennant in his Tours in Scotland; see page 83, where it says “the Phamigans in habit the very summits of the highest mountains, amidst the rocks, perching among the grey stones, and during the summer are scarce to be distinguished from them, by reason of colour. They seldom take long flights, but fly about like pidgeons; are [??ly] birds, and so tame as to suffer a stone to be flung at them without rising. It is not necessary to have a dog to find them. They taile so like a grouse, as to be scarce distinguishable. “



Nev.Ramsden
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