in the eye of the law, and compelled to subsist upon the plunder
above mentioned, after travelling about a fortnight, arrived at
Ballyshannon. Here Barrington, with the company to which he belonged,
spent the autumn and the winter of the year 1771, playing generally on
Tuesdays and Saturdays, and picking pockets with John Price every day
in the week, whenever opportunity offered; a business which, though
attended with danger and certain infamy, he found more lucrative and
more entertaining than that of the theatre, where his fame and his
proficiency were by no means equal to the expectations he had raised,
or to the hopes that had been formed of him on his first appearance at
Drogheda.
From Ballyshannon, at length, having left the company of his friend
Price, he moved to the southward, with his faithful Miss Egerton, whom
he had the misfortune to lose forever in crossing the river Boyne, in
which she was drowned, through the ignorance, or the more culpable
negligence, of a ferryman.
Barrington, however, virtuous in his attachment to Miss Egerton, was
for some time inconsolable for the loss which he had just sustained;
but being neither of an age nor of a temper propitious to the
continuance of sorrowful sensations, he hastened to Limerick, where he
hoped to meet Price, his old accomplice. On his arrival in that city,
he learned that the person after whom he had inquired had set out for
Cork ten days before, and thither our adventurer followed him, and
found him within an hour after he entered the town gates. On their
meeting, it was agreed on by them never more to think of the stage;
a resolution which was the more easily executed, as the company to
which they originally belonged was now broken up and dispersed. It was
besides settled between them that Price should pass for Barrington’s
servant, and that Barrington should act the part of a young gentleman
of large fortune and of a noble family, who was not yet quite of age,
but, until he should attain that period, travelled for his amusement.
In pursuance of this hopeful scheme, horses were purchased, and
the master and man, now united as knight-errant and esquire, and
well equipped for every purpose of depredation, accordingly took
their determination to act their several parts in the wild field of
adventure; and thus, in the summer of 1772, as the race grounds in the
south of Ireland presented themselves as the fairest objects, they
hastened to these scenes of spoliation, and were successful even beyond
their expectation.
Picking pockets being rather new amongst the gentry of Ireland, their
want of precaution rendered them a more easy prey to Mr. Barrington
and his accomplice, who found means to retire to Cork on the setting
in of winter, with a booty of nearly one thousand pounds. In this city
they found it convenient to fix their residence, at least till the next
spring. And now it was that Barrington first determined within himself
to become what has been called a gentleman pickpocket, and to affect
both the airs and importance of a man of fashion.
In this desperate career of vice and folly, it was the fate of Price,
the preceptor of Barrington, to be first detected in the act of picking
the pocket of a gentleman of high rank, for which he was tried,
convicted, and in a very short period sentenced to transportation, for
the term of seven years, to America.
Barrington, naturally alarmed at the fate of his iniquitous preceptor,
without loss of time converted all his movable property into cash, and
taking horse, made as precipitate a journey to Dublin as he possibly
could.
On his arrival there, he lived rather in a private and retired manner,
only lurking in the darkest evenings about the playhouses, where he
occasionally picked up a few guineas or a watch. But he was soon
weary of the sameness, and disgusted with the obscurity of a life of
comparative retirement, such as that he led in the Irish capital; so
that when the spring and the fine weather that accompanied it returned,
he embarked on board the Dorset yacht, which was then on the point
of sailing with the duke of Leinster for Parkgate; and before the
expiration of a week, he found himself for the first time of his life
on English ground.
With Sir Alexander Schomberg, who commanded the Dorset yacht, there
were three other persons embarked, and of some distinction, from whence
it appeared that the connection which our adventurer formed with them
had considerable effect afterwards in the course of the long succession
of transactions in which he was engaged. A young captain was one of the
three who was most conspicuous, and, as it will appear, a striking,
though an innocent cause of Barrington’s success in his projects of
depredation.
It did not require so much sagacity and penetration as Barrington at
the time certainly possessed, to penetrate into the character of this
young gentleman, and to predict the good consequences that might follow
an intimacy with a young man of his rank, disposition, and family.
Actuated by a sordid sense of the utility of such a connection to one
in his circumstances, the adventurer employed all those base arts of
flattery and insinuation of which he had been long a perfect master, to
ingratiate himself with this gentleman; and in this design he succeeded
to the utmost extent of his wishes. Barrington formed an artful tale,
which he told as his own story, the purport of which was, that his
father was a man of a noble family in Ireland, and illustrious in
England, to which country he himself now came to study law in one of
the inns of court, more, however, to avoid the ill-natured severity of
a harsh, unrelenting step-mother, which rendered his paternal mansion
in a great measure intolerable to him, than from any predilection for
the profession to which he intended to apply himself, but the exercise
of which the ample fortune that he was heir to would render unnecessary.
The story took as well as could be desired by the inventor of it, and
it was settled between him and his new friend that he should, on his
arrival in town, enter himself of the Middle Temple, where Mr. H----n
had some relations and a numerous acquaintance, to whom, he said, he
should be happy to introduce a gentleman so eminently distinguished by
his talents and his accomplishments, as well as by his fortune and
birth, as Mr. Barrington was.
It was also further agreed on between them, that they should travel
together to London; and they accordingly the next day took a
post-chaise at Parkgate, and continuing their journey by easy stages
through Chester, Nantwich, and Coventry, where they stopped two or
three days, arrived by the end of the week at the Bath coffee-house
in Piccadilly, which, on the recommendation of the captain, who had
been several times before in the metropolis, was fixed upon as their
head-quarters for the remaining part of the summer.
But the expensive manner in which he lived with Mr. H----n, and those
to whose acquaintance that gentleman introduced him, all of them gay,
sprightly young fellows, who had money at command, in less than a month
reduced the funds which Barrington had brought with him from Ireland
to about twenty guineas, which to him, who had been now for some years
accustomed to live like a man of affluent fortune, seemed to afford a
very inconsiderable resource: he therefore resolutely determined to
procure a supply of money by some means or other. One evening, while he
was deliberating with himself on the choice of expedients to recruit
his finances, he was interrupted in his meditations on the subject by
the arrival of a party of his friends with the captain, who proposed to
accompany them to Ranelagh, where they had agreed to meet some of their
acquaintance, and to spend the evening. Their proposal was, without
much hesitation, acceded to by Barrington, and they, without further
loss of time, ordered coaches to set them down at that celebrated place
of amusement.
Walking in the middle of the gay scenes that surrounded him, he chanced
to espy the two other companions of his voyage in the Dorset packet,
to whom he only made a slight bow of recognition; and in less than
a quarter of an hour afterwards he saw the duke of Leinster engaged
deeply in conversation with two ladies and a knight of the Bath, who,
it afterwards turned out, was Sir William Draper; and near these
he placed himself, quitting for a short time the company to which
he belonged. While he was stationed there, an opportunity, which he
considered a fair one, offered itself of making a good booty, and he
availed himself of it: he picked the duke’s pocket of above eighty
pounds, Sir William’s of five and thirty guineas, and one of the ladies
of her watch, with all which he got off undiscovered by the parties,
and joined the captain and his party as if nothing had happened out of
the ordinary and common routine of affairs in such places of public
recreation as Ranelagh.
A degree of fatality, rather unfortunate for Barrington, it seems,
occurred during the perpetration of the robbery just related; that
is to say, he was observed in the very act by one of the persons who
came with him in the Dorset yacht from Ireland to Parkgate; and this
man, who was also a practitioner in the same trade of infamy, lost no
time in communicating what he saw to Barrington himself, and that in
a manner not by any means calculated to conceal his triumph on the
occasion: in fact, this gentleman’s affairs being pressing, he made
very little ceremony of informing Mr. Barrington that, unless he was
willing to give him a share of the plunder, he should communicate to
the parties robbed, without delay, the particulars of what he had seen.
The consequences of a proposal of this nature presenting a disagreeable
alternative, Mr. Barrington, as it may be imagined, naturally chose
the least of two evils, and, under pretence of being attacked with a
sudden complaint, immediately retired with his new acquaintance to
town, and putting up at the Golden Cross inn, at Charing-cross, the
booty acquired at Ranelagh was in some sense divided, the new intruder
contenting himself with taking the lady’s watch, chain, &c., which were
of gold, and a ten pound note, leaving all the rest of the money and
the bank-papers with Mr. Barrington, who, he probably conceived, had
run the greatest risk to obtain them at first.
But in order to cement the connection which these two were now on the
point of forming, Mr. James (for by that name this new accomplice
called himself,) insisted upon Barrington supping with him; and as Mr.
James knew the town much better than himself, Barrington thought he
would be a real acquisition, particularly in helping him to dispose
of the valuables he might acquire. Picking pockets, therefore, was
proposed by Mr. Barrington as a joint concern.
The outlines of the future operations of these adventurous colleagues
being adjusted, it was further agreed upon to have another interview
on the next day at a tavern in the Strand, there to regulate the plan
of their future conduct; and affairs being so far arranged, Barrington
returned to his lodgings at the Bath coffee-house, where, luckily
enough, neither captain H----n nor any of his party were at that time
arrived from Ranelagh.
The next morning, at breakfast, he informed his friend the captain,
that on his return last night, he chanced to meet a very worthy
relation of his, Sir Fitzwilliam Barrington, who engaged him that day
to dinner; so that it would be out of his power to make one of the
party that were to spend the day with the captain at the Thatched-house
tavern; but that, however, he would endeavor to contrive matters so as
to join them early in the evening, and stay to supper with them, if
they were bent upon keeping it up to a late hour.
This apology was received without any suspicion by the gentleman
to whom it was made, as it accounted plausibly enough for his
fellow-traveller’s absenting himself, notwithstanding a kind of prior
engagement to Mr. H----n.
Afterwards, Barrington being dressed, called a coach and drove to
the Crown and Anchor tavern, where he found Mr. James, who had been
for some time waiting for him. The cloth being removed, and the
servants withdrawn, these worthy gentlemen entered upon business. It
was agreed upon, that whatever either acquired, should be equally
divided between them; and that in the sale of watches, jewels, or any
other articles they might have to dispose of, both should be present.
By this provision, no suspicion of fraud could be entertained; and
thus Barrington got what he extremely wished, and greatly wanted,
an introduction to a _fence_, or a receiver of stolen goods. It was
farther settled by them, that while the captain remained in town,
they should take care not to be seen together, and that Mr. James
should resume his long neglected habit of a clergyman. These weighty
conditions, and some others of equal magnitude and importance,
being ultimately adjusted to the satisfaction of these systematic
plunderers, it was determined on that they should meet regularly
twice a week, that is, on Tuesdays and Fridays, to settle with each
other; but never, if it could possibly be avoided, twice at the same
house. Having then adjourned to the next Tuesday, and fixed on the
Devil tavern, at Temple-bar, as the place of their next meeting, our
adventurers separated for that time, Barrington going, according to
his appointment, to the Thatched-house tavern, and reaching it about
eight in the evening, where he found his friend the captain and a large
party of his acquaintance. Though rather far gone in liquor, most of
them knew him personally, and considering him in the light in which he
was represented to them by captain H----n, as a young man of condition,
they were delighted with his company. He only waited till the bills
were called for, and the reckoning discharged, when, there being no
farther obstacle to a hasty retreat, he plundered those who were most
off their guard; or rather those who, as he supposed, were possessed
of the most portable kind of property. Still, as the prey then made
consisted more of watches and trinkets than ready cash, he was under
the necessity of calling upon Mr. James, his new friend, next morning,
who readily introduced him to a man, a receiver of stolen property,
and who paying them what they deemed an adequate consideration, they
made the first division with as much apparent satisfaction as if they
had been lawful dealers in the commodities of which they had unjustly
deprived the right owners.
So strongly did appearance plead for him at this time, that
Barrington’s depredation was never imputed to him by those who
suffered in consequence of it; and though similar offences were at
different seasons, for upwards of two years, committed by him without
suspicion or detection, he preserved his fame, and even extended his
acquaintance. With certain superficial qualifications for shining in
company, and yet a stranger to honor or honesty, in the summer of the
year 1775, in the course of his depredations, he visited, as his custom
was, the most celebrated watering-places; and among the rest he went
to Brighton, which at that time, though frequented by genteel company,
was far from having arrived at the celebrity which it has since
acquired, especially since the conclusion of the peace with France. But
notwithstanding the paucity of numbers at this watering-place, he is
said to have had the address to ingratiate himself into the notice and
favor of the late duke of Ancaster, with several other persons of rank
and property, who all considered him as a man of genius and ability,
and as a gentleman of fortune and noble family.
But, in tracing all Mr. Barrington’s very singular connections, it is
necessary to remark, that about the conclusion of this winter he got
acquainted with one Lowe, a very singular character, and one who, like
his friend James, he occasionally made use of to vend his ill-gotten
property.
Mr. Barrington’s new junction with Mr. Lowe having rendered Mr. James
rather a dead weight upon his hands, he began to think about breaking
with him, which he did not find a difficult matter, as James, having
at bottom some remorse of conscience for his neglect of the laws of
justice and moral obligation, very easily quitted Mr. Barrington’s
connection; and what is more extraordinary, being a Roman Catholic by
profession, retired to a monastery upon the continent, there in all
probability to end his days in piety and peace. Barrington, on the
other hand, seemed to increase in temerity and desperation; for on his
forming a connection with Lowe, which was but a short time previous
to that evening of the month of January which was observed as the
anniversary of the queen’s birthday, it was resolved on between them,
that, habited as a clergyman, he should repair to court, and there
endeavor, not only to pick the pockets of some of the company, but,
what was a bolder and a much more novel attempt, to cut off the diamond
orders of some of the knights of the Garter, Bath, and Thistle, who
on such days usually wear the collars of their respective orders over
their coats. In this enterprize he succeeded beyond the most sanguine
expectations that could have been formed by either his new accomplice
Lowe or himself; for he found means to deprive a nobleman of his
diamond order, and also contrived to get away from the palace without
suspicion. This being an article of too much value to dispose of in
England, it is reported that it was sold to a Dutchman, or rather to a
Dutch Jew, who came over from Holland once or twice a year for the sole
object of buying jewels that had been stolen; and though a stranger,
he is generally reported to have given a much higher price for such
articles than could have been gotten from the receivers in town.
The celebrated Russian prince Orloff paid his first visit to England
in the winter of 1775. The high degree of estimation in which that
nobleman had long been held by the late empress Catharine, had
ultimately heaped upon him not a few of her distinguishing favors.
Among other things of this nature, she had expressed her approbation
of his merits by presenting him with a gold snuff-box, set with
brilliants generally supposed to have been worth no less a sum than
thirty thousand pounds. This distinguishing trophy having caught the
eye of Barrington, impelled him to contrive means to get it into his
possession, and he thought a fit opportunity presented itself one night
at Covent Garden theatre, where, getting near the prince, he had the
dexterity to convey it out of his excellency’s waistcoat pocket into
his own; when, being immediately suspected by the prince, he seized him
by the collar; but, in the bustle that took place, Barrington slipped
the box into his hand, which that nobleman gladly retained, though
Barrington, to the astonishment of all around, was secured and lodged
in Tothill-fields Bridewell till the Wednesday following, when his
examination took place at the public office in Bow street.
Sir John Fielding being at that time the magistrate, Barrington
represented himself to him as a native of Ireland, of an affluent and
respectable family. He said that he had been educated in the medical
line, and came to England to improve himself by the extent of his
connections. To this plausible representation he added so many tears,
and seemed to rest so much upon his being an unfortunate gentleman,
rather than a guilty culprit, that prince Orloff declining to prosecute
him, he was dismissed with an admonition from the magistrate to
amend his future conduct; but this, it will appear, had no manner of
influence upon his subsequent proceedings. In fact, Barrington having
gone too far to recede, every one now taking alarm at his character and
conduct, and the public prints naturally holding him up as a cheat and
impostor, he was even forsaken by those who, until that discovery of
his practices, generally countenanced him, and enjoyed his company as a
young gentleman of no common abilities.
Being in the lobby of the lords one day, when an appeal of an
interesting nature was expected to come on, so that Barrington
thought to profit by numbers of genteel people that generally attend;
unhappily for Barrington’s projects, a gentleman recognised his person,
and applying to the deputy usher of the black rod, Barrington was
disgracefully turned out, and, of course, totally disappointed of the
harvest he had promised himself.
Barrington, having by some means heard that this gentleman was
the person who had denounced him to the keeper of the lobby, was
so indiscreet as to threaten him with revenge for what he deemed
an unmerited injury; but, the magistrates thinking otherwise, they
granted, upon that gentleman’s complaint, a warrant against Barrington
to bind him over to keep the peace. His credit having sunk so very low,
that not one of all his numerous acquaintance would become a surety
for him, he was compelled to go to Tothill-fields Bridewell, where he
remained a considerable time under confinement, from his inability to
procure the bail that was required. However, having again obtained
a release from that disagreeable quarter, he had no alternative but
that of his old profession, and, therefore, in about three months
afterwards, we find him detected in picking the pocket of a low woman,
at Drury-Lane theatre, for which, being indicted and convicted at the
Old Bailey, he was sentenced to ballast-heaving, or, in other words,
to three years’ hard labor on the river Thames, on board of the hulks
at Woolwich. As soon as it was convenient, in the spring of 1777,
Barrington was put on board one of these vessels.
A sudden remove from ease and affluence to a scene of wretched
servitude and suffering, and the privation of almost every comfort
in life, could not but have a most sensible effect upon a man in
his condition. In short, he was not only harassed and fatigued with
labor, to which he had been unaccustomed, but even disgusted with the
filthy language of his fellow-convicts, whose blasphemous effusions,
which they seemed to make use of by way of amusement, must have been
a constant source of the most disagreeable sensations in the mind of
almost any person not totally lost to the feelings and the decencies of
civilized, or even a savage state of existence. At length the mental,
as well as the corporeal sufferings of Barrington, did not escape the
notice of Messrs. Erskine and Duncan Campbell, the superintendents
of the convicts; for, in consequence of Barrington’s good behavior,
and through the interference of these gentlemen, he was again set at
liberty, after sustaining nearly a twelvemonth’s severe suffering on
board the hulks of Woolwich.
Still, nothing that Barrington had yet undergone was sufficient to
produce any cordial repentance in his mind. He again entered into the
full practice of his former profession. In less than six months after
his liberation from hard labor, he was detected by one Payne, a very
zealous constable in the city, in the very act of picking pockets at
St. Sepulchre’s church during divine service, and being convicted upon
undeniable evidence at the ensuing Old Bailey sessions, he was a second
time sentenced to hard labor on board the hulks, and that for five
years.
It was upon his trial on this occasion, that Barrington was first
noticed in the public prints as an able speaker. He then essayed,
with no small degree of artifice, to interest the feelings of the
court in his behalf; but the evidences of his guilt being too forcible
and repeated, and all his efforts proving abortive, he was once more
removed to the hulks, about the middle of the year 1778. Being a
second time in this humiliating and disgraceful situation, he found
his imaginary consequence so much hurt, that, failing in a variety of
plans to effect his escape, his next attempt was to destroy himself.
For this purpose, he took an opportunity to be seen stabbing himself
with a penknife in the breast; but as the wound, by the immediate
application of medical assistance, was slowly healed, he continued to
linger in this new state of wretchedness, till, happening to be seen by
a gentleman who came to visit the hulks, it produced another event in
his favor.