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grapher, employed to make a chart of his journey, and with a man of letters, who was to draw up his journal. Neither had any doubt of the truth of his assertions.

All the journals announced before-hand, the Travels of Damberger, as one of the most remarkable productions of the age. The booksellers of Paris and London, had the sheets sent to them, at a great expence, as they were printed.

The

An English bookseller, wishing to be before-hand with two of his brethren, who were entering into an agreement with him for the translation of Damberger, distributed these sheets among six translators: French and English papers were filled with extracts from the Travels of Damberger. In France, great pains were taken to justify Le Vaillant, whom Damberger charged with falsehood.

Meantime, M. Paulus, the same who had unmasked Joseph Schroeder, and M. Meiners, a celebrated man of learning in Gottingen, published in the Literary Gazettes of Jena and of Gottingen, some accurate criticisms on these Travels, which evidently demonstrate, that the pretended Damberger was an impostor, of equal ignorance and effrontery.

M. Martini, informed of the opinion of those men of letters, who are best capable of judging on such a subject, collected new information, which suggested to him the idea of applying to the publishers of the Travels of Joseph Schroeder, and Zachary Taurinius, who, like himself, are booksellers at Leipsick. He compared the manuscripts of these two works, with that of his Damberger, and he recognised the same, writing in the three manuscripts. He found means to prevail on the person whom he had known by the name of Damberger, to return to Leipsick. The latter being warmly pressed, at last acknowledged, that in reality, he was not Damberger, but, in fact, the self same Egyptian called Zachary Taurinius; that Schroeder, who is at present at Hamburgh, not knowing how to write, had employed him to draw up the acQount of his travels; that as to the last work, which

he was publishing, he borrowed the name of Damberger, because he had really known at the Cape a man of that name, and that he had made use of a Journal of Travels in Barbary St. Maroc, which this Damberger had left him, when he quitted him in Holland, whither he had accompanied him; and further, that Damberger, at present, lives in Surinam.

The explanations given verbally to M. Martini, and by writing to Messrs. Bertach and Boettiger, two literati of Weimar, could not deceive any body; but the object now was, who was the manufacturer of the books which have brought this pretended Taurinius into notice? whose letters, filled with errors in orthography and grammar, prove that he is nothing more than the instrument of some compiler, who has invented this truly ingenious method of disposing, to the best advantage, of his merchandize. An obscure literateur of Wirtemberg, whose name is Junge, is strongly suspected, because a part of the travels of Damberger are written in his hand. The circumstances of this intricate imposture cannot fail to be brought to light.

ACCOUNT OF

MISS ROBERTSON, THE FEMALE SWINDLER.

HIS notorious impostor lately resided at Black

various tradesmen of property to the amount of 20,000l.

Miss Robertson had a boarding-school on Croomhill,two years, during which time she kept her carriage, and represented herself as heiress to several large estates, particularly to that of an uncle in Scotland, on whose demise she should come into possession of 100,000l. Under the impression of these high sounding appearances, she assumed all the consequence attached to birth, fortune, and expectations: and, from the manner of address, and

the lofty style which she assumed, the people in the neighbourhood of Blackheath and Greenwich really believed every thing she thought proper to advance. In May last she sent to a Mr. Creasy, of Greenwich, a man of property, by trade a currier, whom she informed that her uncle, Alexander Stuart Robertson, of Fascally, was dead, and begged he would accompany her to a respectable attorney, in Crane-court, Fleet-street, to arrange matters preparatory to her taking possession. Mr. Creasy complied, and went with her to the gentleman's house in question; Miss R. in stating the business to the attorney, desired he would make out a factory (the usual process for conveying Scotch property) for 1600l. a year on the estate of her late uncle, Alexander Stuart Robertson, of Fascally, and a bond for 5000l. to be drawn on the agent who had the superintendance of the estate, and who, she said, had been appointed to receive her rents. A few days after this transaction, she again sent to Mr. Creasy, and knowing him to be a man of property, asked him to lend her 2000l. until the settlement of her affairs at Fascally. Mr. Creasy not having the slightest suspicion of any part of what had been advanced being untrue, readily c. mplied, and likewise recommended her to all the tradespeople in the town. Desirous of an elegant house, she fixed upon a very handsome one in the Paragon, which was in an unfinished state; this house she purchased on credit; and, through the recommendation of Creasy, engaged bricklayers, carpenters, and painters to finish the premises in the most expensive style imaginable; and ordered Mr. Driver, the nurseryman, to spare no expence of planting the shrubberies, and improving the pleasure-grounds. While these improvements were going forward, Miss Robertson set up three carriages, a coach, sociable, and post-chariot; and

while the house and grounds were finishing, she, and her sister, Miss Sharp (who lived with her), continued at Croom-hill, from whence they made frequent excursions to London; the latter end of June they set off for Brighton, where they figured away with four horses and outriders. The horses they had on job from a stablekeeper at Greenwich, and the carriages from different coachmakers in London.

On their return in August last, Miss Robertson, went to Hatchett's, and desired him to make her an elegant chariot, with silver mouldings, and raised coronets of the same. Mr. Hatchett treated his customer with much respect, and hastened to complete the order by the time promised, the queen's birth-day; her cousin, Mr. Secretary Dundas, intending on that day to introduce her at court. About this time the house was finished, but not furnished: having heard that Mr. Oakley, in Bond-street, was remarkable for the elegance of his ware-rooms, she applied to him through the medium of a man of respectability at Blackheath, and, from the representation made to Mr. Oakley, he agreed to furnish the house for 4000l. Things then went on in a very flourishing way; the drawing-rooms were painted in water-colours by one of the first artists in the kingdom; the walls in land. scape, and the cieling composed of clouds, and appropriate devices. The looking-glasses to the floor were in burnished gold frames, richly carved, with statuary marble slabs, and molu ornaments, These six mirrors came to 1,1ool. On the marble slabs in the principal drawing-room were placed a pair of Egyptian cande abras, the price of which was 200 guineas; the principal bed 500l. and every other article equally magnificent.

During the three months that the furnishing of the house was going forward, Mr. Oakley had fre

quent conferences with his employer, Miss Robert son, when she frequently mentioned that she had great expectations from rich relations in India, and was continually receiving presents of great value. Among the number lately arrived was a marble chimney-piece, then lying at the India-house, worth, in that country, 1,100l. and added, that it was her intention to build a room on purpose to erect it in, adapted for balls or music. Mf. Oakley not being perfectly satisfied with appearances, requested, when half the order had been completed, the sum of 1,000l. Miss Robertson felt herself hurt, and said, if he had any doubts of having his money when her affairs were settled at Fascally, he might apply to her sister, Lady Paget, or to her cousin, the Bishop of London. "If you have any further doubts (added Miss Robertson), apply to Sir Richard Hill, who has known me from infancy. Sir Edward Law (the present attorney-general) can speak to my respectability." From these bold assertions Mr. Oakley proceeded with the order, but when nearly completed, he judged it pro per to wait upon the Bishop of London and Sir Richard Hill; both these gentlemen said they had no farther knowledge of a Miss Robertson than by a card, which a person of that name had been in the habit of leaving at the houses of persons of dis tinction.

Upon this discovery in February last, Mr. Oakley took out a writ, and with proper officers, his own men, and several carts, went down to Blackheath, and laid in wait till nine o'clock, (being informed that Miss Robertson dined out), when the carriage came home, but no Miss Robertson. From this circumstance it appeared that she had received intimation of what was going forward, and would not return. Mr. Oakley, finding he could not take the body, contrived to get into the house, and let

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