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'Newport
First Stop' - 100 Years of News Stories Newport
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1833
Merlin 25th March, 1833 On the London letter bag being opened at the Newport Post Office on Thursday last, it was found to contain only four letters, which had (from their stamp) been put into the office (late); the main lot, had in the hurry of the moment when the bags were made up at the General Post Office, been sent by mistake elsewhere. This reminds us of a laughable mistake of the Postmistress of *******, through which the London to South Wales Mail runs at night; as the coach passed close to the Post Office, the coachman pulls up under the window of the lady's bedroom, from which the bag is given to the guard. On a certain night, in the hurry of the moment, the Postmistress took up, in the dark, a pair of leather unmentionables and dropped them upon the coach; the guard bundled them into the usual place, and with the cry of "all right" away went the Mail. When the mistake was brought to light on arrival, inexpressible amusement was caused to some, and disappointment and confusion to others.
On Sunday night, at the residence of the Rev. John Powell,
in this town, about half-past ten o'clock, after the servant girl had
retired to rest, suspicion was excited in the family that all was not
quite right, whereupon the Rev, gentleman's son proceeded to institute
a search, and on arriving at the damsel's room, the door was quickly shut
in his face and ingress opposed with more energy than is usually consistent
with virgin feebleness. By threats and force an entrance was at length
affected, and in the centre of the room, divested of the incumbrance of
clothing, stood the trembling girl, while skulking behind the door was
discovered an enamoured swain, a swarthy son of Vulcan, whom, in the excess
of her affection, she had admitted to her chamber. Both delinquents were
overwhelmed with confusion; the frail one faltered "that she meant
no harm," and pleaded hard for forgiveness. Mr. Powell, however,
who suspected that a robbery had been contemplated, turned a deaf ear
to her eloquent appeal, and sent for the police, who soon transferred
the maid and her gallant to lodgings of a less comfortable description
than they had calculated on. Upon reaching the lock-up, they, "whom
love had knit," were rudely torn asunder, and thrust into separate
cells. Poor Sarah Alley was a long time inconsolable and her lamentations
were both loud and deep; indeed she even threatened that she would hang
herself unless permitted to share the same dungeon with her dark Adonis.
A policeman to prevent so direful a catastrophe, carried away her handkerchief,
and the band of her gown, and he also took away her garters. With these
precautions and a moderate supply of bread and water, they were left to
their fate till Monday, when they were brought before the Magistrates,
and as nothing belonging to Mr. Powell had been found in their possession,
they were discharged with a suitable admonition. [ Back ] |
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'Newport
First Stop' - 100 Years of News Stories Newport
Past |
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