A Voyage to Botany Bay

The once popular subject of this sketch was born about 1755, at a
village called Maynooth, in Ireland; his father being a working
silversmith, and his mother a mantua maker. Nearly ruined by law, they
were unable to give their son an education suitable to the early
abilities which he discovered. He was however taught to read and
write; and a neighbouring surgeon instructed him in arithmetic, the
elements of geography, and the general principles of grammar.

At sixteen, young Waldron was noticed and patronised by Dr. C--, a
dignitary in the church of Ireland; and through whose influence he was
placed at a free grammar-school in Dublin. But stabbing an older boy
than himself with a penknife, from motives of revenge, he lost the
support of his benevolent patron, and was severely chastised by the
master. He could by no means forgive this degradation; and therefore
resolved on leaving the school, and all his fair prospects behind.

His plan of escape was no sooner framed than it was carried into
execution; but, previous to his departure, he found means to steal ten
or twelve guineas from Mr. F--, the master of the school, and a gold
repeating watch from Mrs. Gouldsborough, the master's sister. With
this booty, a few shirts, and two or three pair of stockings, he
silently, but safely, effected his retreat from the school-house, in
the middle of a still night, in the month of May, 1771; and pursuing
the great northern road all that night, and all the next day, he late
in the evening arrived at the town of Drogheda, without interruption,
without accident, and, in a great measure, without halting, without
rest, and without food.

At Drogheda, Master Waldron connected himself to a company of
strollers, and vagabondised about the country with indifferent
success. The Theatrical Manager at length concerted a depredatory
scheme with the young hero of his stage; and at intervals, they levied
some heavy contributions. This great man, however, in the character of
Waldron's servant, was detected in picking the pocket of the Right
Hon. H--K--, and transported to America for seven years. His pupil
shortly afterwards, attempting the property of Lord B---, at Carlow
races, met the discipline of the course; and this disaster it was,
that first determined him to select England as the theatre of his
future exploits. He accordingly embarked on board the Dorset yacht,
and arrived in England, in 1773, being then aged about eighteen.

In the metropolis he lived as Mr. Barrington, in a style of singular
splendour, on the spoils which he had collected in Ireland; and by
imposing on a gentleman, who had been passenger with him in the yacht,
he gained his favour and confidence; finding by that means an
introduction into the politest circles; from whence he extracted
abundant plunder for a long time without being even suspected.

It would prove unuseful and even tasteless to follow Mr. Barrington
through all his early scenes of dissipation and licentiousness: we
shall therefore content ourselves with giving the most remarkable of
his feats, as detached anecdote.

On forming a connection with one Lowe, which was but a short time
previous to that evening of the month of January, which is observed as
the anniversary of the Queen's birth-day, it was resolved on between
them, that, habited as a clergyman, Mr. Barrington should repair to
Court, and there endeavour, not only to pick the pockets of some of
the company, but, what was a much 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 take the diamond order of Lord C--, with which he got away
from St. James's perfectly unsuspected.