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attempt would be quite fruitless. At length, to satisfy Mrs. Austin, he consented to the measure. His wife accordingly took the petition, and went with the child (WILLIAM) in her arms, on Saturday the 23rd of October, 1802, to MONTAGUE HOUSE. Here she inquired for Mr.STIKEMAN, whom she had seen but once only before, when she applied for a letter of recommendation to the Brownlow-street hospital.

Mr. STIKEMAN appearing, she requested him to present the petition, stating that the object of it was to get her husband reinstated in the Dock Yard, from whence he had been lately discharged, with many others. He said, he was denied doing such things; having ap plications of a similar nature, almost daily." She urged her great distress, telling him she had another child at home, and no prospect of any provision for them, her husband being quite destitute of employment. He then gave her a SHILLING, took the petition and put it into his pocket, observed she had a fine child in her arms, and asked how old it was; Mrs. Austin answered, about three months. Mr. STIKEMAN replied, if it had been about a FORTNIGHT OLD, HE COULD HAVE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF FOR HER; she observed to him that she thought it a better age to be taken from the mother, than if it were younger; he answered, "Ah, true." He then turned up the child's clothes and looked at its legs, saying, "It's a fine child, give it to me." He accordingly tock the child into the house, and as he went along the passage, danced it up and down, talking to it.

During the time Mr. STIKEMAN was in possession of the child, Mrs. Austin remained at the door of Montague House, on the Heath. Having waited his return with her child for more than half an hour, she began to be apprehensive that her son would be taken from her, and that she should not behold him again. These fears she

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communicated to some persons passing at the time, as she stood weeping at the gate;--but they encouraged her to hope for the best, saying there was no doubt but that the child would be safely restored to her.

Mr. STIKEMAN now brought the child to her, and said that he had been a very good boy, and desired her to give him the shilling again, that he might make it up HALF-A-GUINEA; and this, he said, was a present from the ladies.

She then asked Mr. STIKEMAN if he thought he could get the child taken care of for her: he said he would try what he could do, and desired that she would come again on Monday. He then desired her to go round to the Cookery, and he would give her something. On her way thither, she met him in the yard, and he gave her some broken meat, telling her to be sure to bring the child again on Monday, by eleven o'clock in the morning.

Qn her return, Mrs. Austin found that her husband had packed up all his clothes, and had gone off by the coach to London; leaving the other child with a woman in the house. She, afterwards, discovered that he had engaged himself with a Mrs. Nichols, a furrier in Oxford Road.

On Monday October 25, Mrs. Austin again went to Montague House, according to appointment; but the day being very foggy, she wandered about for some time, not being able to find her way, and was near falling down a precipice on the Heath, called Sot's-hole. Meeting, however, with a baker who was crossing the Heath, he directed her to her ROYAL HIGHNESS'S house. When she arrived, she inquired for Mr. STIKEMAN, who came out to her, and exclaimed, “Bless me! I did not expect to see you such a morning as this!" He now inquired for her husband; she told him, that he was from home, seeking employment. He

then asked if she could come the next morning, and bring her husband with her, as he particularly wished to see him; and observed, if they were not at Montague House by 10 or 11 o'clock, he would call on them at Deptford, at twelve. He then gave her soine broken meat, and she went away. Austin and his wife lived, at this time, at No. 7, Deptford, New Row, with a person of the name of Bearblock, a milkman.

When she reached her home, supposing that something advantageous was intended to be done for them, she resolved to go immediately to London, in quest of her husband; whom, after a considerable time spent in the search, she found at a relation's. Mrs. Austin then related to her husband the success she had met with at MONTAGUE HOUSE, and told him that Mr. STIKEMAN wished very particularly to see him; and that he had better return with her by the coach. To this he readily consented, being too unwell to fulfil the engagement into which he had entered.

Austin and his wife arrived at Deptford about 11 o'clock that night. In consequence of his disorder increasing, Austin was so ill, that he found himself incapable of rising in the morning; and was, of course, prevented from going to Montague House. At 12 o'clock, however, Mr. STIKEMAN called on them, and made particular inquiries into their circumstances and character; promising to do what he could for them, in the way of getting the child taken care of.

A few days afterwards, Mrs. Austin went to MONTAGUE HOUSE, and seeing Mr. STIKEMAN at the door, she asked him whether he would be able to do any thing for her child. He said, he would try and let her know. On Thursday the 4th of November, Mr. STIKEMAN came to Deptford, and said he had spoken to Arthur the gardener, to employ her hus

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band. Austin, however, being introduced to the gardener, was told, that he could not have any employment; but the gardener promised to recommend him as a labourer to a master bricklayer! But, as Austin did not possess even a labourer's tools, this prospect of employment vanished.

Mr. STIKEMAN, at this time, directed Mrs. Austin to bring her child to Montague House, the next day being the 5th of November, and gave her particular instructions in what manner she was to act on the occasion. He directed her to come to Blackheath at a certain hour, and to place herself near the door of Montague House; to lay the child on her arms, in the same manner as she would, if it were to be christened; in full view, so that HER ROYAL HIGHNESS might see it as she was getting into her carriage. It happened, however, that the day was very unfavourable, raining almost incessantly from morning till night; and Mrs. Austin was prevented from going. This circumstance rendered her peculiarly uneasy, and she hesitated, whether (as she had been unable to attend the appointment) she should go any more to Montague House, until she received further instructions.

On the next day, being the 6th of November, about one o'clock, Mr. STIKEMAN came to Deptford to inquire the reason of her not bringing the child according to appointment. She urged the unfavourable state of the weather as the only cause of her absence; and expressed the sorrow she felt on the occasion; but said, that she was fearful of endangering her own and the child's health, by going so far (being about two miles) in a pouring rain.

Mr. STIKEMAN appeared much displeased, and at last became quite angry; telling her she must leave what she was about immediately, dress herself and the

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child, and hasten, with all possible speed, to Montague. House, as the Princess was anxious to see it immediately; that when she came she must inquire for him,-and not speak to any of the servants, or take the least notice of the circumstance to any person whatever. He farther observed, that he could ill spare the time to call upon her, and that he must return without delay; or he should be too late for dinner.

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She instantly gave the child to a Mrs. Davis, who lived in the next room, to dress it, while she changed her own apparel. Mrs. Austin made all possible haste, and arrived at MONTAGUE HOUSE, about two o'clock. In her way thither she met her husband, who accompa nied her, and assisted in carrying the child. He remained at the door, and Mrs. Austin entered and inquired for Mr. STIKEMAN, who being called from the steward's room, and came to her went up the staircase, and desired her to follow him. Mr. STIKEMAN.. then shewed her into a room, called the Blue-room, obtained some refreshment for her and the child, and: told her that she was now to be introduced TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, who was then taking a walk, but that she would soon return. Mrs. Austin waited for about two hours. During [this time, she felt much agitated, fearing that she should not conduct herself with propriety in her Royal Highness's presence. These facts she communicated to Mr. STIKEMAN who told her she had nothing to apprehend; "that HER ROYAL HIGHNESS was a very affable, good sort of a lady, and that she would say all for her."

At length, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS made her ap-. pearance, coming into the room where Mrs. Austin was, from an adjoining one, accompanied by two ladies; but of these ladies Mrs. Austin has no knowledge. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS came to her as she stood with the