The New York Packet

A most remarkable story is now current at Portsmouth, and which at the same time is told, upon what they call indisputable authority; that is the authority of the persons themselves—Dr. Meggs, a physician in considerable practice, had occasion to attend a family in the Isle of Wight.—Being detained until a late hour, he took a bed at the house; but after tumbling about for some hours, he rose, and rung up the servants—he told them he had tried in vain to sleep, but that his imagination was haunted with the idea that his wife and child was murdered. No persuasives could prevail on him to stay. He set off.—It was a blowing night, and it was with great difficulty that he could procure the boatman to take him over. He however arrived and knocked at his door. His wife opened it. He eagerly enquired if all was well—if the child was safe—and why she had opened the door? She said the child was perfectly well; and she had opened the door because the servants would not come—they had behaved very impertinently to her.—He called one of them, and questioned her as to her conduct. She gave him some pert answers, but at length falling on her knees, she said that he had come home providentially, for he and her fellow servants had resolved to murder their mistress and the child, that they might plunder the house. The servant made the same confession in the morning, upon oath, before a magistrate.