The New Hampshire Gazette

A very singular reverse of fortune has just happened to an Irishman of the name of Arthur Burns, belonging to the county of Tyrone, who at present resides in the High-street. He came to this country a number of years ago, and has since wrought in the humble capacity of a builder's laborer, and bore the character of a sober and industrious man. An uncle of his, who went to the East-Indies in early life as a merchant, accumulated large fortune, and while on his death-bed at Calcutta, made a will bequeathing the whole of his property in favor of his relation. The will was sent home, properly sealed by eight or ten different executors, whose names are attached to it. Inquiry was made after Burns in the north of Ireland, where it was ascertained that he long before had gone to Scotland.—A messenger was immediately despatched from Dublin to this city, and careful inquiry was made among the various kinds of laborers, till he was at length traced out a few days ago, and the good news imparted to him. He was furnished with a copy of his uncle's will, appointing him sole heir to his immense property, amounting to 190,000l. in cash, several valuable estates, five merchant vessels at sea, besides an inventory of furniture of the richest and most costly description; among other articles are a gold table, the length, and breadth, and superficial dimensions of which are stated, a bedstead mounted with gold, a pair of slippers with gold buckles, two carriages finely mounted with silver, and various other articles equally splendid. One of the vessels, called the Margaret, is on her passage home with some of these valuable effects, and a large stock of the choicest wines, and several puncheons of rum, consigned on behalf of Mr. Burns, to the care of a respectable merchant in Dublin. Mr. Burns is about 40 years of age, is married, but without children. None of the money or effects have yet arrived. as the will was despatched before the merchant was dead, but accounts of his decease and the arrival of the effects are daily expected. Mr. Burns in the mean time has never ceased a single day from his employment, and is much less elated on the subject than might have been expected. He regularly carries home in the evening his usual bundle of sticks under his arm for fuel. As is always the case in matters of this kind, new friends and acquaintances, whom he never knew before, have sprung up on every side, who are eager in their endeavors to serve him; and offers of accommodation with money are unbounded; but he has declined their services and prefers working in his homely garb and abstemious fare, till he be able to touch his own.—Three thousand pounds were sent by his uncle to him in Ireland some years ago, intrusted to the care of a gentleman, who kept it up, and when he failed in London, he ranked the laborer as one of his creditors. The composition was 7s. but he has not yet received it, and it would seem that his good fortune will come on him all at once.—Glasgow Chron.