The Virginia Gazette

July 9. Some Weeks ago, as a Carpenter was coming from the Country pretty late, where he had retired to avoid the Importunity of his Creditors, he happened to pick up upon the Road a Pocket-Book, which, by the Address of some Letters contained in it, he found to belong to a Gentleman of great Eminence in the City. There were likewise in it Bank Notes to the Amount of 200 l. and next Morning, when he intended to have waited on the Gentleman, he was seized by the Bailiffs, carried to a Sponging-House, and from thence to Goal; where he remained till a Composition with his Creditors could be effected, with no other Means of Support than common Allowance. As soon as he had obtained his Liberty he waited on the Gentleman, to inquire if he had not lost such a Pocket-Book, who replied that he had, but as he did not know the Number of the Notes, he did not care to advertise it, chusing rather to lose the Money, than to incur the Imputation of Carelessness. The Description he gave of the Pocket-Book was satisfactory, and the Carpenter returned it with the Notes. The Gentleman enquired why he had been so long in waiting on him; he answered, that he had been confined in Goal from the Day after he found it, and did not care to entrust any Body with the Secret. The Gentleman could scarcely believe the Relation, and enquired at the Goal whether such a Person had been there; he found the Circumstances to be true, and astonished at the unshaken Integrity of the Man, who could suffer the Severities of a Prison, rather than do a Thing scarcely dishonourable, and in which he never could have been detected, very generously made him a Present of half the Money; declaring that his Influence should be exerted to its full Extent to serve him.