The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON
Anecdote of Mr. EYRE, the celebrated Paper Stealer.

He was put apprentice and served his time with Mr. Shuckburgh, bookseller, in Fleet-street. Upon the death of his father, who left him an affluent fortune, he commenced gentleman, took lodgings in Salisbury-court, Fleet-street, and either married, or seemed to be married, to a young woman, by whom he had several children.

Soon after this connection, an aunt of his died in Somersetshire, to whom he was heir at Law. She had been attended during a long and tedious illness, by a physician in the neighbourhood, who, from his friendship and regard for her, not only promoted her recovery (some years before her death) but would not accept of any fee for his long attendance on her. His kindness and assiduity so highly ingratiated him into her esteem, that she made a will, whereby she bequeathed him all her fortune, which was very considerable; and when he waited upon her one day, she presented him with it saying, "pray, Doctor, read that paper at your leisure," he accordingly took it with him; but, upon seeing her again, represented to her in the most forcible terms, that he had a sufficient competency to live easily and contentedly, that he had no higher ambition than to attend his patients, serve them, & merit their good opinion; but that if he were to accept the bequest she proposed, he might forfeit their esteem, in diverting the channel of succession in her family. In fine with great difficulty he persuaded her to make a new will, in which she bequeathed the Doctor only a thousand pounds, appointing him one of her executors.

Upon the demise of the good old Lady, the Doctor wrote to her nephew in London, informing him that he had succeeded to his aunt's fortune, and desiring Mr. Eyre to come down to give the necessary orders for her funeral. Mr. Eyre accordingly went down into Somersetshire, and, upon his arrival at his aunt's, was met by the Doctor, who informed him there was a will made in his favour, in her bureau, directing him to the drawer in which it was. Mr. Eyre went up stairs, and finding his aunt's testament, with the item in favour of the doctor, who upon seeing Mr. Eyre again, asked him if he had found the will. Eyre, at first, denied having met with any one; but being hard pressed, at length acknowledged that he had destroyed it, saying there was no occasion for a will, as he was by law heir to the whole estate. "Yes, (says a friend of the Doctor's who was present) but there was a legacy of a thousand pounds in behalf of the Doctor--do you intend to pay that?" "I know nothing of any legacy, replied Eyre, and shall pay none," this so enraged the doctor though he despised the money, that he immediately said, "If that's the case, you have destroyed the will, and have no one to shew:--let me tell you I have one;" and immediately produced the will in his possession, whereby he became successor to a fortune of near twelve thousand pounds.

Thus we find Mr. Eyre's infamous thirst of gain has always been his foeman--and the last instance of exposing himself to transportation for a few quires of paper seems to sum up his wretched character in a short compass.