I I - American Memory

[5H
Gentlemen, whether any fuch Perfons as defcribed h
tlie Proclamation, had been feen in Rotterdam ; and un-
derftanding there had, he immediately applied to the
Sates-GeneralzX. the Hague, and by their Dircftion to
the Lords of Rotterdam, obtained an Order for the fe-
curing of them any where within the ProviffCe.
The Meflenger coming by Virtue of the faid Order,
and with the Affiftance of the Schools Denairs, or She-
riffs-Officers, feized Bktvit at the Hamburgh-Arms in
Rotterdam ; liis Companions Dickenfon and. Berry were
juft before gone on Ship-board, and had left Rotterdam,
but Bk-wit was carried to the Stadthoufe-Prifon in Rot-
terdam, and the Officers went in Purfuit of his Compa-
nions to the Brill, where the Veflel not being cleared ,
out. they feized them both, and brought them back to
Rotterdam, where they were very ftrongly hand cufF'd,
iron'd, and confined in the Stadthoufe with their Friend
BJeivit, where we will leave them for a little Time, to
give fome Account of.
Emanuel Dickenfon, who was born of very lionefl Pa-
rents, but his Father dying whilft he was very yowig,
J;e had Liberty to follow thofe Courfes his vicious In-
clinations led him to; and his Mother not having
wherewith to fupport at fuch extravagant Rates,, him,
Iiis Brother, and three Sifters, was obliged to fubmit to
their taking fuch Courfes as end in Ruin and Mifery ;
one of his Sifters was at that Time in Woodflreet-Comp-
ter, the reft are difperfed up and down in different
Parts. He began very early to keep vicious and pro-
fligate Company, by whom he was induc'd to praftiee
the Trade of picking Pockets, l^c. for eight Years
paft. He was once convifted for fnatching a Gentle-
man's Hat off of his Head in the Strand, for which
Faft he fhould have been tranfported; but whilft he
lay uader Conviiflion for this Crime, his Mother pro-
cured a free Pardon for him, upon an AUedging that
he was the Son of a Gentleman who had a cenfidera-
ble Poft in the Army ; but he foon returned to his old
Courfes, and continued to herd with fuch Acquaintance
as