The once popular subject of this sketch was born about 1755, at avillage called Maynooth, in Ireland; his father being a workingsilversmith, and his mother a mantua maker. Nearly ruined by law, theywere unable to give their son an education suitable to the earlyabilities which he discovered. He was however taught to read andwrite; and a neighbouring surgeon instructed him in arithmetic, theelements of geography, and the general principles of grammar.At sixteen, young Waldron was noticed and patronised by Dr. C--, adignitary in the church of Ireland; and through whose influence he wasplaced at a free grammar-school in Dublin. But stabbing an older boythan himself with a penknife, from motives of revenge, he lost thesupport of his benevolent patron, and was severely chastised by themaster. He could by no means forgive this degradation; and thereforeresolved on leaving the school, and all his fair prospects behind.His plan of escape was no sooner framed than it was carried intoexecution; but, previous to his departure, he found means to steal tenor twelve guineas from Mr. F--, the master of the school, and a goldrepeating watch from Mrs. Gouldsborough, the master's sister. Withthis booty, a few shirts, and two or three pair of stockings, hesilently, but safely, effected his retreat from the school-house, inthe middle of a still night, in the month of May, 1771; and pursuingthe great northern road all that night, and all the next day, he latein the evening arrived at the town of Drogheda, without interruption,without accident, and, in a great measure, without halting, withoutrest, and without food.At Drogheda, Master Waldron connected himself to a company ofstrollers, and vagabondised about the country with indifferentsuccess. The Theatrical Manager at length concerted a depredatoryscheme with the young hero of his stage; and at intervals, they leviedsome heavy contributions. This great man, however, in the character ofWaldron's servant, was detected in picking the pocket of the RightHon. H--K--, and transported to America for seven years. His pupilshortly afterwards, attempting the property of Lord B---, at Carlowraces, met the discipline of the course; and this disaster it was,that first determined him to select England as the theatre of hisfuture exploits. He accordingly embarked on board the Dorset yacht,and arrived in England, in 1773, being then aged about eighteen.In the metropolis he lived as Mr. Barrington, in a style of singularsplendour, on the spoils which he had collected in Ireland; and byimposing on a gentleman, who had been passenger with him in the yacht,he gained his favour and confidence; finding by that means anintroduction into the politest circles; from whence he extractedabundant plunder for a long time without being even suspected.It would prove unuseful and even tasteless to follow Mr. Barringtonthrough all his early scenes of dissipation and licentiousness: weshall therefore content ourselves with giving the most remarkable ofhis feats, as detached anecdote.On forming a connection with one Lowe, which was but a short timeprevious to that evening of the month of January, which is observed asthe anniversary of the Queen's birth-day, it was resolved on betweenthem, that, habited as a clergyman, Mr. Barrington should repair toCourt, and there endeavour, not only to pick the pockets of some ofthe company, but, what was a much bolder, and a much more novelattempt, to cut off the diamond orders of some of the Knights of theGarter, Bath, and Thistle, who, on such days, usually wear the collarsof their respective orders over their coats. In this enterprize hesucceeded beyond the most sanguine expectations that could have beenformed, by either his new accomplice Lowe or himself; for he foundmeans to take the diamond order of Lord C--, with which he got awayfrom St. James's perfectly unsuspected.