s dug up and confiscated
by officers of the Crown. It is regrettable that history, by one of
its curious omissions, tells us no more about this titled lady. Did
Kidd have reason to suppose that she would take his gifts and try to
befriend him? When he was in high favor she may, perchance, have
admired this dashing shipmaster and privateer as he spun his
adventurous yarns in the Governor's mansion. He may have jestingly
promised to fetch her home jewels and rich silk stuffs of the Indies
filched from pirates. At any rate, she was not to be bought over, and
Kidd sat in jail anchored by those sixteen-pound irons, and biting his
nails in sullen wrath and disappointment, while a messenger was posting
to Gardiner's Island with this order from Bellomont to the proprietor:

BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND, 8th July, 1699...

_Mr. Gardiner:_

Having received the King's express Orders for Seizing and Securing the
body of Capt. Kidd and all his associates together with all their
effects till I should receive his Majesty's Royal pleasure how to
dispose of the same, I have accordingly secured Capt. Kidd in the Gaol
of this Town and some of his men. He has been examined by myself and
the Council and has confessed among other things that he left with you
a parcel of gold made up in a box and some other parcels besides, all
of which I require you in his Majesty's name immediately to fetch
hither to me, that I may secure them for his Majesty's use, and I shall
recompense your pains in coming hither.

I am,

Your friend and servant,
BELLOMONT.

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[Illustration: The official inventory of the Kidd treasure found on
Gardiner's Island. This is the only original and authenticated record
of any treasure belonging to Captain Kidd. (From the British State
Papers in the Public Record Office, London.)]

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The box and the chest were promptly delivered by honest John Gardiner,
who had no mind to be mixed in the affairs of the now notorious Kidd,
together with the bales of goods left in his care. This booty was
inventoried by order of Bellomont and the Governor's Council and the
original document is photographed herewith, as found in the Public
Record Office, London. It possessed a singular interest because it
records and vouches for the only Kidd treasure ever discovered. Nor
are its detailed it