The Statesman. — London, England, 1814-12-12 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN. to be unmindful of them would shoal► him to be destitute of common sense and feeling ; he desired his Lord. ship to place himself for a moment in his situatir in the disguise of a sailor, going out on the same errand every evening. The habit of Lord Itoseberry's fr ily u- - - • Ladies their mutual hearts discover se much similitude.— Some of these letters were written at a period when ings to be, if he did lose her. He was not considering feelings of the husband, who was compelled to throe► piti. ip . _ ion, family was to dine about six o'clock. The the most profligate person would have been deterred 1 her away as a pestilence, or what would he the p an d thee say in what terms, he ought to express him. re ti re d t o t h e d raw i ng . roona a b ou t seven , th e G eu tl e . f r om writing to the wife o f hi s f r ie n d, i n s u ch terms : a bl e s i tua ti on o f t h e c hild ren in having their vomiter ae lf; he desired to be rememb ere d moat a ff ectionate _ men remaining together till about nine, when they and upon such a subject. At a p Tiod when her I t orn fr om them--he considered not th e m i ser y o f th e gy t o Harriet, the Plaintiff's wife, and concluded by joined th e Ladies . D ur i ng th e per i o d w hi c h w as husband was visiting, as be supposed, and it after- , Lady herself in being secluded for the rest of be t assuring him of his warmest regard. Such was the marked by the arr ival of the Defend a nt in disguise, wards turned out, the death-bed of his father, that I days away from her country, with the man wh o hart account which Sir Henry Mildmay gave of his send- it was observed, that L a dy Roseberry, afte r dinner , was the period he had thought proper to select. In I re d uce d h er t o thi s h o p e l ess situation with no as. m eals with respect to this' family : he was s o im- did no t cont i nue l ong i n th e soc i e t y o f h er mo th er , an o the r letter he stated, add ress i ng h er as th e m o st ! sociittes but the acquaintances of men , profligate as pres sed with gratitude for the attentions shown him, but that as soon as she left the dining-room she re- : agreeable of human beings, that he hod just returned i himself. Would to God that those women of rank that he could hardly express his feelings ; he was not tired to her own bed-chamber ; this led to a auspi- 1 from the vile party, mea n ing som e circle of his ac- ! and character, such as Lady Ros e b err y h a d b een, a , ca meo,' acquaintance ; he was n o t a p erson , c i on t h at something was going on which was not ' quaintance i n w hi c h he h a d s p en t au even i ng , when would, when first addressed by such men as the Dr 'Oast % hose visits to the wife the husband could well. It wa s c on j ec t ure d it cou ld b e accou n ted for !he had experienced nothing but agonising tormeuta Pendant, take a view of those abodes the mnst 'ro be suprw I tobe on his guard. It would be seen by no cause except where f or Sir Henry Mildmay b e i ng i n I ft was her correspondence that w as his o n ly c o nso- t sera bl e th at could b e imagined, the wife,hay. bow sincere tic was in his professions of gratitude the neghb our h oo d. Thi s l e d an H onoura bl e P erson , ; lation ; he stated that her manner of leaving Devon- li ng a b a nd one d h er f am il y , was f oun d w i th no con and how sate it was to trust to him,—he had retu r n: Mr. Primrose, the b ro the r o f Lord Roseberry, to ob. ' shire-house, where there had been a fete given in ho- solatory association, no friends or relatives t o Ch eer 01 from retirement to society, and app eare d t o h ave serve h er on a particular day after she had left the 1 'lour of the Royal Personages being in England, had ! her, no attendants but remorse and despair. If any o vercome his sensations for the loss he had sustained : room ; he t r ied the d oor o f the bed-ch a mbe r• which !stabbed him to the heart. It grieved him to be a ished thi ng c ou ld ena bl e a woman t o res i s t suc h se d uction at this time Lord Roseberry was living in the most he found fast l oc ked, th oug h u n der or di n a r y circurn. good bye by the dreadful and cold appellation of Sir as had been practised by Defendant, it Would he th e affectionate happy state which a man could be sup- stances it wo u ld no t h ave b een so ; h e th en ender'. Henry, instead of dearest Harry. In another letter, 1 giving her a slight opportunity of seeing th e h orror posed to enjoy—his Lady, blessed with every ac- Toured to break it o p en , when the d oo r was opened he stated that it would . be difficult to describe what of such a situation. The Defendant's letters pro complishment, appearing to derive, and no doubt by Lady Roseberry, a n d i n that room was Sir Henry he had suffered in company of somelady to whom he ! ceeded to state the misery he should suffer if he in. deriving, alt her best satisfactions from her duties as Mildmay, in the dis g uise o f a common sailor, armed allotted ;he described Lady Roseberry as the only ; haled her breath no more, if he had takee T th h e is fa m r a e n wei to l a m other and a wife.. It happened that in the month with a brace of loaded pistols: a scene took place creature who made his existence supportable, stating t ancosy, base and ' detestable! ; kiss. II a ' • Ibe talking' of love in terms that would disgrace the of Match, in the present year, the late Earl of Rose. which. the Learned Counsel said he would not at- : the restless night he had passed, and the dreams by berry, the father of the Plaintiff, was taken ill at his ' tempt to desc r ibe, but it ended as might have been which he had been disturbed, and that he would not i obscene books exposed for sale at the Palais Royal. It ;was impossible for any man to bring his mind toe coot seat in Scotland ; and it became necessary that his ' expected on the part of a person of such high honour , for kingdoms pass such another night. It would ap. son and heir should visit his father, to be present in ' as Mr. Primrose, by a . perempt or y o r der t o surren- pear from the first of theseletters, that this Defendant . consideration of such a case. It seemed that so+tlrinen , case of that calamity which eventually (lid happen.—' der, to leave the h ou se i n the same way he had come had not then quitesocceeded in the object of his amble .if t"ey had pleasure in committing the crim e of se . Upon his departure for Scotland, Lady Roseberry, into it clandesti n ely, w hi c h was th roug h th e w i n d ow ; tion—the possession of the person of this lady. A auction, received still greeter geatific si ti on by boast atteniled by the Countess Dowager, left London for Lady Roseberry at that season of the ) ear could not eery little attention would generate a suspicion, that . lug of it, and telling their victi m s t o w h a t a state o f their sent iii. Norfolk ; 'g a d 'd ar i ng thi s p er i o d, Si r quit t h e h ouse t h e same n i g ht ; she was suffered to' the person alluded to had been themes'', of exciting degradation they were reduced. ft wo u ld b e Ileury Mildmay was constant in his visits ; and he remain there till the morn i ng . L or d Roseberry in a jealousy which had produced some difference be- ! ceived by his letters, that havi n g e n j o y e d th e pe r rs. son believed the Jury would have no di ffi culty in per- the mean time not having the least intercourse with tween the Defendant and Lady Roseberry ; that a! of this Lady, it became his object t o bl a z on f or th Id s auielh.g themselves most convincingly, that he there her. Neat morning she took her departure, but in- reconciliation had taken place, which was followed ; triumph by carrying her away to a distant - :This was to' be effected by working upon her feel with• this Ludy, to alienate tier aftectious, to seduce advised, to the house of her father, Mr. Houverie ' she Sequent letter he called her his best love, hhisdearest ' Jags, partly by flattery, partly by exciti n g he r fears , her mir), and debauch her person—for it certainly followed the Defendant, and had become his partner life, his darling Harriet, and asks to what had their 'by trying whetherahe had any latent affection f or h er :' appeared, that recently after her return from Nor- on the Corainesit. Ravine thus stated-the circum- unfortunate attachment reduced them both. In husband, and apprehensions for his safety. It would folk, and joining her husband, Lord Roseberry, who stanc e s of the cas e , he p u t it t o th e J ur y, whether any the former letters there was nothing implying, that be found, that he had intimated to her that h e mean t had come from Scotland, there was a visible dif- observations cauld be required, with a view to the she was reduced - to a state that was any ways to make Lord Roseberry cult .. 1 him out,—not that ference.iii h er b e h av i our t owar d s hi m . Th ere was d amages . If had been customary to say, that the compassionate. It would be found Chet Ws fele he had any intention of shooting Lord floseberry -nto et human being who could be thought to have breach of frieadship enhanced the guilt; that the for. of action was never to leave pursuing that ob- no, bis object was only to deprive him of . hi s wife .0 0tr , ob taketo plies to have seduced this amiable rtes- getfuleess of et's'', thing esteemed ho n ourable among jest which he thought was attainable. Hie am- , serving that he bad given his Lordship satisf ac ti on , • lure • aid the Defendant, from the relationship in mankind t ont! ) enhanced the damages, what could hition •was bounded only by the accomplishment by allowing him to fire at him ' and firing his own r which 'he stood towards her, could not be suspected : be said in a case like this ?He would state nothing but of his desires. This had been the language of his pistol in the air; Lord Roseberry would then, e s - Out in consequence of some-alteration in her conduct, in the language of the Defendant himself. He should former letters. Now he was in an alt e red stat e ; cording to the etiquette among men of honourhe obliged to bow to him, and notice • him , Which bad before beets mott exemplary, Lnru Rose- tell the Jury who he was, what his objects were, and there could be no doubt, but he had by this time ac - he obliged to bow to him, and notice him berry found it necessay to'remonstrate with the Da- what were his views with respect to the duty the complished his design of debauching this lady ; he the street ; a reconciliation would be the be s t thi n indent -open his too-marked attentions to Lady Jury were fulfilling at the present moment; for after was now lamenting t h e st a te t o which their unfortu- in the world, and he should then have access to hie Roseberry. Too-marked attentions ! Without some the disclosure of this scene, by which it was im- nate attachment had reduced them :he observed, that house as formerly : but should he be d r i ven t o d e . eery sufficient cause, it must have appeared extra- possible, to entertain a doubt of the guilt of the he could not be accused of infidelity to her, adding, spair ; if his hope of again meeting his de ar B ar . ordinary that any one should talk of too-marked at. parties, this lady's desk was opened in the pre. that however great might be the distance which sepa . liet'shoold be dkippoin'ed, there was nothing he tentioas between two persons so situated as Lady , senoe of Mr. Primrose, and a number of letters rated them, her image would be ever present; he would nut attempt—no disguise he would no t as ., Hoseberry and the Defendant were: be had been mar- : were found addressed to her in unhappy succession. observed that Lady Roseberry had recommended sume—no hazard he would not encounte r , i n or- Tied to her sister,—his brother lad married another,— , The first of these letters began by stating, that the secrecy — Secrecy ! exclaimed the Learned Counsel— der to force his way to this Lady. •• Farewel hope what possible attentions were there that any body , ambition of the Detenclaot induced him to attempt secrecy about what — a long and honourable visiting —and with hope • farewel fear," was his observe- Could Could thick improper, or what reason was there that ' every thing that could make a man notorious and at the house of Lord Roseberry, was that to be (ion. Other puts and passages of his letters expressed he should not have access to any privacy not in its respectable,—notorious encash he was, whither he kept a secret? No; it was their mutual guilt his despair at the idea of her returning to Scotland stature indecorous, to which the Countess Dowager , would ever again be respected in society was a ques. which was to be kept a secret. It should seem she with her husband, suggesting a va r iety of mo d es herself might not have been admitted ? What fre- tion that was not doubtful; the Defendant added, ha d. made some reproaches tohim as to the manner by which it might he prevented. Among others, tetteeiy of visits could have justified the interdiction that his pride of family was exceeded by none , that he was g allantin g with other ladies, and she had de- stating that he would readily part with character, and of them ? But it ii as considered that nobody else his views were bounded by nothing its the power of sired him to observe secrecy. Great God ! said the leave England altogether. England he had left, bad access to her, and her altered conduct Made the man to obtain ; but he assured Lady Roseberry t h a t Defendant, in his letter, could she su p pose him so and as to character he had not left much behind him. husband look about trim, and.then he observed what' lie would give up all for her, — that, blest with her de p raved and so lost to all sense of affection; —The Learned Counsel proceeded to read a let. he did not approve; he desired the Defendant to dis- society, lie would retire from the world, alike for- . could she suppose that it was necessary t o r e mind him ter, in which the Defendant described an interview toutinue the visits which he made in a morning, gene. getting and forgot,— he had had with her father, and the representation that he would leave his home, of the necessity of keeping their love a secret : rally choosing a time when Lord Roseberry was not his friends, and all, if she would accompany him, — H e ur g ed her for Heaven's sake to prevail on Lord which her parent had made to him. Whatever effect it home. It would appear that the venerable father that re would roam the world with her, and bless Roseberry to defer going t o Scotland, which he had this interview might, for the moment, have had upon of this lady had a conversation with the Defendant,' the hour when for her sake huheel quitted his W eeds -111bclared his inteethau_si..duirag, detkaalibtr•AlLLlk.--lbe, Defesalaat, he soon 'vowed his guilty passion, In which he warned him that he was bringing ruin on and connections. This was the way in which the present to him what might be thought of so sudden a retuning like theAng to hie vomit. The interview, ell that was valuable within the circle of domestic Defendant had stated who he wasp and what his views step—he desired her to tell Lord Roseberry that she urging him to desist from Isis career, and to come to jtappiness. At this time the Defendant was writing were :he had described himself:as a man whose fa- would g ive him, the fendant, up, provided she the virtuous resolution of never seeing the lady again, letters to Lady Roseberry, in terms which any man mily was exceeded by uone, andirhose ambition was might be suf f ered to 'n to wn. Addressin g her only sharpened his appetite ; only made him the more of honour should be ashamed of ; begging her to only to be s a t is fied by at t ainin g every thing he in the terms, .cling Woman, he implored determined to repeat his guilty gratification, and to stops, and telling her that he would roam the world soughtafter. 'f heJury wo uld s a y how suchamanou g ht her b y all their ovet (pretty distinct!) by every make it impossible for the lady to continue any lon. with her' ; pressing her at once to leave her husband to be d eal t wit h—a man, the ob j ect of whose am- happy moment they had passed in each other's arms, gar with her family. The scene be had witnessed rind family, and to take him as a partner for life.— bition was to debauch the wife of his friend, the by every burning kiss he had imprinted on her . with Mr. 13ouverie only furnished him the topic for Lord Roseberry, finding it necessary to remove from sister of his deceased wife, and the sister of the wife heavenly lips, if possible, to avert her departure.— one tof those libidinous letters lie was in the habit of a scene that was irksome, 111 July retired from Lon- of his own brother. It woul d be found b y the let. It was a happiness to know that he was breathing writing to this unfortunate lady. One of those let. don, and went to his seat near Edinburgh. Sir H. ters that he had a difficult task in accom p lish i n g the the same air with her ; he recommended her to be ters in which he asked, Was , he no more to press her Mildew) , soon after came to Scotland. Why should destruction of this ill - fate d l ad y . It would be found cheerful, not to hang down her darling head—to lips? Were they no more to interchange mutual yows ; NI not r—tbere was no reason to the contrary, ex- that the seeds of virtue implante d in her mind Had g o to the Opera—to drive round the ring hi Hyde- of love and affection ? He told her that her father tgt that his conduct had rendered impossible that made her long resist his attempt to de b auch h er . In Park, where lie might have an opportunity of a would not confine his admonitions to him ; he Ise ihOuldbb permitted to enter Lord itoseberry's the character he had given of himself, it would be smile from her. With regard to what Lord Rose- • doubted not he would repeat them to he• and he louse. AS should have stated, that during the ill- seen that his ambition to be notorious, was only berry might conjecture, he desired she would not ' feared that she would not be able to tell '7 fi .' bess of the late Dirl of itmenerty, is MCI) lied called to be gratified by his obtaining the possession of make herself uneasy, she might depend upon his tern- : that thVir conversations had been Own— i , • , / , the present Earl to Scotland , and when Lasilv Rose- her, whom, of all God's created beings, he ought , per. He knew perfectly well , t hat if Lord Rose- ; With the eloq uence of a devil, he ur g ed {ter .., berry and her mother went to N or f o lk, 'sir Henry never to have looked at with a licentious eye ; one berry had any conversation with him, it would have off her husband, to abandon her duties is . , 0,... t . Alildmay's son 'was a part of the compaiß : this whom he ought to have protected against the been to have reiterated his orders to the Defendant gave the Defendant Ail opportunity of going more' approach of any person who was cont em p latin g not to have an y thin g Co do with the lady, not to re. and a wife, and to sell herself to perdition. Ii mo, then part of the letter he desidered her top • oaaoa Into the company of Lady Roseberry than he could her with the eye of lust. H ow ou g ht such a man p eat his visits; and if he had possessed any sense! the talismanic words that she loved him, and in: otherwise have had a pretence for. When her al- 'to be dealt with after he had accomplished his ob- of the duties which ought to bind men of honour, he tr a d u ced a piece of poetry— tered conduct made it necessary that Lord Roseberry ject ? The ; letters had no dates to them, but there should have left off this most criminal pursuit and ~ The houudle.s °reap'', oarriaz a ide he. 0,11 from elate. " twcen my lee t „,e, should take her down to his seat in Edinburgh, the were circ u m s ta nces alluded to that marked the pe. not have urged it further. Then follow e d th e most " raes ',ever can divide my heart and b family consisted of toed dell fody Itoseberry, the nods at which they were written, and showed that profligate paragraph that in the whole course of his In short,.there was no limit to his ambition of hecom. Hon. blr. Primrose, and the Dowager Lids Rose- - they were written after the v i sit to Norfolk, and life he had ever read. If a common libertine, a man ing notor ious; he would suffer nothing to stand in berry ; this was the society in the house, besides oc - 1 before h er de p artur e for Scotland ; there were many who by his general conduct had given warning to all the way of t he accomplishment of his object. In of casional visitors. Ile had observed that Sir Henry i pass a g e s that showed the y were written about the fathers and husbands not to admit him within their other passag esth e letters, he proposed assignations Mildmay had formed a. project of going to Scotland.' period w h en the late illustrious visiters to this coon- doors, if such a man had behaved to a stranger in with the lady, and describing his disappointment at Why should he not ? What could be more natural : try were p a r ta ki n g of the festivities p re p ared for ' such a way as this Defendant had condseetert.- himself not meeting her on a particular Saturday, he said he than that he should wish to become cue of this agree - ' them, arid just on the eve of her going to Scotland. Ito his frier's', he could hardly have put to paper the had marked that day in the Calendar for a happy able party ? There was no reason, but that Ilk From these letters Oa Jury would entertain no 1 damning sentence which was contained in this letter, one; bat well might Dr. Johnson observe, tt Hence presence had been interdicted in consequence of the doubt that the criminal act had been accomp l i shed at ? —he was intimatin g to the lady, that he thought her' forth let no mortal say, this day will I devote to hap. altered conduct of this lady, which could have re.. that time. it would be found that she was addressed husband had seen an alienation in her conduct to., piness." The Jury were to give the law by a judg. that she had discontinued her attention ment in this ease differing from that which had been - ference only to lain, unnatural and horrible as such in language which a man of the most libidinous chit- wards him, and therefore he entered little '' wen in all others. It was a duty cast upon o . • an idea was. He would be found going down to , racter would not have used towards a Lady of rank, to ) her f our c hildren, . a f . $1 Scotland--bow ? Ile was a min of high and even if he had succeeded in debauching ,her person. into his feelings. He could feel what it was or a igs moral men. They would be addressed Ipy a' Lam m/rag l e t. man to hue his wife, and such a wife, debauched, and ; Henan of great .eloquence on thb part of the D respectable family, a man of very large fortune, i The Learned Counsel here read lie would travel like a gentleman : certainly no one j tern his c,hildrtn deserted. The Defendant could feel all ant ; but he defied th a t Le a rned Gentleman : the one begati, " Dearest of earthlyaitsgs," would expect that he would disguise himself or use I and stated, that if any thing was wanting to increase this, but still he had no intention ,ef giving up the' move him from. Ms claim to exemplary damages. 'i ne any concealment to divert attention from him ; - the misery in which his unhappy heart was plunged, pursuit, he would follow the lady to the end of the Attorney-General here resuming the letters, read one, world; he said he really entered a little into the in which Defendant stated to Lady Roseberry, that he still less, that he would pass for some other cha- it would be the idea that the object of his love was• a his '. Teeter than that which really belonged to him. If he - prey to an uneasy feeling. It state d alarm at . 1 feelings of the husband :he could not conceive " loved her better. 17 Heaven! thanalithe world,with all upon any honourable purpose he was would hearing she to leave England the following Fri- I the losing his Harriet, and seeing her with : their loves united. He told her of the happiness lira - -- - - - .her, without oe - indescribable ;he stated, l derived on the preceding evening at one of the festi was going upu. y . be found travelling under his own name and with his 'day, entreated her to find some means to protract own equipage ; or if he preferred such a journey by . her journey; he expressed his regret of seeing, in the snail-coach, it would at least be expected that he imagination; the image of her he loved in tears, who would be found to have taken his place in the name j had always a smile for him ; he observed to her, of Sir Henry Mildmsy : if he travelled in any other , that he thought he had been in love before, but he made, it was n o t uncharitable to suppose, that it , had never felt love's all-conquering power till now. must be for some bate purpose. lie would be found Was it possible to believe, that a man was thus ad -to have been travelling under the name of Colonel dressing the sister of his deceased wife, by whom he De Grey, of the Foot Guards, and finding his way had a son ; and that the Lady to whom he was writ. to an inn in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh—for . ing was the mother of four children, two boys and what purpose? It could not be an honourable one. two girls; from whom he 'was layiog the scheme to Ile had been admonished not to pursue this object withdraw the maternal care of their. amiable parent, further by Lord Roseberry, of whom it would be i and thereby inflict upon them the most deadly wound? found the Defendant had said, that he had carried He then talked of going to the House of Commons, his dissatisfaction to the Defendant so far that when J observing, that he would not attend to any thing he met him in the streets he did not bow to him, or j.that was passing there—he urges her to take a walk speak t o him, but let him pass unnoticed. When the up Buckton-hill, remarking, if he cannot find an Defendant r eached Scotland under the assumed name opportunity of meeting her, he must be content to of D e G re y, he eng aged the assistance of a water- kiss her dear ring. After a variety of passionate ex man, he let his beard grow l and be would be found pressions t he asks her whether they are to blame if another, without an agony , that he could not bear the loss of such a wo. man ; he talked of the feelings of an injured hus band with the feelings of the adulterer, who was thus busied in destroying every thing dear to the husband, —so dear, that he (the adulterer), could not be de prived of it without an' agony indescribable. If the Defendant had been unable to accomplish this in cestuous passion, he should have become a voluntary esile, and have left the Lady to make some atone. ment for the injury she had done her husband. — This man had told the Lady, that no damages which could be asked would be too much for the loss, of such a woman but that still he would not gin up the pursuit. Though the husband was the Mead of his bosom, yet from that man he was about to take what was most valuable. What could the mind of such a man be made of ? The letter proceeded by the Defendant's asking whether he was to lost his dearest Harriet, and what could she suppose his feel. vale at Devonshire-house, by the little squeeze she gave him on one of his fingers. Having commented upon several other letters, the fAs wed Counsel read one, in which the Defendant stated to Lady Rose berry, that he hall for some time past wore yellow garters, but that he had locked them up, because his valet, Hurst, if he should see them, would wonder where he got them ; then, using an ettra. regent apostrophe, speaking of the happiness and beatitude of those garters, which had for hours, nay, rfor whole nights, been twined round, and encircled his dear Harriet's limbs—bliss, unspeakable !—The I Jury would have an opportunity of hearing examin ed the honourable relative of Lord Roseberry, who had interrupted the guilty scene at his Lordship's seat in Scotland. There would be nothing in the evidence bat what would speak loudly upon the sub ject of the duty they had to perform. Here was a Noble Lord, who had the misery of seeing ~ . y c e ''.11114 4 4 I . • ~ . • • ; • + • . -