The National Register.
London, England, 1815-06-04 00:00:00

.TUNE- 4.

It is impossible to witness a trial for Adultery, without lamenting
the flital but necessary prejudice, which places the honour of an ho-
nest and brave man at the disposal of his wife, who but too often
proves an unfaithful guardian of it. This reflection particularly ap-
plies to the case of Colonel It . . . , whose cause has commenced in
the 4th C hamber.

Monsieur Parquin, the advocate for Colonel H . . . began by set-
ting forth the good character of his client ; whom he described as
having reached a very high rank, and loaded with numerous marks
of distinction, searching for perhaps more real happiness in a suitable
union. The beauty and youth of his wife appeared to have influenced
his choice more than tfe considerations of fortune. It was this very
wife, whose afl'•ctions certainly ought to have been his, who at the
age of 1; kept up three correspondences, and who had at the same
titre three lovers. The Colonel's life had been unexceptionable, and
ta fleeted upon him the highest honour. He entered the service at the
age of 14, and his first miiita•y exploits were under General liosci-
udo; in the year 6, he served in the Polonese Legion of General Da-
rowski ; at 93 he was lieutenant IN the Artillery, and at 30 lie was
Major f a Regiment, and decorated with the insignia of two Orders.
Even• thing promised happiness to his future prospects. The young
Lady Estelle H . . . departed from St. Quentin with her mother,
and was not long before she commenced her first intrigue with Mr.
D.—Mr. P. quickly had a share in her affections, and Mr. B. soon
partook of the same happiness. By the same destiny which frequently
attends so many poor husbands, Colonel H . . . iemaired for some
time ignorant of that, with which every• body else was perfectly ac-
quzintA. At length, however, the justice of Heaven, which sooner
or liter is always manifested, opened the eyes of this confiding hus-
lund. The manner in which Colonel H . . . gained his intelligence
was En one of those accidents which we dare not call fortunate. He
'••a; at a distance from his wife, occupied in bringing back the depot
of his regiment ; she was at Pont Audemer. The Colonel had written
to Irr several times, hut the Lady never cotalescende.; to favour him
;th an answer ; astonished at this silence, he made every enquiry to
ascertain if there were no letters for him. One day that the postman,
accordii,g to the custom of regiments, brought him an account of the
postage of letters owed by the men of his regiment, and which could
rut be reimbursed without his approval, he perceived in the box a let-
ter frum his wife; he recognised the beloved writing, but it was NOT
TO iltm that the letter was addressed ; it was to Mr. B—, an officer
in his regiment, that his wife had written. The Colonel immediately
became a prey to the most violent suspicions: he opened the letter,
and was convinced of the infidelity of his wife. He went after her
to Pont Audemer without hesitation. An idea may be fcrmed of
their interview ; reproaches were of course violent, but the Colonel
acted like a %Nell bred man ; he merely demanded the key of her escru-
v-ire, or rather he broke it open. He searched as every mm would
Co on such an occasion, and found—ELEVEN letters from Mr. D.
=if-razz,' from Mr. P. and FIFTEEN from Mr. B. and to crown his
rage and vexation, he saw his own with their SEALS UNBROKEN. He
carried his wife to Saint Denis, where the depot of his regiment was,
and allowed her to go to her aunt, who resided at Versailles. It was
:Tom thenc.• that Estelle wrote two letters to her husband, the
style of which woall have done honour to the pen of a Geniis,
a Cottin, or a Riccoboni ; protestations of sincere repentance an
tender love were made use of to soften him. The Colonel re-
plied with calmness and dignity—" You can no longer poss'-ss
!leart as my wife,"--" I request permission not to see
••C:J again r—l am sorry', but there is no !nip for it; it is A-