The National Register.
London, England, 1809-09-03 00:00:00

56Q

true light; and he hoped they would have the effect of letting
the Officers of the corps to which he belonged know what sort
ofia messmate they had; and wouldeonsider whether, as Gentle-
men of the army, they could associate with such a man as the
defendant.
As every transaction between these parties passed without a
witwss, the plaintiff had no means of proving her demand,
which amounted to upwards of 4001. but by the plaintiff's own
„Acknowledgments, as contained in his letters; and with so much
artifice had the defendant, conducted himself, that when he re-
ceived money from the plaintiff, he never had the fairness to ad,
mit the sum. The Learned Serjeant then proceeded to read a
great variety of letters ; they always began, " My dearest, dear-
est girl," and were signed " George.' In the first he said he
had received thy box of comfit-cakes and the pot of preserves,
which were very nice—the money came very seasouable, for he
was completely run out ; his only happiness was in contemplat-
ing their union. In another he desired her to keep his dogs for
him, Vicky and Trim. This young girl not only had him to
keep and board, but his dogs too. In another he told her he
had written home for money, but they had sent him none ; that
he had oo resource bat herself; that he was in want of 201. or
SOI. and had only a few shillings; the last money she sent him
just came in time, for he was quite out. Then, in another, after
theillOSt passionate vows of eternal love, he said he had regu-
larly received her dear letters with the money; he could only
hope, by a life of constancy-and attachment, to requite her ten-
derness. A sad requital it NV a,' to put this unfortunate young
woman to the necessity of bringing an action under such circom-
stances. In ;mother letter, he acknowledged the receipt of one
from her, inclosing money; and then he stated that which was
equivalent to a promise of mayriage. In the next, he c x press,sd
himself in terms of great affeetlan, inducing a belief that she was
the idol of his soul ; but he always recurred hack to the main
thing, which was money. "It freezes my blood," said the
Learned Sedeaat, " to deliberate upon this man's cruelty." Iu
the next letter, he said, " My dearest Rebecca, you must send
me some money to keep me afloat, and by return of post, for I
am quite out ;" and then he went on professing his affection,
calculated to assure her he would make her reparation by mar-
riage. Then he said, " Your cash came very g-propos, for I
owe for a fortnight's mess."—So that in fact he was Brass ing
his whole subsistence from this young woman. tie never v rote
to her but when he wanted money. There was not a single let-
ter in which he did not attem id to squeeze money oat of her.—
then read a letter, which. lie said, would s!sew the extent of
the defendant's claim on the feelings of this girl. After calling.
her his only life, he mentioned the circumstance of a vacanci to
a higher rank in the regiment having occurred, which h, could

obtain by paying two hundred or three hundred !mune:. ; he s:Ail
he had applied in vain to his friends ; that he had but ette rescurce,
and then be desired' her to exert herself to ()Mai'. the money.—
One of the articles for which the plaintiff clai•iLed was ashorse,
fur which she paid 7W. he never having had a sixpence of his
own. In one of his letters, he said nothing; would give him so
much pleasure as a letter from the plaintiff, for he was con-
foundedly off for waet of a few pounds. There was one letter
• hich the Learned Serjeant said pained him exceedingly, for it
*hewed the avaricious disposition of the defendant, and to what
an extent he was practicing on the feelings of the plaintiff. She
kw! written to him, requesting lie would come to
Ile assured hlr nothing would he so gratifying to his feelings,
but that he had not the means, as his purse was then, and had
been, in so limited a state, but if she would seed him a little
money, then he would come—thus availing himmclf of her roha-
necs for him to take money out of her pocket. At last the
s,lances of this. poor youeg woman were ex hae;ted, and she could
no longer support him. As soon as she ceased to 'end money to
him all his fondness retired back to his own had mind, and he
never gave her another letter.—The Jury, from these letters,
*would have to estie:ate the damages. It was evident she had
suirported him, atel that he had been living with his regiment in
the style of a gentleman, and consequently at no small ex pence.
lle had nu resources but this lady's pure, and I:is pay as a
Cornet. Under aese circumstances, it would he for the Jury

to assess the damages; they had not the usual means of estimat.
ing the damages ; but with such as they had, he was persuad-
ed, 111(7 would nf:t spare this base, ungrateful man.
Mr. liarou,Wood observed, that t:►is was not an action for
dAilai:e6, but for a demand, which the plaintiff would have a
treat deal of difficulty in proving without a bill in equity. his
i,ordzhip therefore reconvoendA, as the best mode, that the
matter s'o:►ld be ref►•rred to a gcnileinau of the bAe.) who
tai‘ht exam!,.e both parties ou oath.