The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-28 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

MISS FOOTE.
Mn. Etirroa----The firm impartiality which ,
you manifest in all matters of a political nature,
as well as the rigid regard to; decorum which
characterizes your remarks on all subjects of 41
private amid personal desciiption, induce me to
rely on your insertion of the present appeal to
your justice and humanity. JOHN Bum, yester-
day, in commenting upon the subject of the re-
gent action tried is the Court of *King's Bench,'
shews a degree of candour which not often ap-
pears in his columns. lie certainly does not
discover any partiality towards Mr. lIAYNE or
Colonel BEnxer.trit, hut, though in general he
speaks with a liberal spirit of Miss FOOTR, yet,
in some particulars, he seems to be rather severe
in his comments on the conduct of that unfortu-
nate lady. say nothing of her original error
respecting Colonel. BERKELEY. It is so common
a circumstance for a young woman to fall a vic-.
tim to her partiality for an alluring object, that
it can excite no surprise, except among those
.who are ignorant of human nature, and of the in-
hence of passions rendered essential to the con-
tinuance of mankind, and all other vital beings.
JosiN livid. says, that " had Miss FooTe called
Colonel BEnxeowbefore the tribunal of Justice
to answer for his defection, all had been well."
But, Sir, had net Miss FOOTE, from the moment
when she fatally listened 'to his addresses, been
flattered with .the expectation that he would
marry her? Had she not, on numberless occa-
sions, endeavoured, by the most anxious entrea-
ties, to iuduce him to perform his solemn pro-
mise ? Her connexion with him had been of too
long a continuance for her to resort to legal mea-
sures, particularly as that connexion was appa-
rently equally affectionate on both sides, and she
might, therefore, never wholly have despaired of
being at last made his wife. It may not unrea-
sonably be imagined that, after the first conse-
quence of the intercourse between them, she
might be induced to listen again to his importu-
nities, not from frailty, but front a hope that,
being a second time likely to be a parent, he
might feel disposed not to suffer another offspring
to enter the world in a state of illegitimacy. It
is natural to conceive that, after such proofs of
affection on her part, he still would have made
an honourable reparation to her in the eyes of
mankind. When all hopes, however, were an-
nihilated, and it was obvious that she could '
not expect to be the wife of Colonel BERKELEY,
is it not probable that love would give place to
indignation, and that she determined to put
an end to the connexion. At this period Mr.
HAyNE appeared, .avowedly with honourable
proposals, and though she had not herself ap-
prized him of the .nature and consequences
of her former connexion, yet it was impossible
for her not to suppose him acquainted with them,
though not to the full extent of those come-
qnences. Here, then, came forward a oew lover,
who, notwithstanding the reports against her, was
disposed to enter into an honourable alliance. He
must unavoidably have appeared in an amiable
light to her, and, stung with resentment towards
her former lover, with the prospect of being re.
stored to the world with credit and indepen-
dence, was it not probable that she might esteem,
and even love, the man who appeared to be ready
to make such a sacrifice in her favour? It is not
because she is an actress that she must necessa-
rily have learned dissimulation ; the theatrical
profession is a laborious one, and demands perpe-
tual study. With the female sex, if young and
handsome, it is a profession peculiarly exposed
to temptation and danger. Holding, as I do,
that it was impossible that Mr. ILtYNE should
not have known of all the circumstances attending
her former connexion, and that Miss FOOTE must

have believed that l►e did, antryet that he wade
honourable proposals to her, it is by no means
absurd to suppose that she sincerely transferred

her affection from the man who. had absolutely
declined to fulfil his promise, to one who had
overlooked her errors, and was ready to give the
most solemn proof of his affection before the eyes
of mankind. Thus, Sir, 1 have endeavoured to
obviate the objections of JOHN BULL, upon the
only points in which he censures her conduct ;
and if Miss Foova should be under the necessity
of returning to the stage, such, I
.venture to hope,
will be the light in which she will appeal' to a
considerate, humane and liberal public.
United Service Club, Dec. 27, 1824. VINDEX.