Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-24
LAv IsrELIIcEyce EXTRAORDINARY.
SESSION s COURT.

A CASE. of singular novelty occurred on
Saturday last in the court of general sessi-
ons of the peace held at the city hal OF the
lc " OF NV York, in and for the said city
and county.
Doctor William Little was put to his tri-
al for an assault upon his wife, Mrs. Jane
Little and expectation stood on tip.toe to
learn the reason of an operation so long ex-
ploted and Justly condemned in the prac-
Itice of the medical society. All eyes were
anxious to behold, and all hearts already
lsympa'hised with the fair patient; when,
ut the call of the crier, she came forth--not
fafr, like the swan upon the lake; but like
the raven, glossy as black, and to the full
as comedy The attorney general was pro-
lceeding on her examination, when Mr..
Sampson, counsel for the defendant, pro-.
posed to shorten the trial by an admission
| OF the fact. But he undertook, at the same
thine, to shew, that a more tender or aiiec-
ltionate husband no where existed; and that
this incivility would appear, when he de-
fence was known, to be rather a dissem-
bling o. love shan an effect of hatred
| Wives were only admitted, he said, to
testify against their husbands in cases OF
great enormity, and when the weaker YES
SCI was in danger and needed the protect
ling arm of the law. Gentlemen of the ju-
ITD SdiNt nNt pCTCSipC tOu anu lGdE-
ed 1t would be so You see, however, gem
tlemen, that we are serious. There are
causes which present such strong contrasl
lof lig t and sh tde. such powerful effects of
lclar2 obscure, that no words can heighten
| leir imagery. But still TO every magma
ltion the subject may seem differently. Cen
ltlemen, you do not perhaps know upon what
foundation nv clienl may have placed his
lchoice, and as TO taste, il admits of no dis
lpute: every man must follow his own plea
lsure. That which seems black in your
Ieyes, or in mine, may be exceeding fair in
ibis. The education of a physician is not
THAT of lawyer He ranges through the
Iwide field of nature, and is NOT bounded by
1.-THE narrow limits of positive institutions.
HE reads not in the books OF authority, but
lin the great volume of nature. He kqows
Iby what chemical process all colors m y
be produced; but that an amiaOle person
land delicate mind ere treasures, under
Whatever outward varnish; AM IT a late
discovery can be relied on, that Adam was
BLACK, a MARI age in his family Can surely
disgrace no man. We are ready to dis
Ipute in due time and place, and to maintain
that neither philosophy Nor religion have
forbade such mixture and having satisfied
our conscience we have 10 scruple in vie d.
ing to our passion. You are in am cement
gentlemen do expect no less. You are
ali under the dominion of prejudice; yau dc
mot see clear. / shall be forced, fiqd, tc
reveal, in defence OF my cl.ent, exp essi-
ons intended only for love and privacy.
shall read 70 you letter which 10 pen bul
that of lover and a poe could have traced
It's dated on the 4th of May, and address.
ed to Mrs. Jane Little, after the unfortu
nate occurrence and IS in these terms:
"I received your kind letter of the 1sr o
June, and am very sorry to hear of your be
ing uRwell. ! want my coat, pantaloons ant
Jacket at Mr.. Simeon's, as / have had no
thing to lay On but my clothes since | have
been here"
Is not this repentance, gentlemen even t.
) sack cloth and ashes!
You write that you will not appeal
against me in court, which undoubtedl,
vii be for the best, as ] have rot forgot
ten, nv marriage covenant. The unnap
lpy Situation in which / am involved by you
lhastincss and those that have persuaded
you TO it, devolves on me the necessity @
addressing you, which cannot fail of i'm
pressing your mind with an uncommon de
gree of seriousness, especially when yo
lcopsider now both of our characters ar
sdgmstsed by our own imprudence."
Gentlemen, since these parties are S
sensible o their own imprudence, let u
not widen the breach, but pour balm int
their wounds; and let not the records O
this court transmit to all posterity tn
quarrel Of two who loved 50 dearly.
" You may, my dear Jane, assure your
lself, upon the testimony OF your dear hu,
baud, who has been taught 10y the mo.
J. melancholy experience that were our dis
appointments and proplexities know
l. which this embargo has involved US int
q IL would extinguish, or at least mitigate
r the keenness of a reflection that we bot
u. must to eternity endure"
N You see, gentlemen, although these pal
= ties appear before you like Lord and l..
= dy Racket, yet their case is different
)" That aquarrei three weeks after ma
ie rage, and for game Of cards Here is
b. serious and public grie, that villainot
ID embargo, hat destroys the best of temper
~ and~sours the milk ofhuman kind. II pc
." ches on the merchants desk and star
re him in the face. Il is i'm our beds and IN Of
~ kneading troughs. 1t is in our dishes Al
W cur go5lets. ] swear never rallied at