Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-26

| man. Believe me il is not from the common
place OF advocacy, or FROM the blind partiality of
friendship, that say of him, whether consider
ing the virtues chat adorn life, or the blandisl,-
nents that endear il, he has few superiors. Sure
ly IT spirit that disdained dishonour; if heart
mat Knew not guile; ifa lfeabove reproach, and
| character beyond suspicion, could have been a
security against mstortunes, his lot must have
been happiness. Ispeak in the presence of that
profession to which he was an ornament, and with
tnose members his manhood has been familiar,
and say OF bun, with confidence which ,ieics
retutation, that, whether we consider him in his
private or his public station--as man, or as a
lawyer, there never breathed that being. less ca
Pabie OF exciting enmity towards himself or of
offering even by implication, an offence to Others
II he had fault, twas, that above crime. he was
ABOVE suspicion. and to that noblest error of
noble nature, he has fallen victim Having
spent his youth in the cultivation OF mind which
must have one day led him TO eminence, he be-
came member OF the professions by which am
sdrfoundee Possessing, rs he did, . moderate
independence, and looking forward to the most
ifatterng prospects, it was natural for mir, to Sc
iect amongst the ether sex, some friend who
should adorn his fortunes AMI deceive his tolls
ne round such friend, or thought he found her.
| IN the person of Miss Warren, the only daughter
OF an eminent solicitor. Young, beautiful, and
accomplished, she was adorned with all that
earih and heaven could bestow to make her ami
able. Virtue never found farer temple
beauty never yelled purer sanct,iary-tlc era-
ces ether mind retained the admiration which
her beauty had attracted, and the eve her charms
fired, became subd,ied and clastened in the mo.
desty OF Their association. She was in the dawn
OF lie, with all its fragrance round her and vet
so pure that even the blush which sought tn hide
her iustre, but disclosed the yestal deity that
burned beneath it No wonder an adorinc- hus
oana anticipated all the joys this world would
give h,h--ho wonder the parental eve which
Oeamed upon their union, saw in the perspective.
an old age ofhappiness and posterity of honor
.Methinks see them ct the sacred altar. ion-
ing those hands which Heaven commanded none
should separate, repayed for MANY pane ofanxj
Gus nurture, by the sweet smile ofilial piety. and
IN the holy rapture of the rite, blessing the pow
or tnat blessed their children, and gave them
hope, their names should live hereafter. 1t was
virtues vision--none but fends could envy A.
Year after year confirmed the anticipation-four
lovely childrenblessed theirunion. Nor was their
love thesummerpassiono Observation-Disclosures
proved-afiictions chastened it--bclorc the man
date OF that mysterious power which will at
times despoii the paths of innocence, to deco
rate the Chariot Of triumphant vilainy, my eli
ent had 10 bow IN silent resignation. He owed
his adversely to the beneyolence of his spirit
he went security forfrieils-- hose friendsdeceiv-
ed him, and he was obliged TO seek in other lands
that safe asylum which his own denied him
lie was glad to accept an offer of professional
business in Scotland during his temporary en-
Parrassme4t. With q conjugal devotion, Mrs.
Guthrie accompanied him, and in her smile. the
soiloftbe stranger was an home-~the sorrows of
adversely were dear to him. During their resi-.
dence in Scotland, period of about year, YOU
will find they lived as they had done i'm ireland.
and as they continued to do until this calamitous
occurrence lin state of uninterrupted happiness
You shall hear most satisfactorily, that their do
4 Nnrttr q. - \
Ply at home-happy i'll a husbands love-happy
in her parents fondness-happy in the children
she had nursed--kirs. Guthrie carried into every
circle, and there was no circle in which her So
ciety was not courted, that cheerfiIlness which
never was companion ofglIilt, or stranger to
innocence. My client saw her the pride OF his
family, the tavorite of his friends-at once the
organ and ornament of his happiness. Ills am
Dition awose. his industry re,louslcI, and that
fortune, Which, though for a season It NAV frown,
never totally abandons probity and virtue, had
begun to smile on him. He was berinninp TO
rise IN the ranks of his competitors and rising
with such character, that emulation Itself rat6,
or reioiced than cnvied. 1t was at this crisis in
this the noon of his happiness, and day-spring of
ms fortune, that to the ruin ofboth, the defen-
dant became acquainted with his family With
the serpents vile and the serpent's wickednes,
he stole into the eden Of domestic life-poisoI,-
ing all that was pure-pOlluting all that was love-
ly-defying God-destroying man-a damon in
the disguise OF yirtue-a herald of hell in the
paradise ofinnocence. His name, gentlemen, is
William Peter Baker Dunstanville Sterne-one
would think he had epithets enough without adj
ding to them the title of adulterer Ofhs char
acter know but little, and am sorry that |
know SO much if | am instructed rightly, he is
one OF those vain and vapid coxcombs, whose vi
ces tinge the frivolity Of their foles with some
thing ola more odiOUs character than ridicule
With just head enough to contrive crime, but not
heart enough to feel for its consequences one Of
those fashionable insects that folly has painted
and fortune plumed for the ANNOYANCE of our at
nosphere; dangerous alike, in their torpidity
and their animation infesting where they fly, &
poisoning where they repose.
1t was through the Introduction of Mr. Fallon,
the son Of mostrespectable lady, then resident
| IN Templestreet, and near relative of MIR.
Guthrie, that The defendant and this unfortunate
woman first became acquainted--to such an intro
ducton the shadow Of a suspicion could not pos
| sibly attach. Occupied in his professional pur-
suits, my client bad little leisure for the ruse.
Hients of society however, to the protection Of
| Mrs. Fallon, her son ard daughters, moving in
the first circles, unstained BY any possible impu-
tatiou, lie without hesitation entrusted all that
was dear to him. No suspicion could be awaken.
ed As to any man to whom such female as Mrs.
| Fallon, permitted an intimacy with her daugh-
ters, while at her house then, and at the parties
which Il originated, the defendant and Mrs Guth.
| rie, had frequent opportunities ofmeetng. Who
could have suspected that under the very roof