The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-05-16
MR.. pHlLLlPS's SPEECH.
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
BLAKE VS.. WILRINS.

non Baron S.T.t1 ana Sp6Clai Jury -
Every ayeoue TO the court house was
croudcd at an early hour, and long be-
fore the trial it was impossible to pro-
cure seat. The plaintiff is lieutenant
IN the navy, not above so years OF age
the defendant is, at least 65 and Is the
widow OF the staff physician in whose
arms general Wolfe died at the seige
or Qle3ec The plaintiffs case having
been gpae through, Mr.. Phillips ad.
dressed he jury on the part OF Mrs.
wilkins, Ia -: elty nearly the following
terms:-
May il please your lordship-The
plainiiG's counsel, TEL me, gentlemen,
most unr Xpr ctedly, lha, they have clo'
sed this case, and il becomes my duty
10 STATE 10 you that OF the defendant.
The nature % this action you have al
ready heard j is one, which, IN my
mind, ought TO be yer> seldom brought.
and be very sparingly encouraged. 1t
is founded on circumstances OF the
most extreme deIicacy, and il is inten-
ded to visit with penal consequences
the non observance Of an engagement,
which Is Ut The mes. paramount imPor'
lance TO society, and witch Of all others.
perhaps ought 10 D: the most unoiass-
ed-->an engagement which, il il be vo.
luntsrv, iudicicus, aad Gisinterested
generally produces the happi;st ei-
fects but which, lift be either unsui.
table or compulsory engeDders hot on
ly Individual misery, bat consequences
universally pernic!ogs. There are few
Contracts between human beings which
should be more deliberate than that Of
marriage. 1 adn.it it should be very
cautiously promised; hut, even when
Pre- miset, ! am tar from conceGing
that it should be invariably performed;
q thousand circumstances may form an
inpedime.t change or .ortrue may
render il imprudcnt change of aztec
rion may make it Cu!pih.s Ihe very
patty TO whom the law gives The pr-vi.
lege Of complaint, has perhaps the rnHsr
reason to be grateful; grateful thai its
happiness has not been endcred 10
caprice grateful ,aat religion has rot
constrained an unwilling acquiescence,
CT made an unavoi liable dcsertiop dou
bly, criminal; grateful that All offspring
has not been sacrificed 20 an indciicate
and unaeMerous cnfo, ceme2t; CRATE
fui that an innocent secret disincli~
nation did not too late. evincc itself in
an irresistible and IRENE iable disgust
You will agree with me, however,
ibat il there exists any excase for such
al ACTON, IL is on me side Of tle fe
male, because every female object be
ing more exclusively domestic, sucB IA
disappointment is more severe IN its
visitation; because the very circum
stance concert ating their feelings, rem.
ders them naturally more sensitive OF q
wound--bGcause heir best treasure.
their reputation, may have suffered
from The Intercourse because ;beiF
chances cireparat;cn are less, aad their
habiiual seCiuslon makes them ieeI j.
more b. cause thcrc is something in
The doseri'gn OF their heipiessHess
Th.ch ..?.ozi images the illegaii;y in
the rn,raaiiness Of the ahandoamen.-
However, il . man seeks TO enforce
this engagement, every one feels that
indelicacY attached to the requisition.
90 not inquire into the com pali5ic
justice Of the reasoning, bu, does no!
every one feel that there appears some
meanncss in forcinr l1mal: INTO au
alliance! L il apt almost saying 81
Nili Expose 10 Dutlic snlue tn cTedC.
lify on when you p,actised, or you
must pay /" me ~ monies uumbared.
the points o. lhat hearjless specnla
ton; have gambnisd with your aGfec
lions have secured your bond will ex-
act he penalty either from your purse or
your reputation 70 / put case to you
N&crc the circumstances are recipco-
cal whsrc agc, FORUM, si.ua ion are
the same, where there is no dis patty Of
years 10 make Inc supposi'ion iudic-
rous, where there is no disparity o.
fortune to rc0de? ; Suspicious Let US
see whether the present action can be
SO pailiated, or whe'he il Zoe, not OK
hibii 3 picture Of freud, AMI avaiice,
and meanness, aud hypocrisy, 90 lsugh
able, that il is almost Impossible TO cri.
tici3e it and yet so de5dsiDg. thu. bu
man PRIDE almost iorbids its fidlsnle
II has been left 10 me to defend my
unfortunate old client from the double
battery OF love aud OF law, which al the
sgc Of Sky five has 50 uhS aDeCtcd.y
opened on her o ! Gentlemen How
VtI0 glorious is the boasi of b s,Iy :
How misappreh1nded have been the
claims Of youth, If years and wrinkle,
can thu despoi their conques,s, ana