Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-03-31
BEAUCIiAAIP.
world.

BEAUCHAAIP.
Having several occasions, occupied a pro-
portion of our columns, with the recital of the
crr,es of the wretched individual whose name
heads this article, and having found but little in
his history 10 admire, we had determined TO say
no more about him; and the remarks which we
shall presently o Ter, would not have been writ
ten, had not The friends of Colonel Sharp, very
mud,couaiy y, taken some pains 10 revive ihe hor-
rid tragedy IN which Beauchamp was the princi-
pal actor, with view, not only to add " deeper
damnation" to his crime, but 10 throw yet dark
er cloud of ob'oquy on TIE memory of tie hapcss
and sepulclTcd companion Of his fortunes and his
faults.
To effect this object, the Delaware Gazette,
published more than eight hundred miles from the
scene OF action, has been selected as a suitable
Vehicle 20 convey poisoned cup 10 the inmates
Of TIE grave and to lacerate and harrow up the
already distracted feelings of the relations and
friends of Beauchamp and his thrice unhappy and
deladed "ifc, In the paper in quest on, writer
has made his appearance, who, whith an ellront-
cry equal 20 his temerty, avows, that Bcauchamp
and his wife, for many years previous to their un-
ion, lived together on terms of criminal intimacy;
that Mss Cook was VIGOROUSLY abandoned, and
that the story of her wrongs and sorrows, are
matters of her own creations: that she was some
years older than Sharp, and twice as old as Beau
champ; squalld and ugly in her person, dcpraved
in principle, eratc, rude in her manners, and
an avowed Lltitudnarian, and an Atheist. On
the other hand, her seduccr, Sharp-and the fact
of her seduction is not dened--it is said, was
man of unequalled virtues, correct in his princi-
pies, honorable in all his transactions, and, in
short a man without fault. The object of the
writer, appears very plainly; and it is to wipe
away the indaIibe disgrace, which life of infa-
my fastc led upon his reputation, and which, in
the end, led him sacrifice a, the altar of ven-
gcaa;e. Bat this viii not do; his tale will not be
believed and something more than his mere as
ser'ions brc wanting to prove the innocence Of
Sharp, and that he did not merit the doom that
closed his wicked and abhorrent career.
That Miss Cook af erwards Mrs. Bcauchamp,
was lady of extraordinary personal charms, has
never been den ed; and al who knew her. bore lin-
eqnvocil witness to the spotlessness of her repu-
tation, before she fell victim 10 the wiles of her
seducer; and tha! she possessed those elegances
and ornaments of mind which elevate her sex, and
which render the charms of woman irresistible, =,
and ten thousand times more lovely, the most as
tote defenders of Sharp have never attempted 10
dsprove That she older than Sharp, is not
true; but that she two or three years in ad-
vance of Beauchamp, is admitted TO be the case,
but the fact does not prove that she was either
debauchcd abandoned.
II is not our purpose to defend the crimes of
Beauchamp; murderer we look upon him
with adherence, but then there is much to be
plead in mitigation of his offences, and more to
be said in condemnation Of Sharp. The former
had been robbed Of his hearts best interest, the
honour Of his wife; and as he ga7ed upon her
charms, his delight vas mingled with the bitter
ness of the reflection, that the world frownod up
on her, and numbered her among the guilty OF
her sex. This he patiently bore, though lie pant
ed for vengeance; and still lie would have borne
Il, had not the spoiler of his happiness, and the
despoler Of the fame Of the wife Of his bosom
added fresh injuries to those Of older date, and
fabricated tale, that tie off pring Of her guilt
was a child Of colour This he could not bear
I and he visited the base scduccr Of Innocence with
his vengeance:-Iie sought revenge, and he found
| it--he did that, however criminal the deed
which too many, who hang with fondness on tho
bosom of wife, and esteem her fame more val.
liable than " inestmable Jewels" will do--bc
sought reyenec in tho only way il was TO be ac.
CURED. Had he appealed TO he laws Of the land
! he might indeed heve obtained ~ the hands Of 4
jury. sordd remuneration in dollars and cents