Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-04
Prom the National Journal.


Prom the National Journal.
ANN COOK OR ANN BEaUCHAMP.
have juss read curious production
Published IN this city, purporting 30 he
from the pen OF A. Cook. late Mrs.
Beaachamp, whose end has been SO
tragical. ffthese letters be genuine.
they serve TO exhibit the character OF
that extraordinary woman 10 a new
light, and will be read, l think, with
the deepest interest by all who have
heard Of her fate. They are said to
be letters written by Ann Cook, at
different periods Of her life, to an ear
ly friend and schoolma.e Of hers resi-.
ding in Maryland, which have been
collected blythe husband Of the lady
to whom they are addressed, and Civ
en- to the public as genuine. The his
tory she gives of her no. very eventual
life. and of her feelings, is ske,ched
with power and an eloquencc, and
sometimes with warmth of coioring
and expression which we might, per
haps, have expected, ina weman of
such character; but which | did not
think she could have reached The
following extract from letter l3, is a
good specimen:
"Fhe deep interest you take in my
welfare eBdears you more and more to
my heart; and though [ feel that your
advice is good and Wholesome, arm
Ike one under the influence OF charm
that fascinAtes his sense, and alIures
MIN on to destruction and death. The
picture you have drawn of christianity
IS indeed most glowing and beautiful,
and might have operated on my mind
bad it Doi been directed into another
channel by the perussi of the scepticsl
works Of Hume, Voltsire, and Paine,
which That monster, soon after our &C.
qasintance conmenced, put into my
naDds, and the poison and novelty of
which, from the want Of early reli
siou, instruction, / was but 200 much
Inclined TO relish If1 amin error,
nope good and merciiui God will
pardon me- Bot, my dear Ehen, do
net ask me to forgive him. You can
lot feel the extent of nay wrongs, and
The magnitude OF my sufferings. Ev
cry hour seems 10 asgravate thcra, and
to render them ten told more CALLING
and bitter. He has married another
the one TO whom he was betrothed
while he was soiemnly piighted'so me,
he one for whom he abandoned me,
young. confid,ng, and doating as |
was, after reducing ne to rum and
nsery, by tn most shameless ana un
manly arts of seduction; and how can
l forget such wrengs? DO they not
prepe'uaIly haunt nv irnaginssion?
Do they not, night and day. ring in
my ears? DO no. feel them, in the
.len, contempt and scorn of my fellow
beings? No! No! Any thing but that. i,
NV dear husband seems TO become
more and more attached TO me, and TO
feel as wish him to fecL But from
some neU Cause, more 300 more ~
d,gnant against the slayer of.ny peace.
You desire me to "regard the past as
painful dream" OIL that could
do so-tha, I cuald forget myself, him
every thing-shat my crushed and
bruised heart could cease TO throb-
and that memory and life were ended
forever. A painful dream it is not
No, No! turn to il as to a living and
horrible reality, which glares before
my which, like the deadly 81
roac, withers the very springs Of
thought, and almost prostraies the
powers of my intellect. ] never think
oft, land wbenis il / do not?) that ]
do not feel as one touched with mad
ness, or afflicted with delirium Bot
4 will uo, paase.on tit is too, TOO
painful
You congratulate me on my marriage
with Mr.. B-p. and hope that 1
will pass the remainder of my life in
tranquility and happiness. How little,
my dear Ellen, do you yet know OF
your friend Can marriage erase the
deep and indelible stain on my char
ac,er, or make maiignantand envious
world forget the Jolly or misfortune of
poor erring woman? Can marriage
restore me 10 what have been-to
the fame I have lost, and to the feel
ings possessed? Can marriage heal
up the wide and yawning wounds of a
4 4 4 a IL