The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-08-26
TO t1s editor of the Ercning Star I:


manner in which certain presses have for years
assailed my character and more particularly the
cruel and unfeeling reference to my late affecting
dispensation of Providence. You deem it essential
to my character, as public mar at the head of
large establishment dependent on public patronage
for support that of the friends familiar with all
the circumstances of the case, should satisfy that
public that have been deeply injured man. Sir,
will, with your permission, make that statement
myself After suffering for the last three years the
most unjust censure and unmitigatcd abuse, with
patient forbcarancc, which respect for the feelings Of
outraged innocence alone induced, | now deem it
necessary to refnte, in the decided manner, the
calumnies circulated against me, and vindicae my
own conduct in justice to her memory, well as
that reputation which a citizen, husband and
father, | feel entitled to among men whose
good opinion is worth obtaining.
1t is not in my character as n manager of the
American theatre, that have been unjustly as
sailed. l am not sensible that l haye officially,
committed one unjust or illiberal act,--hat have
not, to the letter, fulfilled all my obligations
have not acted faithfully, honorably and kindly, to
all persons who have placed themselves under my
directon-although a manager OF one OF the princi-
pal theatres on the continent cannot, with all his
oaition, avoid making enemies. l am aware that
those poisoned arrows have been directed against
rne, in consequence of my divorce from my wife, who
has been represented an injured, suffering wOm-
an, having false and cruel husband, and one who
finally abandoned her. In domestic Affections and
unhappness, the world is too apt TO fix all the CEN
sure on the husband and he, like myself, is COM
PEELED to suffer in silence, until mperious necessity
drives him to the vindicaton of his reputation.
Those, who husbands and fathers can under
stand when say, that ten years of the greatest
domestic misery, was quietly submitted to, by me,
for my children's sake. In evidence of my dIscOm
fort and unhappiness, might appeal to the master
and mistress of every hotel or boarding house in
which we lived and who the frghtiul temper of
that lady had made party to all my troubles. |
might appeal to those confidential friends who were
witnesses Of my extreme sulerngs and also, to the
well known fact, that her honoured aud respected
father refused to countenance her, but my firm
friend to the day of his death. | might appeal TO
many who have often seen me, day and night driven
from my home-compeed to seek comfort and
tranquility in every neutrality-suspicious. with
afflicton, and broken down with domestic trouble.
But it is all unnecessary Wherever the fault rest
ed, it is certain that she herself the first to
cit divorce. While laborng under the effects
of a-seyere attack Of the choera,-whIle it
supposed to be necessary to ampuate my leg, torn
almost 10 pieces to relieve the spasmodic actiOn-I
while living in apparent friendship, man and
wife, in n calm interval, she clandestinely employed
amost worthless wretch a lawyer; and my first
intmation of her intentions, receiving the fol-
lowing the document, while TRANQUILITY seated at the
table. After which she away to England leav-
ing me ignorant of her life and movements for some
tame.
Copy Of the Power Of Attorney giren by Mrs EHz-
abeth HamJLin to William Hart.
hereby authorize Mr. William Hart of the city
Of New York, gentleman, to take such proceedings
or cause them to be taken, in my naIRs ns
Hambn. And whereas, leave the city of New
York for England, without the consent of my hus- |
band, as far as can know the same, and never i'm
,.,,l Iva ,l,,b,, oh Il
father euhorize and empower the said William
Hart, to appear to any suit that may be Instituted
by my said husband, for annuIling my marriage con-
tract, and to take every measure that meet and
proper to him, effect for me q complete and ef- J
fcctual divorce IA vincuo) and Unnecessary to 90 to
any other part of The United States to accomplish the
said event And it is my intention and meaning
that / may be eifectuay separated from my said
husband, as if no marriage had ever been entered
into between us and that my leaving my husband is
my own voluntary act
Dated at New York, this 29th day of September.
1892
(Signed) ELzABErH HAMptIv
have now the power of resolving the wonder ey-
pressed by my own friends at the fact of nv en-
poying such worthless character as this Hart
he alone was able to act for her. and supplied the
means, appointing at the same time my friends gem
eral Sanford and COL Rivers to watch his move
ments. TO state all the provocation endured be-
fore was wound to this pitch, is impossible. Let
tiers, sent clandestinely to England, charged with
the grosscst fasehoods, and blackcning my charac-
ter, intercepted by me, and now in my
possession,-a private correspondence with the
lamplighter in INV theatrc,-a torrent of abuse, so
gross that womans heart could barely conceive it,
more than publicly vociferated,--a congrega-
tion of the lowest refuse around her for bues to
intimidate me. These are some of the things bore
from this much injured womani
The terms offered and agreed to in court, hardly
justify the assertion that | left my child to be sup
ported by this woman-Sl2O0 being offered per an
for life if she would quit the stage and live rs
private lady, which being rejected, 5000 per an
num settled on her for her maintenance, and