The Columbian fountain., 1846-11-10
| E t 7 Err
M r S. M Y ID r S,
WRITTEN TO A FRIEND.

My DEAR FRIEND 81 ask your sympathy
| your condolence-in my crushing affiiction-
my fiery trial. cannot depict 10 you the an
guish endure at being thus arraigned for q
crime, the very thought Of which crimson:
my cheek with Indignation; nor can convey
the slightest idea of the torture with which
find myself the object of so much publicity
| | shrink within the shade OF retirement anC
lseclusion, but unh Apply circumstances impe
me forward: for have been so overwhelmed
by the appearance ofmy letters in the. public
prnts-an accumulation Of modification ad-
ded TO other canses OF agony which did not
anticipate-thatI have thought il but justice
to myself 10 give you, my friend, statement
OF my whole aequaitance with the individual
SO unfortunately associated with me, in order
that it may furnish some palliation ofmy in
discretion.
The commencement of my acquaintance
with Mr. Hoyt was under the following cir
cumstances.
A letter was addressed 10 me nnder an enve-
lope to HIM and this letter was transmitted TO
me by Mr., Ii Up 10 this time, had
never exchanged word withMr. Hoyt in my
life. The contents of this letter rendered ii
necessary that should seek few words of ex-
planation with him. was reluctant TO make
this the subject of letter TO Mr.. Hoyt, and
there fore addressed him note, requesting
to see him at my own house, concerning the
matter. In my first interview with Mr.. Hoyt
at my own house, he requested my permission
10 visit me again. To this | readily consen-
ted; and as he suggested the propriety OF our
being formally introduced in society, in order
that our recognition might be public, acceded
to his proposal of meeting him at Mr.. Nor
ems rooms, (where he told me he was sitting
for his miniature, } with Miss A. c., from whom
he said, he would solicit an introduction 10
me.
From this time his visits to me were very frequent
In interview, in the early stage Of our acquaint-
ance, pslliated some expression inadvertently used
in one Of my first notes to him, in which alluded
to feeling Of desolaton. To this he replied "that
my unhappiness was the theme of public discussion
and was nota truth he had guessed from my note but
one he had learned from his observation Of my coun-
tenance before he had formed my acquaintance" En-
couraged by my casual auson to this subject ndis-
creety made on my part, as am ready to confess in
association together he would frequently advert
to my situation as of exquisite misery, picturng
to me my husbands Indifference, repeating unkind
and cruel words which he said my husband had
used of me in the most public places, and assuring
me that his alienation and coldness to me, his wife,
were the subject of remark in society. This natur-
ally incensed me against my husband, and made me
regard him most unkindly
From the sympathy he expressed for me, enter
ing into all my sorrows with the utmost depth of
feeling our confidence became very trustfal and we
| conversed together with great unreserve Such IN
| tercourse continued for some time; and thus was
unconsciously and imperceptibly prepared to lene
my ear to an avowal Of attachment, from which
would have revolted, had il been frefaced by less
insiduous designs Shortly subseqae to this crisis, my
husband received an anonymous note, which he
promptly showed me. This circumstance precluded
Mr.. Hoyt's visits to my own house, Notwithstanding
the testimony to the contrary; for after this ne new
er crossed the threshold of my doc.
And here cannot forbear touching upon one part
of the testimony, which affirms that was "locked
up' in certain parlor for number of hours. 1t is
true that had several interviews with Mr. H
in No ls, the room referred to but those who are
familiar with the location of the at the Ex-
change Hotel will readily recognise this apartment
as one of the most public in the establishment. Its
well known also, that persons wishing for privacy
in SO public place always secure themselves ains
intrusion In accordance with this practice, the doo
was fastened as knew my association with Mr.. Hoy
was liable to remark, and was not desirous OF my
interviews with him becoming the subject Of pub
lie apprehension. | was there merely for private
and the contents of those unfortunate
letteIS Will ut oliCo CoSIuy thoe oueh
without the pollution of crime, was secret in its ma
ture. Why then, should one who has acted thought
lessly, but virtuously, be branded with odium and
circumstances be tortured and garbled, to fasen the
foul sin upon me!
| There is other testimony, which has so utterly
shocked, so entirely amazed me, that am at a loss
for words to refute it. If could snatch sunbeam
! from Heaven, that would scarce be burning ana
bright enough to register my innocence of such foul
loathsome accusations. My God my God will
thou suffer the wretch to live who could pronounce
such swords-such base, dark, designing lies =
They are black enough to have emanated from the
bottomless pit-wcked enounh to have issued from
hell itself. I wonder the tongue that pronounced
them was not palsied-scorched- d--scathed--by the
instant lightning of Gods wrath In all my lndls.
cretions--in the most glarng OF my errors--l have
always remembered | was a LADY. My Dutue has
not been wrecked, nor have forgotten, for an in
stant that delcacy which is innate within the heart
of woman. So monstrous tale is too shocking
too abhorent for human belief
| NV absence fIom Richmond, during May and
June, 1885, when was in the city Of New York
and the fact Of Mr.. Hoyt being entire stranger to
me in the summer Of ls45 Gas our acquaintance on
" commenced the winter of that year,) at once puts
the seal of falsehood-gross falsehood-upon the alb
horent testimony to which have just alluded Is II
not strange, then when my letters refer to every in
tervew ever had with him. there should be no al
lusion not even the remoest to the meetings which
are so viIely attributed to mel use strong and en-
phatc terms; bat feel uncomfortable indignation