Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-03-31

by his wife, went to New Orleans, to hunt up
her parcntagc and history. Twcnty-three years
had elapsed since the death of Mr. Clark, when
his daughter landed in New Orleans, an orphan
in search of a father. Messrs Relf and Chew
had IN the mean time disposed OF most oil tho
landed estate, had rendered no account, aud had
appropriated the property to their W use. Mr.
Whitney, a man Of great talent and sagacity,
aided by his interchangeable wife, soon unraveled
the mystery, and found evidence sufficient to
justify the filing of a petition for probate OF tho
will of 1918, and to call Mr. Relf to an account.
Mr. Relf, whose wealth gave him power and IN
%luencc, alarmed at this proceeding, undertook
to crush Mr. Whitney, and drive him from the
city. lie had him arrested for libel, and held to
bail in the sum Of $4,000. Being a ''ranger
and without friends in New Orleans, Mr. Whit
ney was Of course thrust into jail and the hope
Of Mr. Reif undoubtedly was, that the rigois and
disgrace of imprisonment would break down Mr.
Whitncyis courage, and induce him and his wife,
in consideration of his being released, to relin-
quish their claims, and leave the city. But he
mi.iudgcd the character Of those he had to deal
with. After languishing in prison for several
weeks, he procured a mitigation of the bail, and
was released; but Mr. Ref found an ally in the
cholera, which was then raging in New Orleans,
and to which Mr. Whitney finally fell a victim.
Previous to his death, two or three hundred
suits had been Instituted against those who had
purchased lands of Mr. Relf, invoking an i'm
mcnse amount, and arraying against Mrs Whit
ney a large portion Of the wealth, influence and
official power of the city of New Orleans.
The death of Mr. Whitney left bis wife, with
two small children, without money or friends, to
contend alone and singlc-handed against most Of
the wealth, power and influence of the city.
Even the judges on the bench were some of
them owners of valuable property covered by
her claim, The parties interested in defeating
her, combined, arrayed against her most of the
legal talent Of the city, employed the columns Of
the newspaper press to ridicule and prejudice
her claims, and, taking advantage of her sex aud
unprotected situation, sought by whispered inu-
endocs and bold ~falsohoods, to blast her charac-
ter, and exclude her from respectable society.
Even her life was threatened; she has now in
her possession, it il said, numerous anonymous
communication threatening assassination il she
did not leave the city, and she was actually twice
fired upon at night, and narrowly escaped. In
the prosecution OF her suits, every impeachment
which the ingenuity Of the numerous and able
counsel employed could invent, was interposed
for vezatious delay while she had to depend for
professional assistance, upon thosc who would
take the chances Of her final success for rom
pensation, and encounter, besides the labor, in
tricacy and expense If conducting her suits, the
obloquy, prejudice and luminosity Of the defend
ants. Dcmurrers and technical special pleas
were put in, and every artifcc for delay resort
ed to, in the hope to weary and discourage her,
or use up her means of continuing the suit
Possessing a happy buoyancy Of disposition,
quick perceptions, and a mind active, fearless,
and resolutc, she wilhstood all these adverse in
auenccs, irm and unshaken; but she was likely
to be oycrbornc by tao torrcn. Of defamation
poured out agninst her, and by the want Of
means 70 abide the protracted litigation. Tho
demurrers were finally brought 10 a hearing, and
decided in her favor, but they were Immediately
carried by appeal 10 the Supreme Court Of tho
United States, and at least two years more OF
delay secured.
In this state of ihings-huntcd, prosecuted
and sustained only by her uneonqucrablc cour
age-shc took a step characteristic of her bold
and trustful character, and producing, in its re-
suits, an entire revolution in her condition and
prospects. Major General Gaines was then sta
toned in New Orleans lie possessed an un-
blemished character, and a high position in soci-
cty-he was also known to be generous, high.
minded, and chivalrous. Mrs GAME Qhen Mr.,
Whitney, a perfect stranger at that time to Gen
Gaines, sought and obtained an interview with
him. After telling him the story of her wrongs
of the persecution she had endured in the city,
of her destitute condition, and Of the attempt,
to destroy her reputation, she afkel bis advice
and as n soldier and a gentleman, claimed hi.
protection. The General listened with atten.
ton to her artless tale, and his generous nature
was touched with her miaortuncs and pcrsecu,
cutions. lie was more, he was charmed and
acting under the impulse of the moment, and
giving way to his feelings, he said to her, AYES,
you shall have my protection and my assistance
so far as ! can render il, and if | was thirty years
younger Che was then s~ixty-fve and she thirty,
would offer you, that, which would give you q
right to my protection" Mrs Whitney, affected
by his kindness and sympathy, and feeling per
haps the forlornness and dependence Of her stu.
alton, instantly responded, with equal frankness,
"The disparity of years, General, shall make no
difference, and l am grateful for your generous
assurance of protection and assistance" Thus
encouraged, the General, after a few interviews,
made her an offer of marriage, which was ac-
cepted, and the nuptials were soon after con-
summated.
She was now placed in a position in society to
command respect, and defy the malicious defa.
nation Of her enemies; and her husband, with a
generous devotion, appropriated all his means
and credit to the prosecution of his claims. Her
Affairs began now to wear a more promising as
pect. She was no longer deemed a lunatic OF
impostor, and no one now dare breathe upon
her fair lame the breath Of SANDER. But she
made little actual progress in her suit; the legal