The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-18
THE CASE or Mas. PoRRE~r.-We are some

iHk NAeI or MRS. foRREST.-We arc eOsno-
what surprised at the conduct Of certain usually
cautious editors in prejudgng the testimony, Is 1t Is
styled, against Mrs. Forrest. Persons who have
seen anything Of the world, OF who have observed
closely the amount of credibihty TO which mere
suggestive evidence il entitled not easily to be
msled by sr porfs statements Indeed, positive
testimony itself to an allegation of fact, is always
to be received with the most scrupulous crcum-
specton--for thsre are creatures on the earth, Who
nom variety OF motives, sometimes not wholly ex-
picable, will swear away the character or life OF
another and then sit down to dinner with good
appetite, and thank heaven for its bounty. They
certainly should return thanks for such mercses;
for if they had their deserts, prison fare would be
better food than they merit. Perhaps, however,
those who strain public opinion against the charac-
ter Of TN individual Of whose guilt or innocence
they have no means Of judging with reasonable
impartality, are more dangerous and mschevous
than those whose suspicious, doubts, Jeaiounce,
envies, hopes, and expectations are the foundation
upon which they superstruct, the possibility OF fact
There are two ways Of perpetrating such mis-
chief and as both have been illustrated In Mrs.
Forests case. we ehall show how il has been
done, both by protested friend and by stranger.
II is little curious that both should be literary cha
ractere, writers for ladies' magazines and vershers.
Mr.. N. p. Willis is one of these. His very friend
ship for Mrs. Forrest has done her I'm injury. The
replication to the charges against himself and Mrs.
Forrest was one brittle piece Of frost work OF eva
poratng fancy. The lady's shame and fame were
exalted in one and the same breath. Instead of
manfuly meeting the case with the rasp and hle OF
a mastery common sense, he strove hard to polish
the whole bar of testimony, leaving the prominent
inequalities siill more plain than before, for the
brightness put upon them by his fancy with such
a cause, and with 80 much Of justice and truth rs
he had Of his command, he should have IA the
courage of q lion and the foot OF an 81 -Pnant
These were wanting, however; and in thar place
remained nothing but coors or drapery, which
covered, but did not conceal the picture or statue
raised TO astonish society. Thus il was, and the
result is mischief mischief, mischief
For Mrs Persons dctum upon the evidence, we
cannot but feel more sorrow than anger. Mrs.
Lydia Jane Piereon conducts prudish sentimental,
literary gazette, and writes, usually, with wo-
manly elegance, in which the heart shines superior
to the intellect. Not in this case. The cruelty
Of a conviction falls from her pen with glttering
blackneee. To make out case against mankind,
she consigns womankind-the amiabe wife-twelve
years wife-to sudden infamy, unheard, improved,
and, as far as we have any means OF knowing, I'M
eoiled and unepotted. Are the innocent visits Of
socialty to be perverted into evil communications
Is a life Of purity, of spotless and unreproashed
honor to be made the trife Of jealous hour, or Of
a sudden caprice Of fashion! IL the light laugh Of
IN innocent heart, gay in its own sunshine Of vir-
tuous sefreliance be tortured into the ascvious
freedom of wantcnness! Are the mery-makings
Of few friends over the festive board TO be deemed
the necessary orgies of the bacchanals, with
Venus and Pan in attendance Is every silly
letter Of every silly, presumptuous soxcomb TO be
considered the gift OF Pallss Or Csllistus TO his
Neesalinai If 80, then we have wrongfully judged
the materials Of which intelligent society consti
that humanity" which che delights TO ex,ol as 50
sacred, but it win not change our opinion. She
may think that such testimony sinks Nrs. Forrest
TO the lowest depths Of perdition"-that from such
ga burden of infamy" Mr.. Forrest is Unsuitable"
In releasing himself, by "any course"-that such
"leprous thing must be cast out Of society" but
we cannot entertain any such views. Men, we
trust are net no ready convict this lady and
lesst Of ALL for the honor Of the species. may il be
true that any one would heap Goals Of fire upon q
head when no testimony furnishes with any
evidence Of guilt Mr. Pierson asks, also, for the
condemnation Of those husbands who have figured
In the testimony. With the simplicity Of country
education, che seems to take every charge as
proved and never stops TO reason with herself upon
the possibility Of innocence. Doe. Mrs. Herson
really think the city vile place '-or would she
be willing to have all her gay hours construed into
sinful opportunities, on the evidence Of domestics
We cannot believe il. II is far easier to believe
that Mrs. Forrest is an estimable wife and lady.