The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-04
attentions Of said Jameson after the receipt of said

l649 The conversation bel Ween Mr 0rr0St and myself
about that letter stated In my said former aida
Wit and none Of the additional matters stated In Mr.
Forests adavit took place. he did not In speaking Of
that said letter involved my character fatally or at ALI
he did not charge with retaining it secretly except
by asking why did not show it to him; he did not
say that really virtuous woman would have spurned
it, or tern 1t into pieces, or flung them into her insult
ers facen "never him after Wards never
baly or otherwise admitted an impruience in recciv
did not then or before December "a, 1849 pro-
test that not guilty of crime; never said that
afraid in reference to such letter exclaimed
"Oh God why did not destroy it," said anything OF
the kind did Mr. Forrest remark that 10
reserved by heaven as the instrument of exposure
Mr.. Van Buren-Here is q sentence which am asked
read but which do read:-I declare that each
and every Of the allegations of Mr. Forrest in his said a
dav touching his conversation conversations with
and herein above denied is wholly and in every respect
untrue.
During the interval between Mr. Forests first an
nouncement Of his intention to separate from and
the actual separation spoke with him about the event.
and its painful consequences to said that but one
could justify him in it. that departure from
virtue by said that the public would assume that
cause to exist, and condemn me accordingly Mr. or
rest replied that there eminent example to the
cont rary that guished citizen high in Office whom
he named had separated from his wife, and had
tolerated inquiry to its cause and he desired il
any dared to insult me- or question my purity
account of the separation to call upon him. and he
would defend and right The apparent kindness Of
this offer led to a somewhat free but my part very
sad conversation between to my future
life Mr. Forrest sad that, perhaps MY vanity would
lead to 20 upon the stage answered that perhaps
it might He rejained. substantially, then lost
tha would descend step by step, from bad TO worse
and ould at length, become criminal l replied that
there nothing in my past life to warrant his saying
80, and, whatever evil might thereafter befall me-
wished give him at that present time whilst yet had
his full confidence for his satisfaction in such evil hour
should it ever come-the strongest proof in my power
that, whilst living with him, had never devated from
recttude. Accordingly requested him to write for
the most solemn paper to that effect which he could
devise and offered to pledge myself to its truth Mr.
Lnr fUaa nfAAa ar aud fha
he would have lived with me instant, after
entertaining the slightest suspicion Of but being
pressed he wrote u paper, which signed read that
paper but once and then rather rapidly. I have no
copy of it any precise recollection OF its contents
intended it to be as strongly worded possible; yet
my impression and best present recollection and belief
that its language only refers to- and denies levity
venal breaches of decorum does not
contain ny denial of criminal conducs am confirmed
in this belief by the fact that Mr. Forrest has made
illusions to this paper with view to my prejudice,
twice since the commencement Of this action has,
on both occasions. withheld any copy thereof any
precise statement of its contents The signing that
paper did not attract much attention from me- being
only connected, in my views with future evil event,
suggested b. Mr. Forrest but deemed i'm possible by
and cannot remember recurring to it. In thought
fem the time OF signing it until reference it
In of Mr. Forrest my action in October last
CSso) Mr. Forrest wrote said paper, and my mode of
signing makes 1t easy to write above my signature.
From the statements in his affidavit suspect that he
has ante Gated It, deny absolutely that Mr.. Forrest
ever proposed to me TO take oath atesting nno
cence on the contrary it my proposal to him as
AUOFe Explained, ana declare thAt statements
his raid sidayit, about my having sneered
sion OF taking any oath, signing any writing and his
statements about the conversation alleged in his said
affidavit to have taken place On the Asion of my
signing such paper, wholly untrue No such
action occurred before December "a h. l849
did he charge with swearing or speaking fssely or
with fslsehood at all. with derision scornfuness,
reckessness, or a mockrg manner. He told me
in Ais lite, that II should not want whilst conducted
myself properly nor that he not disposed to deal
with me barshy,n nor did ever say to Ne Forrest
"what is to become OF me!' l never entrested
quested r Forrest to spare endeavor spare me,
far as he could at all the shame disgrace any
exposure OF any circumstance whatever, remain
silent about to conceal not to mention the in
tended separation. any alleged thereof, to
defer such separation until the latter part OF tn
Of April ls49 or to any time when he might with
cut inviting special comment remark AMI never
did, IN any way suggest advise request postp
ent q such separation or seek to defer the same
except hereinafter stated The time of separation
had no power to prevent it, submitted to by
first for the first day Of March again. for the third
Monday OF March; again, for the first day of April
again for the twentythrd day of April and one two
other like appointments made By him for that
purpofe, which i uuable precisely to remember
Each Of those appointments rescinded by Mr. For.
rest Of his motion and for his accommod ton
At q time when the day of separation for the time
being, stood fixed for the twenty third OF April Mr.
Forrest being. be informed Inc, un Ter an engage
nrnt to perform at the Broadway Theatre, New
York. for weeks commencing upon tho Ia ST. named
day, suggested to him that, II separation should
then take place 1t would probably be imputed to
his controversy with Mr. Macready; and advised him to
permit me to remain with him until the close Of such
engagement to which he immediately returned his dis.
seat, and stated that the said separation should
VIXEN then present residence broken up.
This amounted to . new appointment of the twenty
eighth twenty ninth day of April the day for such
separation. Never, before our actual separation did
request that any provision should be made for me- al
though 1t is true that when the separation was alluded
to- Mr.. Forrest said casually, "Of course will provide
for your" TO which made no reply and this was all
that ever passed between that subject before the
separation When as Just mentioned, sug ggested the
view which the public might take ct the separation,
Forrest repeled the idea with scorn He spoke
this way, as nearly as recoect his words =
ir,n.x- who knows or cares for you whether you
live with me 81 Ssay s5 s g. where live :, :" =. IT, t.
this contemptuous view Of my !psisaihcaAce 'A1'
Mr. Van Buren-I am requested to omit and do omit
rasssge here.
legged Consueo letter kept it concealed nor di the
Edwin Forrest discover that it contained any
svowal of any Illicit or criminal Intercourse verify
believe that at the time the said Edwin Forrest first
into possession Of said Consuelo letter he SaP
seeking for grounds upon which to frame some excuse
for repudatipg me although can scarcely believe
that he had as yet conceived the design Of imputng
chaste conduct
Consuelo" the heroine of a modern French novel Is
therein represented as woman characterized BY the
highest degree OF amiability, chastity and purity that
the mird could conceive Language portray The
word signifies Consolation when rendered into Eng.
sh No could exist for the adoption # that adj
dress in said letter except fanced bance be-
tween the character Of the peren addressed ani th
heroine.
The deposition of Mr. Parke Goodwin. obteinad bv Mr.
Forest and presented by him to the Pennsylvania
Legislature, states that about January 1919 he lent
Mr. Forrest this very novel am quite confident that
Me- Forrest 80 borrowed 1t in order satisfy himself as
TO the character Of the imaginary heroine Consuelo
aud thence e determine the practicabty OF founding
upon the letter some charge against me The charac
ter disappointed his wishes and for the time b. aban
dorec that attempt belevs the fact to be that he
first saw the Consuelo letter after the 18th Of January
eve that he borrowed the novel Consuelo and wrcts
to nr Jameson about che no
himself the trouble Of reading the novel by casually in
qurius of MI Paike Godwin during their trip TO Font.
hill mentioned in my former affidavit as to the chsrac
ter Of Copsueo. l believe that from Mr. Godwips ac !.
count of the herone he concluded that the letter would
not answer sny more seriously Injurious purpose and
reupon gave way to the temptation make II the
subject OF painful evening Tor His object In bor
rowing "Consueo" could only have been to revive his
memory, and himself Of the character; he had
owrsd and read the book heard II read long before
A few words with Mr.. Goodwin who is a highly inteec
tual person would have this purpose perfectly
AFTER being thus assured on the subject presume Mr
Forrest cared little about Mr. Jameson a apswer ami
therefore did not await It