f^pi/h^.^.A:/ lyy^^^^/y
 
 ^■-Barto/o7Xt flii^-f^' 
 
 MRS.MARCA'R'ET RVDD 
 
 J^uklifhecl June xCi-j-jf accorcUna to Act ojPcirltatnent
 
 AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES, 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 LIFE AND TRANSACTIONS 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs, MARGARET RUDD : 
 
 Co^ififting of a Variety of Fa(Sts hitherto un- 
 known to the PUBLIC. 
 
 ADDRESSED IN 
 
 A SERIES OF LETTERS 
 
 T O T n E 
 
 N01V (fiY^ A LATE ACT OF PARLIAMENT) 
 
 Miss MARY L O V E L L. 
 
 i?/>« tt'eft heaut que le vra'ty le vralfeul cfl atmable 
 II droit regner, par tout efl meme dans la fable, 
 
 BOILEAV. 
 
 VOL. I, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 pRrMTED FOR J. B E W, No. 28, Pater- 
 noster-row. 
 
 M OCC LXXVI.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 A S the contents of the following 
 narrative may appear romantic, 
 or at leaft improbable, it becomes 
 neceffary to combat fuch objedion, 
 and to remove every fufpicion of 
 this fort, by apprifing the reader, 
 that all the ckcumftances related arc 
 ilriftly true, groftpded on facts and 
 the evidence of living witnefles* 
 The compiler might eafily have 
 protradted the v^ork to a much 
 greater bulk, frgm the variety of 
 authentic materials in his polTeffion, 
 and which could not be exhibited to 
 a 2 the 
 
 ''' ^ --^^ o
 
 [ iv ] 
 
 the public thro* any other channel % 
 but he has fcrupuloufly fuppreflfed 
 many particulars, where there ap- 
 peared the leaft doubt of their au- 
 thenticity. He bad no other motive 
 in view^ but to paint abandoned 
 tharacSers in their true colours, as 
 d^Je^s of deteftation to their cotem- 
 {yorary age, and as excwiples of ab- 
 horrence to the rifing generation. 
 Thus actuated and employed, he 
 has endeavoured to render honeft 
 fervix:^ to his country, to promote 
 the interefts of morality, to guard 
 mankind from future deception and 
 againft thole crimes by which many 
 have been ruined. Examples have 
 a pov^erful influence, efpecially on 
 
 young
 
 E V ] 
 
 young minds ; and when inferences 
 are properly drawn and precepts 
 eftabliflied, the whole becomes uni- 
 form and compleat. How far the 
 following plan will anfwer thefe 
 purpofes, is fubmitted to the judg-- 
 inent of every candid reader. 
 
 The female debauchee who has fe- 
 duced numbers of innocent girls, 
 and has led aftray as many married 
 women, may impudently arrogate 
 or afTume to herfelf, the epithets of 
 
 amiable and delicate whereas in 
 
 reality (he is a monfter in iniquity, 
 and the grcateft peft to human So- 
 ciety. — Can human language aiford 
 terms too fevere, or any Ipecies of 
 
 fatire
 
 t vi ] 
 
 fatire too poignant againft a wretch, 
 who has always fubfifted on the 
 plunder of individuals and the dila- 
 pidations of the public — who has 
 fupported herfelf in fcenes of grar^- 
 dear and diffipation to the detriment 
 of honefl tradefmen, and the ruin 
 of many of her fellow-creatures ? 
 When an artful fyren has been a 
 principal through a long courfe of 
 the moft iniquitous pradlices, why 
 Ihould not fuch crimes be tranfmit- 
 ed to fucceeding ages, that innocent 
 poflerity may be upon their guard ? 
 —When a deceitful proftitute, with 
 the name and figure of a woman, 
 has by a qui'bble of law, or a concur- 
 rence of favourable events, efcaped 
 
 the
 
 the punifhment of criminal jaftice^ 
 
 for the prefent ought not her 
 
 criminalities to be recorded that the 
 young of both fexes may execrate 
 the vicious example ? 
 
 Such are the confiderations which 
 have obtruded the follov^ing pages 
 on the public. And confidering 
 the numerous publications which 
 have already appeared on the fame 
 fubjed:, but all of them replete with 
 falfhood and inconfiftencies, it be- 
 came neceflary as well as a feconda- 
 ry motive, to publifh a genuine de- 
 tail.— The prefent plan commen- 
 (;es with an early account of a cer- 
 tain female^ proceeds in an hifiorical 
 
 chain
 
 [ viii ] 
 
 chain to record fuch anecdotes and 
 other circumftances as are well at-r 
 tefted — and concludes with fuggefl-r 
 ing what may probably be the final 
 cataftrophe of a wicked and profli- 
 gate woman.
 
 I LETTER 
 To Mrs. — 
 
 Madam^ 
 
 A S I had the honolir of an early ac- 
 "^ ^ quaintance with the gentleman who 
 had the misfortune to make you — a wife^^ 
 and as the contents of the following pa- 
 pers are clofely connefted with your own 
 hiftory, it requires the lefs apology for 
 the freedom of this addrefs. You have 
 been intimately acquainted with Mrs. 
 Rudd for feveral years, and a confederate 
 in various fcenes of proftitution, forgery^ 
 B and
 
 [ 2 ] 
 
 and intrigue. To extenuate the guilt of 
 your own condud, you have made many 
 people to believe that this intimacy has 
 been the fole caufe of your ruin. But 
 thofe who know you better, allow this 
 plea to be very confiflent with your ufual 
 tricks of fallliood and deceit, and that 
 you are at leafl her counterpart. 
 
 Did that notorious bawd Mrs C — t — n 
 of Jermyn Street introduce Mrs. Rudd 
 to your acquaintance, or you to Mrs. 
 Rudd ? — The overtures were certainly 
 made on your part : — for you paid her 
 the firft vifit in Scotland-yard, and foon 
 after had the effrontery to introduce her 
 to your own family as an immaculate cha- 
 rafter. 
 
 It is a difgrace to the annals of any 
 country, as well as an indelible fcandal to 
 
 human
 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 iiumaii nature, that fuch infamous profti- 
 tutes fliould meet with friendfhip or pro- 
 te(5tion. And it is a duty and a debt 
 owing to the community from every ho- 
 neft individual, to paint fuch virtuous 
 wives in their true colours, and as a leflbn 
 of abhorrence to the rifing generation. 
 
 The alTumed names oi Mont ague ^ Read^ 
 and Lady Catharine Murray^ will inflantly 
 remind you of your own infamy, as well 
 as of repeated ads of adultery with dif- 
 ferent men : and of the horrid confpiracy 
 between yourfelf and C — 1— -ns to ruin an 
 innocent and a much injured man. But 
 the proceedings in two very refpeflable 
 courts of judicature in this kingdom have 
 exculpated his chara6ter j*>-while your's 
 is infamous upon record. 
 
 The
 
 t 4 ] 
 
 The depofitions in Do£bors Commons ^■ 
 prove you to have been callous to all the 
 leelings of decency, and loft to every 
 lenfe of fhame. The tellimony of honeft 
 witnefles will demonftrate that a married 
 woman, who had a comfortable houfe of 
 her own, and might have lived in a fphere 
 of reputation, could wantonly forget the 
 dignity of human nature, and bid defiance 
 to the moft facred obligations. And 
 from an uncommon depravity of difpofi- 
 tion would hire lodgings in different parts 
 of the town, and frequent them clandef- 
 tincly for the purpofes of proftitution, riot 
 and debauchery. To fandify her chafli- 
 ty, an unfeeling mother would fometimes 
 carry an innocent child to be wicnefs of 
 
 the 
 
 *. See the depoGtioHS in a caafe of divorce, Jen- 
 kins againft Jenkins.
 
 [ s 1 
 
 the mofl: fiiocking fcenes of lewdnefs and 
 intoxication. Let that wicked nurfe 
 Anns Stiatt deny thefe fa<fls if fiie can. 
 
 It was by the greateil accident, or ra- 
 ther by the kind interpofition of provi- 
 dence, that your hufband became ac- 
 quainted with thefe iniquitous fcenes an^ 
 and vicious praflices. And it was with 
 a becoming fpirit that he got rid of fo in- 
 fernal a connexion. But it was your 
 conftant cant to mifreprefent his condudt 
 to all his acquaintance, who are now per- 
 fectly convinced of your wicked arts and 
 duplicity, and behold the Fiend with 
 pitiable contempt. 
 
 Indeed, fallhood and intrigue have 
 been your diflinguiHiing character i flics 
 from your infancy ^ and cf this your 
 
 friends
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 friends at Windfor can bear ample tefli- 
 mony. For the credit of fociety and the ] 
 honour of the fex, it is devoutly to be 
 wiihed that fuch a characler exilled in 
 fpeculation only. 
 
 To exhibit yonr criminalities at large 
 would prove an endlefs talk and fwell this 
 work into volumes. We fhall therefore 
 confine ourfelves to fuch particulars as 
 are more immediately connected with the 
 prefcnt plan. For your condud, if tho- 
 roughly canvafTed, would appear more 
 unpardonable to the eye of candour than 
 that of your colleague. Contemplate for 
 a moment the fituation you departed 
 from, and compare it with your prefent. 
 
 When you became acquainted with 
 Mrs. Rudd, you lived in a very reputa- 
 ble
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 ble fphere of life •, was connefled with a 
 gentleman of indiidry and abilities to 
 fupport your extravagance •, — the mother 
 of a lovely child, and vifited by feveral 
 families of faOiion and credit. Yet fuch 
 the frailty of female vanity t — Such the 
 malignity of your unhappy difpofition, 
 as wantonly to deviate from the line of 
 duty ! V\^ho then will be furprized to hear 
 that you are now difcarded by your for- 
 mer acquaintance, and at the mercy of 
 an unprincipled wretch, and a bankrupt ? 
 This defcription, however humiliating, 
 difclaims the imputation of falfhood, ma- 
 levolence or exaggeration ; — it is the fim-= 
 pie narrative of truth. — Few anecdotes 
 will iliuftrate the propriety of your pri- 
 vate condu6t, antecedent to the intimacy 
 with Mrs. Rudd. 
 
 It
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 It happened at a certain time that the 
 cellars in your own houfe v/ere plundered 
 of liquors to a confiderable value. Upon 
 this difcovery your hufoand thought it in- 
 cumbent on him to purfue the necelTary 
 fleps, and to dete6l, if pofTibie, the offen- 
 ders •, and for this purpofe carried his 
 fcrvants before a m.agiflrate. Your me- 
 mory has proved treacherous on fome oc- 
 cafions, yet it is impofiible to forget your 
 own confufion at this critical jundlure. 
 
 After a long and tircfome examination, 
 your own confidential fervant, to avoid 
 the confinement of a prifon, gave fome 
 account of the {lolen goods, and acknow- 
 ledged that her miftrefs was the — thief. 
 She further difclofed how bountiful you 
 behaved to different perfons in the ab~ 
 fence of her mafler ; and at times would 
 
 clan«
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 clandeftinely convey large cargoes of li- 
 quor and other articles, to places of pri- 
 vate aflignation in the neighbourhood. 
 She confeiTed withal, that you carried on 
 a fecret and infamous correfpondence with 
 feveral men, and made her the innocent 
 inflrument of intrigue, and of receiving 
 letters daily by the poll directed to hcr- 
 felf, but in reality for her mijirefs. Need 
 we to remind you how the magiilrates 
 and all prefent were Ihocked at this extra- 
 ordinary account ? 
 
 After the deteftion of thefe fads, every 
 fubfequent part of your condudt Ihould 
 be viewed with an equal eye of jealoufy. 
 Your huiband was exceedingly hurt by 
 fuch convincing proofs of your wicked- 
 nefs and villainy; acquainted your friends 
 with the particulars of your honefty and 
 C fidelity
 
 [ lo ] 
 
 Hdelity tbWdrds him ; and was inclined 
 to confign yoU to the punifliment of cri- 
 minal jullice. The confideration of hav- 
 ing an innocent bal5e, joined to your own 
 tears of penitence and vows of future 
 Sifcretion^ prevailed on him to overlook 
 your faults for the prefent. Ifou was al- 
 lowed the privilege of futui*e good beha- 
 viour, and to ruminate oh your paft mif- 
 condu(51-. But nothing can alter the com- 
 plexion of human nature. You u-a's born 
 to be the bafeil of your fex, if falfnood 
 and hypocrify, duplicity and intrigue^ 
 cbnftitute an obnoxious chara<5lcr. Your 
 tears of penitence and promifc^ of amend- 
 ment lafted but a day.. 
 
 In Thort, a woman of 'dohtummate art 
 and cunning, fond of intrigue, and in iove 
 with adulation, can never prove the ami-
 
 [ IX 1 
 
 able or endearing companion. And a 
 woman deftitute of the principles of ho- 
 nour and virtue, is a moil dangerous 
 member of the community. Such is the 
 charader now in view. 
 
 And nctwithftanding the various 
 fchemes recently adopted to miflead the 
 fublic, and to wajb the Mack'^'-mcor wkite : 
 yet the compiler of the following papers, 
 in language unadorned with tropes of 
 rhetorick; or the fubtlety of logical argu- 
 mentation, refers only to facls and xhe 
 evidence of living v/itneiTes. 
 
 LETTER.
 
 [ 12 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 'T^H U S far by way of preface. We 
 • fhall now advert and invedigate 
 
 another charader as extraordinary, but 
 perhaps not more abandoned than your 
 own. The charadler we mean chiefly to 
 develope, is that of Mrs. Margaret Rudd. 
 A charader, which has of late caufed 
 much fpeculation, and various reports 
 about her birth and parentage. 
 
 Notwithftanding that much boafted 
 pedigree^ fmuggled with fome clandeftine 
 view, yet it is a fa6l, that fhe is defcend- 
 ed from very mean and ignoble parents. 
 Her father, whofe name was Youngfon, 
 
 lived
 
 [ 13 ] 
 
 lived as an Apothecary at Lurgan, an 
 obfcure village in the North of Ireland ; 
 a perfon of little bufinefs or eminence in 
 his profelTion, 
 
 If he had any property, it muft have 
 been inconfiderable, and upon his de- 
 ceafe fell into the hands of the mortga- 
 gee. Her mother v/as fifler to Mr. John 
 Stewart, who farms his own lands of 
 of fourfcore pounds ayear, and has a 
 contra6l to fupply the linen manufactory 
 in that part of the kingdom, with pot- 
 aih. The one died when Mifs Youns:- 
 fon w^as an infant ; and the other before 
 Ihe attained zhc age of eight years old. 
 
 Thus circumdanced, the charge 
 of her education devolved upon her 
 yncle Stewart j — who from motives of 
 
 charity
 
 [ 14 ] 
 
 charity fent her to fchool at Down-pa- 
 trick. But our heroine did not continue 
 there any confiderable tiri)e •, — fuch being 
 her genius at that early period for yici- 
 ons practices and intrigue, that the pa- 
 rents, one and all threatened to take away 
 their children, if one immpdert girl was 
 riot immediately difcarded. It would be 
 too indelicate to relate the particulars of 
 a criminal intercourfc that happened be- 
 tween her and one of the fervants belong- 
 ing to this fchool. The fad, with all its 
 aggravating circumftanccs, is well known 
 in the town of Downpatrick. 
 
 Too many of our boarding fchools 
 for young ladies, even in the environs of 
 pf this metropolis, are at beft but nur- 
 feries for vice, and the contagion of bad 
 examples -, — and where one fcabby Ihcep 
 
 mav
 
 ' [ 15 ] 
 
 may infe6l the whole fleck. The do- 
 m'eHlt plan under the infpc^diion of an 
 exemplary parent, is generally the molt 
 fafe, if not the mod accomplifhed. 
 
 From hence cur young heroine was 
 removed to Lurgan, to the care of her 
 grandmother Younglbn ; an old woman 
 n'ot much above tlie degree of a pauper. 
 Her uncle Stewart having children of his 
 6wn ; and finding after due enquiries, 
 that her behaviour at the fchool of Down- 
 patrick had proved fo vicious and immo- 
 ral, would by no means admit her into 
 his own houfe. 
 
 While under the infpe6lion of this poor 
 creature, that turn for galantry and in- 
 trigue, which has fince created fo much 
 noife and mifchief in this metropolis, was 
 
 truly
 
 [ i6 ] 
 
 truly confpicuous. For her feeble guar- 
 dian was perpetually harafled with comp- 
 plaints of an uncommon nature ; and 
 confequently obliged to have frequent 
 recourfe to difcipline and clofe confine- 
 ment. However, nothing could tame 
 the v/anton difpofition, or cool the irre- 
 gular failles of fuch a libidinous girl. 
 Hence (he elopes with a recruiting ferge- 
 ant. — But the compafilonate feelings of 
 the commanding officer interpofed, and 
 induced him to fend the young creature 
 back to her difconfolate friends. 
 
 Some time afer, Lieutenant Rudd 
 happended to come into that part of the 
 kingdom, on the recruiting fervice : and 
 in confequence of ten days acquaintance 
 with Mifs Youngfon, it v/as his misfor- 
 tune to make her — a wife. 
 
 A recital
 
 [ 17 ] 
 
 A recital of the fubfcquent train of 
 miferies which befel this unhappy man 
 from his conjugal connexion, would 
 excite pity and compafTion in the moft 
 obdurate brcaft : and Ihould make all 
 future adventurers, extremely cautious 
 how they embark into the fairy land of 
 matrimony, be the external accomplifli- 
 
 ments of the object as they may But 
 
 of this in its proper place. 
 
 P LETTER
 
 [ i8 ] 
 
 LETTER HI 
 
 Madam, 
 
 HERE our attention is diverted to' 
 another objeft, and a digreflion 
 which we prefume will not be deemed in- 
 applicable. It is fomewhat myfterious^ 
 confidering the true account of Mrs. 
 Rudd's birtb and parentage in the fore- 
 going letter, by what means or for what 
 purpofc that fpurious pedigree^ blazoned 
 with the names of fo many illuilrious 
 anceflors^ was obtained from Scotland. 
 Without pretending to the gift of pro- 
 phecy, or the fpirit of divination, we 
 may venture to infer from this inflance, 
 thsitpedigreeSy as well as diplomas ^ may be 
 fnauggled from that part of the kingdom 
 on eafy terms. 
 
 It
 
 [ 19 ] 
 
 It would be nugatory to difcufs this 
 matter minutely. — But a perfon of aflum- 
 ed confequence, has thought proper to 
 abufe a worthy * Baronet, who had been 
 defrauded of a confiderable property by 
 the artifices of three notorious fwindlers ; 
 and for modeftly prefuming to queftion 
 the pretended pedigree of the principal. 
 The publication of the fcurrilous writer 
 alluded to, is defer ving fome notice and 
 few curfory animadverfions. 
 
 The indignant keeper of the Lyon 
 Records^ in a letter inferted in the Morn- 
 ing Chronicle of Odober lail, treats his 
 fuperiors with great freedom, and af- 
 fumes to himfelf airs of infailihility. How- 
 ever well verfed Mr. Cummyng may be 
 in the niceties of his native dialed:, yet 
 
 when 
 
 * Sir Thomas F -—. .
 
 [ 20 J 
 
 when he attempts to write in the Englifh 
 tongue, his ftyle is neither grammatical 
 nor polite. He undertakes, like his 
 predeceflbr of La Mancha^ to alTert the 
 rights of injured innocence : and to ex- 
 culpate a caluminated individual, while 
 he afTumes a total ignorance of her true 
 ' character. We wifli him to be better 
 informed. 
 
 " The abfurdity, fays this man of 
 ** confequence, of afking a gentleman 
 *' whether a deed is forged or not, when 
 *' the fame is diftant four hundred miles 
 *' from him, needs no comment. If 
 *' there was not a moral certainty that 
 *' the original of the letter was holo- 
 ** graph of Sir Thomas, the illiterate 
 " manner in which it is wrote, and the 
 *^ barbarous inhumanity of the intention 
 
 were
 
 [ 21 ] 
 
 ** were fufncient to fink it below con- 
 " tempt. The characfter of Uiq Lyon 
 " Office is fuiTiciently *e(l:ablif}ied to its 
 *' honour throughout all Europe," 
 
 Whatever may be theedabliOied repu- 
 tation of the Lyon Office^ there is a moral 
 pofTibility of its being fometimes liable 
 to application from impoftors. Was ic 
 impoHible for the gentleman of that office 
 to be impofed upon or deceived in any 
 circumllance relative to Mrs. Rudd ? 
 Were they fo well acquainted with the 
 particulars of her cafe and flory, as to be 
 fatisfied of the identity of the charafler 
 Ihe afiumed?— — To anfwer thefe inter- 
 rogatories in the alnrmative, vv^ould fa- 
 vour of popery and the do(5lrine of Infal^ 
 ability. 
 
 Let
 
 [ " ] 
 
 Let it be granted, that the gentle- 
 men belonging to the Lyon Office^ are all 
 men of honour^ and zealous to aflert its 
 credit as far as their province or fphere 
 of adlion can extend. Without depre- 
 ciating their merit or abilities, Mrs. Rudd 
 has impofed on wifer men ; and it is 
 much to be feared Ihe may again, be- 
 fore providence fhall think proper to con- 
 fign her to that ignominious exit which 
 fhe has long defer ved ; but by a late 
 fortunate decifion in her favour, has for 
 jthe prefent efcaped the punifhment of 
 criminal jull: ice. 
 
 The impudence of fome individuals is 
 equal to their ignorance j and the ahfur- 
 dity of writing civilly to a perfon oi little 
 Cummyng's confequence, .is but too ob^ 
 vious from the quotations out of his havr^ 
 
 harms
 
 [ n ] 
 
 hamis tetter. , We Ihall only obferve, 
 that whatever accefs he might have to 
 perfons of falhion and fortune in Scot- 
 land ; or opportunities of afcertaining 
 the pedigree of Mrs. Rudd; yet that 
 pedigree from a long line of noble and 
 royal anceilors, which fbe has obtruded 
 upon the public, is abfolutely falfe and 
 fpurious. And for the truth of this, 
 we refer the curious to many perfons 
 now living in th€ north of Ireland, who 
 remember her father a poor Apothecary 
 at Lurgan, and her mother the daughter 
 of an obicure farmer. 
 
 LET<irER
 
 [ 24 ] 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 M A D A M, 
 
 "Tl^TE now refume the thread of our 
 ^ ^ narrative, where more important 
 fcenes occur, and our heroine launches in-* 
 to public life. For in the month of Fe- 
 bruary 1 762, the Reverend William Shaw, 
 miniftcr of Lurgan, by virtue of a licence, 
 and with the confent of Mr. John Stew- 
 art, Yeoman, married Valentine Rudd, 
 Lieutenant, and Margaret Youngfon, fpin- 
 fler, feventeen years old, both of the pa- 
 rilh of Shankill, in the diocefe of Dro- 
 more. This Clergyman, in his letter of 
 Auguft laft, and now with the editor, 
 fays exprefsly, that the nam.e of Caroline 
 
 was
 
 [ H ] 
 
 was not mentiond at that time, nor in- 
 ferted in his inflrudions. And for what 
 purpofjs it has been fince adopted, is 
 fubmitted to the conjedlures and confide- 
 ration of the public. 
 
 Soon after the aforefaid ceremony was 
 performed, an unfortunate hufband had 
 various reafons to repent of his bargain, 
 as well as ample proofs that his wife was 
 deeply vcrled in the fchool of intrigue. 
 Before fhe attained the age of feventeen 
 years, our heroine had given ilriking 
 marks of her future foibles and prolliga- 
 ^cy. 
 
 It need not here be infilled, that a 
 young woman of a volatile difpoficion and 
 a tolerable perlbn, did not fail of meet- 
 ing with plenty of admirers who met with 
 E no
 
 [ 26 1 
 
 no material difcouragement. This was 
 the cafe with our heroine, who condc- 
 Icendcd to mingle with all clafTes of peo- 
 ple previous to her marriage, and every- 
 day brought fome frefh adorer to buoy 
 up her vanity, and to extol the charms 
 of her perfon. This circumftance prov- 
 ed very unfavourable to the charad:er of a 
 wife-, — and her condudb in that capacity 
 ■was fo barefaced and indecent, that none 
 of the officers ladies would afTociate, or be 
 feen in the company of Mrs. Rudd. 
 
 What a fcene of difappointment and 
 mortification to a bridegroom, who had 
 fondly amufed his own fancy with the ac- 
 quiiitron of an ineflimable treafure of vir- 
 tue and conjugal fidelity •, — And ho\V 
 poignant the confideration of having re- 
 ceived no addition of fortune from this 
 
 frefh
 
 [ 27 ] 
 
 freih engagement, when he perceived the 
 prodigalities of the partner of his hopes 
 and expectations ! — The very profpedl, 
 even in fpeculation, is terrifying and 
 dreary to every individual capable of re- 
 fieflion. 
 
 From this period, an infatuated huf- 
 band becomes the heir of mifery and af- 
 flidion. The regiment to which lieute- 
 nant Rudd belonged, was now reduced, 
 and himfelf to half-pay, on the Irifh e- 
 ilablifhment, with an accumulated load 
 of debts contracted by the moft extrava- 
 gant of women. Thus iituated and per- 
 plexed, it was expedient to change the 
 fcene as foon as pofTible, and to afcertain 
 the bed mode of redrcfs. 
 
 As he had fome property jn Hertford- 
 
 fliire,
 
 :■ [ 28 ] 
 
 fhire, his return to England was deemed 
 the mofl prudent flep. Their ;Unck 
 Stewart, having a flender acquaintance 
 with Mr. James Adair, of Soho fquare, 
 from the contiguity of their lands in the 
 north of Ireland, prefumed to give them 
 a letter of recommendation to that gen- 
 tleman ; and from whence arofe all the 
 pretended interefl and conneclions with 
 the family of that name. Hence the 
 great intimacy with perfons w^ho knew 
 Mrs. Rudd's family^ and vifited her fre- 
 quently Hence an ingenuity in form'ng 
 a valuable acquaintance for various 
 fchemes, and the purpofes of deception. 
 Hence the generous donations and fignai 
 marks of friendflaip impofed on a credulous 
 dupeora knave — And hence a capital train 
 of forgeries, wliich convidled the Perreaus^ 
 and brought them to the final goal of un- 
 
 pitied
 
 [ 29 ] 
 
 pitied ignominy. — But pardon this, di- 
 greflion. 
 
 Lieutenant Rudd and his wife embark- 
 ed for England in a Weft- country trader ; 
 and it feems at that time to be his plan 
 to fettle in the neighbourhood of Exeter ; 
 from a prefumption, that the necefiaries 
 of life were more reafonable in that part 
 of the kingdom, than nearer the metro- 
 polis. Here with his half pay and the 
 income of his eftare he hoped to live 
 comfortably; and it is probable he 
 might have done fo, had he been blefied 
 with a partner of any prudence and fru- 
 gality. 
 
 However, being a native of St. Al- 
 bans, and having feme property in that 
 
 neigh.
 
 [ 30 ] 
 
 neighbourhood, he prefered that fpot for 
 the place of refidence and retirement. 
 Indeed, his father was a reputable tradef- 
 man of that town, and who beftowed on 
 his fon a very liberal education •, and 
 when he was of proper age, lent him to 
 the Univerfity, in order to qualify him 
 for the pulpit. 
 
 But the young gentleman not approv- 
 ing this fedentary life, his inclination led 
 him to make choice of another profef- 
 fion •, and which proved the means of 
 bringing about the mofl unhappy con- 
 nexion that could poflibly fall to the 
 fhare of man. He continued in the 
 country till the fnmmer 1766, when he 
 removed to London, for reafons that ^all 
 appear in our next. Nocwithdanding the 
 
 ftrideft
 
 [ 3^ ] 
 
 ftrideft frugality and economy on his 
 part, yet he had been obliged to make 
 fome encroachment on his eflate while he 
 lived in the mofc private manner and in 
 the retirement of the country. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 32 3 
 
 LETTER 
 
 M A D A IvI, 
 
 'TnHE retirement of the country was 
 -^ by no means a proper fphere for 
 a woman of Mrs. Rudd's fpirit and pro- 
 fligacy. The metropolis had various 
 enchantments as well as opportunities 
 for pleafiire and intrigue. It was her 
 hufband's misfortune to make London 
 the place of refidence, and to yield to 
 the importunities of an infolenc wife •, — 
 the traces of whofe character, are like 
 the windings of a labyrinth, dark and 
 impenetrable. To fclccl: fuch particu- 
 lars of her conducl, as can be well at- 
 
 tefled.
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 tefted and deferve the notice of the pub- 
 lic, is the writer's intention ; and to 
 guard the bulk of mankind from future 
 deception, his warmeil wifh. 
 
 It was in Princefs Street, Cavendifh 
 Square, and at the houfe of Mr. Mar- 
 feilies, a Taylor, that Lieutenant Rudd 
 took lodgings for his wife and felf when 
 they removed to town. It fo happened, 
 that one Cornet Read lodged likev/ile in 
 the fame houfe, a young man of genteel 
 appearance and addrefs ; and a proper 
 object for a woman of Mrs. Rudd*s paf- 
 fions, and for the purpofes of intrigue. 
 
 Dwelling in the fame houfe, and not 
 
 deficient in that affurance which ftamps 
 
 the charaderiftic of a native of Hibernia, 
 
 .he foon contracted an acquaintance with 
 
 F our
 
 [ 34 3 
 
 our heroine j whpfe arts and converfation 
 were too powerful not to attradt the 
 heart of a fprlghtly young fellow. He 
 rcfolved immediately to lay clofe fiege 
 to a garrifon which his former experience 
 in amorous intrigues, convinced him was 
 not likely to hold out againft a vigorous 
 attack, but would foon furrender to the 
 t^rrris he fhould offer: and it was no 
 long time before he carried his point, and 
 infmuated himfelf into her good graces. 
 
 In the month of November, 1776 early 
 in the morning before the family were up, 
 our heroine embraced an opportunity 
 v/hich fhc had been long v^ifhing for, to 
 make a precipitate retreat with this young 
 officer. But according to the modern 
 niode of elopment, their excurfion was 
 not into Scotland. 
 
 The
 
 f 35 ] 
 
 The Mary -le- bone CofFee Houfe, a 
 fmali dillance from their apartments, 
 was the firft ftage for the completion of 
 their fchemes. Here they continued 
 three days and nights, as a gentleman 
 who had ftole a great fortune, and mar- 
 ried her clandeftinely. During this in- 
 terval, they revelled in high life and in 
 fcenes of luxury, till fome friend of the 
 Cornet came privately to apprize him, 
 that his landlord Marfeilles and the Bai- 
 liffs were in dole purfuit. Direful in- 
 telligence this ! 
 
 However, a plan was well concert- 
 ed the friend pretends to aft the 
 
 part of a relation to the young lady ; and 
 undertakes to effe(5l a reconciliation, if 
 £he would return inftantly to her friends. 
 Women are remsi-kable for invention and 
 
 fertile
 
 [ 36 ] 
 
 fertile at expedients •, and our heroine 
 has the credit of fwggefting this hint and 
 forming the plan. Indeed the fchenie 
 appeared fo plaufible to the people of 
 the houfe, infomnch, that they believed 
 the ilory, and afllfted to expedite the re- 
 treat of this friend and the lady in ^ 
 hackney coach. 
 
 Soon after, the Cornet decamps, but 
 without taking leave or making the lead 
 compenfation to the people of the houfe 
 for their kind and hofpitable reception ; 
 for being young and aflive, he with the 
 agility of a deer top'd the garden wall. 
 
 Having pre-concerted where to meet 
 his fair enchantrefs, he immediately fled 
 to the place of appointment, and with all 
 the ardor of impatient love. And 
 
 what
 
 [ 37 ] 
 
 what greatly added to the tranfports of 
 joys was the confideration of having 
 efcaped for the prefent the clutches of 
 thofe fons of violence, the harpies of 
 the law* 
 
 Splendid was their manner of living 
 for foi-ne time at Richmond and Green- 
 wichy and elfcwhere, on the dilapidations 
 cf the public^ and th€ plunder of indi- 
 viduals. At length the moil private and 
 retired fituation becamiC abfolutely necef- 
 fary -, and after various enquiries as well 
 as due deliberation, Mr. Crofby's Tripe 
 Shop, at Ratcliff-crofs, was agreed upon 
 as the mod convenient fpot. Here they 
 lived upwards of four months in a wick^ 
 td and adulterous manner; and our 
 heroine feemed in a fair way for a while 
 to honour her paramour with a livino; 
 
 pledge
 
 [ 38 ] 
 
 pledge of their commerce and amours, 
 but in the event it proved abortive. 
 
 No finances will fufHce for the prodi- 
 galities of an abandoned woman ; and 
 Cornet Read was now fenfible of this^ 
 notwithftanding the many unwarrantable 
 ileps which he purlued, even by riding 
 out late in the evenings, in order to pre- 
 ferve the connexion, and was at laft 
 obliged to fly his country, to avoid the 
 horrors and confinement of a prifon. 
 
 Many people lofr ccnfiderable fumis by 
 the imprudent conduct cf this young 
 of?iCer, particularly Mr. Marfeilles the 
 Taylor. And we fhdl lee by and by, 
 whofc lot it was to be arrefled, and to 
 defray the expcnces of the long and 
 adultcrows correfpondence at the Tripe 
 Shop in Ratcliff. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 TT is now time to return to Lieutenant 
 -■" Rudd, who, after the mod affiduous 
 enquiries could not find or trace his 
 wife ; but concluded that fhe was gone 
 to Ireland with Cornet Read. Being 
 very unhappy in his own mind, and in 
 want of money, he applies to one Lary 
 in Park Street, and fells to him what 
 few things and articles of apparel his 
 wife had left. 
 
 However, he at length received an 
 explicit account of his witc a^ well as of 
 
 the
 
 [ 40 ] 
 
 the infamous tranfadlons during the pe- 
 riod of her elopement •, for to his forrow 
 many perfons were now in fearch of him 
 for the payment of confiderable debts 
 contraded by his wife, and feveral aftions 
 commenced againft an unfortunate huf- 
 band. 
 
 Having learnt where his wife coha- 
 bited with her galant, the injured huf- 
 band repaired diredly to the fpot ; but 
 he v/as not permitted to fee her. He 
 afterwards repeated his vifits to the 
 fame place, but it v/as all in vain ; and 
 he almoft defpaired, though he was de- 
 termined to exert his utaioft endeavou rs, 
 to reclaim a woman for whom he had fo 
 great a regard. 
 
 On the twenty 'fixth of February 1767, 
 
 Mr.
 
 E 41 J 
 
 M'V. Riidd, in- rfemm fbr hife? g^eat aJixiety^ 
 znd endcavouts ca rcGlaim- an abandoned 
 woman, was arreiled at the requeft and 
 by the diredion of his wife, and fent to 
 the Pou'ltTy. On- the i^tbof t-he enfuing 
 month,, foif wan^ of bailj he was^ remov-- 
 cd on di writ of haheai- corpus to the King's- 
 Bench' prilbn \ where he remained till^ 
 the 7th of May*, when he was^ dis- 
 charged by a' ittiie o^ coiir* on fpeciall 
 hail; 
 
 This cafe is fihgularly cruel and op«^ 
 prefiive-,. aild faems' ta argue a degree 
 <A' latitude in- the^ hvws^ of this country, 
 which give a^ ':ssif-& ani unlimited^ if not ah 
 improper power. Our eminent fages of 
 the law, and perfons of baievolence^ would 
 render honeft fervice to their country by 
 taking this matter into immediate con- 
 G ilderation.
 
 . [ 42 ] 
 
 fideration, and confequently prove the 
 means of faving individuals from dellruc- 
 tion. 
 
 Lrientenant Rudd thought it extremely- 
 hard and cruel to be imprifoned for debts 
 contradled by his wife, while fhe and 
 her gallant lived together in a wicked and 
 adulterous manner : but although he 
 had experienced his wife's ungenerous 
 treatment, and in all probability might 
 have caft the plantifF if it had come- to'a 
 trial, as Read was the proper perfon 
 who ought to have paid the debt, yet 
 fo tender was Lieutenant Rudd of his 
 wife's reputation, that rather than expofe 
 her in a court of judicature, he com- 
 pounded the matter, and thus quietly 
 put an end to it. 
 
 Soon
 
 [ 43 ] 
 
 Soon after his enlargement and the in- 
 conveniencies of a prifon, Mr. Rudd 
 found it necelTary to take fhelter at Mrs. 
 Kennedy's, in the verge of the court-— 
 a multiplicity of frefh aflions being out 
 acrainft him on account of his wife. What 
 fituation can be conceived fo deplorable 
 as that of this perfecuted and diftreiTed 
 huiband ? — And what was to be done to 
 extricate himfelf from fuch a load of 
 heavy calamities ? — He had now no al- 
 ternative, but to fell his patrimony in 
 Hertfordihire, difcharge the debts, and 
 fue for a divorce from the woxft and moft 
 abandoned of women. 
 
 Accordingly application was made to 
 Mr. Blake, Attorney of ElTex Street, 
 and alfo to a prodor in the commons, in 
 
 order
 
 [ 44 J 
 
 order to accomplifli thefe felutar.y put- 
 poks. But it m\j^ th^ce he oblerved, 
 that pcevloiis to thefc ileps, and in perfisd: 
 con&ftence with the confumn^ate vrilany 
 of the bafeft of her fcx, Lieutenant Rudd, 
 ■while in prifon, had been ferved with a 
 citation from tbe<Commons for .crueky 
 ^d adultery. B— vg— vc of infamous 
 memory, returned a citation in hehaif of 
 Margaret, and not CarcUne^ Rudd. Tor- 
 riano appeared for Valentine Rudd, cited 
 .-to libel ;— ^continued to next term:— — 
 'but no Ubjel was given by Margaret Rudd 
 or her prodor. 
 
 Tho' Lieutenant Rudd ardently wifli- 
 ed for a divorce and a final releafe from 
 his infernal connexion ; yet as Captain 
 Read could not be ferved with the regular 
 procefs to maintain an adlion for criminal 
 
 converfa-
 
 [ 45 ] 
 
 cprj-vcrfation, or for wiiat of evidenpe ta 
 ^certain fads, it did not take place, 
 ferl-iaps it might liLOf <:K)rrefpOfid af (thi? 
 period with JLieiiCeBat Rndd'is icircunj- 
 ftances to .prokceed with fuccef^ in fe exr 
 penfive an undertaking. 
 
 The necelTary procefs to obtain ^ dir 
 vorce in this country is almofl endlefs, 
 as well as attended with a prodigious ex- 
 pence ; and as matters ftand at prelent, 
 the due confideration of this fubjed feems 
 loudly to demand the attention of the 
 Legiflature. In other countries, the 
 -mode of proceeding in fuch cafes is much 
 eafier and miore expeditious; and if 
 marriage is an human inflitution, why 
 ihould net human laws provide an eafy 
 remedy to dilTolve it, whenever the obli- 
 gation of the covenant becomes forfeited 
 by either party. 
 
 However,
 
 [ 46 ] 
 
 However, the attorney was more fuc- 
 ccfsful with regard to the eftate at St. 
 Alban's, which he fold -, and Lieutenant 
 Rudd found himfelf pofTefTed of a con- 
 fiderable fum of money, which enabled 
 him to difcharo;e the laro;e debt contracts 
 ed at the tripe fhop, in RatclifF-crofs, 
 and many others. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 47 ] 
 
 LETTER VIL 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Tr\ U R I N G the confinement of the 
 
 ^^ hufband in prifon, our heroine had 
 an opportunity to form various connexi- 
 ons, and fome ufeful ones ; and though 
 llie received very handfome prefents al- 
 moll every day, yet her extravagance 
 would never keep within bounds. But 
 her principal aim, as well as particular 
 boaft, was the peculiar method of ren- 
 dering feeble and aged lovers exceedingly^ 
 enamoured of her. The artful lady fail- 
 ed not to make a proper ufe of fuch doat- 
 ing admirers ; — ■ — Qie carelTed, fondled, 
 
 and
 
 [ 48 ] 
 
 iand exerted all the crafn cf woman to 
 gain an entire predominancy. 
 
 Many inflances of this nature will oc- 
 cur in the courfe of this narrative. And 
 as her temper and genius never approved 
 cf an inadive Hate of life, it happened 
 on a time, that Ihe cciineded herfelf 
 with a notorious gang of Swindlers^ and 
 among whom flie bore a principal cha- 
 racter-, being reprefented to credulous 
 tradefmen as a lady of great fortune, the 
 natural daughter of the Pretender, and 
 grandchild of Lord Dundee. This mode 
 of life brought in for a while large reve- 
 nues, till unfortunately for her, the clan 
 t7ss broke, and numbers fell into the 
 harrd's of jufticc. 
 
 As t?he Pretender*^ daughter had 
 
 been
 
 f 49 ] 
 
 been Co extremely lerviceable in carrying 
 on this bufinefs, it is no wonder that 
 flrcl fearch was made after her ladydiip, 
 but it was ail in vain. Whether at this 
 jiindure, or when Captain Read abfcond- 
 ed from RarclifF, and that infamous con- 
 nexion cear::d for the prefent, yet it is 
 an undoubted fact, that our heroine 
 came to lodge at an Oil Shop in St. 
 Martin's Lane. 
 
 Here we are furniflied with an anec- 
 dote worthy the obfervation of the pub- 
 lic, and which muft convince every can- 
 did reader of her early proficiency in the 
 arts of forgery and deceit. Being rather 
 bare of cioaths, as well as deftitute of 
 money, her landlady introduced her to 
 the (liop of Mr. Hogard, Haberdaflier, 
 in Long Acre, who trufted her with 
 H goods
 
 [ so 1 
 
 goods to the value of four guineas, on 
 the recommendation of his neighbour. 
 
 A woman hackneyed in all the ways 
 of vice and proftitution, feldom wants 
 effrontery to promote any fcheme of vil- 
 lainy or fraud. Soon after the firll in- 
 terview, {he again repaired to the fame 
 ihop, with a larger demand for goods :— 
 but the honed tradefman, judging from 
 appearances, that fhe mufl be a woman 
 of the town, refufed to comply with fo 
 extraordinary a rcqueft. And in juftice 
 to himfelf oblerved, that it was his inva- 
 riable rule never to truft perfons of her 
 complexion with goods to any large 
 amount. 
 
 Neither daunted nor difappointed ar 
 this refufal, fhe produced a note for one 
 
 hundred
 
 r 51 ] 
 
 liundred pounds, payable thirty days 
 after date ; afTured Mr. Hogard^ that fiie 
 was a lady of family and fortune ; and 
 confequently above the necelTity of being 
 obliged to him for credit, or for any 
 other favour in a tradefman's power. In 
 fhort, fhe only defired him to difcount 
 the note, pay his own bill, and give her 
 the balance. 
 
 Mr. Hogard fomewhat furprlfed, and 
 rather confounded at fo unexpe6led an 
 explanation, defired her to leave the note, 
 and he would prepare the goods and fend 
 them agreeably to the order. But on 
 confuking his men of bufinefs, they all 
 agreed that the note was a grofs forgery 
 — becaufe the names of the drawer, ac- 
 cepter and endorfer, were wrote by one 
 and the fame hand. 
 
 After
 
 [ 52 ] 
 
 After the detedion of this fac>, every 
 fubfequent part of her condudl fhould be 
 viewed and inveHigated with an equal 
 eye of jeaioufy. Mr Hogard omitted no 
 pains to trace the drawer, accepter and 
 indorfer ; but ail in vain. And though 
 the note was due in the month of May, 
 yet he kept it in his poflcfTion till the lat- 
 ter end of Auguft following, when he 
 delivered it up into the hands of Lieute- 
 nant Rudd, at Mr. Thompfon's, in 
 Scotland Yard, and was paid his debt 
 in full. 
 
 This anecdote exhibits flrong circum- 
 ftances to believe that this note for one 
 hundred pounds was forged \ and that a 
 certain female was an early adept in the 
 mod iniquitous pra6tices. V/ill the 
 many volunteers inlifted in the fervice of 
 
 a bad
 
 [ 53 ] 
 
 a bad caufe, now applaud this paragon 
 of confcious innocence, and acquit her 
 of evxry criminal intention P— Will the 
 tongue of folly or credulity pretend to 
 fay, that flie did no: fign thofe bonds 
 which convided the Perreaus, and 
 brought them to an ignominious death ? 
 
 'The texture of her delicate feelings muft 
 be fliocked at the recolle6lion of an anec- 
 dote which ihe fondly imagined had b^^en 
 
 buried in oblivion Ana her fiiblimity 
 
 of foul added to a refinement of fentiment^ 
 mufl be fatisfied of the authenticity of 
 the fa6t, by a reference to the party who ' 
 is now alive. 
 
 LETTER
 
 54 ] 
 
 LETTER VIII, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 l^TOtwIthftandlng the com for cable fum 
 "•^ ^ of money as mentioned in a for- 
 mer letter, and which an unfortunate 
 and perfecuted hufband had received from 
 the fale of his eftate ; yet there was a cer- 
 tain profpecl of its being foon expended 
 by the continual demands on account of 
 his wife. It muft be a very cruel as well 
 as an unplcafant tafk for a man of feel- 
 ing, to part with thofe paternal acres ac- 
 quired by the induflry of honed ancef- 
 tors — And to be under an abfolutc ne- 
 cefTity of appropriating their whole value 
 to difcharge debts wantonly contra6bed 
 
 by i
 
 [ 55 ] 
 
 by the prodigalities of an abandoned pro- 
 ftitute, is a confideration extremely mor- 
 tifying. Yet fuch was the cafe of the 
 unfortunate man more immediately con- 
 neded with the thread of our narrative. 
 
 If there is a curfe entailed upon man 
 and irremediable this fide of the grave, it 
 is that of being connected v/ith a viciouSj 
 artful, and extravagant wife. All other 
 misfortunes are furmountable in time, 
 and may be removed by a concurrence of 
 fortunate events — while this evil adm.its 
 of no releafe or alleviation but from the 
 hand of death. 
 
 Thrice happy they who have never 
 felt the aftiiclion^, or experienced the 
 wretchednels of fuch a condition ! And 
 it is to be wiilied for the honour of hu- 
 manity
 
 [ 56 1 
 
 manity, and the peace of individuals, that 
 many of our modern wives had never 
 been born. For they feeni to have enter- 
 ed into the moH facred obligations, and 
 to have coveted the name of wife^ only 
 as a cloak for profligacy and licentiouf- 
 nefs, or a fanftion for fcenes of darknefs 
 and iniquity. The chara6lers in view 
 juftify thefe melancholy reflections, as 
 will more fully appear in the profecution 
 of our plan : and fhonld prove a lelTon 
 to youth how cautious they ought to be 
 from facrificing their happinefs at the 
 fl^rine of external accompliflimenrs, for- 
 tune or appearances. 
 
 Thefc obfervations were natural to the 
 unfortunate hufband nov^^ confined to his 
 lodgings in the verge of the court, and 
 who dared not to venture abroad for cer- 
 tain
 
 [ 57 ] , 
 
 tain reafons, except on one day in the 
 week. He had, nevertherthelefs, the ge- 
 nerofity to' hire lodgings in the neigh- 
 bourhood for an ungrateful wife, and to be 
 refponfiblc for a reafonable maintenance. 
 Her former gallant was become invifible, 
 or had abfconded on account of debts and 
 other mifdemeanours -, — it was therefore 
 probable that fo infamous an attachment 
 would entirely fubfide. 
 
 From repeated afTurances of her con- 
 trition and amendment, as well as the in- 
 terpofition of friends, Mr. Rudd was al- 
 moft prevailed upon to forgive and coha- 
 bit with his wife. And about this time, 
 and for this purpofe, a treaty was actually 
 fet on foot by their refpedive friends, 
 and a perfect reconciliation would have 
 enfued, had the promifes on her part 
 I proved
 
 I 58 ] 
 
 proved fincere. All fcrmer foibles would 
 hdve been buried in oblivion, the remain- 
 der of their lives might have paflcd hap- 
 py ^iid uninterrupted, their names efcap- 
 ed public cenfure, ^nd recent fcenes of 
 villainy and blobdihed precluded. 
 
 But nothing can reclaim an abandoned 
 woman, or at leaft one of our heroine*s 
 coniplexion. An old acquaintance being 
 juft arrived from abroad, and on his 
 rout for Ireland to take poflefTion of a 
 I confiderable eftate, which had devolved 
 to him on the deceafe of an uncle, imme- 
 diately difpafched his emiilaries to ap- 
 prize his fair enchantrcfs of the joyous 
 event. 
 
 Upon the receipt of thefe welcome tid- 
 ings her former fond nefs for the lover 
 
 awakr*
 
 f 59 ] 
 
 awakened with redoubled ardour ; every 
 refolution of amendment inflantly forfoQ{c 
 her, and the fair inconftant prepared for 
 a fecond elopement. In Ihort, away fbe 
 hurried m a poll chaife, and carried v/ith 
 her as a companion an innocent young 
 girl, who fell a vidiim to the mofl dia- 
 bolical artifices and intrigue, — But here 
 the rules of decency and other con fi dera- 
 tions oblige us to draw a veil, and to o- 
 mi.t the particulars of a barbarous tranf- 
 a<^ion. 
 
 It fcems that a regular correfpondence 
 had fubfifted between our heroine and 
 this gallant ever fmce his flight from the 
 tripe fhop at Ratcliff highway. Lieu- 
 tenant Rudd by fome means was appriz- 
 ed of this correfpondence, and on going 
 to his wife's lodgings he had the curiofi- 
 
 ^7
 
 [ 6o ] 
 
 ty to examine the drawers, where he 
 found a very curious collection of a- 
 morous epiilles. This evenr diftrcffid 
 the delicacy of Mrs. Rudd extremely ; 
 and fhe afterwards endeavoured, by every 
 artlRce as well as by promifes cf fpeedy 
 preferment, to frduce an officer who lodg- 
 ed in the fime houfe with her hufband in 
 the verge of the court, to recover thefe 
 precious manufcripts at any rate. But 
 fuch an attempt was impracticable •, the 
 hulband having had the precaution to 
 lodge them in proper hands. 
 
 It is reafonable to fuppofe that this lad: 
 elopement would break off the intended 
 reconciliation with her hufband — wean 
 him of every fpark of affection, and roufe 
 his indignation againft fo many repeated 
 ^t^s of falihood and infidelity to the maar- 
 
 riage
 
 [ 6i ] 
 
 riage bed. However, after ftaying out 
 two days and nights, the innocent lady 
 returned with as perfetfl compofure as if 
 fhe had only been upon a trifling vifit. 
 It was in vain fhe iV;ed for an interview 
 with her hufband, who refufed to fee her, 
 and was determined not to maintain a 
 woman fo abandoned, and who purfued 
 every method to bring both herfelf and 
 him into difgrace. Accordingly he dif- 
 charged the debts at the houfe from 
 whence Hie lail eloped, and v/arned the 
 people in writing, to trufi his wife no 
 Ionizer. 
 
 Moreover, he caufed an advertifement 
 to be inferted in the daily advertifer of 
 the 8[h of November 1767, in the fcl- 
 
 lowina woi-ds -" Whereas Mao-aret. 
 
 wife of Valentine Rudd, gentleman, has 
 
 with'
 
 [ 62 ] 
 
 withdrawn herfelf from her hufband, 
 this is therefore to caution all perfons a- 
 gainft giving her credit on her hufband's 
 account, as he will not pay any debts 
 (he contrads." 
 
 Let the deluded multitude now pity 
 this fair innocent ! — Let her advocates 
 candidly exculpate; her conduft, if they 
 can ! Let the myriads of volunteers en- 
 lifted in her fervice plead the texture of 
 her delicate feelings ; and infift that thefe 
 harmlefs excurfions were perfedly con- 
 fident with a fuUimity of foul added to a 
 refinement of fentiment. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 63 ] 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 \7i THEN our heroine returned from 
 ^ " the lall excurfion, her finances, 
 it feems, were at a low ebb ; and it was 
 expedivrnt that her gallant fliould profe- 
 cute his route to Ireland and take polTef-. 
 fion of his uncle's eflate. However poig- 
 nant the pangs of parting from his fair 
 enchantrefs might be, yet he was under 
 the indifpenfable neceflity of leaving her 
 for the prefent, and without thofe pecu- 
 niary confiderations requifite to fupporc 
 a woman above indigence and diftrefs. 
 
 Thus abandoned and forlorn, the fair 
 
 in-
 
 [ 64 ] 
 
 inconftant v/as obliged to fae for a night's 
 lodc-ino; at the houfe from whence flie had 
 laft eloped. The people there had the 
 compafTion to accommodate the petitioner 
 for a night ; and next morning they 
 waited on her huiband, who lived pri- 
 vately in the verge of the court, in order 
 to work on his good nature and forgiving 
 temper, and to negotiate terms of accom- 
 modation in behalf of the wife. 
 
 But the injured hufband, fenfible of 
 repeated wrongs, of the mod ungenerous 
 treatment, and roufed with indignation, 
 pofitively refufed to lifcen to any propo- 
 fals •, — infilled that he would not be re- 
 fponfible for future debts or expence ♦, 
 and that they ought by no means to har- 
 bour and countenance fuch a foul adul- 
 trefs. 
 
 Thoush
 
 [ 65 ] 
 
 Thougli her favourite gallant was gone 
 to Ireland on bufinefs of fome confcquence 
 and emolument to himfelf, yet fuch the 
 powers of attra6lion, and the fafcinating 
 arts of a certain forcerefs 1 — and fuch 
 his own infatuated attachment to her 
 charms] — that this fon of Mars returned 
 in a fhort time, and about this critical 
 juncture arrived in the metropolis to alle- 
 viate the diftreiTes of our heroine. 
 
 As foon as he had accommodated him- 
 felf with lodgings at Mrs. Macab's in 
 Frith Street Soho, and where for pru- 
 dential motives he alTumed the name of 
 Captain Shee^ he ftrolled in fearch of his 
 Duenna. Few nights after his arrival, 
 and as he was patroling the flreets, he ac- 
 cidentally met with the obje6l of his 
 wiihes and uihered her to the new apart- 
 ments. 
 
 K This
 
 [ 66 J 
 
 This is an event which has not hither- 
 to tranfpired to many, and what our he- 
 roine has had the effrontery to deny, tho" 
 the connexion is well known to perfons 
 of undoubted veracity \ — elpecially to 
 Courtoy the hair drelTer and deputies, 
 y/ho at this period and in their vocation 
 yraited on Mr. and Mrs. S.b^e. Our he^- 
 roine happens to be particularly diftin-. 
 guifhed by a remarkable * fear in a cer-, 
 tain place near the face, and which was 
 received in confequence of unlawful ad- 
 ventures—perhaps in a fit jealoufy, an4 
 for infidelity to the marriage bed. \^ 
 would have been fortunate for the Qom-f 
 ipunity, as well as for the welfare of in^ 
 divi^uals, if providence had fo ordereci 
 
 mat- 
 
 ^ J^metty, an. Italian Enflfeur knows Mrs. Rudd 
 at^ \ '. rs. SJb^e to b^ od€_ an^ tho, faoift peifaa by a 
 fear on ber neck.
 
 [hi 
 
 matters, and that this wound had i)rove^ 
 
 efFeaual. 
 
 Captain ^t^ afid iiidy Ii\^^ a! tfieife ^ 
 partmcnts in Frith Street for fome months 
 in great luxury and fcftivity, and on I 
 prcfumptiori of being perfons of great a& 
 fiuence and property in Ireland. Biit the 
 fmiles of fortune are fickli^ artd preeari- 
 ous, and human happinefs is ever liabfe 
 to cafuaities or dimihution.-^A (sontinufi 
 U\ fcene of gaity^ iifid exilravagance had 
 nfade a gr^-at ^ncfoachment on the Gapf- 
 tain's finances and revenues ; and novT 
 his necefTities compelled him to be trou- 
 blefome to his friends, and freq.4aentiy t# 
 folicit a fupply. 
 
 Thus at length th€y found his retreltt 
 as well as his mode of living •, and hav- 
 ing
 
 [ 68 ] 
 
 ing a particular regard for his father,, an 
 alderman of Dublin, they fcnt him an 
 explicit account of his fon's fituation — 
 of having afTumed a new name, and ^he 
 infamous connexion with a married wo- 
 man — and that he v/as in the high road 
 to deftrudlion both of body and foul. 
 
 The alderman, full of parental tender- 
 nefs and affedtion, was exceedingly (hock- 
 ed at the receipt of this difagreeable in- 
 telligence, and extremely alarmed at the 
 difappointment of felicity to an aged pa-, 
 rent and his family. Wiihing to pre- 
 vent, if poflible, the total ruin of his 
 fon, the alderman embarked for England 
 with the utmoft anxiety and expedition^ 
 and when he reached the metropolis, was 
 advifsd to flop at Foreft's coffee houfe, 
 
 Charins
 
 [ 69 ] 
 
 Charino; crofs, and there accommodated 
 with lodgings. 
 
 Having made the neceflaiy enquiries 
 how to find and where to fee his fon, he 
 dire6led his courfe one mornine; to Ma- 
 cab's in Frith Street, where he furprized 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shse in bed together -, and 
 was made to underftand that this virtuous 
 pair had cohabited there for fome time. 
 
 The alderman, as the firit preliminary 
 towards a reconciliation with his fon, in- 
 filled that the lady Ihould be inftantly 
 difcarded, and which was readily agreed. 
 Probably, this proved the lail interview 
 with this diflipated young ofncer, as well 
 as the final period to their wicked and il- 
 licit amours. The amount of debts con- 
 tradled durin^^ this intcrcourle was afton- 
 
 ifhing;
 
 [ 7<i ] 
 
 Jiilhing; and perhaps the irtipovenfhed 
 ilate of his finances, together with the 
 daily apprehenfion and horrors of a pri- 
 fon, was the principal confideration that 
 induced him fo readily to comply with 
 the reqnefl and re monit ranees of a ten-- 
 der parent. 
 
 The alderman being determined that 
 the fon of his hopes and induftry fhould 
 no longer flay in London, or in the 
 neighbourhood of a fatal enchantrefs, 
 carried him over to Dublin^ after paying 
 his debts. Whether from motives of 
 fhame, or for want of principle, he did 
 not difclole one Capital debt at this lime 
 to the father4 
 
 But we fhall now brd a final adieu to 
 this proEigatc yonng man, who died in 
 
 prifon
 
 [ 71 ] 
 
 prifon at Dublin three hundred pounds 
 in debt to Marfeilles the taylor •, and 
 who in a great meafure owed his ruin to 
 the fafcinating powers of Mrs. Rudd. 
 But her arcs have fent many, befides 
 him, on an untimely voyage for the cape, 
 pi good hope. 
 
 ^.ETTER
 
 [ 7^ ] 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 '^ I ^O be dlfcarded in fo abrupt a maa- 
 ner as mentioned in our lafl, and 
 without that degree of ceremony due to 
 the foftnefs of the fex, was a confidera- 
 tion extrem.eiy mortifying to a lady of 
 our heroine's confequence and refined 
 pretenfions. The furprife occafioned by 
 the arrival of an unexpected vifitor was 
 truly aJBlcling, and caufed much diflrefs 
 as well as confufion to delicate feeh'ngs, 
 added to a fublimity of foul — And this 
 event made our heroine once more to 
 wander a citizen of the Streets, and to 
 rely on her ovv^n ingenuity, and the chap- 
 ter of accidents for fupporr. 
 
 At
 
 f n ] 
 
 At length, by fome means or other, flie 
 flumbled at the door of one Mr. Hyde, 
 who then kept a houfe in Northumber- 
 land Street^ in the Strand ; and where 
 f].ie procured a recommendation to lodge 
 and board, under a pretence of being the 
 wife of a gentleman of character, and a 
 man of fortune. The landlord being 
 thus deceived in refpecfl to her circum- 
 ftances and his own expectations, chear- 
 fuUy entrufted his gueil with board and 
 lodging, and doubted nor of being ho- 
 neftly paid fome time or other. 
 
 But having no vifible means of fub- 
 fiftence, except tJie condant practice of 
 going out in the duflv of the evenings 
 to walk the ilreets, the landlord was 
 juftly alarmed, became clamorous and 
 uneafy on various accounts. It feems 
 L that
 
 [ 74 ] 
 
 that he had now been undeceived by the 
 kindnefs of a friend or the reprefentati- 
 onsofa neighbour, who apprized him, 
 that his gueft lived apart from her huf- 
 band, as plainly appeared from the con- 
 tents of a public advertifement exhibited 
 for his perufal. 
 
 After ocular demonflration of his own 
 credulity, and the impofition on her part, 
 he immediately repaired to Mrs. Ken- 
 nedy's, in the verge of the court, and 
 applied to an unfortunate hufband for 
 the payment of a confiderable bill, for 
 lodging and board to his wife. 
 
 But the perfecuted hufband refufed 
 payment for the prefent — rcmonflrated 
 againft the legality of the debt — fhewed 
 him the advertifement as quoted in a 
 
 former
 
 C IS ] 
 
 former letter, and fet him at defiance. 
 Notwithftanding this expoilulation, the 
 landlord fuffered his gueil to continue at 
 his houfe for fome time longer, and took 
 another mode of application to the huf- 
 band for fatisfadion to his demand. 
 
 The defendant wiOiing to decline, if 
 polTible, the expences of the law as well 
 as the ifllie of a trial, offered to com- 
 pound the matter, and to pay at the rate 
 of a guinea a week, in full proportion to 
 his income, and rather more than his 
 perplexed circumRances could afford. 
 But this propofal, though highly legal, 
 and altogether reafonable, was rejected as 
 not fatisfadory to the plantiff. 
 
 Proceedings were then commenced at 
 the fuit of Hyde, and a trial enliied in 
 
 the
 
 [ 76 ] 
 
 the firfl fittings after Eailer term 176S, 
 
 when Sollicitor General Dunnin.of, and 
 
 Mr. Mansfield, were the counfei for tihe 
 defendant. 
 
 The quedlon to be tried — what the 
 plaintiff ought to recover of the defen- 
 dant for the expences of his v/ife who had 
 eloped from him, and was v^ell known 
 by the plaintiff to live feparate from him. 
 And here it is to be obferved, that if 
 the defendant, under the circumftances 
 of the cafe, v/as oblig-ed to maintain his 
 wife at all, it could only be in a reafon- 
 able way, and according to his degree 
 and eflate. 
 
 It is alfo prefum.ed, that the money 
 tender'd in court at the rate of a guinea 
 a week, was at all events a full fatisfac- 
 
 tion
 
 [ 77 ] 
 
 tion to the plaintift, for the board and 
 ioJsino; of Mrs. Ruckl, for fhe iodfrcd 
 in Ills two pair of ilairs -, and the manner 
 of the plaintiff's living was very mean, 
 and Ihe found her own tea, fugar, wine, 
 coals and candles. 
 
 It feems to be a feuled rule of law, 
 that the necelfaries fupplied a wife, vvhilit 
 £he lives feparate from the ' huiband, 
 fhould be only neceifary and conve- 
 nient for the huiband's efcate as well as 
 degree. 
 
 How is it in the prefent cafe? — The 
 hniband, Mr. Rudd, is a Lieutenant on 
 half pay on the Irifh eftablifliment, which. 
 produces him tliirty-two pounds a year; 
 and he li:is tlie interetl of about fixiecn 
 hundred pounds, the money Ich from 
 
 the
 
 [ 78 ] 
 
 the fale of his eftate, which produces at 
 a current calculation fixty pounds annu- 
 ally. 
 
 So that his whole income is but ninety 
 fix pounds a year, and if obliged to pay 
 one pound eleven fhiliings and fixpence 
 a week, the plaintift's charge for his 
 wife's board and mainteaance, he would 
 have nothing left for hinifelf to live on, 
 without breaking in upon the principal 
 x)f his little fortune. Wherefore, it was 
 hoped that the court and jury would con- 
 fider the money tendered into court, as 
 an ample fatisfaction for the plaintiff's 
 demand, confidering the defendant's de- 
 gree and eftate. 
 
 To prove the manner of Mrs. Rudd's 
 living at her former lodgings, what fiie 
 
 paid
 
 [ 79 ] 
 
 paid a week, and that ihe lived apart 
 from her hufband, and alfo that the 
 plaintiff was made acquainted with Mrs. 
 Rudd's fituation, a witnefs was called, 
 and on oath gave fatisfadlion to the court 
 with regard to thefe fafls. 
 
 When the plaintiff took her in, and 
 that he trufted her at his peril, and knew 
 of the advertifement being inferted by the 
 defendant, and that a guinea a week 
 was an ample fatisfadion to the plaintiff, 
 another witnefs v/as called, and depofed 
 accordingly. 
 
 To prove that the defendant's wife 
 eloped from her lad lodgings, previous 
 CO her coming to the plaintiff's houfe, 
 and ftayed out two nights — to prove the 
 poor manner of Mrs. Rudd's living in 
 
 the
 
 [ 8o ] • 
 
 the plaintiff's family— and to prove the 
 defendant's circamilances and eftate^ 
 other reputable witnefT-s were called, and 
 gave fatisfatlion to the court with .rela- 
 tion to every and all fuch particulars. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 8i ] 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 Madam, 
 
 ^^UR laft concluded with fome par- 
 ^^ ticulars of the caiife between Hyde 
 and Rudd j and to prove the authenti- 
 city of our aiTertions, we alfo gave an 
 abftradl of the brief of one of the counfeL 
 Perhaps, it may not be improper here 
 to inftrrt a true copy of the affidavit of 
 Valentine Rudd, and which may tend to 
 illuftrate or corroborate the contents of 
 fome of the preceding letters. 
 
 Ecijler 'Term, 26th April, 1768. Firji 
 filling al Weftminfter-hall. 
 
 " Valentine Rudd, of the parifh of St. 
 M Martin
 
 [ 82 ] 
 
 Martin in the Fields, in the liberty of 
 Weftminder, and county ot Middlcfex, 
 Gentleman, maketh oath, and faith, that 
 he was a Lieutenant in the army in Ire- 
 land in the year 1762, and during that 
 time, he this deponent, at Lurgan, in 
 the county of Armagh, became acquaint- 
 ed with Margaret Youngfon, and was 
 married to her there, according to the 
 rites and ceremonies of the Church of 
 England, by the Curate of that place, 
 by licence, and by the confent of her 
 uncle Mr. John Stewart, who was her 
 guardian, and gave her in name to this 
 deponent. And this deponent faith, that 
 he lived with his faid v/ife in Ireland, till 
 the conclufion of the laft war, when the 
 regiment to whicli this deponent belong- 
 ed was reduced, and this deponent was 
 put upon half pay J and thereupon this 
 
 deponent
 
 r 83 ] 
 
 deponent came into England with his faid 
 wife, in order to manage and tranfad: 
 this deponent's own affairs, he being in- 
 titled to a confiderable freehold and copy- 
 hold eftate in the county of Hertford, 
 where this deponent was born, and which 
 eilate this deponent received the rents of; 
 and therewith, and with his halfpay, 
 continued to live with, and maintain his 
 faid wife in a comfortable manner, from 
 the time of his coming into England, 
 which was in or about -the year 1763, to 
 the time of her acquaintance with the 
 faid defendant Benjamin Bo wen Read, in 
 the year 1768; and during that time, 
 this deponent and his wife lived in a very 
 harmonious and afFedionate manner, this 
 deponent having no ground to fufped her 
 being any way unfaithful to him. And 
 this deponent faith, that in the fummer 
 
 of
 
 [ 84 ] 
 
 of the year 1766, he and his faid wife 
 went to lodge at the houfe of one Mar- 
 feilles a Taylor, in Princes Street, Ca- 
 vendilh Square, in the firfV floor. And 
 foon after they went to lodge there, the 
 faid defendant, Benjamin Bowen Read, 
 came to lodge there likewife in the fecond 
 floor, and by that means the faid de- 
 fendant became acquainted with this de- 
 ponent and his faid wife j and he the faid 
 defendant then paffed for a young gentle- 
 man, intitled to a confiderable eftate-, 
 and this deponent and the faid Read grew 
 very intimate together, and in the month 
 of October or November 1766, the faid 
 Read, left his faid lodgings in Princes 
 Street aforefaid, but this deponent had 
 not then fufpefled that there was any 
 intrigue between the faid Read, and his, 
 
 this
 
 . t 85 1 
 
 this deponent's faid wife. And this de- 
 ponent faith, that a very iliort time after 
 the faid Read went away, a letter from him 
 was brought to this deponent's faid wife, 
 at which this deponent expreffed fome fur- 
 prife and anger, and by means thereof 
 a flight quarrel enfued between this de- 
 ponent and his faid wife, and fne there- 
 upon refufed to lie with this deponent 
 that night, and the next morning ilie got 
 up before the other people in the houfe, 
 and went away and kft this deponent, 
 and co-!iabited, as this deponent after- 
 v;ards found, with the faid defendant. 
 Read, and lived with him at one Brari- 
 fnaw's, a Surgeon and Apothecary, at 
 Ratcliff Highway, where this deponent 
 went to enquire after her, but this depo- 
 nent was not permitted to fee her, though 
 
 fhe
 
 [ 86 ] 
 
 fhe was then in the houfe with the faid 
 Read. And this deponent faith, that 
 his faid wife continued to co- habit with 
 the faid Read, as this defendant verily 
 believed, and to fecrete herfelf from this 
 deponent till the month of March lad, 
 when the faid Read went abroad, as was 
 given oul by this deponent's faid wife: 
 and this deponent was foon afterwards 
 arreted for the board and lodging of his 
 faid wife, during part of the time fhe fo 
 lived away from this deponent. And 
 this deponent faith, that he hath not till 
 lately been able to obtain proper evi- 
 dences of fads to maintain an adlion 
 asaind the faid Read, for criminal con- 
 vcrfation Vv'ith this deponent^s faid wife. 
 And this deponent faith, that he hath 
 been informed and believes, that the faid 
 Kead is now in England. But this de- 
 ponent
 
 [ 87 ] 
 
 ponent faith, that if he, this deponenr, 
 was to bring an adion againfl him, the 
 faid Read, and ferve him with a copy of 
 procefs, only with holding him to bail, 
 he this deponent would lofe the benefit 
 and efFe6l of fuch a6lion, as this depo- 
 nent verily believes. For this deponent 
 faith, that he believes that the faid Read, 
 would, upon his being ferved with a 
 procefs, go abroad out of this kingdom ; 
 for he, the faid Read, is an Irifhman by 
 birth, as this deponent hath heard and 
 believes-, and his property, which is 
 confiderable, as this deponent hath heard, 
 lies in that kingdom, he having no pro- 
 perty here, as this deponent believes. 
 And this deponent faith, he hath heard 
 and been informed, that the faid Read 
 attained the age of 25 years, in Oclober 
 laft, and that therefrom he became in- 
 titled
 
 [ 88 ] 
 
 titled to the pofTcfTion of a confiderable 
 eftate in Ireland, of the yearly value of 
 two thoufand pounds, or fome fuch large 
 fum of money." 
 
 The contents of this affidavit feem to 
 elucidate many particulars, and exadly 
 to correfpond with the feveral fafts hi- 
 therto infilled on in the courfe of our 
 narrative. The period of their coming 
 to England is confirmed ; and the elope- 
 ment from Princes Street is alfo acknow- 
 ledged. 
 
 The other circumflances and anec- 
 dotes intervened from November 1766, 
 to the date of the foregoing affidavit in 
 the year 1768, when our heroine lived 
 altogether ieparate from her hufband, 
 and when tlie defendant Read could not 
 
 be
 
 C 89 ] 
 
 be found having fecreted himfelf 
 
 for fome time, under the afilimed name 
 of Captain Sbee -, or had jufl: failed for 
 Ireland, in company with his father, as 
 mentioned m 2l former letter. 
 
 N LETTER
 
 [ 90 ] 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 M A D A M, 
 
 /^UR heroine flill contintied her for- 
 ^^ mer plan of life ; ftill contra6led 
 large debts, and ftill left her hufband to 
 pay for thein. No wonder that thefe 
 continual drains and repeated demands 
 foon exhauiled the principal remaining 
 from the fale of his patrimony and fmall 
 eftate. The perfecuted hufband found 
 himfelf again arrefted, and detainers lodg- 
 ed againft him at the fuit of different ere- 
 ditors whom he never faw ; and that it 
 was impofTible once more to avoid or ef- 
 cape the confinement of a prifon. His 
 fituation was truly pitiable as well as me- 
 kncholy. 
 
 It
 
 [ 91 ] 
 
 It feems that the wit^ had concerted a 
 plan to compel a reconciliation with her 
 hufband, n<>twith (landing repeated inflan- 
 ces of elopement and milcondud ; but 
 how Ihe could imagine that he would a- 
 gain become a dupe to her infinuating 
 methods, is wonderful ! A.nd how a 
 man of Ipirit could liften to any propo- 
 fals or terms of reconciliation with fo a- 
 bandoned a wife, is ftiil more aftonifh- 
 ing ! Perhaps, his diftreffes and the dif- 
 ficulties wherein her fchcmes had invol- 
 ved him, admitted of no other alterna- 
 tive. 
 
 How^ever, being perpetually harafTed 
 with debts, law fuits and arrells, and a 
 variety of other troubles on account of 
 his wife, the unfortunate hufband thought 
 it high time that matters fhould be fettled 
 
 on
 
 [ 92 1 
 
 on fome permanent plan. With this 
 view and about this time, their refpedive 
 friends interpofed, held feveral conferen- 
 ces, and a treaty was let on foot, either 
 for a reconciliation or a total feparation 
 on equitable term3. 
 
 During this negotiation our heroine 
 perfonally waited on her hufband in the 
 verge of the court ; implored his forgivcr 
 nefs and made folemn vows of amend- 
 ment, of conjugal fidelity and attachment 
 for the future. There is no accounting 
 for the bewitching powers and the flat- 
 tering hypocrify of an artful fyren. 
 Heathen writers abound with inftances in 
 confirmation of this aflcrtion ; and we 
 read in facred fong how the wifeft men 
 have been impofed upon and became vic- 
 tims to the wiles and craft of a won^an. 
 
 The'
 
 [ 93 ] 
 
 The doating hufband has frequently 
 repented of his own credulity, as well as 
 the convidion of his own better judg- 
 ment and experience. The perfon more 
 immediately in view ftill retaining a de- 
 gree of fondnefs for the moft ungrateful 
 woman, or at lead not able to withftand 
 her ufual arts of fallbood and duplicity, 
 gave credit to the fmcerity of her protef- 
 tations — a reconciliation took place, 
 and they came to live together at Mr. 
 Thompfon's in Scotland yard. 
 
 After fo many inftances of ill-ufage 
 and infidelity to the marriage bed — of 
 debts wantonly contraded, law-fuits, ar- 
 refts, and imprifonment, how could any 
 hufband entertain the mod diftant idea, 
 or bear ^he thoughts of a reconciliation 
 with fuch an abandoned wife P — A man 
 
 of
 
 [ 94 I 
 
 of refentment and proper feelings would 
 have embraced any alternative, rather 
 than cohabit with fo foul an adultrefs. 
 
 Her fubfequent condu<5l and demean- 
 our, as will foon appear, merited no re- 
 turns of fondnef; or indulgence, and the 
 deluded hufband had ample caufe to re- 
 pent of his own credulity and attachment. 
 For her tears of penitence and promifes 
 to reclaim, lafted but a day ; they were 
 only meant as a cloak of deception, and 
 to enable her the more eafily to effed her 
 own purpofes and fchemes of intrigue. 
 No long time after this reconciliation^ a 
 diftreiTed hulband was heard to exclaim 
 ao-ainft his wife to the followino; effetl. 
 
 " Oh ! Peggy, Peggy, you have now 
 forgot that I fent you back to your 
 
 grand"
 
 [ 95 ] 
 
 grandmother at Lurgan, and took no ad- 
 vantage of your youth or indifcretion, 
 though you followed me twenty miles. 
 You have alfo forgot that I married you 
 in an unguarded hour — that 1 have fold 
 my patrimony to pay your debts and in- 
 dulge your extravagance — that I have 
 been always partial to your foibles and 
 levities — that my behaviour towards you 
 was tender and affediionate, and could 
 have kified the ground whereon you trod. 
 Surely ! I merit better treatment at your 
 hands in this my deep diilrefs, O moft 
 ungrateful of women !'* 
 
 How could an unfeeling wretch turn a 
 deaf ear to this artlefs tale, and to the ur- 
 gent necefTities of the man fhe had ruin- 
 ed ? Should any perfon doubt the reali- 
 ty of thefe complaints, or the diilrefs of 
 
 the
 
 [ 96 J 
 
 the fiipplicanr, we wifh to refer them 
 for further fatisfaflion to the landlady in 
 Buckingham court, and whofe name has 
 been repeatedly mentioned. And we fiiall 
 lee by and bye in what fcenes of plenty 
 cur heroine revelled, when the above 
 mentioned foliloquy was extorted from 
 the mofl unfortunate hufband. 
 
 LETTJER
 
 [ 97 ] 
 
 LETTER XIIL 
 
 Madam, 
 
 QOON after the reconciliation men- 
 ^ tioned in our laft, they came to lodge 
 in the neighbourhood of Grofvenor fquare^ 
 and where your intimacy with our heroine 
 commenced. ^ — From this period you and 
 Mrs. Rudd became infeparable compa- 
 nions and confederate in various fcenes 
 of vice, to the degradation of the lex^ 
 the ruin of your refpedive hufbands, and 
 the annoyance of ail your neighbours. 
 
 A married woman is the guardian of 
 
 her hufband's honour, and Ihould be 
 
 extremely cautious what company Ihe 
 
 keeps, and what connexions (he ought to 
 
 O makco
 
 [ 98 ] 
 
 make. If not ftridly virtuous herfelf, at 
 leaft jealous to keep up appearances. 
 Verfed from your infancy in the fchool 
 of levity and intrigue, you had not the 
 precaution to preferve an honourable en- 
 gagement. Though you have lately 
 made fome perfons to believe, that your 
 own ruin is entirely owing to an intimacy 
 with Mrs. Rudd -, yet we who know you 
 better, allow you to be at leaft her coun- 
 terpart. 
 
 The lodo;ing;s at Mrs, Cranfton's in 
 Park Street were common for the recep- 
 tion of your feveral gallants, and for the 
 purpofes of riot, proftitution and intri- 
 gue. Perhaps, fome of the moft aban- 
 doned women within the purlieus of Go- 
 vent garden, would blufh at the recital 
 of tne infamous corrcfpondence and con- 
 
 ncxior^s
 
 [ 99 I 
 
 nexions in this houfe. — But here the 
 rules of decency oblige us to flop. 
 
 Lieutenant Rudd foon found caufe to 
 repent of his own credulity, as well as of 
 fondneis for his wife. He had now con- 
 vincing proofs what (lender credit is due 
 to the mod folemn proteflations from an 
 artful and profligate woman. . It was his 
 misfortune about this time, as you well 
 remember, to be confined to a bed of 
 ficknefs, and to labour under a com- 
 plaint which baffied the (kill of the moll 
 eminent furgeons. 
 
 During this gloomy period hrs wife 
 was always abroad, or revelling with dif- 
 ferent men in the adjoining apartments 
 — indulging herfclf in every mode of ex- 
 travagance, and totally unmindful of her 
 
 huf.
 
 [ 100 ] 
 
 hufband's fituation or interell. It was 
 natural at fuch a jun6i:ure to refledt on 
 his own folly in giving credit to her late 
 promifes of amendment, and to fuppofe 
 her capable of being ever aduated by the 
 principles of honour, fincerity, or truth. 
 
 Thefe refleclions had their full force, 
 operated powerfully on the mind, and 
 encreafed the violence of his diftemper. 
 In his diltrefs and the extremity of dan- 
 ger, he fent for his landlady in the verge 
 of the court — complained heavily of his 
 wife — uttcr'd the mod bitter lamenta- 
 tions againil her undutiful behaviour — 
 and wiihed for death to terminate his 
 wretchednefs and afflidions. 
 
 However, his complaint at length 
 yielded to the powers of medicine, and 
 
 he
 
 [ loi ] 
 
 he began to gain a gradual (hare of bodily 
 health. — But the mind was fiill uneafy 
 and out of order — efpecially when he 
 faw the prodigalities of his wife, her ele- 
 gant wardrobe, and the many articles of 
 extravagance. Confcious that his cir- 
 cumftances could not afford fuch fantadi- 
 cal luperfluities, and apprehenfive they 
 mud have been obtained by difhonoura- 
 ble means — he remonflrated en the oc- 
 cafion, and againli the many vifitors that 
 came in purfuit of his wife aad frequent- 
 ed his lodgings. 
 
 It was alfo i^eafonable to upbraid her of 
 unkindnefs and want of attention durins 
 his fevere illnefs — of wantor. excurfions 
 by day, and of abfcnce fi-om home for 
 whole nights. Thefc remonfirances had 
 |io eil\;d— they made not the kail Im^ 
 
 preiiion.
 
 [ 102 ] 
 
 prefllon. It is happy for the bulk of 
 mankind, as well as for the peace of indi- 
 viduals, that we do not meet with many 
 inflances of fuch abandoned wives ! 
 
 In behalf of this unfortunate hufband, 
 it is alledged by all his early acquain- 
 tance, that he was a fober, good-natured 
 man, very tender and fond of his wife, 
 and even partial to her levities. — But 
 oppreflion and ill-ufage will render a wife 
 man mad, and four the bed of tempers. 
 Probably, this was his cafe at the time 
 we mention— when a variety of domeflic 
 grievances admitted of no alternative, 
 but recourfe to liquors and intoxication. 
 Hence frequent altercations with his wife 
 at unfeafonable hours ; and fometimes 
 pifcols were fired to the terror of the 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 In
 
 [ ^^3 ] 
 in Ihort, a ferious Ikirmifh at laft hap- 
 pened at Cranfton's. He in his own de- 
 fence baftinaded his wife feverely — fhe 
 returned the compliment by fwearing the 
 peace againfl her hufband. Here a final 
 feparation took place — when he was 
 forced to fly into France, and llie to 
 change her quarters. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 1^4 ] 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 M A D A M, 
 
 ' fi ^O trace the windings of our heroine's 
 career, and follow her to every 
 place of elopemen: or intrigue, would 
 prove an endlefs as well as an infuperable 
 tafli. It would be to purfue a path ter- 
 rifying in the commencement, impra(fti- 
 cable in the profecuticjn, and big with 
 deftrudtion in the end. However, we 
 have the bell authority to fay, that after 
 the final flcirmifh with her hulband in 
 Park Street, fhe was ulhered to Mrs. 
 Dodd's in Oxford Street, as a young 
 creature juft come from Wales^ and to- 
 tally unacquainted with the ways of the 
 
 town. 
 
 Women
 
 [ ^05 ] 
 
 Women a/e remarkable for invention, 
 snd feldom at a lofs how to form a tole- 
 rable excufe, and to palliate an aukward 
 Ctuation. This pretext, however plau- 
 fible, did not long conceal her true cha- 
 rafler and connexions. The new land- 
 lady foon taxed her gueft of being the 
 v/ife of an officer who lodg-ed at Cran- 
 ilon's, and fhe admitted the charge — 
 acknowledged an elopement — urged in 
 her own defence that her hufband had 
 beat her feverely, and fhewed many 
 bruifes on her arms. 
 
 Being now releafed from his controul, 
 and at liberty to ad: unreftrained, the 
 fyrcn allured a multitude of followers, 
 and dealt her favours on the moft advan- 
 tageous terms. When our heroine firfl 
 occupied thefe apartments, her finances 
 F were
 
 [ ^o6 ] 
 
 were exceedingly low and fcanty ; info- 
 much that the people of the houfe fiip- 
 plied her neceflities with o ne fplendid 
 fiiilling at a time. Even the milkman 
 was forced to fummon her to the court 
 of confcience for the contents of a trifling 
 bill. 
 
 The advantages of trade are precari- 
 ous but the perquifites of her avo- 
 cation were now confiderable, and the 
 fmiles of fortune feemed to preponderate 
 in her favour for a time. Hence fhe was 
 enabled at this period to keep a coach as 
 well as a chair occafionallyi and though 
 
 the celebrated Lord D was the 
 
 oilenfible gallant, and who efcorted her 
 to many places public as v/ell as private, 
 yet Hie carried on a correfpondence, and 
 had frequent interviews with feveral other 
 
 friends 
 
 (
 
 [ 107 ] 
 
 friends behind the curtain. It can by no 
 means be fuppofed that a woman of our 
 heroine's paOlons could prove faithful to 
 a perfon of his Lordlhip's exhaufted 
 finances and debilitated conilitution. 
 
 While ihe lodged at Cranflon's, and 
 during her hufband's fevere illnefs, ihe 
 had the art and dexterity to make exten- 
 five connexions, and fome u fef ul ones :-— 
 elpecially with that infamous pimp Kildare^ 
 who then kept a notorious houfe, in a 
 court adjoining to Pall Mall. This mer- 
 chant of female chafiity^ was quite aa 
 adept in his profeflion: and paid the moft 
 afliduous attention to the leveral ladies 
 on his liftj at regular hours and places 
 of appointment. It was at Grofvenor 
 Gate, and generally between the hours of 
 twelve and one, that he ufed to pay his 
 
 daily
 
 [ ic8 ] 
 
 daily attendance on our heroine, and to 
 adjuft the plan of meeting her cuftomers 
 in the evening at his own houfe or elfe- 
 where 
 
 You alfo, madam, have fome know- 
 ledge of this faithful imp, and of the 
 laws of his profefTion. But your ac- 
 quaintance, like a noxious planet, fpreads 
 ruin and contagion all around ; even 
 Mrs. Rudd was obliged to drop it at lafl:. 
 Our merchant had caufe to repent that 
 you ever frequented his houfe; for your 
 prefence for a night occafioned him a 
 ftagnation of trade, and almofl the lofs 
 of his hfc. When you waited there on 
 fat Lee of the guards, and in the courie 
 of conv^erfation gloried that you was 
 a married woman, he inftantly turned 
 you out with indignation, and thi-eatened 
 
 to
 
 [ 109 ] 
 
 to run the mailer of the ceremonies 
 through the body for introducing him 
 to fuch unlawful game. An anecdote 
 fomevv'hat fimilar muil not here be omit- 
 ted. 
 
 It v/as a practice wit!) our heroine, to 
 write to perfonages whom (lie never faw, 
 and to make overtures of intrigue and 
 affignation. It unfortunately happened, 
 that llie once fent a card of this nature 
 to an officer of the guards, and novr on 
 his deftination for America. Eeing flart- 
 led at the contents, and totally unknown 
 to the writer, he had the curiofity to 
 make fome pertinent enquiries about fo 
 extraordinary a charafter. The mefTen- 
 ger evaded an explanation as much as 
 pofiible^ but at length was obliged to 
 be communicative. 
 
 Matters
 
 [ iio ] 
 
 Mittcrs v/ere then concerted, that the 
 wifbed for interview fhould take place. 
 Accordingly, our heroine had immediate 
 recourfe to drefs, and to all thofe arts and 
 elegancies fo neceiTiry to render an ordi- 
 nary figure, tolerable. Thus equiped, 
 away ilie fallied for the place of appoint- 
 ment: — but alas! how poignant the 
 mortification of being; received in a for- 
 mal manner, and not with the ardor of 
 an impatient lover. In fhort, Ihe met 
 with a ievcrc lecture and fome chaftife- 
 ment for her impudence, v;hich diftrelTed 
 the texture of her delicate feelings ex- 
 tremely. 
 
 Letter
 
 [ I^I ] 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T ^ 7 H I L E with pleafure we contem- 
 
 ^ ^ plate the charader of a modefl and 
 amiable woman, yet it becomes a duty 
 however painful tnc undertaking, to paint 
 thefe abandoiied mves in their true co- 
 lours, and as a leflljn of abhorrence to 
 the rifing generation. It is an atte.T.pc 
 to guard the public froni future dfcep- 
 tlon, and to render honcil fcrvice to cur 
 country. 
 
 A virtuous woman is an nicflimable 
 trcafure, but one given to intrigue is the 
 pell of fbc:eu% a!^ v/dl an the ruin of in- 
 dividuals.— — Several of thcfe unhappy 
 
 creatures
 
 [ "2 ] 
 
 creatures of the town, and who are a 
 nuifance to the (Ireets, owe their misfor- 
 tunes in a certain degree to an acquain- 
 tance with foiTie of their own fex.— The 
 following anecdote will iiluHrate the truth 
 of thefe obfervations. 
 
 While our heroine lodged at Cran- 
 fton's, an innocent young girl, fifteen 
 years of age, was inveigled to carry er- 
 rands to many places of infamous refort. 
 In the execution of thefe commands, it 
 v^as concerted that a perfon fhould watch 
 this devoted viftim and triumph over the 
 fpoils of innocence. One evening carry- 
 ing a meffage to Kiidare's, (lie was tre- 
 panned into a room, and by forcible 
 means was ruined. 
 
 Tremble, ye mothers, at the mention 
 
 of
 
 [ "3 ] 
 
 of this horrid plot, and for the fate of 
 your own innocent offspring! — Execrate 
 the name of that unfeeling wretch, who 
 could lend afTiltance for the accompliih- 
 ment of fuch favao-e and inhuman deeds. 
 Barbarous as this tranfadlion certainly was, 
 yet it is not the only one of the fort where- 
 in our heroine has the credit of beins^ 
 concerned. One of the landlady's daugh- 
 ters in Oxford Street, narrowly efcaped 
 the fnare and a fimiliar cataftrophe. 
 
 But from thence our heroine was for- 
 ced to make a precipitate retreat, and for 
 fome years evaded the payment of a 
 confiderable demand, and alfo the ex- 
 pence of the carriages fhe kept. In the 
 year 1772, when the noted Bolland of 
 infamous memory v/as executed at Ty- 
 burn for -forgery, Mr. Ryder, mercer, 
 Q^ called
 
 [ 114 J 
 
 called on Mrs. Dodd, and acquainted 
 her that he had lately arretted her old 
 lodger Mrs. Rudd, and under the nanie 
 of Gore, 
 
 It was obferved in a former letter, 
 that to trace the windings of our heroine's 
 career to every place of elopement or in- 
 trigue, would prove an endlefs and infu- 
 perabk tafk. Suffice it here to fay, that 
 Mrs. Dodd and her neighbours who 
 accommodated our heroine with the car-- 
 riages, were paid their refpeclive de- 
 mands by the unfortunate and infatuated 
 Daniel Perreau. 
 
 When forced, to make a precipitate 
 retreat from Oxford Street, Mrs: Rudd 
 took fhelter at Mrs. Hufham's in Palace 
 Yard, Weflminfter, and continued there 
 
 for
 
 [ i^i 3 
 
 for fome time —but here we mufl: draw a 
 vail — From thence, we follow her to 
 Prince's Court, near Storey's Gate, 
 where fhe liyed in no great affluence or 
 fplendour. 
 
 At this period, the advantages of her 
 profefTion were trifling ; and her finances 
 fo fcanty, that fhe was frequently heard 
 to exclaim. If it was not for the goodnefs 
 of good JLord Granby, who came to fee 
 her out of mere affection, flie muft ine- 
 vitably have Itarved. One Lacey, a 
 porter at Storey's Gate, was the perfon 
 entruiled with errands at this juncture, 
 and who carried many letters for her to 
 an Alehcufc at Knightfbridge. But he 
 declined now and then to execute her 
 commands, and infifled on prompt pay- 
 ment. 
 
 She
 
 [ ii6 ] 
 
 She was once fo deftitute of money, and 
 all refources, as to give this man her 
 buckles to pawn, and which he did for 
 fifteen Shillings. And we Ihall fee by 
 snd bye, that this very man fummoned 
 her to the court of confcience for twenty- 
 three fhillings, and which fhe paid in a 
 week. 
 
 Several perfons of fufpicious appear-^ 
 ance ufed to call on her at this place j 
 and the landlady not fatisfied with tht: 
 condudl of her lodorer, warned her out 
 on various accounts, and even fufiered 
 her to go away confiderably in her debt. 
 Our heroine was fo bare of apparel at 
 this critical period, as to borrow a gown 
 of the fervant of the houfe to carry her 
 to the new quarters, and where we /hall 
 foon be obliged to follow hen 
 
 If
 
 [ 117 ] 
 
 If this account fhould hurt a perfon of 
 Mrs, Rudd's fid limity of foul added to a 
 refinement of fentirncnty we refer the curi- 
 ous to Mrs. IVilfcn^ x\\z landlady fne 
 lodged with at this diftrefsful jundture. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ ii8 ] 
 
 L E T T E P. XVI. 
 
 M A D A M, 
 
 'TnO delineate the adventures of fo 
 -*' eccentric a charadter as that of our 
 heroine, it is neceflary to relate many 
 difagreeable circumftances, and to vifit 
 fome uncomfortable abodes. — She was 
 now removed to the Coflee Houfe at 
 Lambeth-marfh, and lodged in an airy 
 apartment — a retreat where none but the 
 lowed and poorefl proflitutes had re- 
 courfe for fhelter. Even Lacey the por- 
 ter was here fhocked at the miferable 
 fituation of his employer, Vr^hen forced 
 to repeat his vifits for the payment of 
 humble and faithful fervices. 
 
 When
 
 [ ^19 ] 
 
 When a married woman forfeits the 
 moil folemn en2;aoremenc and the laws 
 of her proteclion, it is impofnble to guefs 
 what may be her cataftrophe, or the fum 
 of her diftrelTes — To do juflice to the 
 Dhilofophy of Mrs. Rudd, it is readily 
 allowed that Ihe has experienced the ex- 
 treams of good and ill fortune; has 
 known how to want as well as to abound. 
 
 Sometimes fhe flrayed in Pleafure's 
 fofteft path, and in fcenes of voluptu- 
 
 oufnefs had rich apparel, equipage, 
 
 jewels, and all the good things of this 
 world in abundance— But now d^e was 
 deftitute of friends and money, and w^ith- 
 out reputation. In fuch a dilemma, her 
 ingenuity was employed in laying plans 
 of future eclat and enjoyment — every ex- 
 pedient
 
 [ I20 ] 
 
 peiient was minutely canvalTcd, and va- 
 rious pr("!Jccls fet on foot. 
 
 Durino; a lono; courfe of intrigue, (he 
 had made fome ufeful connexions, efpe- 
 cially with a gang of the mod notorious 
 pimps. At this juncture, one of thefe 
 came to the dreary .manfion, and gave 
 her hopes of better fcenes if flie would 
 acl a fpirited and a becoming part. For 
 this purpofe he relieved her prefent ne- 
 ceffities, charged, her to be dexterous ia 
 excCLiLing a fcheme, and doubted not 
 •but me svGuld foon get up in the v/orkli 
 
 the 
 
 He then repaired to a young man in 
 Temple — aiTured him that he knew 
 g: a fine girl at a boarding fchool that 
 
 W3S 
 
 * Mr. M k.
 
 [ 121 ] 
 
 was determined to elope— and believed 
 that he could bring her to his chambers. 
 But, fays the artful * p'mp, a fuit of 
 men's deaths is abfolutely necefT.iry; 
 a fuit of your's may anfwer the purpofe. 
 Upon this a fuit of white and filver was 
 procured, and Mifs foon made her ap- 
 pearance at the Temple — where (lie told 
 an artful tale of getting over the garden 
 wall, and of the many dangers fhe en- 
 coiinter'd to effecl an elopement. 
 
 There is no doubt but that a woman; 
 who could pafs for her own filler, even 
 in the arms of an accuftomed lover, had 
 arts lufficient to impofe on this new gal- 
 lant • and to pcrfuade how he triumphed 
 ever the fpoils of virtue. Hence, he fpared 
 R no 
 
 ♦ A~d— w White.
 
 [ 122 ] 
 
 noexpence to adorn the injured fairin pro- 
 portion to her youth and perfonal charms; 
 andprofperity feeined likely to be the por- 
 tion of her better days. Being totally un- 
 acquainted with the irregularities of her 
 pad life, he foon expended a large fum^ 
 and purchafed many fantaftical fuperflui- 
 ties for this paragon of confcious inno- 
 cence. She now poflefTed an unbounded 
 influence in this perfon's circumflances 
 and afFedion, and fome profpedl of an 
 advantage, which flie never had before, 
 a certain independency. 
 
 Here we mufr remark, that nature has 
 not been partial to our heroine's form, 
 and time has laid his heavy hand upon 
 her perfonal accomplifhments. But her 
 powers of pleafmg in a certain degree^ 
 have been well attefled by many mrrtyrs ; 
 
 and
 
 [ 123 ] 
 
 and of this the numerous Tons of Ifrael 
 can bear an ample teflimony. 
 
 If her charms could lull fome modern 
 Nabobs more powerfully than the opiates 
 of the Eafl—if her own pale lips have 
 afiumed a temporary colour, Vs/hich the 
 new blown rofe might envy, yet they 
 owe this appearance to the powers of art. 
 If her teeth, which originally flood in 
 horizontal projedlion, appear now in 
 white or even rows, yet this regularity 
 is entirely owing to the file of the dentifl. 
 If gales, foft and inviting as the Arabian 
 breeze, ifTue from her breath, even thefe 
 have been purchafed from the Perfumer's 
 Shop. 
 
 Thus nature has not been partial to 
 this extraordinary fyren, who has deftroy- 
 
 ed
 
 [ 124 1 
 
 cd the peace of many families, and has 
 proved the ruin of individuals. Her 
 benefaflor in the Temple narrowly efcap- 
 ed a fatal cataftrophe — but having avail- 
 ed herfelf of this acquaintance as much 
 as fhe could, fhe quitted that meridian 
 with perfed indifference, and travelled 
 weftward in fearch of frelh vidims de- 
 voted to her fer vice. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ 1^5 ] 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 M A D A M, 
 
 A IRS of addrefs, gentility and im- 
 "*■ ■** portance are diilinguifhing features 
 in our heroine's character; and it is al- 
 lowed to her credit^ that fhe is perfe6lly 
 acquainted with every fphere of life, and 
 never at a lofs how to behave in compa- 
 ny of the peer or the porter. NotwitK- 
 llanding the texture of her delicate feel- 
 ings, yet file has more than once been 
 touched by very rough and unceremonious 
 hands. That hideous monfler, celled a 
 foeriff's oficer, has laid his dirty navvs 
 on our heroine's tender frame. Mary 
 difagreeable inftances of tnis nature huve 
 occur'd to her iauyil^ip. 
 
 It
 
 [ 126 ] 
 
 It happened on a time, and what we 
 forgot to niention in its proper place, 
 that our heroine lodged at a certain houfe 
 and on aprefumption of being a real lady 
 of quality. The landlady never fqfped- 
 ed her true character for a time, and 
 till a confiderable fum for board and 
 lodging was due— when Hie made bold 
 to afi-; her ladyfnip for the whole or part 
 of the debt. Our heroine was too wxll 
 verfed in the ways of the world to be 
 difconcerted at fo unfeafonable a demand; 
 but with great compofure, airs of confe- 
 quence, and eafy elegance, replied, that 
 fhe was fomewhat furprized at the liberty 
 of afking for fuch a trifle. 
 
 Upon this, flic fummoned her foot- 
 man, ordered him to hafien to my Lord, 
 and bring the money due to the landlady.
 
 [ 127 ] 
 
 infiillng withal that his lordfhip would 
 immediateiy fend his chariot, being de- 
 termined not to deep another night in 
 the houfe of a landlady of fach indelicate 
 manners and narrow principles. 
 
 The footman no doubt, underllood 
 her lady (hip's meaning, and therefore 
 knew how to conduft himlelf on the 
 biifinefs, bowed obedience and retired. 
 The landlady, during this plaufible Icene, 
 remained in a ilate of fufpence — fearful 
 fne had offended her ladyQiip if (he was 
 a real lady, and who could not fail of 
 being a defirable lodger on pun^ual piy- 
 ment, and which then oromifed to be the 
 cale— -the good woman made many apo- 
 logies, pleaded poverty, and hoprd her 
 ladyfhip v/ould not be aflronted at the 
 liberty occa honed by her ov/n neceilltoiis 
 circumdances* 
 
 The
 
 . [ 128 ] 
 
 The footman being now returned, de- 
 livered the following card to his miftrefs, 
 and which her ladyfhip vvith great con- 
 dercenfion defired the landlady to perufe, 
 " My dear Lady, I mufl beg ten thou- 
 fand pardons for not waiting on your 
 ladyfnip before, but as I have been de- 
 tained longer in the country than exped- 
 cd, hope you will excufe it. Am this 
 moment going to court, and if I can get 
 away in any time, will call at the ban- 
 ker's, and bring with m.e treble your 
 fmall requeft. If I do not come this e- 
 veninp;, 1 mud beg leave to pay my re- 
 fpecls to you in the morning.'* 
 
 This well concerted fcheme fucceeded. 
 The landlady was convinced of her own 
 rudenefs, as well as of her lodger's real 
 confequence and importance — fully fatis- 
 
 fied
 
 [ J29 ] 
 
 fied that fhe fhould receive a confiderable 
 fum the next morning, the landlady re- 
 tired to reft in good humour. But the 
 next day brought neither Lord nor mo- 
 ney ; and this difappointment operated 
 wiih redoubled force, awakened the land- 
 lady's fufpicions more than ever, and 
 rendered her truly uneafy. And what 
 alarmed her moft, was a difcovery, that 
 the lady and footman had been earneftly 
 employed great part of the day in pack-r 
 ing up their own things, and probably 
 more than they well could call their 
 own. Having communicated her fuf- 
 picions to a neighbour^ he prudently 
 advifed her to have an officer in rea- 
 dinefs in the houfe for fear of fomc 
 iniquitous fcheme or plan of deception. 
 The landlady purfued the advice, and 
 planted an officer ready for execution 
 if matters fliould turn out as there was 
 S much
 
 i 130 ] 
 
 much room to fufpedl. About midnight, 
 and on a prefumption that the family was 
 faft afleep, the footman was difpatched 
 for a chair ; and when her iadyihip de- 
 fended, a perfon in waiting ordered the 
 chairmen to fet down their fare, and 
 feized upon her ladyfhip for further fe- 
 curity. 
 
 "Her ladyfhip was then ufhered to a 
 place by no means calculated for the re- 
 ception of a perfon of delicate feelings ; 
 nor fukable for the accommodation of a 
 lady endowed with a fnblimity of foul 
 added to a refinement of fentiment. How- 
 ever, after a little confinement Ihe found 
 means to be fet at liberty : but this was not 
 the only time that our heroine has been 
 obliged to be complaifant to iil-lcoking 
 myrmidons, and to put up with very dif- 
 
 agreeable quarters. 
 
 LETTER
 
 I-JI 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 Madam, 
 nr'HE pimp who introduced our he- 
 -*" roine to the Temple is a mod ex- 
 traordina y charader, and perhaps has ^ 
 more extenfive arquaintance with ladies 
 of eafy virtue than any other perfon in 
 the kingdom. This merchant * had 
 confiderable bufmefs in his walk, and ne- 
 ver deferted his female cuflomers in any 
 fituation, after he had once experienced 
 iheir generofity and affab'e demeanour. 
 Our heroine had the dexterity to recom- 
 mend herfclf to this perfon's notice and 
 favour, foon after Ihe came upon the 
 town f and he affumes the merit of ren- 
 dering
 
 [ ^32 ]' 
 
 dering eflential fervices, when Mrs. Paidd 
 was but little known in the fafhionabl^ 
 world, or at places of genteel refort. 
 
 This trufty friend was firmly attached 
 to our heroine's interefl, whenever defert- 
 ed by an inconftant lover, or at a lofs for 
 fome frefh cull •, and it is allowed that 
 there is no dirty jobb, but what^his de- 
 tellable villian will undertake, in order 
 to promote his own intt-reft and diaboli- 
 cal purpofes. Confidering the great 
 number of women, married as well as 
 fmgle, whom this fellovv has feduced, it 
 is aflonifhing how he has fo long efcaped 
 that punilhment which his infamous pro- 
 feflion fo juilly merits. 
 
 It was this artful pimp, this caterer 
 for the voltipuous and libertines of the 
 
 age,
 
 [ 133 ] 
 
 ag-e, that broug;ht our heroine to feveral 
 doadng admirers -, p.irricularly to a very 
 rerpe(ftable gentleman at the Weil end of 
 the town, who for a while induced her 
 in every vanity, and permitted her to 
 have plenty of rich cioa:hs and jewels in 
 his name and on his credit. No doubc 
 but an artful woman improved fo glori- 
 ous on opportunity, and made a proper 
 ufe of fuch an enamoured dotard. It 
 feems that fhe was peculiarly dextcTous in 
 making herfelf agreeable to enfeebled lo-" 
 vers ; knew how to flatter, fondle and 
 carefs, and to exert all the craft of wo- 
 man. Thus clliablirbed in a fplendid 
 fphere, an:! furrounded with afHuence, 
 fhe was very bountiful to that benefaclor 
 who recomm:nded her to lo iriUnificient 
 a protector. 
 
 The
 
 [ 134 ] 
 
 The pimp at this gay period, experi- 
 enced great civilities and marks of un- 
 common genororicy •, and tiie good na- 
 tur'd lady would now and then iiilen to 
 a private afilgnation, and condefcend to 
 honour Tome of his favourite cuflomers 
 with a vlfit. In this lufbre and under 
 thefe circumftances friz lived for fome 
 tiipe, till the deteclion of an amorous 
 interview between our heroine and a cer- 
 tain gallant broke eft the connexion. 
 This proved a fatal difcovery, an alarm- 
 ing ftroke to fo bountifnl a lady — fne 
 had now a gloomy profpe6l, by perceiv- 
 ing all her intereft loft in fo good a quar- 
 ter. Her young lover had probably a 
 greater flow of fpirits, but he was defti- 
 tute of thofe pecuniary confiderations (o 
 neccfiary to keep a woman above indi- 
 gence and diflrefs j and being reduced to 
 
 a
 
 [ 135 ] 
 
 a foahty pittance our heroine v/as forced 
 to have recourfe once more to her own 
 ingenuity and the chapter of accidents. 
 
 However, the faithful pimp would not 
 defert fo generous a lady, or leave her in 
 the day of adverfity : but having planned 
 a frefh fcheme, he placed her for a time 
 in a retired fituation. Notwithfi-anding 
 the great pains taken by the pimp, and 
 the retirement of the place, yet it proved 
 an inconvenient fpot ^ for the real cha- 
 racter of the lady being foon difcovcred, 
 fhe was obliged to decamp rather abrupt- 
 ly, and old Andrew narrowly efcaped 
 with whole bones. 
 
 The lady's behaviour, an^d the fraud 
 pradifed on the late cull at the temple, 
 had roufed the refentment of fome lively 
 
 youths.
 
 [ ^36 ] 
 
 youths, who were detenriined in their way 
 to have ample fatisfaclion on fuch impu- 
 dent impollors. Accordingly, they tra- 
 verfed the hundreds of Drury and all the 
 purlieus of Covent garden in fearch of 
 Ajidrew and his boarding-fchool girl ; 
 but could by no means meet with the ob- 
 jects of their enquiry. At length they 
 Humbled on the right fcent, and with full 
 refolution of being amply rewarded for 
 lb much trouble. The pimp and his 
 charge were apprized of the ftorm, and 
 made a precipitate retreat through a win- 
 dow -, eile the one v/ould hive Jt7;^<;c^ in 
 the air, and the other have an opportu* 
 niiy ot fzv:?;i/mn^ for life. 
 
 LETTER
 
 [ ^37 ] 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 l^'^LD Andrew and our heroine were 
 ^^ put to their ihifts, had not the cou- 
 rage to appear by day, and were forced 
 to concert all their meafures by night. 
 Intervals of darknefs correfponded in 
 fome degree with the office of the oney 
 as well as with the duty of \h^ other \ 
 and having no fettled place of abode, 
 our heroine was under a neceflity of a- 
 dopting precarious and temporary lodg- 
 ings. The pimp from long fervices and 
 experince had a kind of right to call on 
 different cuftomcrs, and even to difturb 
 their reft and repofe at unfeafonable hours. 
 It was his peculiar ftudy to pleafe per- 
 T fons
 
 [ 138 J 
 
 fons of every complexion ; to be fer- 
 viceable to mechanics, merchants, or 
 peers — to Jews as well as to Gentiles^ 
 and to render his province as extenfively 
 ufefal as poITible. — He was no ftranger 
 in his vocation to the amorous fons of 
 jfrael — who fometimes expend in one day 
 all the profits of the preceding week, 
 with fome artful female : and we have 
 the beft authority to affirm, that Jems 
 have lavifhed immenfc fums of money, 
 as well as the richeft jewels on our he- 
 roinei and in confideration of valuable 
 favours, for which no bill in equity could 
 be filed. It is a miflaken notion, that 
 peers and members of parliament are the 
 only perfons who deal in female charms. 
 Of purchafe innocence in an illicit man- 
 ner. 1 he wealthy citizen has his coun- 
 try feat for particular* purppfes, and the 
 
 whole
 
 [ ^39 ] 
 
 whole body of inferior merchants will 
 imitate the conducl of thofc who have 
 affluent fortunes to fupport their extra- 
 vagance. An attachment to the charms 
 of the fair fex, is by no means confined 
 to thofe who bear the name of Chriilians 
 — the MufTulmen and all the difciples of 
 Mahomet, are confeffedly as fond of 
 wonaen as any people in Europe. And 
 it is univerlaliy acknowledged, that the 
 fons of Ifrael abound in riches, which 
 greatly contribute to the gratification of 
 unlawful pleafures, and brutal appetites. 
 A child of Ifrael may not break the fab- 
 bath, be he ever fo poor ^ yet no fooner 
 does the fun fet on Saturday evening, 
 but his confcience will permit him to 
 break open an houfe in the city, and 
 even commit murder in the environs of 
 this metropolis. — If jhen a poor Ifraelite 
 
 who
 
 [ HO ] 
 
 who cries old clothes through the 
 Streets of London, will commit felony, 
 and even murder on that day, which the 
 laws of this country have appropriated 
 to the mofl folmn purpofes — why may 
 not the richer fort with equal propriety 
 adjourn to the polite end of the town, to 
 fpend, with delicate femules, part of the 
 money which by illicit practices they had 
 procured the preceding week in the 
 alley ? 
 
 It is certain that our heroine became 
 acquainted at this diftrefsful period with 
 an amorous * Jew, and who will bear 
 an interefting part in the enfuing volmue. 
 It was the afiiduity and attention of old 
 Andrew the pimp that planned this con- 
 nexion.
 
 [ I4X 3 
 
 ne(rtlon, and recommended our heroine 
 to the mod credulous lover that ever de- 
 fcended from the race of Abraham. 
 This pcrfon, if report may be "credited, 
 is of fuch an amorous difpofition, that 
 every woman was equally pleafing to 
 him, provided he had never ken her be- 
 fore. Variety is his darling paiTion ; 
 and it will appear in the profccution of 
 this narrative, that our heroine has pafled 
 with him for four different v/omen. No 
 fooner was he introduced to Mrs. Rudd, 
 than he became extremely enamoured of 
 her charms, and he laid money at her 
 feet like the treafures of Ophir of old. 
 He never thought any expence too great, 
 fo as he could gratify his feniual appetites 
 and animal paflion. Had our heroine 
 been endowed with common prudence, 
 Ihe might have made a good ufe of fo 
 
 plentiful
 
 [ T42 ] 
 
 plentiful an harveft, and improved the 
 golden opportunity to fome purpoie. 
 B^t her prodiggjities and difiipation were 
 boundlefs. A noted houfe in Leicefter 
 Fields for promifcuous reception, gave 
 the firfl: zeft to their amours, and laid 
 the foundation of that attachment which 
 effedually fleeced this amorous Ifraelite^ 
 znd in the long-run rendered him an ob- 
 jc^St of poverty and contempt. 
 
 The indulgence of unlawful pleafures 
 or criminal purfuits, is generally attended 
 With the moft fatal and ruinous confe- 
 quences. Daily experience illuftrates the 
 truth, of this afiertion. The turbulence 
 of the pafTions will admit of fome apo- 
 logy for the vivacity and irregularities of 
 youth ; but to fee an old dotard with one 
 leg in the grave, lavifh of money as well 
 
 as
 
 [ M3 ] 
 
 as prodigal of endearments on a common 
 proftitute, is truly ihameful and ridicu- 
 lous ! —as to our heroine, Ihe has no no- 
 tion of any life but this. A fenfe of re- 
 ligion and a future flate, have never en- 
 tered into her creed j ihe therefore leads 
 a mere animal life, and like the beafts 
 that perifh, will infenfibly link into ob- 
 fcurity. 
 
 END PF THE FIRST VOLUME.
 
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