The New Hampshire Gazette

An interesting ANECDOTE,

"No, as I was saying, it was quite a premeditated Affair, and by no Means the Effect of a sudden Fit of Passion, or inconsiderate Precipitation.--You are to know they were together at a private publick Rout, or Ball the Night before they actually went off ; that very Night was intended for the Execution of their Project. They danced together. About Two in the Morning, Says She to her Mother... "My dear Madam, I am sorry to be the Cause of keeping you here so long beyond your usual Hour of Repose ; but really I am in such Spirits, and find myself in such a Humour for Dancing, that I fear it will be late, before I shall be able to persuade myself to give over. Do, good Madam, let me persuade you to retire without me. "... 'O! by no Means, my Dear, (replied the kind Mother) I have not the least inclination to go Home; so don't make yourself at all uneasy about me : ....'Your Time shall be mine." This unexpected and superabundant Goodness disconcerted their Scheme, and obliged the Gentleman to have Recourse to a second Plot.

About Four in the Morning, the Company broke up. The Mother's Chair appeared at the Door; but that of the Daughter's was not to be found : Upon which her Partner very naturally desired the Young Lady to accept of his. The prudent Matron thanked him for the Offer, and told him, that he would put Miss into her Chair, and that she herself would make Use of his. This he accordingly performed, and by that Means, added one restless Night more to her Daughter's Virginity. The next Morning the young Lady took it into her Head to visit her Uncle, stepped into her Chair and quitted her Father's House. The Chairman set her down at a certain House, in a certain Street, which House was previously prepared for the Purpose. She told the Fellows to come again at a certain Hour, and so dismissed them. The Chair returned according to Order; but on enquiring for the Lady, the Men were told, that she had been gone from thence a considerable Time. This was reported to her Father, who the next Morning received a Letter, which by the Hand writing on the Direction, he knew to be his Daughter's. He took the Letter, read the Superscription, and then returned it to the Bearer, telling him he might give it to the Person from whom it came. The Lover also wrote a Letter to his Wife ; in which he informed her, that tho' he had lived with her so many Years, it had never, notwithstanding all his Endeavours, been in his Power to bring himself to love her as she deserved; that Miss was the only Person for whom he ever felt a real Affection, and that with her therefore he had determined to spend the rest of his Days. [They immediately embarked for Germany, in their Way to Italy, where according to the Fashion of the Country, they are determined to live together till they grow weary of each other. ]

On Saturday se'nnight the noble Lord and Lady set off in a Post Chaise for Gravesend : from whence they took Water and proceeded to the Point, about two Miles below Tilbury, where they waited till a Dutch Vessel was cleared, not chusing to embark before. As this took up some Time, and the Weather was very cold, the Lord and Lady lay down in the Boat, covered with the Tilt, while the Waterman walked to and fro on the Shore. After the Custom House Officers had cleared the Vessel, the Lord and Lady embarked. However the Winds not being favourable, the Dutchman on Friday last was got no farther than the Nore. Before the Dutchman sailed from Gravesend, the Officers having observed two Foreigners on board, whom they suspected to be French Prisoners, the Officers were ordered on board again to bring those Persons on Shore for a stricter Examination ; and a Rumour then prevailing that the Persons the Watermen had shipped on board the Vessel, must be the Lord and Lady, the Captain of a Vessel, then at Gravesend, on Friday Morning manned his Boat, went with her himself, and proceeded to the Nore, where coming up with the Dutchman, he boarded him, and by Force of Arms, demanded the fair Lady, and brought her off in Triumph (leaving the noble Lord behind) to the Falcon at Gravesend, where She continued all Friday Night, very disconsolate, and full of Tears. She had every Civility offered, but refused to go to Bed. The Captain it is said, sent a Messenger to the Nore, to let his Lordship know that the Lady was safe landed and was at the Falcon at Gravesend: upon which his Lordship quitted the Dutchman, and returned to the Lady the next Morning about three o'Clock. There appeared two Gentlemen from London, very intimate with his Lordship; however on a sudden, his Lordship agreed with the Master of a Cod Smack for 50 Guineas, and 12 Guineas more to a Pilot, to take them with all Expedition to one of the first Ports in Holland......Accordingly, every Thing being provided, his Lordship, and the Lady, who was dressed in a black Silk Sack, with a Leghorn Hat on her Head, tied down with a Handkerchief to conceal her Face, put off from Gravesend on Saturday Morning about Ten o'Clock, on board the Cod Smack, and proceeded directly on their Voyage.