The New Hampshire Gazette

PORTSMOUTH.

To the Publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette.

Sir,

I find in your Paper an Advertisement dated the 21st of May last, signed Patrick Markham, (which lately came to my View) wherein I am accused, in the Relation of a Wife, of very ill Behaviour, and criminal Conduct.

It would be quite unnecessary for me to say any Thing in my own Vindication, in Answer to that Libel, was it to be read by such Persons only as are fully acquainted with my Character: But as it is set up to public View, my Silence on such an Occasion, would doubtless, by many, be imputed to a Consciousness of Guilt, and having nothing to say.

It is no new Thing for the Aggressor to begin the Accusation, and those who are most, or (as in this Case) wholly in Fault, to be first in the Complaint of ill Usage. This is a short Method of appearing better than those complained of. For the World is apt to think, and Charity leads to it, that whoever pretends to be injured, has some Grounds for it. Of this general Notion, the most abandon'd Tribe of Mortals take Advantage, as an old Proverb may vouch, and of which I suppose Mr. Markham designed to avail himself, knowing what Circumstances a certain Girl, he had sometimes kept, was in; and not having Generosity voluntarily to provide for the Product of his Amours, or save the poor deluded Mother from suffering, had just Time enough to publish his groundless Complaint against me, before she complained on Oath, that he is the Father of a Child with which she is now pregnant. I wish this may be the only Instance of his Disregard to that Covenant he mentions: Tho' perhaps he, like some others, never tho't it binding but upon one Part. His Conduct in that Relation would induce any one to think so. (And now let me complain in my Turn:) For, ever since the Honey Moon was over, he has treated me much in the same Way that some Gentlemen I have heard of, do some of their young Negro Wenches, lodge with them by Night, and give them the Strappado by Day; with this Difference, that they seldom beat them in Bed. But my Proteus has not only done that, but often swore he would be the Death of me; which I should have taken for Words of Course, with Gentlemen of his Breeding, had he never attempted to put his Menaces in Execution, which I believe nothing but Fear of the legal Consequences prevented.

As to the Charge of carrying off his Goods, &c. when he went to Sea, he provided no Place for my Residence while he was absent, nor any Thing for my Subsistence; so far from it, that he deposited his Effects in the Hands of another, with Orders not to Supply me with any Thing: And had I not had a Father's House for an Asylum, I should have been left to the Alms of the Parish: And tho' I was in such necessitous Circumstances, I took nothing but my Bed, and a few Necessaries for my Chamber there. After his Return, he never expressed any Desire, neither to my Father (that I ever heard of) nor to myself, that I should return and live with him, for I really think it is far from his Heart, and in that he discovered no Deceit. I am not much
concern'd about his Accusation of my Unfaithfulness to his Bed for which he has not the least Foundation: my own Conscience acquits me of that Charge; and my Neighbours would, were there a Call for it, be my Compurgators: And what is more, I believe Mr. Markham himself, were he called for one, and laid under what he judged a sufficient Obligation to declare his true Sentiments on that Point, would fully acquit me.

I am as little concerned at the Caveat against giving me Credit. Perhaps a Time may come when the Effects of such Caution may be brought to the Test, whether a churlish Husband shall exonerate himself from the Charge of affording his Wife sufficient Alimony by such a Piece of Cunning.

Elizabeth Markham.