The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman near Gartmore (North Britain) to his Friend, May 14.

"As an Account of the very melancholy Accident which happened here a few Days since may not have reached you, I have collected the following Particulars, and can assure you they are strictly true. Young Mr. M'Lean, who, since you left us, has had the Advantage of a liberal Education, and his Father a considerable Addition to his Fortune, was on the Point of being married to the lovely Miss Jessy M'Leod. (On the Eve of the unfortunate Wedding Day, when he had just parted with his dear Girl, and retired with a select Party of Friends, where several Hours passed in the most agreeable Manner, till elevated with Liquor, and some Dispute arising between Mr. M'Lean and Mr. Cameron, an old Grudge, which has subsisted between the Families for upwards of sixty Years, was revived; every Word was a fresh Aggravation; Mr. Cameron publickly gave the Lie, on which Mr. M'Lean insisted on immediate Satisfaction, which Mr. Cameron promised to give him as soon as it was Light. The Company wished to reconcile them, but found it impossible; and so exasperated was Mr. Cameron, at some aggravating Speeches made use of by his Antagonist, that he most solemnly swore his trusty Claymore should be dyed red with the Heart's Blood of M'Lean. The fatal Morning came; both went to the appointed Place. Mr. M'Lean, with the Spirit and Politeness of a Gentleman, offered to exchange Pistols; but Cameron, with a brutal and savage Ferocity, bid him keep his Distance, or by G-d, says he, I will save you the Trouble of discharging, by cutting you in two. M'Lean retreated a little, and then desired his Antagonist to fire; which he immediately did, and the Ball unfortunately entered his Temple just above the Eye, blew off the upper Part of the Skull, and left him dead upon the Ground. The Situation of his Family cannot be described; the Father is inconsolable, and the Mother deprived of her Senses. A simple Girl carried the melancholy Tidings to the once lovely Jessy, who, alas! is now no more. On the first Intimation, she was deprived of her Reason; which soon returning, she was seized with successive Fits, and died in three Days. Cameron is fled, but Reflection must harrow up his Soul, and make the Villain a Burthen to himself; as his Name will be a Curse to his Relations, for Ages yet to come."