The Virginian

From the National Journal.
The Letters of Ann Cook, late Mrs. Beauchamp
... [full merged and cleaned narrative from the letters, including the extracts provided]
... ending with the dream description.
Attack of an ague, and, for several moments, I could not believe that it was not real. But, it is passed, and I now look upon it as a mere fantasy, as the sleeping thoughts of an imagination disordered by love. To a woman of her sensibilities and passions, the wrongs she suffered must have been dreadful. I think she carried her revenge too far, though. The gentleman who has furnished these letters has, in some introductory remarks, very correctly observed—'Had Mrs. Beauchamp's mind been early and properly imbued with a sense of religion, her misfortune might have been avoided; and, instead of closing her life in the flower of youth by her own hands, and hurrying her husband to an untimely and ignominious end, she might have been, with such a capacity as she possessed, an ornament to society, and a glory to the world. She seems to have been naturally vigorous, and tinged with romantic heroism, and to give too great a rein to her sensibilities and feelings, rendered morbid by solitude, and acute indulgence. From her earliest age, Mrs. B. says she displayed the traits of character which may be seen in her letters, and which were so fatally developed towards the close of her life. The restraints of religion, and the counsels of prudence, might have given them a different and useful direction, and conducted her to a sphere of life in which she would have shone with no common brilliancy.' Mrs. B. was undoubtedly a most extraordinary woman, and every thing from her must be interesting. As to myself, I confess I have read these letters with the deepest interest, and cannot bring myself to doubt their genuineness. A. D.