The Virginia Gazette

Milan, Aug. 10. We have lately been diverted here with an Instance of the imaginative Power of Love. The young Wife of one of our Plumbs being passionately enamoured with a Jemmy Spark, of that Order whose Motto is Vivitur Ingenio, contrived a pretty odd Expedient to get rid of her Husband, who watched her too narrowly for any favourable Interval with her Gallant; however, she one Day found Means to get out, she ran to the Chief Justice, and, after a cajoling Preamble of the Conflict between Love to her Husband and Duty to the State, she declared, that her Husband made it his Practice to go out in the Night, and never failed to return in the Morning, with a Booty of Silver hilted Swords, Snuff Boxes, and other Things of Value; and that he had often intreated him to forbear such infamous and dangerous Doings; but Success had deafened him to all she could say. The Magistrate giving Credit to the artful Dissimulation of this Informer, had the Husband secured and imprisoned that very Evening. The Wife, in the mean Time, was not wanting to take Opportunity by the Forelock. The Husband, upon Examination the next Day, had no great Difficulty to clear himself; but his Imprisonment had not stunned him more, than he was, at his Return home, to find his Coffers broke open, and his Wife eloped. The Officers of Justice, and several private Persons, are out upon the Hunt after these Adventurers.