The Virginia Gazette

To the Author of the Westminster Journal, March 8.

SIR,

I am an ancient Person, as you will guess by the Particulars I am going to write: My Case, therefore, is the more worthy of Notice.

About fifty Years ago I was divorced from a very bad Husband, who, on that Occasion, partly through Fear, and partly through Shame, thought proper to go abroad.

Since that I have been four Times married, in general with pretty good Luck, my present Spouse having made me happy for now almost nineteen Years.

A very good Sort of a Man he is indeed; and I being something of the Temper of Joan in the Song would not change him for any extravagant wicked young Fellow in Europe,

My divorced Husband has been dead more than forty five Years. While he lived, he gave me some Trouble at Law; but I always cast him, and did not doubt of being easy when he was laid in his silent Grave. Yet so it hath happen'd, that though no Divorce could be more legal than ours, I have been ever since plagued, at Times, by those who pretend to be his Heirs and Successors.

I had first to deal with the Man who calls himself his Son, and now, would you think it, with the Grandson.

How these Youngsters could dream of any Agreement between them and me, I cannot imagine: but they both pretend to the old Man's original Right in my Person and Property, and have more than once attempted to commit a Rape upon the old Woman.

The Grandson, an active, desperate young Rascal, has lately attacked me with more Violence than ever, and by what I hear, I fear he will lie in Wait, if it be this Year, to get me by Surprize into his Power.

My present Husband has Servants enough to guard me, and loves me enough, I dare say, to do it. But the old Gentleman is so strangely secure in this Respect, that if I am not always crying out for Help, he thinks me safe enough, and sends all his People about some other Employment than taking Care of Me.

Towards the End of last Summer my Husband was gone Himself, with all the stout young Fellows about the House, to assist some Neighbours in a Quarrel that did not much concern Us. There was no body left with me but an old Butler, now kept as a Watchman, and two or three old Women Pensioners, whom I maintain for the good Services they have done.

Just at this Time comes the young Ravisher before-mentioned, with three or four more desperate Ruffians, resolved to accomplish his wicked Design. They broke into the House and he had got me about the Middle, uttering the most bitter Imprecations that he would never let me go again.

However, as Providence would have it, by my own Struggles, and the little Assistance that was at Hand, I kept him in play till Notice was sent, and my Spouse came Home with his own Men, and several of our Neighbour's Servants besides.

Here was, you'll say, Help enough on the present Occasion; and the Effect was, that the Invaders ran away, and hid themselves in a Wood at some Distance: But while they remain there as they do at this Time, ought not the House to be well guarded? Surely it ought.

Yet no sooner were the Villains out of Sight, but my good Husband relapsed into his Home Security, and Care for the Business of his Neighbour He had certainly not only sent back all the borrowed Servants, but sent his own again, if a new Alarm from the Wood had not prevented.

In a Word, Mr. Touchit, I seem at present to have no Safety but in the Nearness of my Danger, which is a very odd and precarious Situation.

If you publish this Case, possibly it may do me some Service: If it does not, your Kindness will be well intended to

BRITANNIA,