Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

From a French paper.

FEMALE DESPERATION

We have had an instance of female frenzy not to be equalled by either ancient or modern history, Mr. H-, near Rouen, who paid his address to Miss T. for a considerable time, suddenly withdrew himself, and took several indecent liberties with the lady's character. A 3d person enemy to both parties, counterfeited the gentleman's hand, and sent her an obscene and scurrilous letter. The injured and enraged fair, fully satisfied that her apostate lover was the author, sent for him ; and on his coming, took him into her dressing room, & locked the door, " I have sent for you, Sir." said Miss T. " to punish your insolence and cruelty; the world no doubt will censure me, and call my conduct madness ; you will be acquitted ; I shall be condemned ; but you, Sir, have wantonly robbed me of my reputation, and I hold life without it insupportable." Upon this she presented him with the letter, and opening a drawer, took out a brace of pistols, and insisted on his taking one. In vain Mr. H. protested his innocence : he swore he was an entire stranger to the letter till that very moment, and wished to discover the author. All this was considered as hypocrisy, as cowardice, added to the blackest villainy, and she continued in her resolution; accordingly he accepted of a pistol, and retired to the opposite corner: she fired and missed him, and he discharged his pistol through the ceiling. He again protested his innocence : "Hold Sir." said she, and immediately produced another brace, and as before insisted upon his taking one ; it was in vain to refuse, and once more they retreated. She fired and shot him through the elbow and he again discharged his pistol through the ceiling. " Now, Sir, you are at liberty to retire: I have redeemed my character only in part ; I seriously advise you never to injure the reputation of a woman, for the loss of it must, if she has any sense of shame, be followed with the loss of life." on which she retired and shot herself.