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Domestic News
October 8, 1773
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In New York, Miss T---- confronted her former suitor Mr. H---- with pistols over a scurrilous letter she believed he wrote, wounding him in the elbow before shooting herself.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
LONDON, July 19.
A letter from New York, dated June 1, says, "We have had an Instance of Female Heroism not to be equalled by either ancient or modern History. Mr. - - -, who paid his addresses to Miss T - - - for a considerable Time, suddenly withdrew himself, and took several indecent Liberties with that Lady's Character. A third 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 which 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, & 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; he fired and missed him, and she discharged her Pistol through the Ceiling. He again protested his Innocence: "Hold, Sir!" said she, and immediately produced another Brace, & as before, insisted upon his taking one. It was vain to refuse, and once more they retreated. She fired and shot him through the Elbow, and he again discharged his Pistol in the Ceiling. "Now Sir (says she) 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 a Loss of Life." Upon which he retired and shot herself."
A letter from New York, dated June 1, says, "We have had an Instance of Female Heroism not to be equalled by either ancient or modern History. Mr. - - -, who paid his addresses to Miss T - - - for a considerable Time, suddenly withdrew himself, and took several indecent Liberties with that Lady's Character. A third 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 which 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, & 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; he fired and missed him, and she discharged her Pistol through the Ceiling. He again protested his Innocence: "Hold, Sir!" said she, and immediately produced another Brace, & as before, insisted upon his taking one. It was vain to refuse, and once more they retreated. She fired and shot him through the Elbow, and he again discharged his Pistol in the Ceiling. "Now Sir (says she) 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 a Loss of Life." Upon which he retired and shot herself."
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime
What keywords are associated?
Female Heroism
Pistol Duel
Scurrilous Letter
Reputation
New York
Suicide
What entities or persons were involved?
Miss T
Mr. H
Where did it happen?
New York
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New York
Event Date
June 1
Key Persons
Miss T
Mr. H
Outcome
mr. h---- wounded through the elbow; miss t---- shot herself.
Event Details
Miss T---- confronted Mr. H---- in her dressing-room over a scurrilous letter she believed he authored, locking the door and forcing a pistol duel; she fired twice, missing first and wounding him second; he fired into the ceiling both times; she then advised him and allowed him to leave before shooting herself.