Vermont Phœnix

A vast Estate and Wondrous Story.— The public have no doubt observed that Gen. Gaines, not long since married a second wife. It has not been generally stated that he has a prospect of obtaining, in her right, an estate estimated at twelve millions of dollars !!

Mrs. Gaines claims to be the legitimate daughter of the late Daniel Clark. Mr. Clark settled in New Orleans, when under the dominion of Spain, and became an extensive merchant and speculator, besides distinguishing himself as a politician. He died in 1813, and Mr. Relf, of the mercantile firm of Clark and Relf, of New Orleans, took immediate possession of his immense estates, under will executed in 1811. From that period to the present, Mr. Relf has controlled, conducted & disposed of Mr. Clark's estates, without accounting to any one.

Mrs. Gaines claims as Mr. Clark's daughter.—Her story is a romantic story.

In 1802 or 1803, Mr. Clark married in New Orleans a lady separated from her husband. This separation had taken place in consequence of proofs that he had a previous living wife—but before these proofs were effectively obtained. Upon this account the marriage was kept private. Mrs. Gaines was born of this marriage, and named Myra. Disagreements arose between Mr. Clark and his wife, which resulted in a final separation, in the year 1807, no public acknowledgement of the marriage having taken place.

The lady, in the persuasion that her marriage was an illegal one, from his refusing her a public acknowledgement, intermarried with a gentleman of Philadelphia, who took her to France, where they resided many years. He is now dead, and his widow, claiming to have been the wife of Daniel Clark, is living, and resides at Natchitoches.

In 1813, it is alleged, that Daniel Clark made a new will, written complete in his own hand writing, by which he recognized the legitimacy of his daughter, and devised his immense property to her. This will it is charged, was obtained and secreted, if not destroyed by Mr. Relf.

In 1832, Myra Clark became the wife of Wm. W. Whitney. She had been brought up by a Mr. Davis, in total ignorance of her parents and of her alleged rights. After the marriage of Whitney, in examining some old papers, he first obtained some intimation of his wife's parentage and claims. He commenced an investigation, which has led to the full proof, as it is said, of all the facts stated. In the hands of Gen. Gaines, no doubt, every effort will be made to elicit all the facts, and to secure for his wife the parental heritage that has been wrested from her.

Daniel Clark was a native of Sligo, in Ireland, & came to N. Orleans upon the invitation of a bachelor uncle, who made him his heir. He filled a large space in the politics of the country, and gave information that fully confirmed the Kentucky Spanish conspiracy, and fastened on Gen. Wilkinson a corrupt participation in it. And now ask the question—Who was Daniel Clark?— and all but a comparative few would confess their ignorance!