LETTER LXXII
MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWEMONDAY, JULY 10.
I now, my dearest friend, resume my pen, to obey my mother, in giving youher opinion upon your unhappy story.
She still harps upon the old string, and will have it that all yourcalamities are owing to your first fatal step; for she believes, (what Icannot,) that your relations had intended after one general trial more,to comply with your aversion, if they had found it to be as riveted aone, as, let me say, it was a folly to suppose it would not be found tobe, after so many ridiculously-repeated experiments.
As to your latter sufferings from that vilest of miscreants, she isunalterably of opinion that if all be as you have related (which shedoubts not) with regard to the potions, and to the violences you havesustained, you ought by all means to set on foot a prosecution againsthim, and against his devilish accomplices.
She asks, What murderers, what ravishers, would be brought to justice, ifmodesty were to be a general plea, and allowable, against appearing in acourt to prosecute?
She says, that the good of society requires, that such a beast of preyshould be hunted out of it: and, if you do not prosecute him, she thinksyou will be answerable for all the mischiefs he may do in the course ofhis future villanous life.
Will it be thought, Nancy, said she, that Miss Clarissa Harlowe can be inearnest, when she says, she is not solicitous to have her disgracesconcealed from the world, if she be afraid or ashamed to appear in court,to do justice to herself and her sex against him? Will it not be rathersurmised, that she may be apprehensive that some weakness, or lurkinglove, will appear upon the trial of the strange cause? If, inferred she,such complicated villany as this (where perjury, potions, forgery,subornation, are all combined to effect the ruin of an innocent creature,and to dishonour a family of eminence, and where the very crimes, as maybe supposed, are proofs of her innocence) is to go off with impunity,what case will deserve to be brought into judgment? or what malefactorought to be hanged?
Then she thinks, and so do I, that the vile creatures, his accomplices,ought, by all means, to be brought to condign punishment, as they mustand will be upon bringing him to trial: and this may be a mean to blow upand root out a whole nest of vipers, and save many innocent creatures.
She added, that if Miss Clarissa Harlowe could be so indifferent abouthaving this public justice done upon such a wretch for her own sake, sheought to overcome her scruples out of regard to her family, heracquaintance, and her sex, which are all highly injured and scandalizedby his villany to her.
For her own part, she declares, that were she your mother, she wouldforgive you upon no other terms: and, upon your compliance with these,she herself will undertake to reconcile all your family to you.
These, my dear, are my mother's sentiments upon your sad story.
I cannot say but there are reason and justice in them: and it is myopinion, that it would be very right for the law to oblige an injuredwoman to prosecute, and to make seduction on the man's part capital,where his studied baseness, and no fault in her will, appeared.
To this purpose the custom in the Isle of Man is a very good one----
'If a single woman there prosecutes a single man for a rape, theecclesiastical judges impannel a jury; and, if this jury find him guilty,he is returned guilty to the temporal courts: where if he be convicted,the deemster, or judge, delivers to the woman a rope, a sword, and aring; and she has it in her choice to have him hanged, beheaded, or tomarry him.'
One of the two former, I think, should always be her option.
I long for the particulars of your story. You must have too much timeupon your hands for a mind so active as your's, if tolerable health andspirits be afforded you.
The villany of the worst of men, and the virtue of the most excellent ofwomen, I expect will be exemplified in it, were it to be written in thesame connected and particular manner in which you used to write to me.
Try for it, my dearest friend; and since you cannot give the examplewithout the warning, give both, for the sakes of all those who shall hearof your unhappy fate; beginning from your's of June 5, your prospectsthen not disagreeable. I pity you for the task; though I cannotwillingly exempt you from it.
***
My mother will have me add, that she must insist upon your prosecutingthe villain. She repeats, that she makes that a condition on which shepermits our future correspondence. Let me therefore know your thoughtsupon it. I asked her, if she would be willing that I should appear tosupport you in court, if you complied?--By all means, she said, if thatwould induce you to begin with him, and with the horrid women. I think Icould probably attend you, I am sure I could, were there but aprobability of bringing the monster to his deserved end.
Once more your thoughts of it, supposing it were to meet with theapprobation of your relations.
But whatever be your determination on this head, it shall be my constantprayer, that God will give you patience to bear your heavy afflictions,as a person ought to do who has not brought them upon herself by a faultywill: that He will speak peace and comfort to your wounded mind; and giveyou many happy years. I am, and ever will be,
Your affectionate and faithfulANNA HOWE.
***
[The two preceding letters were sent by a special messenger: in the cover were written the following lines:]
MONDAY, JULY 10.
I cannot, my dearest friend, suffer the enclosed to go unaccompanied by afew lines, to signify to you that they are both less tender in someplaces than I would have written, had they not been to pass my mother'sinspection. The principal reason, however, of my writing thus separatelyis, to beg of you to permit me to send you money and necessaries, whichyou must needs want; and that you will let me know, if either I, or anybody I can influence, can be of service to you. I am excessivelyapprehensive that you are not enough out of the villain's reach where youare. Yet London, I am persuaded, is the place, of all others, to beprivate in.
I could tear my hair for vexation, that I have it not in my power toafford you personal protection!--I am
Your ever devotedANNA HOWE.
Once more forgive me, my dearest creature, for my barbarous taunting inmine of the 5th! Yet I can hardly forgive myself. I to be so cruel, yetto know you so well!--Whence, whence, had I this vile impatiency ofspirit!--