The case of the unfortunate Martha Sophia Swordfeager.

  • Swordfeager, Martha Sophia.
Date:
[1771]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The case of the unfortunate Martha Sophia Swordfeager. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ iU 1 R E F A C E. HP HE principal View of the following Sheets is to draw the At¬ tention of the Charitable to an unfortunate Lady, who is the SubjeB of them; and whatever Stigma they may chance to fix upon the Character of any other Perfon, it rnuft be confidered merely as a Confequcnce, and not the Motive, of this Appeal. Phe Reader, indeed, whofe Breafl is fufceptible of any delicate hnprefiions, will find himfelf agitated by oppofte Principles in the Courfe of his Pe~ rufal; and every interefiing Circumfiance, that rnuft draw a Pear of Pity for the Lady's Dijlrefs, will at the fame Pime excite a gene¬ rous Indignation againft the Author of it: -—That Gentleman how¬ ever (without Self-Deception in a great Degree) can neither be furprifed nor offended at the prefent Mode of Application in her Be¬ half j — he may perhaps with Reafon difapprove, but cannot in Juft ice condemn, it j efpecially when he reflects upon what eafy Perms he might not only have fuperfeded the Neceffity, but even prevented the PoJJibility, of this Addrefs : — He was well acquainted with the Conditions, upon which the SuppreJJion or Communication of it was fufpended; and as he had an Option of the Alternative, he cannot have any Reafon to complain. Phe finail Advance that was ineffectually folicited (fmall indeed upon a comparative View either of his own Fortune, or the Lady's Difirefifes) evidently Jhews that Inhumanity has a Rival-Pajjion in his Breafl; a Paffion, which fieems to have A 2 abforbed
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