| MANY have been the cares & vicissitudes of my past life,
my beloved Ellinor, & the only consolation I feel for their bitterness
is that on a close examination of my conduct, I am convinced that I have
strictly deserved them. I murdered my father at a very early period of
my Life, I have since murdered my Mother, and I am now going to murder
my Sister. I have changed my religion so often that at present I have not
an idea of any left. I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal
for these past twelve Years; and I have forged my own will. In short, there
is scarcely a crime that I have not committed. — But I am now going to
reform. Colonel Martin of the Horse guards has paid his Addresses to me,
& we are to be married in a few days. As there is something singular
in our Courtship, I will give you an account of it. Col. Martin is the
second son of the late Sir John Martin, who died immensely rich, but bequeathing
only one hundred thousand pound a piece to his three younger Children,
left the bulk of his fortune, about eight Million, to the present Sir Thomas.
Upon his small pittance the Colonel lived tolerably contented for nearly
four months, when he took it into his head to determine on getting the
whole of his eldest Brother's Estate. A new will was forged & the Colonel
produced it in Court — but nobody would swear to it's being the right Will
except himself, & he had sworn so much that nobody beleived him. At
that moment, I happened to be passing by the door of the Court, and was
beckoned in by the Judge, who told the Colonel that I was a Lady ready
to witness anything for the cause of Justice, & advised him to apply
to me. In short, the Affair was soon adjusted. The Colonel & I Swore
to its' being the right will, & Sir Thomas has been obliged to resign
all his illgotten Wealth. The Colonel in gratitude waited on me the next
day with an offer of his hand. — I am now going to murder my Sister.
Yours Ever.
Anna Parker. |