“I had thought of remaining in England, till I weaned my child; but this state of freedom was too peaceful to last, and I had soon reason to wish to hasten my departure.  A friend of Mr. Venables, the same attorney who had accompanied him in several excursions to hunt me from my hiding places, waited on me to propose a reconciliation.  On my refusal, he indirectly advised me to make over to my husband—­for husband he would term him—­the greater part of the property I had at command, menacing me with continual persecution unless I complied, and that, as a last resort, he would claim the child.  I did not, though intimidated by the last insinuation, scruple to declare, that I would not allow him to squander the money left to me for far different purposes, but offered him five hundred pounds, if he would sign a bond not to torment me any more.  My maternal anxiety made me thus appear to waver from my first determination, and probably suggested to him, or his diabolical agent, the infernal plot, which has succeeded but too well.

“The bond was executed; still I was impatient to leave England.  Mischief hung in the air when we breathed the same; I wanted seas to divide us, and waters to roll between, till he had forgotten that I had the means of helping him through a new scheme.  Disturbed by the late occurrences, I instantly prepared for my departure.  My only delay was waiting for a maid-servant, who spoke French fluently, and had been warmly recommended to me.  A valet I was advised to hire, when I fixed on my place of residence for any time.

“My God, with what a light heart did I set out for Dover!—­It was not my country, but my cares, that I was leaving behind.  My heart seemed to bound with the wheels, or rather appeared the centre on which they twirled.  I clasped you to my bosom, exclaiming ’And you will be safe—­quite safe—­when—­we are once on board the packet.—­Would we were there!’ I smiled at my idle fears, as the natural effect of continual alarm; and I scarcely owned to myself that I dreaded Mr. Venables’s cunning, or was conscious of the horrid delight he would feel, at forming stratagem after stratagem to circumvent me.  I was already in the snare—­I never reached the packet—­I never saw thee more.—­I grow breathless.  I have scarcely patience to write down the details.  The maid—­the plausible woman I had hired—­put, doubtless, some stupefying potion in what I ate or drank, the morning I left town.  All I know is, that she must have quitted the chaise, shameless wretch! and taken (from my breast) my babe with her.  How could a creature in a female form see me caress thee, and steal thee from my arms!  I must stop, stop to repress a mother’s anguish; lest, in bitterness of soul, I imprecate the wrath of heaven on this tiger, who tore my only comfort from me.