An Adventurer from Bristol

The following story was posted in The Times on October 6, 1786. It tells of a wealthy woman whose husband was an “adventurer”, running off to live a life among prostitutes and reckless companions. The woman, left alone to fend for herself, was consistently pursued by her husband’s friends. Until, finally, one of his friends (a Lord no less!) offered a great sum of money in exchange for the wife, an insult to her virtue and worth. But all was not lost. In a clever twist, the resourceful wife was able to turn the dissipated actions of her “husbands” and make for herself a life in respectable society.

So, may this be one of the reasons you never purchase your friend’s wife:

 The Times, Friday, Oct 06, 1786; pg. 4; Issue 548; col A

It reads:

The following story has lately made a considerable noise in the Neighbourhood of Bristol.

AN Adventurer, who, a short time ago, made a considerable figure in the beau monde, suddenly disappeared, having clandestinely married a young Lady of considerable fortune, which was at her own disposal. He chose Somersetshire for his residence, where he lived in a most expensive and dissipated manner. He soon neglected the amiable sacrifice of his bed, and lavished large sums on the most abandoned prostitutes.

His wife was consequently left exposed to the addresses of each of his profligate companions. It would be no wonder if innocence fell a prey to them, but her sense and virtue repelled their advances; however, a certain nobleman of abandoned principles, made her such proposals, that she flew from him to her husband. Could any one suppose that such a monster existed, as a husband, who could advise an amiable wife, to accept the advances of another. To this effect, however, did our adventurer endeavour to persuade her. She returned his Lordship an answer, with all the indignation of insulted virtue.

It, however, became necessary for her to assume a different conduct, finding his Lordship had finally settled preliminaries with her husband, and actually paid him a large sum of money; therefore, assuming an air of compliance, she desired a settlement, to which my Lord instantly appeared with joy to comply, then, says she, let my attorney look over your deeds. He instantly produced them, but no sooner had she possession of the parchment, then she set off to London, and delivered them to his Lordship’s family.

Finding the deplorable situation of the young Lady, they rewarded her generosity, by taking her under their protection.

…and so the Lady goes from being the humiliated wife of a whoring drunkard, to a woman protected by the family of a Lord. This is the type of story where the woman could have easily ended up lost among the forgotten unfortunates of society, but for her quick instincts and action, she was kindly returned the status which she had been born to.