English: An article from Town and Country Magazine, August 1790.

EXTRAORDINARY FEMALE AFFECTION.

Miss Butler and miss Ponsonby, now retired from the society of men into the wilds of a certain Welsh Vale, bear a strange antipathy to the male sex, whom they take every opportunity of avoiding.

Both ladies are daughters of the great Irish families whose names they retain.

Miss Butler, who is of the Ormond family, had feveral offers of marriage, all of which she rejected. As miss Ponsonby, her particular friend and companion, was supposed to be the bar to all matrimonial union, it was thought proper to separate them; and miss Butler was confined.

The two ladies, however, found means to elope together. But being soon overtaken, they were each brought back by their respective relations. Many attempts were renewed to draw miss Butler into marriage. But upon her solemnly and repeatedly declaring, that nothing could induce her to wed any one, her parents ceafed to persecute her by any more offers.

Not many months after, the ladies concerted and executed a fresh elopement. Each having a small sum with her, and having been allowed a trifling income, the place of their retreat was confided to a female servant of the Butler family, who was sworn to secrecy as to the place of their retirement. She was only to say that they were well and safe, and hoped that their friends, without further enquiry, would continue their annuities, which has not only been done, but increased.

The beautiful above mentioned vale is the spot they fixed on, where they have resided for several years, unknown to the neighbouring villagers by any other appellation, than the ladies in the vale!

About a twelvemonth since, three Ladies and a gentleman stopping one night at an inn in the village, not being able to procure beds, the inhabitants applied to the female hermits for accommodation to some foreign ftrangers. This was readily granted— When lo! in these foreigners they descried some of their own relatives! But no intreaties could prevail on the ladies to quit their sweet retreat.

Miss Butler is tall and masculine. She wears always a riding-habit. Hangs up her hat with the air of a sportsman in the hall, and appears in all respects as a young man, if we except the petticoat, which she still retains.

Miss Ponsonby, on the contrary, is polite and effeminate, fair and beautiful.

In Mr. secretary Steel's list of pensions for 1788, there are the names of Ellinor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, for annuities of fifty pounds each. We have many reasons to imagine, these pensioners are the ladies of the vale ; and their female confidante continues to send them their Irish annuities beside.

They live in neatness, elegance, and taste. Two females are their only servants.

Miss Ponsonby does the duties and honours of the house ; while miss Butler superintends the gardens and the rest of the grounds.