The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-12 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE,
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
Sittings at Nisi Priam in Middissax.—(Bstans Lord Chief
Justice Brio and a Common Jury.)
THOMPSON P. am.—Tai LATE lINCTION 7011
809THAMPTON.

This was an action to recover damages for two alleged
libels published in the Hampshire Advertiser in the course
of the late election for Southampton ; and the defendant,
in addition to "not guilty," pleaded in justification that
the alleged libels were true.
Mr. Smjseat Parry and Mr. Beasley appeared for the
plaintiff ; and Mr. Serjeant Shoe and Mr. Archibald lot the
defendant.
Mr. Serjeant Parry said that the libels complained of
were published upon the 29th of November and the tith of
December last. The jury will remember that Mr. Willcock,
who had represented Southampton for many years, died
suddenly, and three candidates entered the field, the
present Lord Mayor, Captain Mangles, and Mr. George
Thompson. Mr. George Thompson had for 30 or 40 years
been incessantly labouring in the advocacy of great ques-
tions of social and political reform. As far back as 1828 he
took an active part in reference to the abolition of slavery in
the West Indies, and from 1832 to 1834, or thereabouts, he
was agent for the Anti-Slavery Association in this country,
sod he (Mr. Serjeant Parry) believed that he had
contributed es much as any living man to the abolition of
slavery in the West Indies, and afterwards to the abolition
of the system of apprenticeship which followed the abolition
of slavery. Subsequently he went to the northern states
of America in the same interest, and there incurred danger,
even to his life, by his straightforward and self-denying
course. H. returned to this country and took an active
part in the corn-law agitation, and from 1847
to 1852 he was M.P. for the Tower Hamlets. He visited
India on two occasions, and became agent for the King of
Delhi, and the Rajah of Satter& His connexion with
Southampton was, that in 1842 he first publicly visited the
borough, with Lord Radnor and Mr. Cobden, to agitate the
corn-law question ;he made subsequent visits, and on one
ocosaion the inhabitants presented him with • piece
of plate. He with Lord Nugent contested the borough, end
was only defeated by a small number. On the late occasion
he went down to Southampton and addressed the electors,
but be left Southampton upon other business, and during
his absence Captain Mantra, the other liberal candidate,
made great way, and when Mr. Thompson returned he found
that his committee were very anxious that he should not
divide the liberal interest, and the result wee that Mr. G.
Thompson rethed in favour of Capt. Mashes. On Nov. 29
there appeared a leading article in the Hampshire Adver-
tiser, in the course of which the writer in allusion to Captain
Mangles said, "If there waren* otherevidenee of the misname
of his muse we have it in the hired advocacy of Mr. Mani).
see, who openly insulted the volunteers of this country,
and was sent to the right-about for his incomprehensible
indiscretion." Mr. Thompson wrote to the paper rem-
I of this passage saying, " I take leave to braid
' this pone as a base, arid unfounded, and malignant false-
hood," and threatening legal proceedings unless there were
an absolute retractatton and an ample apology. This letter,
however, was not insetted, hut there was another article,
is which it was said, " Mr. George Thompson indignantly
denies that he was hired to advocate the cause of Captaia
Mangles, and we are willing to believe him, seeing, as we have
lately pointed out, that his advocacy was utterly damaging to
the side that he espoused," and the article so far nous apolo-
gising, went on to speak in terms of badinage of Mr. Thom's-
eon, calling him "the indignant veteran of the stump," and
ruing other terms not at all polite. These two articles were
the libels complained of. The learned counsel in continua•
Lion detailed the various circumstances connected with the
late election, and of Mr. Thom 's retirement from the
contest Thompson was brought for-
ward as • candidate by the United Kingdom Alliance
Association, and that his expenses were to be paid. His
retirement was arranged by his committee without his per-
sour! intafereous; and it was agreed that Captain Mangles'
eommittee should pass • vote of thanks to Mr. Thomploo ;
that Captain Mangles should support a measure for rega-
biting the liquor traffic ; and that the expenses of
Mr. Thompson's committee should be paid. Cap-
tain Mangles agreed to put down 1051. for this purpose,
and Mr. Harper Twelvetrees, who had been at first invited
to become a candidate, and in whose stead Mr. Thompson
had gone down, paid the halaDoe.
Mr. George Thompson was called as • witness, sad
examined at great length in proof of his counsel's statement.
He added, that after it was arranged that
he should retire, he agreed., as he was the only candi-
datewho amid obtain a-hearimg, to address some meetings
in favour of Captain Mangles, but he did not know that gem.
tleman by sight, nor soy of his committee, except a few of
them who accompanied him to the meetings. He
pest positively stated that he had
received any money from Captain Mangles, or any of
his committee. As to his having ' insulted the volunteers,"
, all he had done was this. After some com-
pliments to the Lord Mayor, be had stated at
a public meeting that he had no doubt that the Lord Mayor
would do excellently well in reviewing a regiment of
feather-bed soldiers ; and upon there being some hisses be
said that be had no wish to speak disparagingly of the volun-
teers, but that they must themselves admit that there was a
gmt difference between them and the soldiers who had
taken Sebastopol and quelled the mutiny in India. On a
subsequent occasion, oe having been spoken to about the
matter, he paid a high compliment to the volunteers, and
proposed a vote of thanks to them.
Cross-examined—He had been a lecturer in favour of
liberal principles, and received remuneration, but he had
never taken up any cause for remuneration. He had never
received the payment of a stipulated sum for lectures,
but had after the lectures received money ; or if he knew
previously the amount he would have in any initance, it
was from a sum being proposed to him, and not from any
bargain upon his part He bad taken no part at all in re-
ference to the terms of his retirement, except that Captain
Mangles should vote for the "first reading " of the Permis-
sive BilL
Mr. Serjeant Shee—And that meant that the bill should
be read a first time and thrown under the table ; there was
no pledge to support it further.
Witness-That might be the interpretation of those who
gave pledges—(laughter)—but it was not his. lie did not
know that that was the course Captain Mengles would have
taken ; he was not there to prove Captain Mangles a
hypocrite.
Mr. Serjeant Shea--You, we all know, are a teetotaller,
and in favour of such a bill being law.
Witness--I have had too mach justice dote me upon the
subject of teetotalism.
Serjeant MOT- TAM glad to hear it, and that you con-
form to some extent to the weakness of human nature.
Witness continued—He had never heard that it VMS
arranged that Captain Mangles should pay 1171. for wit-
ness's election expenses, nor did he even now know
the amount that had been paid. He never himself
asked for any money, but ha never protested &Pied
his friends receiving money for his retirement. He consi-
dered that by his retiring Captain Mangles received the
benefit of what had been done for witness.
Mr. Serjeant &Ml—Did you not hear it said that Cap-
tain Mas would give 101. if you retired, and that it
was replied that if be paid the whole expenses-11T I.—yon
would address two meetings on his behalf
Witness most positively denied that he had ever heard of
such a proposition.
[The case was proceeding when oar report left.]

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
Sitting at Nisi Prina at Weatminstar.—(Balure Mr. Barna

Martin and Common Juries.)
There were seven rams in the paper to-day. Only one,
which involved a claim for some lime, was tried out, the
rest being undefended or made remsnits
This was the last day of these sittings, and to-morrow the
court site in the City.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
Dt THL GOODIS OF Flit I V. L. C. HARTUT, D.D.
Dr. Hawtrey died bat year a bachelor. and with only oils
sister, who was a lunatic. He bad left as extraordinary
accumuletion of papers, amongst which was a will, dated
January, 30, 1823, bequeathing everything to his mother.
Since then, the Bev. S. T. Hewtrey and another cousin
of Mir Hawtrey, of whom they were committees
of the person, had made a more perfect search, end lnc
sack which contained various sums of gold, a number of
bank notes, and a multitude of letters and papers, they
found a will dated in the year 1828, in favour of In.
Hawtrey 's mother and sisters, with a number of specific
legacies to well-known names.
On the motion of Dr. Swebey,
Sir C. Creased! granted probate of this later paper.
IN TIM GOODS or THZ MARQUIS OF LAIOIDOWNX.
The Marquis of Lansdowne died oo 31st of January
last, leaving a will dated the 10th of June, 1862, and also
two codicils. In those instruments reference was made to
an indenture of settlement which was dated in the year
1834, and which bad been enrolled in Chancery. It was of
enormous length, end the ouly property not disposed of by it
was a small portion of the site of Lansdowne House.
Dr. Spicks applied to the court to allow the probate top
without reciting this document..
Sir C. Cromwell thought there was no necessity to embody
the deed in the probate ; but there must be an affidavit as
to its Waters°, aad enrolment.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Registrar Higgins.)
IN RI THOCAO NONLIY.
The bankrupt was a lead and glass merchant, of Bury St.
Edmunds and other pLices, was the first sitting. Tbc
liabilities are about 2,0001. At present there are 00
smote ; but the bankrupt baring within a month of his
failure gives two Mlle of sale, whereby property of 1,40111.
was paned toe relative, the creditors have taken stern far
contesting the validity of those instruments.
Assignees were now chosen, and further proceedings were
adjourned until the examination meeting. Messrs. Liotiater
and Haokwood are the solicitors under the bankruptcy.

Tin WwrERN FlRRERlM—Mackerel hare dna
earl, been caught on the Devoushire and Corniah COP.ta
Last week the men employed at the Mount's Bay Fi.hery
landed from 200 ro 900 per beet, which sold at beim 21s. le
30s. par hundred. At Nevagisesy the mackerel wives are
out. Some of them shot last week, the largest take Wag
1,300. The fish were email.