The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-14 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Pas. 13
The entire coast, from Gormanstown to the bar
of Drogheda is strewn with fragments of the
ill-
fated steamer, Will-o'-the-Wisp, but to additional
particulars of moment with respect to her have been
obtained. Up to last evening none of the bodies of
those who unfortunately perished with her were
recovered ; and hence no judicial inquiry into the
facts can yet be held. Seafaring men of experience
state that she would never have been heading north-
ward at the time she struck, were it not that her
fires had been previously extinguished, as her so
doing would be a direct departure from her proper
course. It is also thought that the life-toat must
have broken adrift immediately after the ship's
papers were deposited in it, or that in the act of
getting into it the poor people were swept in a body
off the deck; as, had they been lost by the capsizing
of the boat, the canister would never have come safely
to land in it. As far as can be learned, those papers
contained no official muster-roll, and we are therefore
dependent for the names of those on board upon mere
rumour. Unfortunately the loss of the steamer is not the
only disaster which has occurred on this coast. A flee
vessel, schooner rigged, is at present ashore on the
rocks of Darrin Point, near Clogher Head, and little
or no hope ie entertained of even saving the crew,
much lees of getting off the ship. The sea during
the entire of yesterday was seen making a clear
breach over the decks of the unfortunate vessel, and
no boats, however well manned, could live in the surf
raging round her. In fact, the entire coast presents a
succession of horrors. Corpses in an advanced stage
of decomposition have been cast ashore, and had
to be promptly interred. Many surmises are
afloat as to what ships these drowned corpses
belong. There seems reason to believe that
they are the bodies of the passengers submerged last
year in the Tayleur. Some papers have
boss found in the pockets of the clothing which seem
to have held these bodies together. if such be the I
ease, some clue may be found as to the identity of the
remains. A fine ship, name unknown, was seen to
go down off Lambay Island on Friday night. The
diluter was witnessed by numbers of persons on the
island, who, however willing, were unable to render
any assistance, and all on board perished. The
crew of the vessel were observed on the deck
stripped, as if for the purpose of facilitating their
attempts to escape by swimming. Wearing and
tacking were resorted to, but without effect, and a
heavy sea striking her, she went down bodily, leav-
ing not a vestige behind. None of the bodies have
been washed ashore.

The figure head of a vessel, consisting of a bust of
the Earl of Eglinton, has been thrown up. The
vessel in question is presumed to be the Eglinton, of
Ayr, 80 tons register, which was known to have
been at sea on that night with four or five hands on
board, all of whom there is too good reason to believe
have meta sailor's grave.

Major George Ashley Maude, R.11.A., who so
signally distinguished himself at Alma and Bala-
klava, arrived in Enniskillen on Thursday evening,
at the residence of his father, the Hon. and Bev. J.
C. Maude, rector of Enniskillen. Tar-barrels were
lighted at the church, and other demonstrations:of
public rejoicing were made for the reception of the
gallant officer, who, upon making his appearance,
was greeted with the hearty cheers of thousands.
Shots were fired, and bonfires blazed on every hill for
miles around. The inhabitants of the town in the
meantime held a meeting, with the Earl of Ennis-
killen in the chair, and appointed a committee to pre-
pare an address to Major Maude.
The agreement between the parties in the case of
" Handcook v. Delacour or I)e Burgh," which ! men-
tioned on Saturday, was yesterday confirmed by a
decree of the Court of Chancery, the Lord Chancellor
observing on the occasion:
I have no wish to set myself agairst what has been
doing, but I have asked these questions with • view to
satisfy my own mind u to what would be the beet course
to pursue ; and I have now no hesitation in saying that you
have done the best thing that could be done for the minor. I
think this arrangement is for his benefit, and may now
mention that my decree would have been lets favourable to
his interests.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

PLYMOUTH, TUUDAY.

The screw steam ship Duke of Wellington, which
arrived yesterday, hes gone Into harbour, and will be
docked at Heyharn.
The Calcutta, unable to proceed for Portsmouth, has re-
turned.

Twenty Guards, forty-nine Artillerymen, five of the
Royal Horse Artillery, and one Sapper, invalids, who ease
home in the Talavera, have been sent on by railway. The
remainder of the invalids have been landed here.

ADMIRALTY, FEB. 13. PROMOTION. Second
Master J. IL Pridhato (1847), to the rank of Muter.
Arrourrstwre.—biasters V. Williams (1841), to the
Hawke, 60, 'mew steam ship, at Sheerness ; R. Studwell
(1840), to the Fiegard, 42, at Woolwich ; C. R. P. Forbes
(1848), to the Penelope, 16, paddle-wheel steam frigate, of
6.50 horse-power, at Portsmouth ; J. CL Datham (1866), to the
Dragon, 6, paddle wheel steam frigate, of 560 bores-power,
la the Black Sea ; M. T. Wright (1855), to the Odin. 16,
paddle-wheel steam frigate, of 560 horse-power, at Wool.
wish; B. A. Carey (1864), to the Phoenix, 8, arrow steam
sloop, of 260 horse-power, at Woolwich ; and S. J. W.
Moriarty (1861), to the Ceataur, 6, paddle•wheel steam
frigate, of 620 hone-power, at Portsmouth.
Secretary's Clerk J. Lyon to the Conway, 14, flag.ship,
at Cork.
Clerk's Amistants J. E. C. Sullivan, to the Russell, 60,
screw steam ship, at Sheerness; and R. Hill, to the
Waterloo, 120, Sag-ship, at Sheerness.

PORTSMOUTH, Faa. 13.
The Tartar, 17, screw sloop, arrived at Spithead
to-day from Chatham ; she is oomph*, for sea.
The Himalaya, screw transport, Commander Priest, ar-
rived in harbour to-day from Southampton, to embark about
400 horses (artillery) for the Crimes.
The screw ship Edinburgh, 60, Captain Hewlett, came
into harbour this morning from Spithead, to refit.
The Jame Watt, 91, screw ship, Captain Elliot, received
her new fore and main masts to-day, the mast makers
having been employed upon them all day on Sunday.
The Nankin, 50, sailing frigate, Captain the lion. Keith
Stewart, sails to-morrow for the East Indian Italia, to re-
live the Winchester, 60.
A number of commissariat drivers embarked to-day on
board the steam ship Telegraph, for conveyance to the
Crimea.

WOOLWICH, Fee. 13.
Capt. B. J. Sullivan, having some time ago oommis-
sloped the Kerlin, has commenced entering petty officers,
able seamen, and artificers, and inputs to hare an excel-
lent crew with those turned over from the Lightning. He
is to be employed as soon as the season opens in taking
soundings and laying down buoys in the Baltic, a duty
which he performed with groat satisfaction in the Lightning,
last per.
Captain Phillpot's troop of Royal Horse Artillery were
medically inspected yesterday at the Ordnance Hospital,
Woolwich, to be in readiness for embarkation for the
Crimes.
The Gibraltar, No. 183, screw transport, is lying off tha
Royal Arsenal, Woolwieb, taking on board stores, NA u
149 dated PH this oteregiutle et ;coop tp the Citatte.

11.11/33 inteittgentf• •

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCZ 13.
Tim AT MN WV!, AT OCILDHALL.-13ZY01111 WAD AND
• LONDOI OFICIAL :CAT.

HOPI o. AGUADO.—CRI3I, CON.
Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Burin, and Mr. Phipson wire coun-
sel for the plaintiff; the Attorney-General,6ssjeant Wil-
kinr,.and Mr. Wise represented the defendant.

This action, in which Mr. Adrian John Hope seeks to
recover damages from the Count Alexandro Clemente
Olympio Aguado for criminal conversation with the plain-
tifi's wile, was resumed this morning, when
The Attorney-General, addressing the jury for the de-
fence, asserted that this was simply a counter movement on
the part of Mr. Hope to the proceedings instituted against
himself by Mrs. Hope in the ecclesiastical courts, on the
ground of cruelty and adultery. The learned gentleman
pointed to the dissimilarity of dispositions, as the primary
cause of the feeling of dislike between them, and quoted
portions of Mr. Hope's affidavit to show that blows
even had passed, and thus it was idle to talk cf the
I affection that existed between Mr. and Mrs. Hope up to
ISIS, and then to say that this harmony was disturbed by
the Count Aguado having alienated the affection of a lady
who. according to her hoaband's own account, has ever
since the day of their marriage habitually used exasperating
language, which led to insulting language and con-
duct on his own part. .• Here was a wife with all
the violence of temper—all the excitability of a French
woman—here was a husband exhibiting all that cold skr-
mom, all the immovable phlegm—nut of an Englishman,
for I !seise in this we have attained a juste milieu, but ot
that country frem which his wealth was derived—that
country to which his affections were attached. Holland
was his favourite place ; and here, I say, we have all the
excitability of a French woman, and all the phlegm of a
Dutchman But even, gentlemen, if you should some to
the conclusion, having heard all the evidence that
there has been adultery, it is idle to say that the
affections of the wife could have been alienated by
a youth like the defendant. My learned friend
did not say whether be sought suit moderate damages
as would entitle his client to a locus standi in seeking a
divorce, or whether he claimed a large amount in compensa-
tion for the injuries sustained by the husband by reason of
the loss of his wife's affections. Mb said, I will reserve that
question far by-and•bye, for I am sure of a second speech.
Wu that fair? Was that candid? Was that generous ?
If my learned friend had told me that we were to be con-
fined to the simple issue, whether there was adultery er not,
then I should have barn caved much pain in going through
this most painful history—
Lord Campbell—l understood from the opening that large
damages were not the object of this action.
Sir F. Thesiger—l thought I had distinctly said so. I
certainly intended to have said ao.
The Attothey•General—My learned friend certainly said',
he would reserve this question.
Sir F. Thesiger—l think not.

Lord Campbell—You see it is now disclaimed; and let it
be understood that the question of adultery is the only Issue.
The Attorney-General—l rejoice that it is so understood,
for it will spare much unpleasant investigation. And now
that I have to pt.iut attention to the only question in issue,
I will take you briefly over the evidence, and will tell you
what is our answer. Gentlemen, the intimacy between the
Count Aguado and Mrs. Hope began in the autumn of
1816, and the case for the plaintiff is, that in
the summer of that year, I think in July, Mrs.
Hope went to Havre, where the Count Aguado
already was, both residing at Frascati's, a very cell-
brated hotel, and it is alleged that, having contiguous
apartments, a constent and most familiar iatercoune
between Mrs. Hope and the Count Aguado sprang up—au
intimacy, oentlemen, of such a character that notwith-
.

standing' an unrestricted intercourse by night, they
could not restrain themselves by day, but in a reek.
lass and careless manner, with an indecency which to
us is inexplicable, expased themselves to all who came
near them. It is Bad that the lady took the room
106 and the bedroom IN, that she might be near the
count's bed-room (122). Bat the truth is that she took
those rooms because they were the best in the hotel. Now,
we will come to the etidpea ui the women Demazeau and

Sautreuil. Wh they have occasion to go into the '
room of Mrs. Hope, they invariably find her committing
some act of indecent end improper familiarity with the
count. Either his arms are round her waist, or he is
kissing her, or his hands are in her bosom, or be is in her bed-
room, brushing hie hair, and they are living together as
man and wife, and totally regardless of shame ; and though
they have the fullest intercourse at night, they cannot relict
by day from enjoying themselves in the open corridor, even
though exposed to the eyes of the servants. Yet Mrs. Hope
is a lady well known at the hotel, a lady of high position
and large fortune, and it is equally well known that the
Count Aguado is not her husband. Who are the witnesses
by whom this is proved ? They have not been produced by
the attorneys for the plaintiff, nor by any one acting under
their control. Their evidence has been obtained, and they
have been brought here by a commissioner of the hotel, one
Monsieur Henri, whom we do not see. Can you believe •
story which be such manifest marks of improbability ?
A. jury will give effect to statements on oath, but they will
not surrender their judgment into the hands of witnesses;
and I ask you if any lady who had for the Stu time de-
parted from the ways of virtue could be so utterly reckless
—so lost to all shame—so regardless of her reputation--go
careless of her position in society, as thus wantonly to
expose herself to servants, who in all probability
would repeat what was a matter of cariosity to them
end a matter of interest to all in the hotel. Gentlemen, I
say that this story is most improbable, yet it does not stop
here. One of the witnesses relates a circumstance which,
if true, could lead but to one conclusion. She tells estrange
story. One night, after the ball, she went to put out the
lights--she saw the.count enter Mrs. Hope's bedroom—she
was determined to watch him, and, watching, fell uleep,
and did not wake until four o'clock in the morning. What
she had watched him for would not at Ent sight appear.
If • gentleman were seen going into a lady's bedroom be-
tween 12 and 1 in the morning, and all the rest of the
household were asleep, the conclusion could be very
speedily arrived at without further inquiry. Then she
said that in going her rounds, at four o'clock in the morn-
ing, she saw the count coming out of Mrs. Hope's room in
his shirt, and afterwards found his slippers there. Well,
she made the discovery. What was her motive ? My lord
asked her if she had informed the muter of the

hotel of the scandal which was ping on there from
a gentleman haying intercourse with a married lady. Not
at all. That point is sot unworthy of consideration, but
what will you say when 1 tell you it was not her duty to be
there at all; and what will you further soy when I tell you
the whole story is a fabrication? They have got here ewe
women. 1 am told their circa:menaces have lately greatly
improved. This Ido net know ; but I know this, that I
will produce witnesses of a very different charaeter,who will
utterly destroy their statements. I will produce the pro-
prietor of the hotel ; I will produce the defendant's brother,
who will tall you that the Count Aguado did sot occupy the
room 122, but that up to the 7th of August it was occupied
by the Prince of Wurtemberg, and after that by a French
family. The whole story is a fabrication, got up by Mons.
Henri, the commiisioner of the hotel, and a hotel commie-
sinner, gentlemen, is too facile a person to he entrusted with
the safe keeping of witnesses, and the prepa-
ration of their evidence before a court of justice.
So much for the affair at Havre, in July, 1846.
After that Mr. Young takes up the story. He says that on
the return of Mrs. Hope to Paris he was the medium of cor-
respondence between her and the count, and here I must
say it is a suspicious circumstance that in Young's affidavit
in the Chancery proceedings, wheat. perfectly well knew
it was the object of Mr. Hine to establish adultery, with
the view of inducing the court to give up to him the custody '
of the children, there was not only no mention of this fact,
bat when he wes eked if he knew of any criminality co
the part of Mrs. Hope, he unhesitatingly denied that
which he now came forward to accuse her of. Hie motive,
were dear; he bad bad some difference with Mrs. Hope;
having failed in his scheme to get the children away from
her, he used menacing language, and had been ejected by
the polies, and from that moment be had turned on her.
And now you find this witness, who, according to his own
acknowledgment, was from 1846 to 1853 the go-between
of Mn. Hope and the Count Aguado, eating his master's
bread while he was betraying his dearest intereets,
now coming forward to complete a double set of treachery,
by betraying the lady in whose confidence he was. I won-
der, if this fact was communicated to Mr. Hope, he did not
spurn from his door a man who had thus acted as the
traitor and the villain, and whose very presence was a
pollution ; but no, he is continued in Mr. Hope's service,
and was still as ever a confidential servant, at 501. a year
and perquisites, which, as he tells you, he would rather
not explain. Se covered with opprobrium and shame is this
man that you cannot believe hint unless confirmed by other
witnesses. He tells us that he went to the Rue de Mon-
ceau, where he found the count in a pleasant chamber, and
in that pleasant apartment conveyed to him the unpleasant
tidings that Mrs. Hope could not keep her appointment.
Then came Hons. Tallandie on the scene, who swore that
he drove habitually Mrs. Hope :to the Rue do Monceau,
and that the count was in the habit of handier her back to
the carriage, which, as Mons. Tallandio tells us, never
drove to her own door. We have made inquiriessince this
evidence has been given, for we had no previous oppor-
tunity of meeting it, and I will call the proprietor
of the house in the Rue de Monceau, who will prove that
in 1846 or 1847, or in any subsequent year, the count never
had apartments in his house ; and, further, as it might be
said there is a mistake about the house, I will produce a
book, kept under the authority of the police, from which
it will appear that at no time did the Count Aguado ever
occupy apartments from one end of the Rue de lonceau to
the other. I will prove he was never even in the house.
That carries us over 1846 and 1847, and now as to 1848.
It is alleged that while Mn. Hope was residing at Folke-
stone in 1848 a criminal intercourse took place between her
and the Coast Aguado. The proof of this is somewhat lilt-
Rld&t. It is said that Mr. Hope havingione to Holland, Mn.
Hope residing at the house of Mn. Kitchener, lent for the
count, who established himself at the Pavilion Hotelorben
hourly interment, took place between them. The evi-
dence thee, she sent for the count to 80%1101011
"la Oa Young. The registers certainly show Ise
went 'len on that occasion, but that he Vial
to fetch the count I em instructed to deny. It is
silep _ed that Mr. Hope left in the morning, and that Count
w-rotado arrived next day. Why, no one knew better WM
7"ttaxitilaredi.;siiiht4houoapesio::dthwhadehowteffosmiguhecledthe:fuloatsentdpalecadinanceyeorenthipor:eurlisihmatfuinrbony,trwshQii:ethppdlthlsoewoleeeortateitafwearn.