The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-30 00:00:00

joined Mn, Heeding ; and three-quarters of an hour after
the parties were again seen in close conversation. Finding
themselves obeeenal, they went off in one direction, but
anon afterwards returned and went towards Cheedle-bridge.
These circumstances (said the Attorncy-Oeneralj might
appear at present trifling, but, taken in conjunction with
the flat of the evidence, they would show that the parties
were aware they were doing what they ought not. On the
3rd of December they were again seen by a gentleman
named Degdale end another named Ogden. Mrs Harding
ChM! out of the side gate and went across a ferry, where
she was met by the defendant, Mr. Middleton, end they
walked together towards • lane. Mr. Dugslale planted
himself bellied a hedge, and beard the defendant propose
to Mrs. Harding an assignation with him near the Athe
mem, Manchester, on the day but one following. Mrs.
Harding said, "That will not do." Ile said " Will you
come to my °Seer to which she assented. He then added,
"Now you understand, and mind, if anything occurs write
as before. Shall I see you again this evening ?" She said
" No, I think not." They then drew near, anti she said
something which Mr. Dngdale did floc hear, the defendant
replying, "Good bye, my love; never mind him, the
scoundrel." Me, rensdale end Mr. Ogden communicated
whet :lay bad seen and heard to Mr. Kidd, who is the
incumbent of Didsbury, and that gentleman recom-
mended them to go at once to Mr. Herding. They
did so the nest day; and Mr. Herding, both grieved and
surprised, requested those gentlemen to meet him the next
day at the office of his solicitor. They there committed to
writing the substance of their testimony. Mr. Harding's
eyes were opened, his suspicions of the defendant were
aroused, and he directed Mr. Makinson to institute inqui-
ries. The result was, that tho attorney obtained a know-
ledge of the details now laid before the jury, and of the
whole conduct of the defendant from beginning to end.
He (Sir F. Thesiger) did not know what the defence was
which his learned, friend was instructed to set up; but he
could not adduce ono single act of neglect, unkindness, or
indiscretion against the plaintiff. On the Oth of December,
Mrs. Harding sent a message to the defendant, telling him
that if he valued her character, he had better leave the
country and destroy every scrap of paper, for Mr. Harding
was determined to have • trinl. Mr. Middleton replied
that ho had done as she wished, but that it would be de-
struction to him to leave the country; though if thaw
went wrong, he would do so. The learned Attorney-General
concluded by saying that he had now accurately detailed the
facts, which would be proved le evidence ," end the conclu-
sion must be drawn front the general MIN of the tes-
timony, which it would be unfair to take is detail. Look-
ing at the conduct of the defendant awl the phihatilf's wife,
the Jury, as men of the world, Mall MY ell Mellibte con-
clusion than that the guilty eat was perpetrated between
, the parties. He would not enlarge epee the serious cha-
, ratter of the injury sustained by the plaintiff ; for no one
knew better than the defendant the value of that relation
which he had intruded upon and violated. Yet the feelings
of a husband when death bad deprived him of the cherished
object of his affection were not to be compared for a mo-
ment with those which wrung the heart when that object
was taken away by the corruption of the seducer. It was
usual in canes of this nature to refer to the circumstances

of the defendant in order to regulate the damages, but upon
what principle he (the Attorney General) could not under-
stand. It was painful to talk with a view to enhance as it
were the price of the object which the defendant had se-
duced by his adulterous and sinful course of conduct, and
he trusted the jury would show by their verdict that there
were no circumstances which could render the very highest
damages more than a miserable compensation for the injury
sustained. _ _

The learned counsel then proceeded to call:witnesses on
behalf of the plaintiff.
Mr. Hopkins, examined by Mr. Atherton, Q.C., deposed
that ho is an alderman of the borough of Manchester, resi-
dent at Cheatham. Ilas known the plaintiff for 16 years.
Witness had visited plaintiff since his marriage to the
second wife, and they appeared to live on very good terms,
but nothing particular to attract attention. In cross-
examination by Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, witness said lie had
visited plaintiff about a dozen times a year, and frequently
stopped all night. Recently, witness had suspected there
was discord between them on account of the son by the
former marriage, but had never heard plaintiff use any
harsh expression towards his wife. Heard of their separa-
tion first from Mr. Harding himself, who called on witness
soon afterwards, and informed him of what had taken
place. Mr. Brotherton, the member for Salford, is a very
intimate friend of the plaintiff. He is in court.
Mr. Armstrong, examined by Mr. Cowling, said the
plaintiff was a neighbour of his. Ile appeared to live very
happily with his wife. Witness's wife occasionally visited
Mrs. Harding. In cross-examination by Serjaint Wilkins
witness had heard disagreements about plaintiff's eon, who
RSA now about 21 years of age.
Mr. Richard Allen, surgeon, examined by Sir F. Thesiger
—Had attended plaintiff's family as a medical man, and
bad also visited them as a friend. He considered the
plaintiff and his wife lived together happily and agreeably.
li, October, 18,50, plaintiff's son was in imminent danger ;
witness and two other medical men attended him. The

defendant, Mr. Middleton, is a clergyman of the church of
England, residing in Manchester; ho is about 50 years of
axe, and • widower. In cross-examination by Scrjeant
Wilkins, the witness dated there were symptoms of deli-
rium tremens in the illness of plaintiff's son. lied never
heard abusive language from the plaintiff to his wife, but
bad heard that Mn. Harding was continually finding fault
about the sou. _ _

Martha Norton, at present housekeeper to her brother, a
warehouse-keeper at Manchester, formerly lived u upper
housemaid in the service of the plaintiff. Went there in
the latter end of 1850. The son was very ill. Defendant
frequently vi.ited at the house, and was often there when
plaintiff was absent. lie sometimes remained in the break-
fast-room from an hour to an hour and a half, and gave
orders to witness in what she considoriml a very familiar
way. On going into the breakfast-room one morning fo
some wine for young Mr. Harding, witness saw Mr. Mid•r
dleton with one arm round Mrs. flarding's waist, and the
other on her neck, and he was kissing her. On another
occasion, saw the defendant and bar mistress sitting together
in the dining-room. Mr. Middleton rested one arm on the
chair Mrs. Harding mt on ; on witness going in he with-
drew his arm. On some occasions the detendant would ac-
company her master to the omnibus, and then return. One
morning Mr. Middleton cams into the breakfast room,
while Harding was there. Ile placed his hand on
her Wean, end said, " It is very cold, mamma."
Cremeassealned by 118,588 at Wilkins—There was agood
deal atiniony in the awes, but never heard Mr. and Mrs.
Harding quarrel. Witness gensraliy waited at table, as
time was as footman. Had kill tie 688 k what she had
mass tie amok culled upon whams Ann a month ago.
Ite-ezandssd by Sir F. nudger—WM=o had left Mrs.
Harding 'lbw own mond to king bar Isseaber's house.
By the Judge—On the sasening when witness saw Mr.
Middleton kis Mrs. Harding. it WM Moat 11 or 12 o'clock.
She did not knew he was in the seem when she went in.

It was her habit to batik at the door, but not to open it
sad pe is witheathefee tell to de so.
Maria Be,ems sed by Mr. Atherton—Succeeded
the last whams as upper housemaid in the plaintiff's ser
vice I. Desumber,
_lB5O, and Mopped until the following
April. flaw Mr. Middletoe feepeently at the house during
that jaded. Mrs. thiefft and the defendant were Au-
gustly tegether in the bseudret-riton fora couple elbows
at a time. The blinds were dews weeny, both of the win-
dow which looked to the north sad that to the a& Before
Mr. Huila' seam hone, the debedeet would leave the
home, eed eaters is the mouse of the setae ailsesees or
ember, sad ea Waft the room wham ha
ir nese, and
mistrals were, he wield my, " GNI
led
have you been ens * day ? " Mrs. LAW Hey*
direcuces that if the defendant *eyed *an than half an
hour, the servants were to kesek at the door and say she
was mated, but they did est always 'hey the orders.
Hememben ea evening in Ferry, 11351, when Mr. Mid-
deea wee algae in the roam with Mrs. Harding. Mr.
Hardieg basins orders, r he west oat, to take coals ids
that rent IMeees watt, sad berg She deer a little open.
Dlr. Middleton mad Mrs. Harem ewe tending in frost et
the be he had his right ems seed her waist; she
very much seated, awl bopped her eat&
beek. Mr. M.Wdleba west away to the
window, Slid bas asietress eat down. In the rues
meth, Mr. Mialleise called ems morning, before Mr.l
HmHagW pee Mis d. They went out together,
mai Wanda* nee efier Mussed he sae' for pen, ink,
end pep., eel wrote a sole le law Heeding, who was
is bed. Several letters pawed between them—ten or a
deer, er *see than that. Her adieus bid her to send a
ham serned, and gave witaam tha keys of bar wardrobe,
to pleat a yeast of letters; dkeedee hr to** them to
Mr. Middliese, who was tint te rod ONNI smith's to pat
these. The tegi ems was addreeesid le Mr. BMWs" M.P.
la sreemmilahredes, by lhojeset Wilkins, the witness
sold her mistress woes her mete le bed ; she (witeseerlialitl
ardend a yak of sham sleets it had left Mr. 's
sink% erWaeln Wing the deosaaaker that she had le ,
Led whoa Mr. Heeding *mad it out, be throsteeed to givo
slams in sharp to the police, but the merry vas paid.
Mr. Middleton sews made witness a peleset, sir did Mn.
Hardiag. There bad been a quarrel batmen Mr. and Mrs.
Harding the mein before the letters were given to Mr.
Middleton; it was about Masao Tom, litaartiff 'a
son,
and there were several Weer gurvels mew
Catherine H~irere, Sarah Raw% Elisabeth
Browahill, Elinbatk Beeiseas. Emma WIN" Aaa Ear-
Lem, Edwin Duns, and lbegerst Allay IMO ailed ; but
the plaintiff's eau was set evaded M esselade this

TGE Scazw STEAMER "MADRAS."—The Penin-
sular and Oriental Company's new screw steamer, Madras,
which was to have left Southampton yesterday for Constan•
tinople, has been detained, owing to en accident which hap-
pened In her while leaving Southampton Dock. The moor-
drat of the dock buoy got entangled in the screw of
the Madras, and demigod it in such a manner that it will
be isecomari to dock her before she can leave. She had on
board about a dozen passengen, above 600 tons of cargo,
and ship mails for Gibraltar, Malta, the Dardanelles, and
1 Constantinople.
MANSION-HOUSE.—Tho usual entertainment will
be given by the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, at the
linages.houee on Easter Monday. Cards of invitation
have Mss hawk to a number of the most distinguished
gvri4 many of whom have signified their intention of
mint on this occasion. There will be no ball in the
[ ertisement.)—HoLLoway's OINTMENT AND
Paul WOMINIMILT ZING• 410011 to CMOs 1111,111•1 11,01 1.011 IP •
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sexy kg. War km*
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thee toe 1 Idea melody ray Mien In the emstry midi-
at wild "Wean hem Orb remehee t Set by vim
Ibibneeet maim hr a her wenn sway tend h
build, eel sty IA ne4.ri=m6irese."--11old by di dreneleh,
end et Itehnns Oft MIS* LOME .