The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-05 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LANCOTER, APRIL 3.
1111 PILIOI.--MOlll MS. BIIRICII CuawLi. AID • !MILL MIT.
IMPORTANT WILL CASE IN HIGH LIFE.—
THE EARL OF SEFTON a. HOPWOOD.
This was an issue seat down by the Court of Chancery to
teat the validity of a will made by the late Kr. Hopwood, of
Hopwood-hell, is the county of Lancaster. The Earl of
Derby and the Earl of &fibs were present, as were also
their ladies and other members of their families.
Sir Frederick Thesiger, Q.C. (specially retailed), with
Mr. Sarjeant Wilkins, Mr. Jose*, and Mr. Crow, appeared
for the plaintiff ; end the AUorsey-Genera/, Sir Alexander
Cockburn (specially retained), with Kr. Huggins, Q.C., Mr.
Atherton, Q.C., and Mr. Cowling, for the defeadest.
Mr. Cross having opened the pleadings,
Sir F. Thesiger, after some general remarks, said—Kr.
Hopwood, the gentleman whose will Is the subject of this
unfortunate contest, resided at Hopwood-ball, in this
twenty, where he died on the 19th July, 1854. He was
possessed, beside the estate of Hopwood-hall, of other
freehold property in this county, and of • colliery called
the Hopwood-colliery, and altogether amounted in valise
to ghat 7.0001. • year. Coon his death hie family
oweeteled of Hr. Edward John Gregg Hopwood, hie eldest
OM whole sumnonly called Captain Hopwood, and who Is
rsitsfeediun In this setioo. He resided principally in
Wales, bat he ommaionally vieitod a cottage at Hop-
wood, which be had tarnished for himself. The second son
le • clergyman, and ic marked to • daughter of the late
Lord Derby, cad he has a family of children. The third
sou, now Leta:Colonel Harvey Hopwood, wee married in
the year 1852 to • daughter of Mr. Wodehouse, member
for Norfolk. He has no children. The third child, his
daughter, is the Csnatees of Sefton. Mr. Roptiesed made
• will in the year 1829, and by that, after creating a term of
1,000 year. in a Mr. Townley and Mr. Starkey, which was
for the purpose of raising legacies of 5,000[. each to hie
younger children, he gave the whole of hie estates
absolutely to hi. eldest son, and he appointed him and
Mr. Towsley sad Kr. Starkey 'Weston of that will.
In the year 1834 he made a codicil by which be reveled
2,0801. of the legacy which he had glue to Led4Bllll.
thetas having been paid ea her ladyship's mar Li
Ike men& of February, 1850, he made another cod' He
Mr. Heron • trustee in the reom of Kr, Sterbey,
two died, sad be authorised hie trustees to raise
edNHgael legacies to the motet of 7,0001. each for his
,mmgoe sass. In the month of April. 1841, a sum of 6,0001
bevies hem vetoed fur the purpose of purchasing • stay for
(241110111 Herm* in the Guards, he m de a third codicil, by
whisk he disested that that sum of 5,0001. should be talons
The told umber of PeOPffe receiving Perish relief as ealielsedea for the tern of the same &111010 t which had
as the lit of January 1866, toe lb Berland, 839,164 bees left to his. This was the stator of the disposiUas et
(What 934,419 1848)t is Seellald. Men ; and la he- Mt. Hopwood's icy in the beginning of the year 1863.
DIM 86.819 tent 620.747 1849). I. Ireland the I. the yen. . Hopwood was attacked with illness,
paupers have n gradually decreasing since 1819, and in not of a parmemist se serious character, bet as indicating
a vcry lira ratio 11y. parelytie syspecos. At the end of December, 1832, or the
fiLITROPOLITAN SEIIII6 COILEINBION.—A spit— begiaelag ef 1863. he had a similar attack, and upon
dal Wars' smut of the eonimissiessats was held yesterday hie nanny his speech was partially aimed, and
at the, went home, Greek-street, se slaw deleisaciee, hear hie mind it some degree metwed. Bat those who were
elaliatamat tot 811111•1 s. make isepsevenest rase, reeds most intimate with his and bad perfect opportunities ci
preseason a alllaala eque twatine business. The forming • judgment en the state of hie sled, were satisfied
out use
woe Lanny loolialetal the slightest public that be was restored to his ordinary health of body, sad
knew* •nowthat until his lest fatal Wane, which etteaseatrd in the
THU FOIJeDIKII,O At Su CO! TIM HENDRIK HUD. mouth of Joe, 1854. he as of perfectly stood mad,
Heaths Heikke, Smith, sailed from New York and sayable et wansacting any business which wee pro-
em the 7th ale, Ise and hodered at see ea the 'MY alllolthead to him. As he adveeoed is yearn
tub. cyan doily hie , end grew. with the camp- he biome deaf, his eye-eight had very ""b g*
Wm el es mho were won *kid ap sad egad, sad be became lass ad las disposed to active
eseried es P ; the bad no pawnsees, has a aas ninnies both of ',kid ad body, sea if he were harried or
al, elm died abase 13 raid old, dig
seeded, he became coefuesd and loft his minor"; H
cat aetpz
Yana heist 117 Jamb Wimisnelt, sue emit by eibel eves bole establishment. gave avta
fisismeold, Nolgas, Wispy. had hessi of his tali., entered into erdiaan 011001;atlaa with
Kom who . earreoded sad la other respects
boa essbaand sad sepeired, was ell erdbiery people vb.,
dared soon a Modem ship. . The asset end Med le • from . kis
semisy an wanly oe oilseed by issersioe wear "nee" in lift, he aebegost44 ladibe iiviskam tha
again** New Yak. 80* year. Captain Hopwood Paid