The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-24 00:00:00

No feeling but pain can attach to the perusal
of such a history as that wish which the Divorce
Court has filled our columns for some days past.
Lawyers, it has been said, have the misfortune of
seeing always the worst side of human nature, for
they have to deal with men who come to them with
their evil passions aroused and their angry temper
exasperated. Bat the records of the Divorce
Court make, in some degree, the public partici-
pators in this misfortune. Resort to that mise-
rable tribunal is the issue of a long series of either
crime or misunderstanding, but unhappily the
result is almost always to exhibit the darkest
features in the character of all who are in any
way involved in the details. It is impossible that
these revelations should not be watched with
some degree of interest, for who could resist the
fascination of a drama of life and death thus
played before his eyes with real human beings
for the actors ? But when our sympathies
or our antipathies are thus excited it is needful
that our reason should speak to correct them.
The judgment of that Court is in effect the judg-
ment of society, it reacts in the formation of that
public opinion by which, consciously or uncon-
sciously, the actions of thousands are regulated,
and it therefore concerns us all that, painful as the
task may be, we shrink not from the duty of cen-
sors of the story which it discloses.

In Po strange and sad a trial a strange and sad
episode must not be wholly left unnoticed. Miss
EMILY FAITHFULL, who was the wife's bosom com-
panion when she was undoubtedly innocent, and
who, after ceasing, by the husband's desire, to re-
side in the house when estrangement had begun,
naturally sided with her friend in the dispute.
Sbe allowed, so far back as 1858, her authority to
be used by Mrs. CODZIMOTONII attorney in charging
the Admiral with a criminal assault upon herself,
and she allowed the statement to be repeated in an
affidavit tiled in the present suit. The fact was
entirely disproved by her evidence in the witness-
box, and by her conduct towards the Admiral sub-
sequent to the alleged occurrence. But she can-
not be supposed to have been ignorant of the
meaning of her own statements, and she cannot
escape grave reprobation for allowing a charge,
which she knew to be preposterous and imaginary,
to be made in the bands of the lawyers of the
parties the subject of formal stetement, and the
instrument for a time of injurious scandal on an
honourable name.

In the CODRINOTON case the first part of the
history does not differ from the ordinary routine.
The marriage took place in 1849 ; two girls were
born of it, and for seven or eight years there was
no suggestion of unhappiness. In 1854 Admiral
CODRINOTON was sent to the Crimea ; he returned
in August, 1858. During the interval Miss
EXILI FAITKIULL, with his sanction, resided
with his wife as her friend. In 1857 the first
appearance of disagreement occurred, but it
arose from apparent " incompatibility of temper,"
and involved no charges of misconduct on either
side. In 1858 Admiral CODRINOTON was ap-
pointed Superintendent of the Dockyard
at Malta, and his wife accompanied him.
They made the acquaintance of the Rev. Mr.
Warsom, a chaplain at the station, and his wife,
and a great intimacy sprang up. It ended, how-
ever, unfortunately. Mrs. CODRINOTON complained
that Mrs. WATSON superseded her in the manage-
ment of her children and in the affections
of her husband ; but the quarrel was for
a time patched up. In 1863 they returned
from Malta, and the Warm:a were also in Eng-
land. To this date the Admiral seems to have
been unsuspicious ; but disturbing suggestions
were now made—it did not appear from what
quarter. Mr. Wanton employed a "friend "of
his, a cabman, to watch Mrs. CODRINOTON. Her
desk was opened in Mrs. WATSONS presence. The
result was that a suit for divorce was instituted
by the Admiral, at first directed only against
Colonel Ambeitsos as co-respondent, but after-
wards implicating a Lieutenant MILDMAY. The
nature of the evidence was briefly as follows.
CODRINOTON
It appeared that at Malta Mrs ,9 I Last evening their Royal Highnesses the Prince
. and
in
pri
of Wales, Prime Arthur, sad the Duke of
mode of life had been at variance with her bus- cerehrtdimsulhowwwred the priweewee Thew. with their pr..
band's tastes and wishes. Be disliked and avoided
mop, attended by Lady Maodeallekl, Major Elphisslotte,
balls ; she insisted on going to them. Their reef- and Major Teesdale.
deice lay on the further side of the harbour, The Duke of Sutherland has left Stafford House,
and she returned on these occasions in a St. James's, withia the last few days to join the duchess at
gondola, accompanied by a gentleman ; either Ilailesball. Sake.
Colonel ANDER:ION, the co-respondent, or Lieu- The Marchioness Frances Anne of Londonderry
tenant MILDMAY being the more frequent escort. , her
•very
weak
ilstart..Tb•mdEarl and Countess aloes
Vane
fts 000asioss
The transit occupied about ten minutes, the parties L
were in a closed cabin, and it was part of the case I hare bean satiety
ir at senhel Hall with the ennwhiduring her
for the petitioner that the boat on these occasions The Earl de Grey, with Captain %Tyner and Mr.
was observed by the sailors to be out of trim. In, Vyner, left town yesterday evening to attend the funeral of
answer, however, it was proved that the door of the Ma/chicanes of Northampton.
the cabin had a pane of glass in it ; and that the I The Earl of Derby is going on very favourably.
gondola was a craft which the slightest movement The gout has quite left the noble earl, and be is gradually
would put out of trim. It was alleged also for i r•Piniot Ms lost strength.
the petitioner that either of the gentlemen named I The Earl and Countess of Ashburnham and Lady
would often land with Mrs. CODRTNGTON, accom- Kviaittib:rieetheADishbko.rnaltriyhave...latealy arrived in town froze
piny her to her house, and remain an unknown
earl and „mg.
inargaaad
inoLnUL
sg by the death
of
period. One witness also deposed to facts leading the iderehloweee N„thareptew.
directly to the belief that adultery had been com- I Lieutenant Colonel Erskine, the Deputy-teepee-
witted ; but he was proved to have been a kw of rausMne, is appoiatid to mood Colossi m.igunie
servant dieeliarged for a criminal assault on as Lospeotor-Generel.

trbt €oun.

WINDSOR CASTLE.. N0v.13.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the infant
prince, Albert Victor, let the Castle thi twerailig for
Marlborough-homes, attended by the Donates. of Maccles-
field, Major Teesdale, and Dr. Holzman.
The Qaean, accompanied by Princess Helena, walked mad
drove in the roiled,.
Pewees Louise went out driving, attended by Mille.
Nana'.

The Hoe. lirar Frederick Brow had the hnuour of dining
with her Majesty and the royal family yesterday.
The Earl of °tithes= sad Captain Air W. Hate have
suomoded Lord Mathias& and Lieutenant•Oolonel Kiopeote
as Lord and Groom i• Waiting to the Queen.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, with Prises Albert
Victor, arrived at Iferiborongh•hoese yesterday, tram
a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Their Royal Rieman@ woe attended by the Countess of
Matielesfield, Major Teesdale, sad ,Dr. Holsmans.
The Prince and Princess of Wales west to the Home's
Theatre in the evening.

A deputation from the Coil, Corn, and Pinsnos Commit-
tee of the Corporation of Loam, consisting of 11r.Depoty
Bone (chairman), Mr. Lawley, Mr. Stuart, and Kr. B. A.
Isaacs, attended by Yr. Conte, the Rensembrancor, had an
interview with Viscount Palmerston at Cambridge•house
yesterday, on the subject of the sewage of the metropolis.
Despatches Were out yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governors of the settlement.; on the West Coast of
Africa.