The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-21 00:00:00

HAYSIARKEr.

This Evrtnia, A GAME OP SPECULATION. Maim
Ferree, Braid, Roger,, Clerk, sod C. Mathews: Mn. L Fits-
erUltam.—TßE GOLDEN FLEECY. Mr. C. Methews.—COOL AS
A CUCUMBER. Mr. C. Mathews.—And LIME DAIRY.

LYCSUIL

071 SATCIDAT Erma°, iiiiiTAkTP CHILD. Mr. Widdleorab
an i !Mu P. Leclarcq —BIL DE 40E10. a Lova Story. Mn.os
Triehtet. Brougham , Charles, and Jordan; Woes
Tarry, Laminae, and , and Mn. Loa.

BETTANN lA.

i!m t~uo. THE GREAT GHOST itrrscr.—TAL
CORPORAL'S DA 'MITER. -Tom King, Arthur and Bertrand,
Rime. Mon, and The FA ry Fountaln.—THE BRITANNIA
711:8TIVAL —Mettle. C. Stephan. - And tHE GORILLA RUNT.

HIGH WATAIt AT LONDON BRIM,
MI DOT Morales. .Afloosoos. Ilk. 3010
lo4lollAoW_Lardy, Oh. Oa.— Abotasoo. OIL 7a

LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 21.

. Sta James WILD; the aueeessor of Sir CEEIIB-
- Caasswem., who seems likely to rival the
reputation of that lamented judge, has been en-
gaged for the last two or three days in investigating the
. . .

circumstances connected with the case of Firzcz-
RAID V. FITZGERALD. It appears that a certain Major
Frrsoseoin, a man of good family, who was for-
merly in the Life Guards, succeeded in marrying
Miss Berriewosra, a lady of considerable fortune.
It was not long before an incompatibility of tem-
perament between the husband and wife was deve-
loped. Major FITZGERALD had an official position
in the Commander-in-Chief's office in Ireland, and
was naturally brought into contact with many
other distinguished persons in society. Amongst
other friends of Major Frrzususui there were Cap-
tain and Mrs. Mauer. They also occupied an offi-
cial position at Dublin. The Major and his wife
called upon Mr. and Mrs. Mauer. The call was re-
turned ; and, as the world goes, they became mutual
friends, or rather acquaintances. Mrs. Frrzomorm
seems to have bad the ordinary ambition of
social distinction, and though she was willing to
endure a good deal for the sake of good society,
,be was even in this effort consumed by a corroding
felousy of every woman who was more distin-
guished than herself hi Tank) Pr more attractive
than herself in manners. At length Captain
Noun, by reason of the change of Ministry, lost
his position in Ireland, and obtained another in
London. Major FITZGERALD continued his inter-
course with his former friends, and whenever he
came to London visited them. The Majormith his
wife's money, purchased a place somewhere near
Cirencester, and became a country squire. Ac-
cording to his wife, his conduct was not only indif-
ferent but grossly unmanly ; and, on the same evi-
dence, he carried on an improper intimacy with the
wife of the gentleman who was formerly his Mend.
It is well known that cruelty and adultery entitle a
wife to demand a decree of divorce ; and Mrs.
FITZGERALD, considering that both these charges
could be proved against her husband, instituted a
suit for the purpose before Sir Ceesswer.r. Cans-
WELL, which was ultimately tried by Sir Jones
WILDE. It is not our purpose to WI through the
details of the case, which has occupied several
days. The charges of Mrs. FITZGEZALD have
proved so frivolous that they have been over-
ruled by the jury even before the case ran its
ordinary course. But the position of the married
lady who has been dragged before the public is
so cruel that some allusion to it may be excusable.
Consider the facts. Here was Mrs. Maurer, a
lady married for ten years, certainly of the moat
attractive manners—es every one must admit who
witnessed the trial—but still of the most unim-
peachable character, accused of infidelity by Mrs.
FITZGERALD. Mr. Momer appeared as a witness
in court, and declared that he scorned the impu-
tation. The sincerity of hie conviction was proved
not only by the manner in which he gave his tes-
timony, but by the fact that during his
wife's examination be remained in court, and
conducted his wife from the witness-box after
she had answered every question that was put to
her. Throughout the whole trial there was not
one single fact proved against the chastity of this
lady. Indeed, the only suspicious fact which Mrs.
Firoozastn attempted to prove was that her hus-
band had been on terms of intimate friendship
with this Lady, and that at • time of great pecu-
niary distress this scion of a noble Irish house
had borrowed of his friend's wife • few pounds,
which, even after remonstrance, he found it diffi-
cult, if not impossible, to repay. It is true that one
servant of Mr. Moue; who had married a French-
man, deposed to acts of most atrocious depravity;
but, though living at Paris and in good health, this
woman refused to come over to London even for a
few days in order to give her evidence in oonrt,
and stand the test of cross-examination in the witness-
box. No single witness summoned before Sir JAMS
WILDE deposed to a single act of impropriety by
this married lady, whose character was so greedy
traduced. It is true, indeed, that Major Prim-
GERALD bad written a number of rhapsodical let-
ters, in which he confessed himself guilty of infi-
delity, and implored the forgiveness of his wife. It
is, perhaps, not unnatural that his wife should eon-
rider this as conclusive evidence, not only against
him, but against the woman whom be accused.
But no man of the world will admit for a moment
that such is the legitimate conclusion. Even if
Major FITZGERALD had succeeded in destroying the
40inestio happiness of Mr. Mouse, none but the
most degraded coward would have condescended to
betray the secret of his guilt to say human being.
On the other hand, had he failed in his damnable
design, there are few human creatures so lost to all