The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-31 00:00:00

Rain intelligence.

•
EQUITY COUItTS.—SATVROAY.
817011 e THE b.II CrI.NCIO.I.OIt.
Mr. Betheil applied for an early hearing of a petition for
a commission of lunacy against a married lady.
Mr. J. Parker asked that the hearing might be post-
poned fur a month or more, in order to see what effect a
change of residence might have. Ile did not deny the Wl-
soundness of mind.
Mr. Bethel] pressing for an early hearing, the Lord .
Chancellor appointed Friday neat, in his private room, or.
at his lordship's residence. lie saw no reason to press the
petition before the other matters appointed for Monday
awl Tuesday.

MISS TALBOT'S CASE.
DOYLE C. WRIGHT AND OTHERS.
After the report of this case, which appeared in Satur-
day's Ezpersa, was dispatched, Mr. rage Weal (who was
left speaking) went on to say that
Mr. Bolt had thought it accessary to state at great
length the proceedings under the petition in 1840, for
the purpose, it would appear, of showing that the religious
feelings of a ward of court were not to be interfered with.
ile could only state that it never had been the desire of Mr.
Berkeley to Interfere with her religious opinions. But
upon the subject of the convent, there was an affidavit
filed by Dr. Doyle in 1510, at the time when he was
trying to remove Miss Talbot from the custody of her
mother; anal at that time he never thought of proposing
a convent, like that of the Lodge at jaunton, where there
were no vacations, anal where the iii .lion cost 40 guineas,
but he proposed a different sort of thing altogether. He
then wrote a letter to Mrs. Berkeley, to the following effect :
" My reason for wishing to know your address is that I
may communicate to you my views anal intentions concern-
ing the education of Miss Augusta Talbot. My mind is
decided on this point, Heather education can he better con-
ducted, according to my views, in a respectable public esta-
blishment like New hall, at Spetisbury, where Lady
Harriet Searle and most of the falhota have been edu-
cated, than elsewhere. Miss Augusta requires much
example from those of her own age to bring her into docile
and regular habits ; and I am decidedly of opinion that she
should leave home, not to be turned into the class-room
regularly with the other young ladies, but to have her pri-
vate governess with her, and attend occasionally the general
instruction of the establishment." The answer to this
letter from Mrs. Berkeley was in the following terms " I
much regret to any that Augusta's health is by no means
established, as she is now under the hands of Dr. Barron,
and he assurers me that she requires the utmost care :and at-
tention. Under these circumstances I most decidedly des
dine acceding to the arrangement you propose of pl'aring
her ut a public school, as all the medical men under whose
care she has been concur in the opinion that her health
will not permit it. If after this letter you still persist in
your proposed plan, you must apply to the Court of
Chancery; for without being compelled to accede to your
proposal by that court, nothing else shall ivaluec me, as I
ant firmly persuaded that by so doing I should be consign-
ing my child to an early grave." After the death
of Mrs. Berkeley, however, there was no further men-
tion of New Hall nor of a private governess, hut she
was at mare sent down to Taunton. It had been
said by Mr. Bolt that Mr. Berkeley's petition of
1843 solely related to the amount of money which was to
he spent on the young lady's education. Now, in that pe-
tition, Mr. Berkeley stated that he had visited the convent,
and had obtained a prospectus, which was in the following
terms *f he Lodge Taunton.—The age of admission to la
years old inclusive. Twenty-eight young ladies only are ad-
tnitted. They must be children of Roman catholic parents.
For board, washing, sheets, towels, stationery, and sellout
books, 40 guineas per annum,—half of which is always
paid in advance--and two guineas entrance. Education
comprises the principles and practice of the catholic religion,
the English and French languages, history, geography, wri-
ting, antlintetie, plain aad tine needlework, &c The uniform
dress on Sundays—white muslin and blue sash; every day
in summer. a gingham, procured at Taunton Lodge ; hi
i winter, a dark blue merino, straw bonnet, trimmed with blue
' ribbon; other artieles'of dress as each young lady may have
been accustomed to. No vacation; anal no deduction is wade
for absence, if by way of indulgence; if absence is occa-
sioned by illness a deduction is then masks If parents take
their children home it can only be for a month once in the
par." Ile now came to what had been done since the
month of May, 1500, when, for the firsttime, Lord Shrews•
bury took 80111 C interest in the affairs of this young lady. It
would be far better if he had taken that interest sooner, but
it was then that lie appeared to awake to a scow of his re-
sponsibility, and introduced her to the society of the world.
He would not enter into the very vulgar references con-
tained in the letter of Dr. Hendren as to the influence
which that society had upon the young lady's mind. Having
taken her out into society in May, 1850, previously to Sep-
tember, 1850, something occurred which it was not neces-
sary to enter into more particularly, with reference to the
disposal of the young lady, which ended in her leaving the
roof of Loral and Lady Shrewsbury, as at that time it would
appear that they contentplated going abroad. From what-
ever cause it was that the young holy could not accompany
them, he would not enter into it, although there were some
allegations in the petition.
Mr. Itult—Was blame to be attached to the Earl and
Countess of Shrewsbury for that allegation ?
Mr. Wood—lle was stating his facts correctly • and he
trusted lie would not be interrupted unless lie made some
misstatenteut. Something occurred, and the Earl anal Coun-
tess of Shrewsbury went abroad. Under the order of the
court they might have taken the young lady abroad • but it
appeared that she did not accompany them. Then the
question naturally arose, how was she to be placed or dis-
posed of lle would here nay that it was the bounden duty
of Lord anal Lady Shrewsbury, and of Mr. Doyle, who had a
supers ision and contrail over Loral anal Lady Shrewsbury, to
sec that she was properly.placed if she could tog have travelled
abroad with dean, and in that case application might have
been made to his lordship to vary the terms of the order
that had been made. leaked, it was their duty
to have come to the court, anal to have stated
to his lordship all that had taken place, and to
take care that the young lady was placed in as position be-
fitting her age, lace rank, and her expectations, and, ut all
events, that she should be placed iu some family where she
would be no longer under strict conventual seclusion, and
under strict direction, as he believed it was termed in the
church of Rome—that she should be no longer under that
dominion, which at her age she had uo means of resisting—
anal that she should be removed from the control which
must naturally be assumed by those who take a peculiar
view with regard to the unteirtancla of a spiritual life,
which there was no blame to those residing en a convent
to take. Ile thought the guanlians of the young lady
were bound to take care that she did not taunt to the
convent until they hail apprised his lordship that it was a
mere temporary arrangement until some more fitting
arrangement had been come to, and until some
more suitable disposition for the future education
and care of the young lady had been arrived at.
If the ease had occurred that there was no suitable place to
send her to at the moment, and that she had been sent
there as a boarder merely for a few weeks, the thing would
have assumed a very different character ; but it was difficult
to conceive even this case to arise with the large and in-
fluential connexions of Lord and Lady Shrewsbury—it was
impossible in their circle of friends and acquaintances that
some family could not be found who would be willing to
rsceive this young lady. But it appeared that the course
taken wu this : The young lady, then at the age of 19, was
left entirely to her own choice and agency ; that she at
once formed the resolution ; that she herselfdesin dto re-
turn to the convent in which she had been educated, for
the purpose of becoming a nun ; that's the sort of represen-
tation that has been made. No caution was exercised ; no
communication was bad with her by her guardian—
The Lord Chancellor—Where do you find that state-
ment ?
Mr. Wood—ln the letter of Dr. Hendren. His (Mr.
Wood's) clients were obliged together their lights front where
they could—they had nothing tangible to inform them—
nothing to lead them to know how it was that, in Septem-
ber, 800, the young lady applied to the convent. They
should have been very glad indeed to get the information
from Dr. Doyle, hut he had looked into Dr. Daiyle's affi-
davit, and all he found in it was this—that it was with his
approbation that Miss Augusta Talbot had, in the spring of
last year, come to town to be introduced to society—that for
that purpose he had petitioned the court for an additional
maintenance for the young lady—that he never wished her
to become a nun, or to take the veil, or to enter into a reli-
gious life by reason of his belief that she wax not qualified, or
called upon, or fitted for that state •, and that particularly
on the 15th of March last—which, the court would observe,
was after all these things had been discussed and brought
before the public eye—he had written to her to
dissuade her from any such idea, and that he
did so because he had some impression that some
such notion or idea was passing through her mind,
and that she was wavering." Now, he would ask, dial any-
body ever hear of such a guardian ? It appeared that he
was altogether astonished at her entertaining some notion
of becoming a nun, and that he learned that the first time
in his life on the 15th of March. He said that he did all in
his power to bring about a marriage between the young
lady and some British subject which would be satisfactory
to the young lady and to Lord and Lady Shrewsbury.
Mr. Itolt did not think it would be necessary to enter
into the reasons that had been alleged by Dr. Doyle.
Mr. Wood again trusted that, if he wax not omitting any
material part of the affidavit, or misstating anything, has
learned friend would not interrupt him.
The Lord Chancellor thought the interruptions were some-
what irregular, and ought not to take place unless incorrect
statements were put forward.
Mr. Bolt said Dr. Doyle had omitted entering into de-
tails with regard to his reasons; but, although they had
not been set forth, they could be entered into if it were con-
sidered necessary.
Mr. Wood could not tell what was in Dr. Doyle's breast.
He did not doubt that what he said was true, but could not
say what he thought right titakeep back ; he only took the
a
affidavit as it was before him.
The Lord Chancellor—A deponent is bound to tell the
whole truth; and his keeping back a part might give a false
colouring to his statement.
partoy
could theyni
oe to found
a ma and the f
Mr. Wood—What he meant was this. When a gen-
: tleman was not examined as a witness, hut made an 'A-
darit'theyUitabotakut
e it
to as t
not say what had been kept back or omitted.
i He was now
the ease It was incumbent upon Dr. Doyle to state why
the young lady had goat back, and why she had gone as a
postu:sat He said that in 18.50 he had tried to bring
a boar a marriage between the youn • lady and a British
subj set, and then tl:e affidavit went on," I was abroad till
the beginning of Sep.'ember last. On ni return, I was in-
formed by Mr. Xenia, soy solicitor, that, a marriage was
contemplated between Miss Talbot and a foreign nobleman
of high rank in France. I declared that I did not wish her
to form a connexion with x foreigner, and that I mat not