The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-10 00:00:00

A NOBLE TRADER IN virrrct-LTIES.

It may be remembered, says Ga/iynoni, that some
time ago the name of the Marquis of Londonderry figured
before the Civil Tribunal under these somewhat peculiar
circumstance-:—ln 1n.40, M. Soupe, a wine merchant, pro-
posed to Lord Londonderry to sell him 10,000 francs worth
of a superior sort at wine, coming, as he said, from the
cellars of King Charles X., and to take coal from his lord-
ship's pits in payment. The bargain was concluded, but
the execution of it led to difficulties, as the Marquis was
not satisfied with the wine, nor the wine dealer with the
coal. It was at last decided that the Marquis should keep
the wine, and that the coal to be delivered should be
two-thirds large and one-third small. M. Soupe, how-
ever, was still dissatisfied, and when, in June, 1852,
the Marquis came with his family to Paris, he caused
him to be arrested for the whole debt of ten
thousand francs. The arrest was executed with great
rigour, as the gave du commerce refused to leave
his lordship's room whilst he dressed. The noble lord was
carried in a cab to the President of the Civil Tribunal;
but he being absent, was introduced to one of the Vice-
Presidents of the Tribunal. Lord Londonderry represented
the facts of the case, but the judge ordered the arrest to
be maintained. His lordship then observed that, as he
was more than seventy-four years of age, he was not
liable to arrest; but, as he could not produce a certifi-
cate of birth, the judge rejected the objection, and
ordered him to be conveyed to the debtors' prison in the
Hue de Clichy. The Marquis, however, caused himself to
be driven to Messrs. Itotlutchild's, and obtained from them
10,000 e, which he deposited as security in the Caisse des
Depots et Consignations. He was thereupon released.
At a subsequent pe rind Lord Londonderry brought an
action against M. Soupe before the Civil Tribunal, for
the purpose of having it declared that that gentleman
should be bound to execute the convention between them
by receiving coal two-thirds large, one•third small, in pay-
ment of his wine. Ile also demanded that he should be
condemned to pay him damages for having arrested him
illegally and without sufficient cause. To this action M.
Soupe responded by declaring that, in consequence of the
delay which had taken place, the coal would be of no further
use to him, and by demanding that he should not be bound
to receive it, but that the 10,000 francs deposited should be
paid to him. The tribunal decided in M. Soupe's favour.
Against this judgment the marquis appealed, and the
appeal was argued at length before the Imperial
Court. The court was of opinion that the noble toed bad
been unjustifiably arrested by Soupe, as the agreement
between them was, that the latter should be paid for his
wine in coal, and not in money; and it decided that his
lordship should, as ho proposed, be authorised to deliver
the coal within six months, two-thirds of it being large and
one third small. It accordingly quashed the judgment of
the court below, but it ordered that thu 10,000 f. should not
be restored to his lordship until after the delivery of the
coal ; and considering that damages were due to him for
his illegal arrest, it condemned M. Souk to pay all the
costs both of the proceedings before the Civil Tribunal
and of the Appeal.