The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-28 00:00:00

THAMES.

captain Reuben Can the master of the ship Edward
Oliver, appeared before Mr. Seth to answer a claim for wages
made by Y.llen Webb for her services as stewardess on board
the venal, on her voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne,
Callao, Chinches Isles, and London.
The summons ma taken out in the name of the husband of
the stewarding •, and
Mr. Jr seph Smith, who appeared for the defendant, at
sure said that Reuben Webb hid received all his wane and
aired the usual release at the shipping-office, and core-
mainly bad no further claim on the owners and captain of
ship.
Mr. Charles Young, solicitor for the claimant, said Reuben
Webb had bean paid his wages as steward of the Edward
Oliver on her late voyage, and he now claimed 281. for his
wife's services on board the same ship.
Mr. Selfe inquired If the woman's name, the capacity In
whir she was to serve, and the wages she was to receive, '
were inserted in the ship's articles.
Mr. Smith—All that has been done ; wo recognise bee e•
steenirde.s.
Mr. Setts—Them I shall treat her as a seaman within the
meaning of the act of parliament, and ajar the name as the
entrimone from Reuben to Ellen.
Mr. Rmith—Treat her as a seaman, sir?
Mr. Sulfa—Yoe, certainly. Everybody serving he any ca-
rt.:Non board a merchant ship is to be considered a seaman.
is the Beaman? (A laugh.) Let her step forward.
(Great laughter.)
Mo. Webb, a healthy and intelligent young woman of
ennokimble personal attractions, attended by her husband,
hen pinto the witnan-box with twins In her acme and said,
embers, pious ur worship. (Laughter.)
Mr. Young—The first seaman who over gave birth to
twins. (Roars of laughter.) I will captain this core to your
vonhip. The woman—l belt pardon—the seaman aid bar
hrbsad—(more laughter)—joined the ship r ataward
sod rewarder ; the husband at 51. 10e. per month, and the
villa at 21. per month, and they went out with emigrants
with the sanction of the government and the sent= of the
smare and captain. The woman, on the return voyage and
off the Chinehn Islam, gave birth to twins—a boy Mt • girl
--and in ar days afterwards ter was up spin, and resumed
• duties, and not long afterwards had to attend non the
lola e wife in her sooonchement.
Yr. Sell—Did the captain's wife present her Mahood
with twins?
Mr. Young—No, sir, only. one. The woman now before '
yea mut only named trio:apneas wife and child and attended
he the general duties of tho ship, but nursed and nary I
beirmsehlident ; andl must sayit Is very ungracior on the
pitied* wars to attempt to mulct the woman of any part
elle asps basun she gave birth to those two beautiful
eind Infinsllng_ithikirms torn on the wide ocean.
Me. lielk—Mr. Young, you are appealing to my feelings.
I can only decide the car on its merits, and according !
to law.
Mr. Smith—My friend Mr. Young feels vary warm on
this subject berm he has had the good fortune of having
twins presented to him.
Mr. Selfe--I know it. I with him joy.
Mrs. Webb said she always did her duty on board ship,
and performed every service that was required of her. She
was only off duty cis days after giving birth to the twins.
Mr. Smith contended at great length that the acconche-
men of the woman, and the attention she had to pay to her
infants, incapacitated her from doing the duty of stewardess,
and that she was not entitled to any wages Or the 14th of
May, when the children were born.
Mr. Selfs—ls it not an illness she could not avoid ?
Mr. Smith contended that the pregnancy and birth of the
children could not be considered an illness, and that the com-
pishisnt bad signed the contract knowing she would be Ws-
imitated from performing the duties of stewardess to the
earn of the voyage. He therefore protested strongly
spinet the payment of any wages after the 11th of May.
Mrs. Webb said she was not aware she was pregnant when
the joined the ship as stewardess.
Mr. Selfe said the contract was signed in August and the '
birth of the children took place In the middle of May. The
woman could not have been aware whim abs joined the ship
that she would became a mother In May. If a woman joined
• atop Al rewarder, to prod on a long voyage, and Ina
pregnant at tho time she signed the contract, and concealed
that fact, then, he should say, her incapacity after her
scoonchenert would be a bar to her demand for wages. The
complainant In this case did not know she would ever be Imam
Maud. It was not a ground for not paying wages if a
captain of a ship took a married woman on board with her
husband, and she afterwards became pregnant, unless there
was a stipulation in the articles of agreement that the man
and hie wife were to have no intercourse with tech other on
the voyage.
Mr. Smith said it remained a dry question, who was the
burthen to fell upon? The burthen should fall upon the
woman, not upon the captain and owners. It was not an
Mr. Salle said be did not meta to say anything offensive
but it was an absurdity to say the 1•021•11'11 accourement,
and delivery of twigs, was such an illness as was °oaten-
pined by the set of parliament.
Mr. Smith—l have offered her wages up to the 14th of
May, and fri. more.
Mr. Young—l demand wages foe the whole voyage at U.
per month.
Mr. Selfe said if the incapacity to work arm from the
woman bring children, she was not to be deprived of her
w The Ong duty of a mother was to look oda km
children, and her doing so did not &soak bar be wpm.
There was no contract forbidding intercoms, ma IMAM
must be on roomers of the ship, if they thee& pow is
engage a man and his wife as steward and sherseden hi the
same ship. He made an order for the payment of MII. 4s,
the full mount Mimed.
Mr. Young Mod ON cons.
Mr. Belie—No, I think not. It is rather a reel point, and
1 don't think I should be justified in ordering costs.
The amount Mond was immediately paid.

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TvzszkaY, OCT. 27.—Hdodtdoot on mutat, 1,369; ditto
by won ON% IN i ilik Irak