The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-05 00:00:00

ILatu intelligence.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.—Fss. 4
Sittings at Nisi Wins at Wentninster.—(Before Mr.
Justice Blackburn and Common Juries.)
DOREE F. DEAN—BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
This was an action for breach of promise of marriage. The
defendant pleaded that he did not agree to many, and,
secondl, that he had never refused to marry the plaintiff.
Mr. }rands appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Matthews
for the defendant.

Mr. Francis, in opening the case, raid the plaintiff woes
Miss Ann Doree, the eldest daughter of Mr. Itob-rt Is4es
• silk velvet weaver, carrying on business in tv.,;(i,44,,..
row, Bethnal-green. She was the eldest of ten
The defendant was a warehouseman to Messrs. Mr 1.1,,.h
and Squire, wholesale chemists and drumssts, ;r. f oieman.
street. Both parties, therefore, appeared to be It mile- te,g
same position of life, and they had known each 4:nieet
from childhood. hi October, 1856, the deferelair,
then 19 years of age, the plaintiff was two or tcr.e rax.r...liss
older, waited upon the plaintiff's father, and askel bonto be allowed to pay his addresses to his daughter w.t.o the
view of making her his wife. The father, who acted most
I properly in the matter, said he would consider about it ;
land having consulted the parents of thc defendant, be
found that they had no objection to an engagement being
formed between the young people, and he then agreed to
accept the defendant as the suitor of his &righter. Front
that time until June last year the plaintiff and defendant
were constantly in the habit of seeing each other, and
were received by their relatives and friends as affiance(
lovers. They occupied the same pew in an Independent
Chapel at Bethnal-green, which wee attended by the
parents of both. Many letters passed between them, and
the whole of these were pervaded by a stoop;
religious feeling. The jury would be surprised t 4,
find in this correspondence the reasons of the
fendant for breaking off the match. First, b.,
said that the plaintiff had not made herself agreeable to
his friends ; and secondly, that she had no cenvereatioe4
powers. (Laughter.) This was the way in which he
brought to an end, without any previous notice, s courtahip
of three years and eight months, in which he had succeeded
in entirely engaging the affections of the young lady.
The learned counsel then read the letters, some of which
extended to considerable length. Everything west oa
sweetly and delightfully until 12th June, 1860. On that
evening, as usual, he paid a visit to the plaintiff at her
father's house. lie treated her as before, with the greatest
possible attention and kindness, kissing and careising be,
before he took his departure; but when he left he placed is
Ler head the following letter : _

" June 12,1860.

" My dear Annie,— It is with deep feelings of solemnity I
write to you to bring before your notice a subject of vast
importance to us both, inasmuch as it will affect our whole
life in this world. I pray that God, who is rich is mercy,
will grant us the grace that He knows will be sufficient for
us ; and I must tell you that I believe there are several
things that will in a very great measure hinder
our happiness if we were to walk our earthly MI.
visage together. Dear Annie, let me speak freely
to you in all these things. I have not come to this conclu.
don hastily, but upon some months' of such earnest prayer
and mental conflict that I never before felt, and I am sure
it is my duty to tell you what these things are. First, your
reserve, coolness, and distance to all my friends. This you
may not think of much importance, but I assure you I have
felt it painful in the extreme to notice it as I have done in
a very great degree. After having known us all for three.
and-a-half years, is it not time to throw off all reserve and
join as friend to friend? I have carefully watched this
without saving a word to any one about it, and I tell you
on the word of truth that it has caused me many an hour
of bitter meditation. From what cause this arises I know
not, hut it does exist. The question naturally asked is, if
this is so now what might it be were we to get married. It
would no doubt increase to a pester degree than ever, and
then—oh ! how fearful it is to think of it—if we were to
find out afterwards that we could not live in that happiness
which man and wife ought to live. It is thus, you see,
thing of great importance to each of us. Then there is
another reason more connected with myself. I must open
my mind freely to you in this personal matter. Your en-
tire want of conversation with myself is a source of much
sorrow and pain to me. I had once thought you to be
shy, but it (=not be that now, and many a time have I
been with you whole evenings and you have not engaged in
any conversation, though often have I tried. You know.
God has endowed us with thinking powers, and
given man • companion for his life; and is it at all likely
that we could live in unmixed happiness, as far as ourselves
are concerned, when you could sit for an Lour or two
without saying anything? And of this, as well as the other,
I ask, if it is so now, while we are, as it were, in • state of
probation, I cannot think it would be different in any
future time. Many a time, after leaving you in the even.
ing, have I been condemned for spending the time which
God has so graciously given me without having made any
good use of it, or even enjoying social conversation with
you. These, then, are the reasons why I write to You on
this subject. It is not with the advice of any of ray.friends
interested in this matter. Of course I have mentioned
it to my mother, and she told me to wait till God
directed me what to do. I should feel condemned, were
it not that I am certain that I am in the path of duty.
For four weeks, at least, have these ideas followed me, and
for the same time I have given myself to prayer, such as
I never think I did before, wrestling with God,.remirdless of
the hour of the night and such mental anguish that I am
sure you must have noticed. reaching to bodily pain. I have
thus asked God to leaden° and guide me according to His
will. I have prayed that I might not take a wrong step. I
have waited till the way seemed clear ; and now I must tell
you, as • solemn duty, that for these reasons, as lam sure
we could not live as happy as we should like, that
all further engagements most come to • dose. I
trust I am fully sensible of the importance of this
step, but lam sure it is • duty forced upon me—a duty,
like many others, painful in its performance, more so than
any I have yet had to perform, but a duty nevertheless-a
duty to you and your friends, and a duty to myself :mil
my friends. Ido it not as out of a whim, nor for a
of novelty or cllntige. You know my principles are very
different, but calmly, prayerfully, and considerately, in the
way our heavenly Father has led me. He will give all the
strength we need. It will be a great trial to you lam sure.
none the lees to me; but I cannot risk the happiness of you
and myself for these things. Believe me I have prayed
more for you that God would give you the grace which
He has promised to all who need, than I have
prayed for myself. These three years and a half
I cannot help saying have passed on the whole pleasantly—
sometimes cloudy--often so to me. A union which nothing
but death can sever I can never enter into at the risk of
the happiness of all who are concerned. Now, I must beg
of you to write either Thursday or Friday, as it will be more
congenial to my feelings to settle by letter, as it would be
painful in the extreme for me to open again the feelings
which I am certain I must experience to-night ; but if you
do wish an interview I shall have no objection to meet you
and your father and mother on Friday night ; for I always
wish to do everything in an honest. open, daylight way, and
I hops for the comfort of all it will be settled there and
then.—l remain, yours truly, " BASII'EL DEAN."

The learned counsel said that this odd and heartless let-
ter inflicted such a blow upon the plaintiff that she bad
been in a failing state of health ever since ; and he sub-
nutted that under the circumstances abe was entitled t
ample damages tor the serious injury she bad thus sus-
tained.

Two or three witnesses were called. and
Mr. Matthews then addressed the jury on the part of the
defendant, chiefly in mitigation of damagea.
The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation in the box,
returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages, 751.

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.—The
director. of this company have resolved to recommend to
the proprietors at the general meeting on the 14th inst.,
that the dividend for the half-year ending 31st of December,
18110, be at the rate of 'W. ss. per cent. per annum on the
capital of the compani.
DEATH OF AN INVALID FROM ILL-TREATMENT.—
Yesterday afternoon en adjourned inquiry was held at the
Red Lion Tavern, Woolwich, before Mr. Carttar, coroner
for Went Kent, into the circumstances attending the death
of Elizabeth Fisher, aged 35, who, it appeared, had been
subjected to the moat disgraceful neglect and cruelty, whilst
bed-ridden at the house of her brother Henry Fisher, •
gunner of the coast brigade Royal Artillery, awl from the
effort of which treatment she died. The jury, after a short
consultation, returned the following verdict : " That the
death of Elisabeth Fisher was accelerated by cruel neglect
and brutal treatment on the part of her brother, Henry
Fisher, and the jury also recommend that a communimtion
be made to the commandant of the garrison, direvtiog his
attention to the lax manner in which the duty of inspect
ing married soldiers' residences has been carried out &mug
the peat three months." The accused, Henry Fisher, was
then taken into custody and conveyed to prison to take hit
trial for manslaughter on the coroner's warrant.
SHOCKING CATASTROPHE AT HULL.—THREE Dye:,
Loss.—Ou Sunday afternoon last six men named Juliet
Judge (a boatman). George Bragg. Edward Downing, John
Hodgson, Edward Hunt, and Robert Wilson, sill engineers,
embarked in a masll boot from the pier at Hull, andd went
down the Humber as far as Paul, at which place they
landed and got seine drink, re-emir:rising for the purpnse of
returning to Hull about six o'clock. On leaving Paul them
was a very strong wind, and though for some time the melt
managed to man the boat safely, by the time they reached
nearly to the Victoria-pier at Hull, a distance of about
half-a-mile from the landing-pier, the wind had gained in-
creased force, and despite the exertions of the men, their
Font was driven ashore. Judge, the man who was super•
intending the boat, got out and waded through the
water to the shore,
_followed by Bragg sod Downing.
Hodgson. Wilson. end Hunt, remained in the boat. Though
they were frequently told( by Judge to leave it and come
ashore they did not do so, and Judge and the other two left
them in the boat. Strange to say none of the parties gave
information of the perilous position of their comrades with
a view to their rescue, and • little after seven o'clock yule!,
day morning the body of Hodgman was picked up on the
beach near to Mullett. about three miles from the place
where the boat was left. The boat was found on the beach.
yesterday afternoon the river wan dragged for the bodies of
the other two men, who have not been found.

FINAL REDVCrION OF THE WINK Dull I& —Molar:.
Henekers. Abbott, and Co., of fl and ita High Holborn, have re-
duced the price of their "Via Ordinalre " to lea per dinen, of
too guineas the six hallos cask.—(Advenlaement.

.v,,1'5.1" MARKET -MILS 1141 J

Two "Vim( A.
the financial acotisutst fruits .%encrica

fun. 6 to-day are heavy.
. •1. r cent. ha, taken place. Tlw prittei-
•w • i. enervined by the tightnen.
• . It 6 a6O enw.hicred that the
; the Emperor of the French 6 not quite
• • -tn4 36 could he desired. The •••eu-
• ••f the funds 6 esplaimed by the iwtoling

t• thi. morning, aceeinling to Mr. Rent.•r's
• . • . Thew• per Cent. Rentes were qu0t...1
, •sitc.l tio change *ince yesterday.
• • tn• ••tlicially on:irked 91j,* 93, awl !II
• • ..y. and 92 and 91; for the aeo.unt Web.
• T•• present quotation is 911 to v both
•, and twit Thursday's ...ttli•owitt.
--'' WI W4ll~ report
•••• ; Three per Cents. Reduced. 917.,
''l,, New Three p•r Cent*, 92. 91:. i ;
'I . Veer. Annuities, expirimt in April, ISB.I, 16
Fire per Cent. ltt•rk, 991, ; ditto
- •••••r Cent. Debentures, 1/tstt, ,t 5 ; Exchequer
I: •. 7.. re.,

F •1 pa st..rk• are quirt aids little il.atigr in
Meakaa 14.1a4 arr dat. Tlor Torkiali
L •,:i ri 1834 remain,. quoteti a.. ;
t:mt Nil to 2. Soles

r 1.1 ac followsfi :—Brazilian told Five
per C..uts.. 101; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per
4..9'1... 63! (exchange 1211.); ditto Foie: per
I la. I '..rtitiesie4, ; Mexican Three per
I ; ditto for amount, 2S, ) ; l'eriivian
Thr l'ents. for account, 74 ; Purtuglime
Ceuta., 1853, 43 ; ditto for amount,
Four-and-a-Half 'Per Cents., fit ;
Five per Ceuta., 81) ; Turkish His per
lusol, lir account, Pilo;;,
meeting to-day of the creditors of Memrs.
I: Ed-. son, and Co., Levant inervlianta, who
o stopped payment, a balance-Aieq't
live. I resented showing liabilities expectol to
rink upon the estate to the amount of
rsi,34;l'. (irreipective of a much larger uhich
`Povt"l to be otherwise pet.ridetl for), and net
....et. of 57,8401. After some explanation. re-
Apeetin4 the transactions between Messrs. F. Ede
and Co., and Mewing. T. N. Black awl Co., of
Constantinople, as well as other nutters, it was
re-solveil to wind up the estate under inspection.

FOUR 10.CIAM K.

( • 'WWII remain fiat at the quotation current at
2u'elock ; via., 91/ to ;, buth fur money anti the
7th in4t.

The cinimeitance of a special general meeting of
the proprietors of Rank Stuck having been coriveued
for Thursday next " on special affairs" has excited
numb iatete4, this being a very unusual proceed-
lux. It is ki.own that there have been during the
last few days several special meeting% of the Court
of Dinxters. As a matter of course, a great variety
of cameo are aseigned by rumour fur the appnech-
inx meeting. According to one report—which does
not appear to be at all probable—the Bank of Eng-
foist propose to allow interest on deposits. Accord-
ing to another, it is in contemplation to establish
a Bank of India, in connexion with the Bank of
England. Awarding to a third, which appears far
mere likely, an alteration is proposed in the rela-
tions between government and the Bank. It is
said in some quarters that Mr. Gladstone medi-
tate., reducing the amount allowed to the Bank for
the management of the National Debt. There can
be nu doubt that the business to be brought under
discussion is of an important character. The con-
tingency of an alteration in the tens of the Hank
Charter Act upon twelve months' notice 'icing
given must not be lost sight of.
The titrathdon, with 196,009/. in Australian gold,
Las now been at sea 81 days ; the Clutha, with
901,14/IW. 810 days • the Essex, with 59,500 f. 79
days: and the Champion of the Seas, with 37,0401.,
7I days.

Th;rc wvi a rumour that a small country private
hank I. in •htticulties.

eff.,rts are being made at Constantinople
for the relief of the embarraimed Greek houses in
that city. A private telegram alleges that the
Turkish government has been prevailed upon to
advance a sum of 7,000,000 piastres (say :A),000f.)
to Messrs. F. Ede and Co.'s correspondent there,
to enable hire to meet his liabilities.
The failure of Muses. Nickoll and North has
caused that of Messrs. W. Tozer and Son, oil and
lead merchants, of Bishopsgate-street, but their
liabilities are understood to be of small amount.
The dividend recommended by the directors of
the Great Southern and Western of Ireland Railway
COlllphllY is at the usual rate of 5 per cent. per
annum.