The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-05 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1861.

these compositions. It is no doubt our want of
taste that we fail to detect in them anything
more striking than the usual incoherence of an
emancipated, and highly sensational young lady's
pen. There is a mixture of piety and passion, a
twang of the French realistic novel and the lighter
devotional literature of the convent, of ardent and
intense feeling, and a vague yearning for "the
"unforeseen," which betokens • life of storm and
change. Of course the lady insisted on giving •
retroactive effect to her new passion. It was to
date from the night on board the Boulogne
steamer. The time between was • blank ; though
it appears that at the time when these letters were
composed the writer was dallying at Naples
with what she would probably have de-
scribed in French as " tempests of the
" heart ;" flirting with yachtsmen, driving Nea-
politan noblemen to duels and desperation,
and scaring a cardinal. The young lady was
working out in the true French fashion, though in
a French language of her own, her "destiny."
Major l'a&vaaroe's letters wore flighty, caressing,
cynical, and indifferent ; the letters of a man
flattered, but disposed to fight shy of so eloquent
an adorer. In 1855, Miss Teases LONOWOSTII,
inspired by the prevailing rage for service in the
hospitals, found her way to Constantinople ; and
at Galata, in the romantic and captivating dress
of a Postulant in the House of the L•zarist
Sisters, she was visited by her long-lost corre-
spondent, who was doing duty in the Crimea.
The dress of the Postulant appears to have
affected the imagination of the " gallant" officer.
The dramatic allusion of piety and passion is
always effective. He owns that he " made some
" love" to the Postulant on that occasion," though
" not in words." Subsequently Miss Loxuwoaru
was on a visit to the hut of General and Lady
Smut:Timm in the Crimea. Captain Ystsawrow's
hut was not far off; and they met repeatedly,
and exchanged vows. On the departure of
Miss Lonoworre for Constantinople again Cap-
din whether or not an accepted lover
it is hard to tell, accompanied her almost by
stealth on the steamer ; as the lady remarked, it
was curious that their destiny should have so
much to do with steamboats. Again they chatter
beneath the moonlight on the silent poop ; but
were interrupted by one of the middle watch. In
a letter written only a week after, Miss Lona-
worm alluded pointedly to this episode, which,
by the bye, Captain Yecvssrox described in the
Court of Common Pleas in terms which compelled
the Judge to request the ladies to absent them-
selves. A charming French novelist, who was on
the staff in the Crimes, discovered the materials
of romance in the presence of adventurous English
ladies at the seat of war, and made • touching,
and positively not a sinful, story out of the attach-
ment of the wife of an imaginary British general
for an imaginary officer of Spahis. An English
novelist closed a very warm story with the death-
bed of the hero, • gallant ravager of the peace of
families, in Scutari hospital, soothed in his last
moments by the presence of a most loving nurse.
But the story which came out last week in court
at Dublin fairly eclipses all the dreams of French
or English fiction. The scene in the Lazarist con-
vent at Galata, the episodes at the General's
hut in the Crimea, and on the boat from
Balaclava, leave nothing to be desired in the ro-
mance of war. The next meeting of the lovers
was at Leith, in 1857 ; then at Edinburgh, where
the alleged reading of the marriage service took
place in lodgings. The denouement could not be
delayed much longer. Miss Losowosra went to
Wales, and while there she was persuaded to
meet her accepted lover in Ireland, where the
" conscience-saving " extracts of the Roman
Catholic marriage service were read by the Rev.
Mr. MOONEY with closed doors. The priest did
not mean it as a marriage, yet he sent a copy of
the marriage certificate to the lady. The cere-
mony in that chapel was a strange piece of co-
vasty with Heaven, the lover, and the world.
The lover would no doubt have swallowed any
formulas at the moment, and the lady was
content to cheat her own conscience into
believing that the husband was all at once
a Catholic; while the priest proclaimed that
he only gave the consent of the Catholic Church
to the previous Scotch "ceremony" at the lodg-
ings in Edinburgh. Who was the deceiver and
who the deceived of all these witnesses 1 Pro-
bably none were deceived, though all were parties
to a common cheat. Passion was the lover's
plea ; the priest's was the church. From that mo-
ment, however, the drama hurried, as all such
dramas do, to its appointed end. There was the
fever of possession, the sickness of satiety, weari-
nem, neglect, selfish treachery, hopeless desertion.
The life of the twice married lovers at Hull, at
Dunkirk, at Bordeaux, may be conceived ; the
heartsickness, the loneliness, the despair. At
length, after • long separation, they met once
more at Leith in June, 1858; and there this
gallant officer and gentleman reproached the
woman he had doubly betrayed " with coming
" back to him." Before the end of that month
he was married to a lady with a fortune. It was
the want of • fortune that had made him desire to
conceal the double " marriage " in Scotland and
Ireland. Why could not the mock-wife captivate
some one else, or go to New Zealand I
Now, we ask our readers who have watched the
evidence in this case in detail, to bestow all their
horror and indignation on the gallant gentleman
who still holds &commission in her MAJESTY'S Army,
and all their sympathy and pity on the wayward and
weak and wilful victim of his treachery and lust.
This is right and natural. Major YeLvearow
was, on his own showing, a lawless and ruthless
social pirate. Pirates still flourish in the midst of our
highly organized society, and flourish on its facile
vices and its feeble virtues. The weak, the
giddy, the defenceless, are their natural prey.
Given, a girl of generous feelings, of an ardent
and yearning nature, of great passions, undisci-
plined heart and brain, strong will, desultory and
aimless education ; let her be an orphan, home-
, less, wandering, unsettled, saddened, a little
embittered by the early experience of the
hollowness of life ; let her fall into the hands of •
man of gallant bearing and winning manners ; a
man too with • front of beam, • heart "of
" hammered steel," and the morals of a monkey,
and we forbear, for pity's sake, to prophesy
,1 her fate.

The Church Rate Abolition Rill stands on the
order-book for going into committee to-morrow,
and as the only two bills before it are not likely to
occupy much time, it is likely to come on. In
these circumstances the supporters of the bill will
see the necessity of guarding against any accident
which would deprive them of the advantage gained
last week. Notices of several amendments have
been given, the miasmas of any of which would
prove fatal to the bill. Mr. Newdegate proposes
an addition to the county rate, in lieu of church
rates, while Mr. A. Steuart proposes that the house
should consider " in what mode relief may be given
to those who object to pay church rates, keeping
in view the neoesaity of the maintenance of the
churches in rural districts" This last proposal is

fraught with danger, inasmuch as it might be sup-
ported by all who are in favour of a compromise,
however much they might differ a-4 to the particular
compromise to be proposed, and only prolong the
present state of suspense, by preparing new illu-
sions.

THE HOUSE OP LORDS.-THE TURNBULL
CASE.
--•-
DIVISION.

Moved,—That a selectnom TiatleW be appointed to inquire
into the circumstances that attended the apppointment
and resignation of Mr. Turnbull in the Record-Office—
(the Marquis of Normanby) : objected to. On question:
contents, 26 ; non-contents, 41.

,
cositym.
MARVIMS EARL. LORDS LoRDI
Norm:lllaq Luaus Clifton Penshurst
Salisbury Fowls Colchester Petro
IViuchester. Selkirk Wyllie of Cu]- Rollo
KW/Iti Stanhope. ram Soasexhill
Derby VIsCoIIIIT Denman Wynford.
illenborough Dungannon. Feversham TELLERt.
Grey LORD bloateagle of Bath, Marquis of
llardwaleko Chelmsford Brandon Itaveusworth,L

NOLOONTENTS.
LORD EMUS LORDS tonne
Campbell. Nommen %rimy Poneonby
Du RIM Spencer. D• Maoley Ronde
Newcastlu V iscourrg De Tabiey Stanley of Al.
Somerset. Evendey derley
Simel° Sydney = Stratheden
Allesbury. Torrington. Herbert Taunton
EA DLS BISIWPS Iluntleon Truro
Sidle Carlisle Kesae Wodelsonee.
Usenperdown London. Lamont
De Gni Lou' Llenover Tritiall.
Granville Boyle Methuen Cansoys. Lord
Wet Germane Bootlick Monies& Foley, Lord.
Illietkabory Lelthorpe

it, the circumstances of the subsequentt marrisge cannot in
the slightest degree detract from the validity of the second
profession of it. Well, gentlemen, th►t being the inquiry
you have to sake, it is at once apparent that in considering
the question of each marriage separately, you are to consider
two things. First, was there a marriage in fact in Scotland;
nextoras that muriage valid,according to theism of Scotland.
In the same way you will have to ascertain whether there was
or was not a valid marriage in Ireland. Aa to there being•
miniage in fact in Ireland, there is no dispute, because all
the evidence, both for the plaintiff and the defendant,
proves that • ceremony was gone through in the temple
of the living God, iu which ceremony that Almighty
Being was called on to witness the proceedings that
took place. There is no doubt that in the temple
of the living God, before His altar, in the presence of an
ordained minister of that God, this map took this woman.
in words at least, for his lawful wedded wife ; and that
alone, without one particle more, makes them man and
wife, provided only that there was no impediment, or no
circumstances extraneous or connected with the parties,
that would render them incapable of being married in •
Roman catholic church by a Roman catholic priest. I
have told you that you are trying whether any legal
binding marriage took place, and that, I rather think, is
the only question in the case ; for, with respect to the
demand for 2:191. I believe that it is not disputed that
Mr. Thelmal maintained her to that amount, and that
if she is the defendant's wife he is bound to maintain her.
If you find she is his wife according to the law of Scotland,
you may or may not go further. Having commented upon
the letters which were addressed by Mn. Yelverton to the
defendant at different intervals, his lordship next referred to
their meetings at Galata, when Mrs. Yelverton was engaged
in the hospital there in the capacity of sister of charity ;
and said—Now, gentlemen, we come more nearly tett.* parts
upon which there is a great divergence in their evidence.
Both agree that Major Yelverton called upon this lady at
the convent. Major Yelverton says that he talked to her
for an hour or two, and that she was dressed in the habit
of the order, and wasnot in the convent but in the hospital.
It was superintended by a number of French sisters
of charity, and who wore a peculiar habit or robe. Ha
nye he spoke of love, bat not of marriage ; that he took off
her bonnet and embraced her. He says he talked of love
and affection ; and that then, for the first time, he formed the
idea in his own mind to dishonour her and make her his rods
tress. I am not surprised, much as I deprecate exhibitions of
feeling in a court of justice, at the expression of indignation
the avowal of this man must have excited in the breast of
any man with • particle of honour or virtue in his compo-
sition. This girl, who underwent one of the most searching
orces•examinations I ever witnessed, and in whose conduct
up to this moment there does not appear to have been any-
thing that would be discreditable or improper in any
woro,m, excited the admiration, love, and affection of
this man, as he tells us ; but, my God, should not
the garb in which she appeared, and the work of
charity in which she was engaged, have had some influence
on this man, and driven from his mind the idea which he
says he entertained at that time ? My God, gentlemen ! all
of us see in this city numbers of young and beautiful women
who are engaged in this holy work of charity, and though
mon may entertain different opinions as to the prudence
and propriety of a conventual life, there is not a man among
you who would be capable of offering an insult to those
young and devoted women, as they go to and fm in
their mission of charity, visiting the haunts of suffering
and misery. That, gentlemen, is the account this
man gives of himself and the idea he entertained at that
time. He says he loved and admired her, but that she was
not of gentle blood, and that therefore he formed the idea
or desire of obtaining possession of her person, not in an
honourable manner, but by dishonouring her. That is
his declaration. However, gentlemen, whatever may
be the feelings of indignation which such • declaration
naturally excites in the mind, we must endeavour to
get rid of them here, and consider the case, not as a matter
of feeling, but as one on which we haves duty to discharge.
According to the principles of law and justice we must, as
far as we can, endeavour to ascertain what was really the
nature of this interview at Galata. You will imagine
whether his declarations and conduct towards her then
were such as to lead her to believe that his intentions
were honourable. This lady was not of • noble family,
it is true, nor in the same position as Major Yelver-
ton ; but still she was of a respectable family, and known
to and associating with respectable people. Whatever else
she was, there can be no doubt that she was in every
respect as attractive a girl as ever fell to the lot of any
man ; and no one can doubt, that if she continued to be
what she then was, virtuous and honourable, she was one
wbo, in manner, demeanour, appearance, intelligence, and
talents, would do honour to any station to which any man,
however high or well his position, could raise her. (Ap-
plause.)

The learned Judge concluded an able and lucid charge,
which occupied seven and a halt hours in delivery, et
5.30 p.m., when the jury retired.
THE VERDICT.

The jury having returned into court at twenty
minutes past G p.m., in answer to the Chief Justice
stated—first, they bad found the Scotch marriage
a valid 000 ; and secondly, that there was a good
Irish marriage. The Chief Justice asked them if
they found that defendant was a Roman catholic,
to which they replied that they had.
On the announcement of the verdict, the excite.
meet of the audience burst into applause, which
was continued for a short time, and which was taken
up by the immense crowds outside the courts and
along the quay.
On the verdict being made known to the thousands
of people who were congregated on Inns Quay, and
who lined the sides of the river for a considerable
distance, they took up the cheers of those within
the Four Courts, and the , enthusiasm was most
vehement.

The scene in court was beyond all description.
Mrs. Yelverton was in one of the chambers of the
court. The horses of tho carriage waiting for her
were taken from it by the crowd, in order that they
might draw her to the hotel where she is staying.
The case is the great topic of discussion throughout
the city.

One of the moat remarkable effects of the Yel-
verton marriage case has been the extraordinary demand
for newspapers at Dublin. It wan quite impossible to
supply this demand. The printing machines were
kept at work almost incessantly, and yet the
papers were sold ►t a premium. The newsvendors
had a regular harvest, penny papers being sold by them
seedily for sixpence, and in some instances they got a shil-
ling • copy. The Daily Exprem, the only daily with •
double sheet, was specially in demand. This journal de-
votes twenty-five columns to a report of S►turday's pro-
ceeding; which consisted only of the two speeches on evi-
dence by Serjeant Armstrong and Yr. Whiteside. To the
speech of the latter gentleman the Distils R.rpress devotes
seventeen columns. The Freeman gives him eleven
columns, publishing • supplement for the purpose.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge awl the Priocess Mary immured the performances at
the St. James's Theatre with their presence last evening.
The house was crowded, and Mr. Alfred Wizen awl Mira
Herbert received their customary ovation at the close of the
drama of The Isle of SI. Trap=

The ex-Queen Marie Amelie is surrounded by a
family circle at the Royal Victoria Hotel at St. Leopards-
-00-8118. His Royal Highness the Duke de Nemours, with
the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres, have already
arrived at St. Leonards. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince
de Joinville and the Duko tntumale, and his Royal High-
DM the Duke of Wurtemburg, will join their illustrious
relatives today.

His Excellency the Belgian Minister and Kline.
Van do Weyer entertained at dinner Lot evening, at their
!evidence in Portland-place, Lord and lady Stanley of Al.
derley, Lord and LadyWonsleydale, Lord Mho, Mr. W.W.
Beaumont, Y.P., and Lady Margaret Battunout, Sir David
Dundee, Air Henry Cotterell, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr.
Ruthven, &e.

The Countess Stanhope has issued cants for an
assembly on Friday next, at Ler residence in Grosvenor-
place.
The mortal remains of the late Countess of
Roden were removal from Cavendish-square yesterday
for interment in the family vault at Tullamore Park, on.
Down.

Visoount and Viscountess; Stratford do Radcliff°
entertained a select circle at dinner laat evening at their
resider's* in Ortevenorepuire.

Sir John and Lady Walsh arrived at the Pavilion
Hotel, Folkestone, on Friday last, and left yesterday for
the Coutioent.