The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-02 00:00:00

MAMS:ON-HOUSE.

Yesterday a pawnbroker in Hounsditch was sum-
moned before the Lord Mayor, charged by a Mr.
Barnett, with not having delivered a silk cloak,
which had been pledged, with other articles, to the
amount of six pounds ten shillings. Mr. Barnett
told his Lordship that being pressed to make up some
money, he pledged several articles with this man,
and sent for them next day, but found this cloak
Wanting, which he valued at four pounds. The
Pawnbroker admitted his having taken in the cloak
v.ith the other articles, but could not swear he re-
turned it, not having examined the parcel. The
Lord Mayor ordered the Pawntitoker to make good
the silk cloak accordingly.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KINGS BENCH, GUILDHALL, M.tocu I.
S u vs alio Tern, &lore Lord EL LEXIIOZOUG)I.

LEEDS W. COOK.
RRF.ACII OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

This was an action to recover damages for the
breach of a promise of marriage. The Plaintiff was
a Centlemaa residing in Essex, where he paid his
addresses to the wife of thebefendant previous to her
marriage. The friends of the young Lady, at that
time, admitted his visits, and were inclined to see
them happily united. With such an intention, a So.
licitor was scut for on the lath of April last, and a
'settlement made ef *OWL on tl e young Lady, upon
condition of consenting to be -joined in matrimony
with the Plaintiff. The terms were acceded to, and
the instrument was signed without hesitation. The
Lady expressed a desire to be married in London,
and the day was appointed for that purpose ; it was,
however, put off, in consequence of a dispute which
shortly•after occurred between them. It then ap-
peared, that the Plaintiff behaved in the most harsh
and impolite manner to 'the Lady ; he used re-
proachful and provoking expr,ffssions : and it was
given in evidence, that he, at different times, had
threatened to beat her. In several instances his con-
dua was cruel and unfeeling ; one in particular,
when they were going to London, the Lady expressed
a wish to walk; the desire of the Plaintiff was to
ride in a cart, and on her refusal to acquiesce, he
brutally threw a whip after her, and exclaimed-
-4‘ It is good riddance of bad rubbish." On another
occasion, while they were in London, the young
Lady went to pay a visit to a friend. On her re,
turn, the door of the house was shut against her,
and the Plaintiff said she should not enter ; he also
told her, that he would break her bones before mar-
riage, and when he was married he would kill her ;
her answer was, ,4 I am not married yet, when I a.n,
you may, perhaps, do so." I n addition to such gross
behaviour, he had applied to another Lady, of the.
name of Turpin, offering her a settlement to marry
him, notwithstanding be was then under an agree-
ment with the Lady in question. Upon the whole,
his conduCt towards his Mistress appeared so dis-
gusting, that she wisely imagined she could never
be happy in his society, therefore eloped,and mar-
ried thelJefendant, Mr. Cook. She then addret.sed
a letter to;.the Plaintiff, stating, that she never doubt-
ed bet-. !ii(intentions had been honourable, but that
she had observed sorhething in his behaviour that
had occasioned her to believe she could not live
happily w 4,11 him, therefore had relinquished the
idea of beini his wife.
The ergualents of Mr. ERSKINE, on the part of
the Plaintiff,.avent to prove the breach of the agree-
ment .which had existed between the parties, and
the just demand which his client had to damages,
for the disturbance of his peace.
Lord ELLEN/ORM:GiI directed the 111 to give
merely nominal damages, as it appeared from the
evidence adduced, that the behaviour of the Plain-
tiff had occasioned the loss 'of the Lady, rather than
any_ciesign on the part of the Defendant.
Mw Jury gave a verdict for the Plaintiff,—da-
mages one shilling:

ISAAC V. CLARK.

This was an aaion to recover damages fir an in-
jury sustained by being overturned in a stage-coach
belonging to the Defendant.
It appeared that Mr. Clark kept the stage that
goes from London to Gosport, in which the Plain-
tiff was a passenger when the accident happened.
They had just passed the gates of Gosport, when
the axletree broke, and the carriage was overturned;
in consequence of which the Plaintiff was so much
bruised, that he was forced to employ a surgeon for
a considerable time, during which he was unable to
-.1,-ork for his living.
It was contended for the Plaintiff, that the carriage
was not in a sufficient state of repair to ensure the
safety of passengers, and that a greater number of
persons had been admitted than were allowed by
law. The iron axletree was examined, and was
found to have been iu a half-broken state when the
accident happened, and it was proved that the coach,
at the time it was overturned, was not road-worthy.
The Jury therefore gave a verdict for the Plain-
tiff--damages 3.51.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, MARCH 1.
Before Lord A LVANLEY, and a Special Jury.

GILDER V. BOLT.

This was an action to recover damages for run-
ning foul of the ship gam, at sea. The Plaintiff
went for a total loss.

The vessel 'in question was a Greenland-trader,
and was freighted with a valuable cargo, about the
Ist of May List, when the accident happened.
From the evidence of several seamen, it appeared
that the wind was between the south and west, and
that the Poe was (in sea terms) close hauled, that
is, close to the wind. At the same time, the Defen-
dant's ship, the 7arnez, was sailing on the other tack,
in such a direaion as to meet the Jane. From a
remissness in the management of the James's helm,
the two ships struck each other, by which the Jane's
bowsprit was carried away, and her side so injured
as to occasion the destrudion of her cargo.
It was alleged, on the part of the Defendant,
that they were prevented from tacking (which they
should havedone to have avoided the danger) by a
large pine of ice which was to avindward of them.
It was, however, proved, that negligence had occa-
sioned the injury; in consequence of which the Jury
therefore returned a vercliet for the Plaintiff--.da-
mages 10001.

By letters received lately from Dunkirk, we
learn that the epidemic malady which prevails there
is supposed to be the yellow fever, imported in some
vessels which some time ago arrived at that port
from St. Domingo. Three-fourths of the people of
the town are ill of this disease, and fourteen or six-
teen die of it daily. The French have qUarantine
laws, but they •are unfortunately ill enforced.

Colonel DESP ARD was of a very antient family
in the kingdom of Ireland. The family seat, where
his eldest brother resides, is a most charming place,
having an elegant mansion, surrounded with beau-
tiful gardens and groves. The seat is called Do-
nore, within three miles of Montrcath, Queen's
County.
Among the discoveries lately made at Otha,
there have been found a variety of figures in
Mosaic, and a lilumber of medals of Trajan Adrian,
and the two l'Alluaxes, in is gate of 'high fD14:111A•
60/1.