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London, England, 1824-07-24 00:00:00

tore dental hum Sir George Murray. He declared in this let.er,
that in order to leave no opening for suspicion, any letters he
might hare written to Lady Erskine, he had no objection that
they Shoed be seen by her husband ; and that in whatever in-
iereonree he had had with Lady Erskine, nothing had occurred in-
jurinue to his (SirJ. Erskine's) honour in the slightest degree, or
to that of Lady Erskine." Beside this letter, an bon. and gal-
lant !He'd of ntine (Sir R. Wilson) at the request of Sir J.
Erskine, waited on Sir 11. 3lurray, who repeated this denial, and
desired that it might be considered sa " a free, candid, and un-
reserved explanation." And my Hon. Friend, in conveying this
denial to Sir J. Erskine, said that if any thing fill short of his
wishes, as to a full and complete denial, it was attributable to
the inadequate manner in which he conveyed it. With this
letter, and this explanation. his suspicions were lulled. It
came from a man admitted honour, of high military rank,'
and military service. Nevenheless, the aGetioa of his wile
had been alienated; he had hecn an exile from his home,
and reduced to such a state of misery as to make him an object
not of envy Yr the least fortunate of his fellow creature*. Without
imputation mi the honour of Sir G. Murray, if Sir J. Erkine had
been informed then df what he '
cad time learned, he must have
been convinced that, if guilty cantina had not passel between the
parties, which was all the letter strictly guarded against, all the
pu misses of intrigue hal bawl accomplished befor • they left Paris. T h is
correspondence was carried on through a logwyde place and aft Wme
!de chum& e. ,tosignations were made Aw them to meet frequently
in private. The name of the lady oho owned the house where
these assignations took place. I am unwilling to name, from my re.
luctance to involve a thitd party in the consideration of this rase.
In public, a reserved and respectful distance was observed; not so
much even as the appearance of a flirtation was carried on in
the company of the lady's family. But what, Gentitanen, will be
your surprise when you heir, that within two months after the die.
i avowal contained in his letter, and after the •' frank and unreserved"
explanation which ha gave Sir Roben Wilson, Sir James Erskine
learned from a friend, that Sir Gene 3lisrray and Lady Erskine
were living at a •••rateringsplace, itWli a Csguised name ? Hoar
Sir J. Erskine must have born astounded at such an intimation I
leave you to conjecture. He soon traced them to several places where
they had lived under the same roof, and no doubt could remain that
a criminal intercourse between them had been completed. He fol-
lowed their several mnvements—they hod been at Dumblain, a
watering-piece in Perthshire) they removed thence in August,
1021. to Medial, in Derbyiliiry: At the close of that month
Lady-Erskine removed to lodgings at Earl's Court, in Illtruptons
where she lived under circumstances of great mystery—Sir O.
Murray constantly being at the home, bet not appearing there be.
fore any of her friends who visited her ; !le had a room in the home
Ito which he retired when any of Lady kaskine's family aunt to see
her. In December, Lady Erskine paid a visit to Sir C. Pa.
get, in the Isle of Wight. She met Sir George Murray near
I sandhurst, on their way to the Isle of Wight. She went at Christ-
mas to her uncle a ('anon of Windsor, and returned in January
with her brother to Earl's Court, • here she renewed her mysteri-
ous intercourse with Sir IL Murray. In February, itt-2•2, she se-
cuenpanied hint to Finchley, where she had not long been before
she was delivered of a child. The birth elf the child took place on
the 22d of April, 182?. The only want she had to make bee mar-
ried state perfectly happy was the want of children. She wag nee
in her forty.fifth year. and the birth of the child at this advanced
period of life naturally affected her constitution. Then Sir 0.
.tiunay lived constantly with her, and they both paused under the
assumed names of 3lr. and Mrs. Evans. The child was there
baptised in the name of Louisa Georgie* Augusta Anne Evir3s,
and registered in the pariah.buok 01 the daughter of George and
Louiu Evans. Fr.mi Finchley they went to ()daunt, io Hamp-
shire, where they lived as at Finehley, and under the same ficti.
time name. I now come to the last topic of the many,. of cruel
aggravation in which this case abounds. After the birth
of the child, they thought of a plati whereby they hoped
to be able to live together in future, not in disguise, but
as man and wife. The fictitious names of Mr. and Mrs. Evans
might do very well for a time, but the de ion could
be but temporary ; would soon be detected, and must be given up
at last. They projected a marriage in such a manner as they
thought would save their own characters from impeachihent,
at the expense of the character of my injured client. By the law.,
of this country they conld not procure a divorce, but there was a
law of Scotland which allisrded sonic such facility, by which they
hoped to be able to effect it. That law was one which empowered
a wife to sue be. husband for a divorce if he had not lived dith
her for four yams. If he does not take her back within that time
a divorce is granted for what the Law terns, " his wilful desertihn of
his wife." ily this measure they hoped to throw shame and dig.'
grace on this deeply-injured man. But what cared they for that ?
They had already done him a wrong, which they could not excezd
in whatever way they might afterwanls do. The suit was coin-
meneed, and persist;d in up to the present period. They expe-
rieaced, however, an obstacle to their plan, by an offer on the
part of the husband to tyke her back; and thus the dosigh
was defeated by which they sought to get rid of her marriage
with him, as the husband, serving a citation n: his readiness to
take back his wife within the prescribed time, frustrated the suit.
The Learned Gentleman here went over the leading points el the
statement, and enforced them with his usual eloquence. He pro-
ceeded. The witnesses would prove the facts as I hare stated, and
which they have seen. They will describe to you the state of
wretched feeling into which this calamity has thrown my unfortun-
ate client. The defendant's Counsel may dwell with his wonted
ingenuity ou a variety of topics, but do not forget, co evidence, no
documents are offered on his behalf, and I require credit for nothing
that I shall not prove. The defendant cannot plead the impetuosity
oaf youthful pasnen or youthful Indiscretion. Be has arrived at the.
Mature age of fifty-four. The high station and distinguished cha-
racter of the defendant aggravated the injury of him against whom
the defenlant's conduct was die med. he only frailty that could
be imputed to my client is his excessive forbearance, his want of
readiness to doubt the virtue of his wife; his fault was, that be
too strongly and too fondly loved—that he too strongly trusted
her. Your experience, too frequent, unfortunately of late, tells
you that you cannot give reparation in a case like this ade.
quate to the injury the plaintiff sustains. Yet it is due to the
character of the plaintiff tharthe damages you award should mark
your sense of the wrong he has sustained. In proportion as the in-
jury is great, so should your conipensation be large, for to that Vaal.
tire injury which he sustains by the crime of the defendant, is
superadded another injury—a wound inflicted on his character, if
your reparation Ise not ample.
The following witnesses were then called:—
Elisabeth hates sworn, and examined by 111 r. Bnor c naaf—
i am housekeeper to Lord (;wydyr. I was in the service of Sir
G. and Lady Erskine. in the capacity of lady's maid, berm: which
time I was in Lord Galloway's service. Lady Galloway is sister
to Lady Erskine. They were married in the year 'WI. I was
then in Lord Galloway's service. I had frequent opportunities of
seeing their conduct after their marriage. Their conduct was most
exemplary on both sides. They were much attached, and their
manner wan most affectionate. I lived with Sir J. and Lady
Louisa to the year 111111. Shortly after the battle of Waterloo he
left England fur Paris. Up to that pei loud I saw no interruption in
their affections which were more than ordinarily strong, warm, and
attached, I had no idea of observing or suspecting an interruption
in their affix:ions at any time. Sir J. was absent part of the year
1810, and during his absence she lived at a cottage near Farlthallt•
On his return from the Peninsular war he was indisposed, and
I Lady Louisa was most attentive to him. She acted towards him
like a nurse, anti with the winos' kindness and attention. I did
not observe any change in his manner towards her, cr diminution
of affliction on her part, during the time 1 lived with them. Sir J.
was affected with sore eyes ; Lady Louisa used frequently to read
and write for him.

CrwastaatninA by the ATTOR X ET-0 ENE It AL.—T.e.ey gene-
rally, after their marriage, resided at Tortay, in Scotland; their
habits were very retired ; they had no children, or prospect ofany
I do not know what was her age when she left England fur the
Continent ; noraut I certain what was her age when she was mar-
ried. At her marriage ia Ilidi, it might h.eve been probably 22,
but of this I ant not certain, and can only speak from conjecture.
By a Juror—'tir J. was net so near-sightcd as to be incapable of
writing or reading the superscription of a letter. It was more to
relieve him as an af:ctionate wife, than from any positive necessity,
that she read and wrote fur him.

Col. :11*Donald--I have known Sir .1. Erskine since 1803: I was
en his staff in Ireland, in the year 1100 or 1901, attached to it as
Alajor of Brigade. Sir J. Erskine, and Sir George Murray, are
!Kith Lieutenant-Generals in the army ; Sir George Murray is
Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance, now secand in the depart.
merit of which the Duke of Wellington is head. On first joining
the staff; I was not acquainted with Sir James Erskine, but after-
wards became intimate with him ; for a considerable time many
occasions were afforded me of seeing him, as I lived next door to
him in Ireland. and used to be in constant intercourse with him.
private as well as official ; I had constant opportunities of seeing
Lady Louisa there ; they lived on terms attifection ; indeed, I
Dever raw persons live Inure happily to; ; so they were esteemed
to live in society, and my private observation confirmed this gene.
ral opinion. It was impossible that arl persons could live on
happier terms. I accompanied Sir J E. to Scotland, in 'capacity (as
wenadcrsto.xo similar to that which I served undo. him in !rebind.
On Sir James's return, in IMO. they lived on the same terns of
uninterrupted happiness. 1 had equally frequent opportunities of
observing their conduct then as in Ireland. Their affection we
undiminished. I saw them at an hotel in town shortly before they
went to Paris; thizit it was in the stemma in which the battle act
I Waterloo took place. Their manner did not appear to me pre-
cisely as it had been before. I only saw them one nionting, how-
ever, and that for a short time. I have seen them separately since,
but have not met them together since that visit. They appeared to
observe more distance towards each o:her than formerly. an the
casino of my seeing them at the hotel. My visit was very sheet,
! and I was probably impressed with reports I had heard, and make
[ that observation with this qualification.

James Murray. Esq.—l am broilicrsin-law to Sir J. Ers'iitte.
I lire at Aberearny, near Sir J. Erskine. After their manage I
had frequent opportunities of seeing Sir James and Lady Louisa.
I was in the same regiment with hint. Their conduct appeared to
me to he as affectionate as possible on both aides. Their affection,
I may say, was curled to tomance. I oinsrved no abatement in
their deportment up to 11:13. I saw them at Paris; their attach-
ment there did not seem so great.
cross-examined by the Avriattirtr.Gnictum..—f-r :antes
Erskine's sister lived with him at Torrey. This hilly accompanied
him to Spa. They went by lambrae ; they arrived at Cambray
three Of four days before the allied armies quitted Paris. Ido not
know that Sir James Erskine would not sleep with Lady Louisa at
Paris; neither do I know that they had separate suites of aAti
meats. 1 rather think they hvl, however. and that :hey otiljr`W•
wrist:al at meals, read on formal occasions. Sir James, on his
return. left Lady Erskine at Torrsy, when be wait to Edinburgh.
Miss Erskine accompanied them to Cambray Spa. and back Vain
to Paris. They were in the habit of visiting Sir George Murray
at Paris a pod deal on their return from the Spa. I was not lit
Paris. and cannot say whether they renewed their visits to Sir
Marray, but have head that they did. n:•t sure