The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-14 00:00:00

LAW NOTICES.

CAT OP ICING'S BENI
v.—TO 417 AT HAI.V.PAY
tendon o.onmon Juries.
Hutt r Prcivis
Heald v. Thttl:ery
Moore •. Bray
Downes v. Du;fitl
Iltastermaa ♦. IlSoctre
Ilan*ard ♦. Wesiley
Aldred v. timid'
Hart V. Thacker
Hurt ♦. Depeke
Henna t'. fininla
Cost T. Macurily
Glover •. 'Matson
Same ♦. Rea,
lilyers v. Taylor

Frebtleld
qoI vi;ol4.waia
linuretoit v. Drayton
.

lleneou v. Dottie,.
Seamon v. halmon
Willett v. Fletcher
The KIN; v. Kelt/
Piga, v. Cut
Tucker v. Parkinand
Milner v. Odell
Megarey v, J :v•epb
Ito..str v. Heath
hurbeeter v. &triad
f Same v. Abbott

Barrett v. Dane
Hancock •klitLillebu rs t
Thentat v. Hill
Wai:kin v. 14,tocit
Wood v. Nt'rigi-t
Barclay v. llinie
Thiri v. Phillips
Same v. Cohen
v. Williams
(Owl v. klahnny ,
EL,tvotthy v. Put.ter

'iminterl v. Levy
Milleret r. Garde!!
1104ler v. ten&lig

LAW ITELLIGENCE.

COURT OF RING'S BENCH, GUILDHOLt.,
• . THIInaDAS% OCT. 13. •
Ireinanct Sittings before the boon CHIEF JUSTICE and COMMA
Jtt,iil.
SEDUCTION.
HAWVEI.II. V. THOMPSON.
Thin wan an action brought by an uncle against the defendsot.
Inc the seduction of his niece, who was his servant, per pod semi
film antisil.
1% r C. Ltw opened the pleadinge.
Mr. J. WILLIAMS stated the cane to the Jury.
They had
teamed from the opening of Isis junior, Mr. Law, the nature of the
present *diem. and it was unnecessary to sly one word about the
nature ofd case so serious to don:retie happiness and the private
peace of a family. The Learned Counsel knew, from some ex.
perience in Courts of Juerice, that either eloquence or declamation
upon such painful subjects operated little in favour of a case, on-
less it were substantiated upon clear and satiseactory evidence; and
if these ingenious instrument: of the advocate were employed with.
out good foundation, they proved in the result to be only empty
rm: CI, and tierfectly prodtlees :rt a plelntlff. Upon the present et.
cadein, the learned Counsel was Fite to allow that his client was in
what are called the lower ranks of society ; but having stated that
fact, lie felt bound to ed I that he possessed those renames.
dation' which put him upon a level wi h the most wealthy
man °fallen/dote Ile possessed Wmeety and integrity, and %mime
his reputation had been spotless Ire could not have ohtained the
situation *lnch he had long held of of ticket-porter in the city of
',Hendon. The unfortunate girl, whose nen was the foundation of
the present action—lndeed he cught to call her child, for she was
but sixt,en—was the daughter of a brother of the plaintiff, who
died in MIS, leaving six children behind him. Their mother had
also paid the debt of nature, and they were all orphan.. But their
fattier had left them all creditably. though not amply, provided for.
He had •beipiestlied to them all hit savings during at, industrious
life, ainonatin.4 to shout 3,0001., which made this young flOrnan'S
share equal to :Ylo/. The orphans were left in the care et tht plaids
tiff and another brother, who, dying soon after, remitted the whole
charge ro the pleintiff. It occurred to him, as he had been reared
in habits of industry himself, that the MOH prudent course to
afloat towards his nephews and nieces would be to place them in a
w.ty to are.iiire their peen livelihood. It wa. a prop:lr opinion, every,
one wouh: think, unless from the emit they should change theft
orb he:, at:(1 think he had forrniel It most improvident and en;
guarded judgment. Eliralieth Maned!, however, was placed out
at service in the !melee of a most respectable manufacturer hi
Groweelturch-street. Misfortunes like the present often arose front
the house of the seducer beino contiguous to that of his prey, arid
the hunted Coimsel thought his Lordship recollected some i*.
*fences in proof of this potation, thouelt the Jury might nor. la
this case the defendant's house was immediately oppnsi:e to lilt.
Nicholle's, and the le:arm:II Counsel supposed the defendant would
think he was paying him a co:npliment when he stated that he NMI
it man of some appearance not at all unlikely to captivate the effete
hone of an innocent and unguarded girl. He carried on the basi.
ness of a bent and slfoe maker in a most respectable way, anise
rent:), ; and from the situation of his %louse the unfortunate lining
woman Who teas the victim of his seduction *as repeatedly ono
dented to his clew. The Learned Counsel was told that
she had attractions. It might be so; certainly the de.
fondant theught so ; ie a certain sense of the word, he bee
cone " in love" with her. It Wes not, however, the pure
lace Which !Lich a phrase might to convey. It was that
appetite which the gourmand entertained towards a peach or Is On.
tririne—a love that admired it only with a wish to consume it.
However, he had his passion to gratify, and the Jury would pet.
crave he punned it to satiety with the most determined resolution.
Ile thought the fitted way to commence his attack was by letter
writing, and accordingly he wrote an anonymous letter, which he .
caned to be given to the girl. appointing a place of me. ting ; brit
this she pursed unnoticed. She received a second letter from the
defendant, and the did not attend to that. She received a third.
appointing another assignation, and to that she unfortunately list.
cited. The Leaened Counsel believed the third letter was destroyed
I by the unhappy girl, but its contents were ettch as to induce her to
give the defendant a meeting. which accordingly took place. dilly
wet hint ; he knew her; and from that the fatal intercourse was lid
on until it was coneuminned by her destruction. It was, however,
worth the attention of the Jury to observe the Menner in which On
insidious advances of the defendant were commenced, and that
Would be beet evinced by the first letter, se follows:
" Saturday morning, II o'clock, February 18, 1826.
" A gentleman who has no means of learning your name offers
you every analogy for addressing this note in the manner he has
done ; but he can no longer refrain front requesting you would
favour him with an interview. The sediments of respect with
which you have inspired hint induces him to request you would for
a few minutes allow him to speak to you. Pray do meet him to.
morrow morning. Sunday, at It o'clock, on the Soothwark-bridge.
Thames-street. He will be there at the appointed time, when lert
trusts you will oblige him with a few minutes' conversation. The
individual who writes this is not *holly unknown to you. Ad.
dressed ' For the housemeid, Mr. Nicholls's, 61, Grunted+.
street. "
In this letter it week: be seen that the defendant affected the
greatest respect and devotion towards the object of his feigned effet•
Mins. in his interview with her subsequently, he acted with the
mod con:omit:ale skill. His protestations were of eternal love,
his vows were of everlasting attachment. and his ardour was of the
most'etiblinie and pure quality. The Learned Counsel knew very
well, and tie was sure the Jury knew equally well, the sum, sub.
stit.ce, teed meaning of all this, when addressed by a man of thirty
to a girl of sixteen.
The COMMON SERGEANT (in a subdued tone)—You had bet.
ter answer for yourself, and not include the Jury in your experience.
Mr. Wliadens, in continuation—His Leaned Friend told hint
to answer for himself. He could only say that two s'y old foxes.
like his Learned Friend and himself, knew the value of such pro.
testations to an unguarded girl as well as any one. They meart
just about as much—though scarcely—as, fal, la, la, in a song
but to an unguarded child of sixteen they meant all that the
seducer could wish. To her, whose passions were all alive, but
whose prudence was unawakenee—to her, whose hewn was
warm, but whose head was unguarded—to her, believing the
weild innecfnt as hereelf, while experience left her hopes
elide:lied, sincerity breathed in every vow, and suspicion Iv e
it fled while her rein was effected. She did believe this man--she
did give confidence to his protestat,ons—she thought he loved
her—she loved him, and in reliance on his honour. she surrendered
rinibeiearleyweene.miSnielndeeentiotToinfs4tpehiarrlewe,itahnila ktheoguwiedilegfeolotif attilteerwy"aW;
neducer's tongue, were fearful odds. In this state of the case the
, defendant often saw her ; letters passed, and the poor girl had on
1 reason to doubt his sincerity. Ile was most desirous she should
quit the service of Mrs. Nicholls, as he professed a disinclination :0
place
anheirgofrotonthstertultn:culdees,. anodnfitnhaelly.ltitindouiced
Mayhebre tvoi,zuedit
her.
and took her out upon the pretence of going to the Exhibifon. He
took her, however, to Highgate, where they spent the day together.
Ile hal;rl, however,
itiinrogviiyi.leduptevn atethlreey got
ts
thereh lterh,eanidnothmttisheedr, Ih.e
led i,
should marry her the next day, and represented to her that it woul,l
be mere trifling for her to return home to her uncle that night, an
they would be man and wife in the morning. After a great deal of
persuasion she consented to remain with him all night, and he
wrote the following letter to her uncle, upon the pretence of ac.
counting fer her absence.

" City-road.
DEAR SIR,— I trust you will excuse yonr niece getting marrir.l
w Lhout your knowledge ; but I will call upon you to-morrow morn.
Mg, and explain."
unlAppy girl am not see what was written, but,stiprosing
was a most ample excuse for her remaining from home, she re-
mained with the defendant in the lodging. She acted most tit -
wisely. She acted—for her future happiness, on this side of t: e
grove, nt least-100it fatally ; but, Gentlemen, she was only six,
teen. She owned to the plaintiff's honourable protestariona, and
he ought to be the last person to blame her, for she believed them
to be trite. Site did believe him—she won undone. In the morn-
ing eorly he departed from her, giving her reason to suppose and
believe that he was going to see her uncle, to prepare every thing
regnisite, and to return in a short time, when they would be mar.
tied. Then came a letter, which, if yon should hear read withami
horror, excuse me if I say I have taken a very incorrect view au
you as men, and I have formed too favourable an opinion of' your
hearts and tinderstandings. The letter runs thus --
" Tuesday, 12 o'clock, May 30.
" Dear Elizabeth—Tine is the last time I can ever address you
On arriving at home, I found my wife In a dangerous state, owing
to my absence, and I tel convinced if I were to stay out lutetium
night the cotricquences to her would be fatal. I regret exceedingly
what has taken place between no; but I will take core to inform
your noel? t: ..t no • improper fioniiiaritica has taken place be•
tweco us ; raid if he calls on me 1 shall certainly tell him
that I entit'AVOLlTell to prevail on you, but :could not ; and
you can titer, fore return home without fear. you have to do
is to tell Illrs. ramie, the owner of the iotiwoo, that you *hall
sleep in tower to-night, and take what few things there are of your,,
and I will send and discharge the lodging:l, saying you did not like
them. If you are queatioped haw you slept when you get home.
say in separate reoWAS, and I will say the same ; and that what it:-
drieed :to stay out all night was,that I said I would merry you the oe‘t
ty, and that I persuaded yim your wicle would not let you go mit
for anther jay. And now let me entreat you to go home mime.
thatrly, mad natty you be itoopy ! ith respect to the few articles
which I gave you, pray keep them or sell them, or throw them
away, anal never more think of me, for it is out of my powet to
make you horny. Indeed if I were ta continue a cynnexion wit:
"Ilany'tilustchmyuolud sbcoeritt‘lld4'ar•atranseylfesslsttahte....him,iVietroi oYit