The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-01 00:00:00

Ifo.VP: ernctur.
ASSIZES, AlmDrroxi, JULY ft
CIVIL SIDR.
SEDUCTION.
DIPROP V. WOTTOY._.

This was an action for seducing the plaintiff's daughter, whereby
he !est her services. Plea, the general issue.
31r. GuasetY (with whom was Mr. Abotettrs) stated the
ewe. The plaintiff was a respectable man with a large family of
children, listeg at Fordwich in this county. The defendant was a
youing gentleman of respectable and wealthy connexions, living at
Westbeer, an adjoining parish in the same county. In the leek"
end of 11123, the tiefentlarit was introduced to the plaintiff's family,
and almost Immediately paid his addreanes to 31i us !forret Bishop;
he was favourably received by the lady, and his advances were
countenanced by the father. Miss Bishop was a young lady of
handsome person, prepossessing manners, and of strictly virtunutu
education ; at inc present time she was aboitt nineteen years of age,
the defendant was about thirty, and hail arrived at that time of life
whet gave him great advahtage over the other sex. During the
eautrtship, which lasted sitar eight months, he gairel great ascen.
dsncy over Miss Bishop's affections, but it was never dreamt that
he meditated any attack upon her virme. sedurite ars,
however, he succeeded at last in underminihg her chastity. It
would appear that he told her he would never become her husband
*tam, she yielded to the consummation of his wishes. Relying on
his sacred promise of marriage, aid in the conthience of his honour,
unhappily she yielded to his improper views. As might naturally
be expected, after the first lapse of virtue, the intercourse was re-
prated, until la the month of 31a7 last year she found herself prep
bast. Unwilling to make a disclosure which must involve her ts.
roily in misery, she kept her situation secret until the moth of
Neptember, when being invited to spend time weeks with a 31n.1!tquliart, a friend of the family, residing in London, she made
4,:nown her unhappy suite to!that lady, leaving it to her discretion to
bask :he matter to her family. 31rs. Urquhart, not doubting that
tht defendant would. by marriage, repair the dishonour he had en.
tailed upon the young 114, immediately wrote to him upon the
tuhject.
'ibis letter was followed by a visit,froin the defendant. Ile told I
Mrs. Urquhart, that he could not immediately fulfil his promises
or marriage, and solicited some little delay. In this state of things
Mrs. Urquhart thought it her duty no longer to conceal Miss 11:-
shop'ssnuatlon front her friends, and accordingly she made the ,
disclosure to her parents. It would be impossible to describe the'
misery and affliction which this intelligence brought upon the tin.l
teeny father and mother. An interview was sought between the
plaintiff's eon and the defendant, who sulked of repairing the mil-
chief by marriage, but he delayed the fulfilment of his engage.'
ments by various pretexts. In Miss Bishop's situation. it was im. I
possible she could be received at home. Fier father pla:ed her at I
the house of a friend at Gravesend, where she became the mother
of a boy on the 3d February last. About this time another cala-
mity happened to the plaintiff: In the month of December. a
bnijuling forming part of his premises, tell down and meshed his I
wite in the ruins, anti she survived the accident but a weoi. The I
unhappy mother had not the consolation of having her wretched
daughter with her toeless! her eyes. It would appear that the de.
ehndant was still desirous of visiting his victim, and sought an in.
terview during her residence at Gravesend, anti renewed his cot-
respondeece with her. Thht she consented so to do Was not unna-
tural, being still in hopes Mat lie would repair the mischief he find
entailed, by marriage. That the young lady was well and air.
tuously brought up, there could be no doubt. This would not be
dn.fu!ed by the defendant. No suggestion of improper conduct
could be made by hint, and therefore, there could be no doubt that
he alone had sapped her virtue. The plaintiff was the fattier of
eight children. He had received this young gentleman into his
house, expecting that he would be a contort to him in his old age ;
he was received as his daughter's lover and future husband: lie
turned out to be her betrayer, sod that by means as deliberate and
srtful, st they were base and dislineourable. He haul abandoned
his victim with health impaired, spirits broken. and reputation
blighted. Ile had kit a blot in a family which Ind been before
unpolluted. The plaintiffand his flintily were enduring misery not
to be described; and he (31r. G.) trusted that the Jury, under
these circumstances, would give such damages, as far as damages
would be a compensation fur such an injury, as their sense of jus.
rice would dictate.

Miss Harriet Jane Bishop, the plaintifrs daughter, was brought
into Court by a female friend, apparently in a state of dejection and
misery ; she was is deep mourning for her mar her. Examintd
Mr. ADOLPHUS —My father lives at Fordwich, in this county ;
hire not been home glace September last ; when I left my mother
was living t I was nineteen years old last month ; 1 became ac-
quainted with the defendant about four years since ; at that time 1
was fifteen. Alter being educated at a buarding.school, I came
home to live with my father and another. 'l'hs defendant is a far.
met, and manages a farm for his father. He told en,' he was in
very good circumstances. and had great expectations from his grand.
lather. At the time I first became acquainted with :he defendant,
there ins another gentleman-praying his addresses to me. The first
time the defendant declared himself was on the Bth of January,
1823, at a dance, at my father's house, to which lie wits invited.
I met him first at Mrs. Al'ley's house (his aunt's). He was not
particular in his attentions to me then ; no more than such com-
plaisance as a young man shows towards a young lady. My father
lives a very short distance from the defendant's father it house. On
the night of the dance I accepted hint as a lover. Atter that my
acquaintar.ee with the other gentleman was discontinued. The de.
Pendant then followed ulthis addresses with perseverance. Ilia ad.
dresses became known to my family. and generally amongst all the
neighbours it was matter of notoriety that he was my suitor. He
went out with and eset reed me about, alter the manner of a young
gentleman attached to a Toting lady. This continued for eight
months. In Ausrust, 11123. he matte more direct advances. Walk-
ing out with him one Sunday evening in that month, he tried to
prevail with me. He tried to seduce the to do wrong. 1 would
not itnen to him. I resisted. He said, unless I consented, he
Mould never marry me. I then raid him I should not have him
en such terms, and that I would think better of his offer of mar.
hags sad refuse it, and never have hint. Ile told me I should con-
sider better of it and repent. We went home together immedi-
ately. He brought up the subject again, and told me I should laic
him the next time. I told hint I was certain I should never do
each a thing as that. We then parted• On the Thursday follow.
ing he returned from a cricket match with my brother, and asked
me to go out for a walk. I went a very shott distance front home
tub him; he then accomplished the purpose which he ei pressed
on tile Sunday eveuing before. After that I saw him several times,
and in the May following I discovered that I was pregnant. On ,
the 3d of February in this year I became the mother of a boy. I
told lam of my situation when I first discovered it, and be advised
'net° keep it a secret from my family, and that he would contrive
that I should be well taken care of. Ile p omised front the first
that he w-ald marry me. He continued to make thee.: promises
at all times. The reason he assigned for net m levying me was,
tat fear of offending his uandfather, from lie said he had great
isnectations. I did not disclose my situation to my fa.
tedY• A lady, named Urquhart, living in Old Gravel-lane.
London, came to visit at our house in July last, and she invited
me to go to town with her, and being pressed by the defendant to
go. I went. Ile suggested that by going, my situation would be
kepis secret from my friends ; I went to Mrs. (.'rquhart's on the
Ist Srprembet ; 1 hare never been to my tither's house since; up
to that time I used to assist my father and mother as • daughter
does in a family ; the defendant is about 30 years of age at this
Mae when I got to London I told Mrs. Urquhart of my situation;
soon setter that the defendant came to town to sec me ; lie told me
t: at Mrs. Urquhart had written to him. Ile returned the next
momare. Soon after that, alts. Urquhart communicated my situti.
um to r:y family ; I remained at Mrs. Urquhart's until my father
trend a proper situation to place me in ; I was boarded anti lodged
at the house of Mrs. Asseter, at Gravesend. where I was confined
%hilt: I was there, the defendant came twice to see me ; this was
wash,s own contrivance. (The letter dated, Bth of January 1825, I
put me the witnesit's hand.) This is the defendant's hand-
"Illit• (The letter received by witness on the Ist July inst. was
ttlutput imo her handl This is the defendant's writing. Whilst'
et Mrs. Asseter's, 1 was boarded and lodged at my father's ex.
pass?. I received more knees from the defendant, but I destroyed
them. at his request. Since this action has commenced, he has
pressed ire not to appear as a witness against him.
airs. I.ydia Urquhart proved that the plaintiff had three laugh_l
tent and a son. Miss )1.-yriet Bishop was well ethic ited and sir. ,
1110.11i7 brought up. As ear as she had observed she was a virtuous
and modest young woman ; had known her from a child.
Mr. Urquhart, husband of the last witness, proved that the
difgralani mine ro visit Miss Bishop whilst the latter was staying
a• fits house in London ; he said to witness ttuit he could not marry
NM, Bishop on account of his grandfuhcrs from whom he had
s•arte expectations. Miss Bishop had been well brought up, and,
es tar as RUM'S, observed. she was a young woman of correct de.
porttnert. The plaintiff and leis wife always appeared to pay par-
tictdar attention to the conduct of their children.
Mr. and Mrs. Ameter of firavesend, proved that Min Bishop had
hers confined at their house, and that the plaintiff' had paid
431.175. ed. for her hoard and lodging, besides the surgeon's bill.
Ths was the plaintiff's case.
Mr. MAIIITAT (with whom was Mr. ANDREWS', then ad-,
drelsed the Jury on behalf of the defendant. From the manner in '
which Iris tanned Friend hail opened the we, he expected to
End from the e% idence, that this was one of the most deliberate,
Oeartleu, and unprincipled eas•ra of seduction ever brought before'
a Cot': of Justice ; that the defendant had effected his dishonour-
ablo Pueram by some base circumstances, some wielnal device,,
ra Provably had had recourse to some diabolical spell, in order
overzome that rouvaotic virtue in the young lady's bosom,
'cad resdded the ordinary excitement of passion and amour.
,'r•ination. What, however, wan hie astonishment, mid what
rut hi the astorti•ihment of the Jury, to find that his friend's de-
ot the la-hp's sensitive virtue—her purity of mints—her
431,a< deportment--and the suppanrci bowmen and vriciced.
Of lilt defendant, was merely the work of his own fanciful
-.arlatioa• Neste in the course of his long experience did he'ter her
ofsach a case of seduction as this presented. It seemed to
that the actnunt whir!' the vonng lady had given of her con.
.!ras mat extraordinary. Ills Learned
Friend had truly said,
„.'` 'set:emit:lnt could not be called upon to pay damage, In this
fdr the 'trench of a marriage prqmise, and therefore if arch
had been made, it was entirny out of the question. But
dt elling upon the particular circumstances attending the
seduetinn, he should advert to the lady's general habits.
Unit ()elate she was introduced to the defendant, she
51:itted the addresses of it linen.draper's shopman. The'
=rtea lasted three months, but the moment the defendant de-
' • Int:self. the hapless lover was diseseded ; he was forth-
: .747.ted at. This was rather slippery rnndret ; but her father
rasp fader, probably that would seedont for it. (loud
, • I Tteation which the Jury hail to decide was,
".; the !hung woman had fallen a victim to the defendant's
and wirknl designs? If they were of opinion that she
but that, on Cie contrary. she had voluntarily submitted
!to disgrace and infamy, then they could not car. upon. tlac