The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-12 00:00:00

MATRIMONIAL SEPARATION.

GUERNSEY, OCT. 4.
Von can easily conceive what • sensation, in a small place
like this, the arrest and committal to prison of an English
lady, the wife of • clergyman, and evidently of rat k and fashion,
must create. Nothing else is spoken of. I transmit you the few
imperfect particulars I can collect of • story involved in doubt
anti mystery. The lady is the wife of the Rev. filr. Horne, e"
Chiswick (brother, I understand, to the Chancery Barrister
the same name), and daughter to the celebrated Zoffkoi, the
painter. It appears that she and her husband, alter living
together for many years, and rearing a fine family, separated
la 1822, in consequence of some unhappy misunderstanding.
Ilk lady wait allowed to take her daughters, and a main.
pinnace of SOL assigned her. Mrs. Horne lived since that
time in France, and latterly in the neighbouring island of Jersey,
with her children, one of whom is a eery fine and accom-
plished young lady of eighteen and the other, aboUt whom the
mother is now involved, a girl of ten years of age. The Rev.
Mr. Horne having beard that his wife was guilty of some irregu-
larity of conduct (the truth or falsehood of rhich I have no means
of ascertaining) determined to have his children from her care, and
applied to her to give them up ; but Mrs. Home, who, it seems,
has ever been exemplary in her conduct as a mother, if rot as a
wife, and much attached to her children, refused to surrender either
of them. The young ladies were equally unwilling to be parted
from their mother. Remonstrances and threats were ineffectually
used en induce Mrs. Home to alter her determination, but
she, with • view of escaping from the annoyances received at
Jersey, removed to this eland about three months since. Mt
Horne baring, however, tractd her, lately appeared here, ac.
companied by his son, and a Mr. Brand, hitherto the pen.
(visor of chymistry, and having again failed in persuading her
to give up even the second girl, he applied to the Cour Royale
for an order to compel her to du so. The Court having heard his
case, and the reply of Mrs. Home, ordered--." That as the father
bad an inoontestible tight to the possession of his children, being
minor'. they should ba given up to him." Mrs. Thorne, now string
that open resistance would be no longer available, pretended that
her mind could not bear a sudden separation front her children, and
also made the children declare that they could not survive the shock
of being torn abruptly from her; and in consequence of their re-
presentations, an interval of a month was allowed to prepare her
mind and theirs from the pain of a final parting. That time Mr
Horne employed so effectually in working upon the sympathy
the judges, and on the kind feelings still entertained for her by her
husband, that it was agreed to let the eldest girl remain with her
for some time longer. upon thepromive that she would go to her father
when required ; and further. Mr. Horne agreed to pay 3001. to his
wife on the day appointed for the surrender of the younger child.
Guardians under the Court were named to were the safety of the
young lady, but melt was the reliance on the good faith of Mrs.
Home, that their surveillance was merely nominal, and she had an
absolute control over her children. Mr. Horne, satisfied with the
arrangement, returned to Chiswick. and, at the appointed time, sent
a friend to pay the money and receive his child. This gentleman„
Mrs. Horne, and the officer of the Court, met on the day named,und
the three hundred pounds were paid in due form to the lady, but
when her part of the agreement came to be performed, the de-
clared she could not live without her child, anti that oot;ing tia
earth should induce her to part with it. Tau can es...fly
gine the looks of the agent who had so easily pact with
the money, and the consternation of the oLer, alio }.ad
guaranteed the safe production of the young k.dy, Horne
was asked where the child then was. She ret.sed to tell. Eeerch
was immediately commenced in every pa*.t of the island, and
handbills circulated offering a reward for her recovery. The Cour
Royale was specially ommmoned on the o'„carion, and the report of
the officer above-mentioned being matt:, the Court ordered a pro.
elamation. awarding the severest pemdties against any person hat.
bnuring or assisting in the concealment of the child, or assisting to
remove it from the island, and directed that Mrs. Horne should
be committed to prison, ander a charge of having surreptitiously
'removed • child that was umbrr the skerelaszene of the police,
to await the event of • prorecution ordered to be commenced
Against her by the Attorney. General of the island. use.
Horne is now in eisstodv in a better part of the common eel, sad
seems determined to brave the authorities to the last. The We
has puzzled all the wisdom of the ('our Royale, stich hes not yet
derided in which way its tsry is to be directed against this strange
and dauntless woman. The trial is expected to take place lo time
weeks. Mrs. Horne is resolutely silent on every thing concerning
the child, and will rot give the slightest hint in what way she has
dlayesed of it. All search has proved fruitless. 011eare hare
been despatched to France end regland, Litt hitherto no clue jru
been obtained. Mrs. Horne has been one of the meet beautiful
women in England, and though pretty well in years. at the matronly
side of fogy, she still poetesses strong marts of her former love.
lineal, and adds to thins the attractions of an accomplished woman
and dignifled Carriage. Her eldest ihiughtev's conduct is moat
exemplury. She never leaves her mother for a ITlOriltilt, and sleep
with bee in the prison.