The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-18 00:00:00

avowal of his friendship for the plaintiff: This act of unparalleled
duplicity arose out of the following circumstances:—lo Januarys
11123, Mr. Kean made one of Ilia profestional tours through the
western counties. Mr. and 31re. Cox were of the party invited by
31r. Kenn. Mrs. Kean was also of the party. and &clergyman al
the EstabßANl Church(the Rev. Mr. Drury). The proles.'
atonal associations which attended such a party could mot fail
to mike it agreeable ; and the company spent sonic time in
agreeable, social enjoyment. During this excursion Mr. Cox,
saw or heard something regarding Mr. Kean's attentions to
his wife, upon which he required am explanation, in which some
angry language passed. (In this occasion Mr. Kean wrote as fol-
lows to Mrs. Cox :—" Dear little imprudent girl, your incaution
had nearly produced a most lamentable crisis. He of course will
show you my letter; appear to countenance it; tell him we shall
meet no more, and that he has lost a friend in me, as 1 shall see
him no more. Leave the rest to me. Love shields the 'lnject of
its wishes, not exposes it. Aunt desires her love. (I don't know
who this aunt is.) All shalt be as you wish." Here, in conse-
quence of some altercation, the defendant writes to the plaintiff to
say that be withdraws his friendship, and shall meet htm and his
wife no more, and at the same moment he writes to the wife, telling
her this was a mere delusion, and desiring her to countenance it.
I shall now read the letter to Mr. Cox ; it is dated front Exeter.,
whither Mr. Kean had gone :—" Dear Cox, I have been consi-
dering serionsly the mass of nonsense which passed between us last
night ; it has given me much uneasiness. My simple notice was
to show that I valued my friends as highly in adversity as when I
was humble, anti they in prosperity, and when I enjoyed their
hospitality. This was my only itioave for particular attention to
your family. I am sorry you have misconetrued my conduct;
your suspicions are unworthy of you--degrading to me, and moat
unjust to that being whose conduct is unimpeachable. To do
lawny with al! suspicion, I shall for the future withdraw my
friendship." Gentlemen of the Jury, bow could Mr. Cox
believe that he was betrayed alter such a letter, corning
from a man to whom he had acted the ;tart of a friend and
benefactor? Could he think that man was basely betraying
Nm ? But hear the contiatiation of the defendant's letter :
" 1 must be the worst of villains if I could tae that matt b
the ham!, towards whom I was meditating ha worst mischief.
You du not baow we, Cola" The mob parse& that be did noel
Gentlemen. " Mire are follies, not vices ; my teat has ever been
to do all the good in the world I can, and when I am called to the
great account, my memory may be censured, but it cau never be
despised." Such were the means which die defendant employed
to allay the plaintiff's suspicions, and engage his confidence. Ile
pours out his complaints, and addresses himself to the husband
as a man who has been injured by false suspicions, and he writes
to the wife, urging her to keep up the deception, and support him
in his stratagems. It is impossible to adduce stronger evidence of
the treachery which was practised upon the plaintiff; or a greater ag-
gravation of the defendant's guilt. Can any degree of carelessness un
tho part of the plaintiff palliate 31r. Kean's offence, after such &peel.
men% of deep duplicity. to which Mr. Cnx has beton te the unsuspect-
ing victim? Can any blsme be reasonably affixed to 3Ir.COX, when a
series of artifices like this have been practised to destroy his peace
and happiness, by. the very individuals who were sharing his bed
and board, and enjnying his attachment and hospitality? It is due
to him—it is due to society, to express by your verdict your indig-
nation at such conduct, and your desire to give hint the only repa-
ration for his lost happiness which the laws of England admit.
I have now detailed to you all the circumstances of this painful
case. I shall now proceed to call witnesses. The letters from
which I have read extracts, and a few others, will be read to you by
the proper officer; and, believe me, you will betray your duty to
society, if you do not IMAM the plaintiff—the injured and betrayed
plaintiff—the amplest compensation which you can give, the largest
compensation which he claims.
Robert Henning examined fur the plaintiff' by Mr. CHIT TV
lam acquainted with Blr. and 31ra. Cox. I knew them before
their marriage, and subsequently. Mrs. Cox received an excellent
education, and is a lady of a cultivated mind ; her name antece-
dent to her marriage was Newman. Air. Cox was possessed of
110.1. e property at Ins marriage. I was present at the marriage,
which took place upon the Itith July, 11.105. 51r. Cox lived near
Dorchester with Lis wife, his prtnderty lay there. I have been in
constant intercourse with Mr. Cox for several years, and frequently
visited hint. Mr. and Mrs. Cox appeared to live very happily
topether.
Cross-examined by Mr. SCARLETT—The plaintiff* yam •
widower when he married the present Mrs. CDX ; he had one Dee
by his former wife. Mrs. Cox was 21 or 22 at her marriage, the
plaintiff several yearn older. I can't say how long it was after their
marriage that 31r. and 31ts. Cox left Dorchester. I know they
lived there fora considerable time after the marriage—some years.
Thomas Fellowen, Est). examined by Air. Law.—l am ac-
quainted with the plaintiff, and have been fur many years before
his marriage with his present wife, as well as since. I have been
in the constant habit of visiting at their house from the time of
Mr. and 31rs. Cox's marriage to a vet y recent period ; I believe
to the commencement or the present action. They appeared to
conduct themselves very properly towards each other. 31r. ('ox's
conduct was affectionate and attentive, and airs. Cox did not stem
wanting in affection or respect towards him.
Croon-examined by Mr. BROUOIIAm.—f know that a lady lived
in the family of 31r. Cox, a Miss Wickstead. She lived in the
house with the plaintiff and his wife. Mr. Cox's son also lived in
fbe house. 1 have heard of a Mr. Watman. I don't know

when-be fives, vier where Mrs. ernrmt Teem, resider. Me. Cox 1
has not told me where Mrs. Cox is living. I have seen hint lately. '
I dined in hi% company yestvolay. He di-1 not tell me that Mrs.
Cox is now living with 31r. Watman. He did not say that be
had brought an action against Mr. M'atman upon grounds si-
milar to those upon which the present is founded. I don't know
of such an action.
Re-examined by Mr. Law.--1 understand 31r. Watman is a
clerk in the emrloyment of the plaintiff:
Thomas Wheeler, examined by Mr. LAW.—I am a retired
member of the medical profession ; I was an apothecary until about
three years ago. In June last I surrendered the office of apothe-
cary to St. Bartholomew's hospital.
Have you been in the habit of attending the plaintiff and his
wife ?—Most assuredly.
Of course you otien called upon them ? Frequently, both in
sickness.snd health.—(A laugh.)-1 sun deaf, which causes me to
, speak aloud.
1 You have often seen the plaintiffand hiaorife together ; hail you
an opportunity of observing how they conducted themselves to-
wind. each other?—Mr. Col appeared to me to be kind, attentive,
and obliging ; and Mrs. Cox seemed equally attentive and affec-
tionate towards him.

Cross.examinerl by Mr. SCARLITT.--I cannot lay up to what
time I was in the habit a attending Mr. Cote family, because he
newer ctimpelled me to make out a regular bill I never saw any
variation or change in the conduct of the plaintiff:mid nit wile to-
wards each other ; they always conducted themselves properly to-
wank each other.

The witness's manner was somewhat emphatic and precise,
which caused a bits of suppressed laughter through the Court.
The Loan CHIEF JUSTICE-1 shall ordor the Court to be
cleared ; this is nut a place for laughter.
Cross-examination resented.-1 am now past 70 years of age,
and cannot recollect circumstances so precisely as I formerly did ;
but I think I might say I attended the plaintiff and his wife until
about two years ago. professionally, and afterwards as a friend.
I saw them together a short dote before their separation.
John Brinkenstotf, examined by the Cosmos( SERGEANT.--
I am a clerk in Messrs. Coutts banking-house, and know the de-
fendants' hand. writing. Ile is a customer of the house. I hart
often transacted basimsswith him, and seen him write.

At the suggestion of the CHIEF" JUSTICE several letters were
handed to the witness, who proved them to be in the hand-writing
of the defendant.
. . _ .

The tirst letter bore the poet-mark of Lynn, April 4, 1820, and
addressed to Mrs. Allen, Bartlett-court, llowrstreet, London ; it
commenced " Dearest of women," and, after much introduciory
matter, &MUT!. her, that since he left London he paid attention
to nothing but her, and how necessary she was to his happiness.—
In answer to one of her darling question. he informs leer, that the
theatre was crowded, and the applause rapturous ; the walks were
beautiful—but Charlotte was not there.
A letter dated Feb. 6, written in America. and bearing the post
mark of March ti, 1821, was here read. It commenced ••
dearest love ;" it assured her, that his thoughts were eternally on her
and the influence she had over his beset was incalculable, he grieved
over his family, and would have her over there, were it not that she
would be lost to Obit society, which she was born to adorn. • (lb!
that he had had hie dear little girl in his arms." The letter con-
cluded " Doubt that the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun <loth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love."
A letter of the sth April, 1822, was read, in which he stated he
was remitting to England I,OWI. a month out of his earnings in
America, end conjures her not to let any one rival or supersede
him in her affections; he had wooed her with the affections of a
lover, under the appellation of a friend—the happiest moments of
his life had been spent with her.
•
A letter, bearing the pest mark of 17th July. 11122:
" 31y minable and lovely Girl.— I cannot but lament the cause of
our separation; but it is only tor a time, and we shall then again
meet, and be joined as strong together as we are minim'', to heart.
het but the great cause be removed, and I shall limp at all re.
sistance,"
Another letter, dated from Dorchester :—My dearly beloved
knows her Edmund too well to doubt but that she is absolutely
essential to his happiness—he was then in a chamber. terry
artltle of furniture in which reminded him of his dearest t harlutte.
28th July, 11122.-31 v dearest though imprudent little girl. and
thanks her for that confidence which she reptord, and shich ought
to he felt by hears termed for each other.
2d August, 1822, in which he talks of remitting Mill, but to
whom we could not collect, and it rhea says, •• thus you see, my
little starling. I make you our woman of Mistress."
Carlisle, 3d Nov. 11122.—My dnueat Live, do not let a thought
enter your little brain for one moment that I cease to love yoo-1
am closely watched and therefore cannot write much, Re.
6th Jan. 18X1.—Your incaution has been the means of briefing
our affections to the moat lamentable crisis, 3.c.—This was the
letter alluded to. last but one, in the Co ..... ion nergeant's speech.
The letter written by Mr. Kean to the Alderman, and lastly
alluded to by the Common Sergeant. was here read.
Under date Jan. Rh, 1324, he writes her, that if be loses her his
heart will break,. Ice.
21st• January. 1124.—This wag a letter of reenonstretien from
• 31r. Kean, conceiving that Mrs. ale hail some other object of bee
affections beside hint ; those pretty letters which she used to write,
• and which he used to clasp iu his arms, Liu with his lips, and
• sleep with under his pillow, woes nag .•Ranged tut mere cattireon.
place matter of description. &c.

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