The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-17 00:00:00

CHIMNEY SWEEPS.

Wednesday a vire 111111 l emits cool respectable Meeting was
held at the Mansion house, for the purpose of superseding the
neeessity of e•liut'ning boys, by encouraging a method ot'swee•p-
ing chimodes machiocry, and for improving the condition
of children, and others, at present employed by chimney:
sweepers. The Lot d Mayor took the chair at one o'clock, and
has Mg stated the object of the meeting, he was followed by
Mr. Tooke, Treasurer to the institution already tstablished 'for
Ow ;airtime in mwstion, who detailed the progress they load
ovule ; and forcibly pointed out the harriers that Still esisted
to impede the great object of linnianity they had in view.;
namely, to rescue young and unprotected children from a life
of misery and wretehrduess,that,as a domestic es il, was equal,
if not more hatefol, than tle• slave-trade.—Sir F. Burdett, the
Hon. Mr. Bennett, the Hon. Mr. I) Burrell, Mr. !Lill, Mr,
Fry, Dr. Lushington, Major Cartwright, Mr. Rowerotl, Mr.
lieva,n, and several other distinguished characters, took part
in the debate.—The representationS of the Speakers, cc well as
the Report of the Committee, disclosed a catalogue of erowli its
and of dire consetrences attendant upon the wretched
situa-
tion of those who at an infant age became the slaves of inciter
chimnev•sweepers ; cud stated to the meeting the many mod
successinl eaperimems that hail been made of the mode nut
only of etfectually %%seeping tint of est inenishing tires in ehitn-
nies. It was further stated, that ilium the Contiuent, with the
esception of Faller, the practice Was Scarcely known; and
that even in Scotland, in 119 cases out of lOU, the practice of
the climbing-boy was wholly unknown.—A master chimney-
sweeper combated, with no small ability, the objections of
several of the speakers, though he deprecated the cruelty exl
ercised by some members of the frateroity ; obsei sing, that is
that as well as every oilier trade there were good and bad
members. He was heard with much attention, and concluded
amidst general testimonies of approbation.•—Several Resolu-
tions were afterwards put end carried, lecoominenoling the use
of the machine, and for the purpose of applying to Parliament
upon the subject in question.---Mr. Wilberforce, Sir F. Bur-
dett, Mr. Iteunett, and several other Members of Parliament,
promised to gise the subject their most cordial support.—
Thanks being voted to the Lord Mayor and the Committee,
the wiling dissolved.--The meeting was graved by an im-
mense number of elegant females, and a liberal subscription
was made at the door.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SIICRIITS. COURT, sz 14.

CRIM. CON.

COMNIOTORC SIR F. W. C. R. owrti, MAIM,

A POTH ECARY.

Mr. Clancy opened the pleadings. The declaration stated,
that the defendant hid seduced. and criminally known, the
ife of the plaintiff. For this iti.inry he had laidhis daestagi a
at 10,0001. The defendant had sudered judgment to go by deg
faith ; and the Jury were now to inquire into, and assess the
damages.
Ale. sericant Best stated the ease. He had the honour of
attending the ('tort this day, on belialrof Sir Edward Owen,
better known to the Jury and to the public by the tithe of Corn-
inedoi e Owen, one of the most enterprising-, gallant, and judi-
cious officers that belonged to that most valuable service, the
Navy. This excellent officer minus before the Court to coat-
plain of one of the most grievous iujuries that could be con-
evivr tl—he meant the sotto Lon of his wite's They
most recollect him commanding a squadron off Boulogne-- and,
when la% services were no lung's!' isaittired there, he was called
to an equally lionottiable and arduous duty, on the Lakes of
Canada. V. hilt the plaintiff was on this last station, the de.
fenilant, who acted us apetliecaly to the fatuity, avail d hi:Li-
st If of the opportunity which Sir Edward Owen's absence af-
forded, to seduce the affections of his hitherto virtnotts and ho-
nourable wife. Sir Edward Owen commanded a :lumina; tiff
l3ottlobui in the year 1802, He vo:,, of coming to
Dover and peal. The lady was the daughter of a resp.....table
tn. tuber of the legal profession, who had, in 180'2. retired, and
was living privately at Deal. In the course of Sir Edward
Oncies visits to that town, he became acquainted with the lady
and her i•ather. She was extremely beautiful, and was pos-
sessed of every accomplishment. Sir F. Owen paid his mi-
di eases to her, and a marriage was the consequeece. Sir I'.d-
-ward was then 81 years of age, and his bride was just turned
31--so that nu disparity of age could be *hedged as a cause for
unhappiness. They lived together, down to the moment vibes;
the seduction took place, in the most affectionate manner. -
Tile attew ions of the plaintiff to the lady we re marked by the
utmost kindness, and she returned them affectionately. The
Jury would find that while Mir Edward Owen was absent, in
the service of his country, Lady Owen manifested the most
anxious desire for his return—that species of ft eling which a
beloved wife might he expected to shevr, when the object of
her affections was abroad, exposed to every description of peril.
lien the Boulogne flotilla was put an cud to, tsir halo at d was
sent to serve his country on the Lakes of Canada ; Lady Owen
was inconsolable 011 that eceasimi.- Dorine the period of Sir
Edward's absence, Lady Oueii's state of health ous exceed-
ingly bad. She \eilS attended. in the that place, by the father
of the defendant, also was an apothecary in the neighbour-
hood of I +cai, and afterwards by the defendant himself. The
ei.its of the defendant were extremely frequent so mach so,
as to excite a suspicion, that lie was not attending the lady for
the purpose of re-establishing her health, hut was engaged io
warping, her mind mid seducing her affve • s from her Mis-
hima. No doubt could rest on the minds of the Jury, and the
under Sheriff would state to them, from the circumstance of
judgme lit having gone by default, that the act of adultery- was
committed. But in miler to show the atrocity of the case, he
would clearly ;mill• that the crime ass effected while Sir Ed-
ward was absent on the Lakes of Canada. On his return, he
was informed by some friends that his Lady hail conducted her.
evil' improperly with the defendant during his absence. Sir
Edward liellaved like a man of firninesa ou this trying occasion.
He ',fleeted two friends, who wet e the relatives of his Lady,
and directed them to enter into an investigation of the circum-
stances. Alm- they had looked into all die Information which
they had been able to collect, they reported, thut the rumour
of Lady Owens improper couthaq wits wiliont foundation.
'I here was not a happier matt in the acrid than sir Edeurd
vs hen the innocence of his Lady was cianmunieated to 'him.
He returned a ith redoubled pleasure to his a ife. Ile found
her in an ill stile of health—and, imagining that her indisposi-
tion arose; fro a the calumnious re ;nu is which had oeeasuu ed
the inquiry having le .e deep impie.sion on her mind, he
felt extremely anxious for her siteation, and inimedh,bily took
the best nests fur the restoration of ber health. He proceed.
ed with I er to Lortilou, and played her eider the care of Dr.
Pembei 'oil, 'a gentleman ewine ul flit his skill. Thai respecta-
ble geatleman he would this day i'all on as a witness, and the
Jury would learn from h;ut the manner in which Sir Edward

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