The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thlfore the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chelmsford, Lord
Wes,sleydale, Lord Kingsdo.vn, and Lord Brougham.)

YELVERTON V. LONGWORTH (OR YELVERTON).

The facts of the case aro as follows :—Mrs. Maria Theresa
Longworth is the daughter of Thomas Longworth, Esq.,
of Smedley Park, Lancashire, deceased, described as a gen-
tleman of ancient family and of a large property. In 1852
she became acquainted with Major William Charles Yel-
verton, while travelling from France to England, A year
afterwards a correspondence commenced between them. In
the autumn of 1854 Major Yelverton went from Malta to
the Crimea on military duty, at the outbreak of hostilities
with Russia. After the commencement of the war Miss
Longworth joined the French Sisters of Charity and went
,to Constantinople, and acted as nurse along with them at
the Galata Hospital. Major Yelverton met her in Con-
stantinople in August, 1855, and according to her account
courted her and promised to make her his wife. Miss
Longworth said she accepted him for her husband, tut
that he wished the marriage not to take place until after
the termination of hostilities. Major Yelverton ad•

mitted that he called upon her at the hospital, but said
she had asked him to do so; that she had furnished
him with her addross, adding that he had only seen her
once before on board the steamer from Boulogne to
London in 1855. In 1856, after hostilities had ceased,
Miss Longworth visited Mrs Straubenzee, the wife of the
general of that name, who then commanded the light divi-
sion of the British army. While there she frequently saw
Major Yelverton, and she said that the engagement made
at Constantinople was frequently the subject of their con-
versation. Major Yelverton represented to her that he
was in great pecuniary embarrassment, and dependent on
his uncle, who would give him no further assistance if he
married. The engagement to marry her was, however,
denied by the major. In 1857 Miss Longworth came toEng-
land, and went to reside at Edinburgh. There the major,
who was stationed at Leith Fort, renewed the intimacy,
and proposed that they should be married privately. The
major said that the intimacy was brought about by Miss
Longworth, who sent a note requesting him to call upon her.
It appeared, according to Miss Longworth's account, that
on April 12, 1857, at No. 1, St. Vincent-street, Edinburgh,
they both declared and acknowledged each other to be
man and wife. They further read throngh the Marriage
Service of the Church of England together, and at the con-
clusion of it Major Yelverton said to her, " This makes you
my wife according to the law of Scotland," The whole of
these alleged facts were denied. The parties then separated,
Major Yelverton going to Ireland and the lady to visit her
sister in Wales. Subsequently she met him by agreement
at Waterford, in Ireland, and some few days after they were
married at Kilironey, in the parish of Rostrevor, by the
Catholic priest, she alleging that such marriage was in-
tended to be a valid bona fide marriage, and Major Yelver-
ton stating that the lady was perfectly aware that it was
not binding, but wanted it to take place as a salve to her
conscience. They travelled about for some time after, until,
in 1858, Major Yelverton married Mrs Forbes, when litiga•.
tion at once commenced. The circumstances of the trial in
Ireland, when the respondent was declared to be the lawful
wife of the appellant, will be within the recollection of our
readers; and the action commenced in the court of session
resulted in those courts also deciding in her favour. Hence
the present appeal.

Mr Rolt, Q.C., late this afternoon, on the part of Major
Yelverton, commenced his arguments in this case, the ob-
ject of which was to set aside the decision given in the mat-
ter by the Court of Session in Scotland in favour of the
lady.

The learned gentleman just commenced his address, when
their lordships adjourned.

The arguments, it is expected, will last a considerable
time, there being no less than twenty counsel engaged in
the case.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

LONDON, June 4.—Wind this day at noon—North-
Eakerly ; moderate breeze and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.
CARDIFF, June 3.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—jannetta
Rebecca, from Hamburg. Sailed—Monnequash, for Cape
de Verde.

FALMOUTH, June 4 —Wind N.E.—Arrived—Superior,
"-nm Smyrna.