The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-18 00:00:00

THE
~SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1863.

fortnight. You can see how tremendously this will em-
barass the rebels.
In the morning, as we stood on the battery of Chancel-
lor's house, the attention was aroused by a sharp rattle of
musketry coming from a column of rebels coming up by the
main Fredericksburg plank road, directly in front of us.
Knapp's battery, however, which was planted directly in
front of the position, opened upon them, and, after a few
rounds, caused them to retire.
Immediately afterwards a battery opened from the height
which I have mentioned as having been gained by Sykes
yesterday, and then abandoned by us. The position was
rather upwards of a mile distant from the cleared space, and
its object was to damage our ammunition train, which was
visible to the rebels from the tops of trees on the height.
One of our batteries was, however, immediately opened in
reply. The third shot blew up one of the caissons, and a
subsequent shot blew up another, and this settled their
account.
Subsequently a reconnoissance was sent, on our part,
consisting of the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers (Carr's
brigade, Berry's division, Sickles's corps,) on the same road
by which the rebels had approached in the morning, for the
purpose of feeling their strength. They went out on the
plank road, deployed on both sides in the form of the letter
V, chased the rebel skirmishers a couple of miles, till they
came to a heavy double line of battle, with artillery in posi-
tion, when they retired, bringing us that piece of intelli-
gence.

Another reconnaisance was next sent out on our right,
consisting of Berdan's sharpshooters. They met the enemy's
pickets, drove them handsomely, and at 4 o'clock returned
with 50 prisoners of the 23d Georgia.
At 4 o'clock the rebels are moving down in force on the
plank road, where we had a little before made the reconnois-
sance. Grey's division of Slocum's corps is sent in on the
double quick into the woods, their bayonets flashing in the
sunlight. A sharp contest ensues, and in a few minutes
they come back in disorder. A portion of Bane's brigade,
composed of raw troops, had broken, and thrown the
columns into confusion.
An aide from Slocum comes to ask General Hooker if he
can have reinforcements. "No I he must hold his own.
Howard will, of course, support him from the right. Let
Geary's division, however, be thrown to the right of the
road, so that the artillery may be able to sweep the enemy
on the left." This treatment presently repaired the damage,
and checked the hope of the rebels being able to pierce our
centre.
Foiled in this, they now prepared to make a still more
desperate dash on our right flank. We were aware that
thcy had bccn watoling against that ra-.ltit all me arternoon,
and the terrific treble of the demoniac yell with which the
rebels always rush into battle announced their approach
from the woods by the Culpepper plank road. Jackson's
whole corps, reinforced by D. .H. Hill's division, numbering
in all 40,000 men, had precipitated themselves on Howard's
corps, forming our extreme right wing. This corps is com-
posed of the divisions of Schurz, Steinwehr, and Devin, and
consists mostly of German troops. Without waiting for
a single volley from the rebels this corps disgracefully aban-
doned their position behind their breastworks, and com-
menced coming, paniC stricken, down the road towards
headquarters. Our right was thus completely turned,
and the rebels were in the fair way of doubling us up.
It was a critical situation, and brought out the superb re-
sources of Gen. Hooker. He was in the saddle in a moment,
calm and cool—the master of a situation fit to overmaster
the most. The first thing was to check the rebel advance,
which must become fatal if allowed to go on much further.
It was a terribly animated scene. The whole open plain
presented such a spectacle as the simoom might make in the
desert. Through the dusk of nightfall a rushing whirl-
wind of men and artillery swept over the plain. The
shattered fleeing columns of men were rushing down and
over us at head-quarters.
Hooker's dispositions were made in a moment. Whom,
of all others, should he send in at this fearfully critical
moment, but the darling child of his own creation—his
own old corps, now commanded by General Berry.
" General !" shouted the Commander, " throw your
men into the breach—receive the enemy on your bayonets
—don't fire a shot—they can't see you !"
Oh I it was a sight to see that glorious band rush at the
double-quick to the rescue I Pressing up in their horrid
array of glittering steel, the enemy's advance was quickly
checked, and he had to withdraw to the line of breastworks
just vacated by the 11th corps.
Batteries were immediately sent up in a thunderous
clamour to the front, and Captain Best, chief of artillery of
Slocum's corps, massed 20 pieces on the crest near General
Sickles's head-quarters, and a terrific fire was opened on
the enemy, and kept up far into the night.
Gen. Pleasanton, too, succeeded in turning back a dozen
pieces taken from the flying corps, and planting them in a
favourable position, while he drew up his little brigade of
cavalry, consisting of squadrons of the 6th New York, Bth
Pennsylvania, and 17th Pennsylvania, with drawn sabres
to protect the guns (a novel sight in battle). Directing
the pieces to be doubled- shotted with canister, he swept
the position occupied by the enemy with a murderous fire.
The successful check of the advancing foe is in no small de-
gree owing to the indomitable energy of this gallant soldier.
While this is going on, the panic-stricken Dutchmen are
sweeping past us, and round by head-quarters into the road
leading to United States Ford. Many members of the Staff
of General Hooker and other general officers placed them-
selves in the road, and with drawn sabres smote and slashed
the cowardly retreating rascals. It was all in vain, how-
' ever. The road for two or three milpa down towards United
States Ford is now crowded with their shattered fragments.
General Hooker has, however, already sent Sykes's regu-
lars after them. As to the loss sustained by this corps,
either in killed or captured, it could not have been great,—
they ran too fast for that. I have the mortification to add
that they allowed 12 pieces of cannon to fall into the haLds
of the enemy.
What makes this retreat not only disgraceful, but well-
nigh disastrous, is that it completely foiled a splended
mar, ceuvre which Gen. Sickles with Lis corps was engaged
in executing. He had gone in on a branch road leading_off
from the main pike, pierced the enemy's centre, penetrated
for a mile, cut them in two, and would have secured the key
to victory, when the turning of Howard's position compelled
him to make good his retreat, though he brought out with
him 400 rebel prisoners.
The artillery combat was prolonged till midnight, and the
bursting of the shower of shells thrown by our batteries
into the rebels made a spectacle that beggars all description,
severestDurin fire,gthe whole crisis General Hooker was under the
and
his
staff,
The enemy made up of young braves, per-
formed prodigies of valour.
has completely turned our right, is now in our
rear, and will, unless prevented, turn this immense advan-
tage to account with the first dawn of to-morrow's light.
This was the position at dark, and it did not look very
promising. But our energetic commander was more than
equal to the emergency. New dispositions to repair this
disaster were at once resolved upon. Communication was
at once had with Generals Birney and Whipple, and a night
attack ordered, to restore the connection of the lines. Gen.
Ward's brigade of Gen, Birney's division made the attack
at 11 at night, aided by Capt. Best's guns, massed on the
ridge in front of the enemy. Birney's position was on the
extreme left of this new line of battle, but Ward's terrific
attack was entirely successful; communication was restored,
and in the charge made by the brigade a portion of the ar-
tillery lost by Howard was gallantly retaken by General
Hobart Ward.
This night attack was the most grand and terrific thing
of the war. The moon shone brightly, and an enemy could
be seen at good musket range. The air was very still, and
the roar and reverberation of the musketry and artillery
past all conception. Malvern Hill was a skirmish compared
with this, save in the degree of slaughter. But it was suc-
cessful ; the enemy were driven back nearly half a mile,
and our tire'! men once more slept on their arms. That
night's work was ended.
Headquarters in the field, near Chancellorsville,
Virginia, Sunday, May 3, 6 p.m,
Another bloody day has been added to the calendar of
this rebellion. Another terrible battle has been fought and
more fields crimsoned with human blood. Few more such
days as this will find no armies left on either side to fight
battles.

General Reynolds's First Army Corps arrived at United
States Ford on Saturday afternoon. It was immediately
put into position on our right, which was withdrawn from
the plank-road to the Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was
immediately formed by Gens. Reynolds and Me ide, the
latter's position, on the left, having been relieved by Gen.
Howard's 11th corps,whichnotwithstanding its disorganised
condition was so far reorganised during the night as to be fit
for duty again this morning. They were assigned the position
on the left, where it was probable there would be little or no
fighting, and were protected by the strong works built the day
before by Gen. Meade's corp. Our new line assumed the
shape of a triangle, prolonged at the apex, the right of the
line being somewhat shorter than the left. As the portion
of the line on the right was new, time was necessary to
fortify and intrench it, and the work was carried on vigor-
ously by the Fifth and First Army Corps.
It was very evident at daylight this morning that the day
would bring forth a terrific battle, We knew the enemy had
been reinforcing his line all night, at the expense, undoubt-
edly, of the strength of his force on our left. His intention
was evidently to fight for the possession of the plank-road,
which it was perfectly ax arent he must have, as that por-
tion of it which we then held was subject to the enemy's
assault in front and on both flanks.

But the possession of this road was not obtained by the
enemy save at our own time, at his severest cost, and after
one of the m st desperate, tenacious, and bloody conflicts,
for its short duration, of the whole war. At 5 o'clock a.m.
the rebels could be plainly seen up the plank road, about a
mile and a half from the Chancellor-house, which General
Hooker still retained as his head-quarters, though a shell
had gone through it the evening before, and another had
cat down a tree directly in front of it.
where Captai
Our line of battle was formed with Gen. Berry's gallant
beyond the ridge
division on the right, General Birney next, on the left,
General 'Whipple and General Williams supporting. At half
past 5 a.m. the a.dvance became engaged in the ravine, just
d their
terrific onslaught the night before, andwhere they still
frowned upon the enemyand ore,
n Best's guns had ma do
The rattle of musketry
threatened his destruction.
a 0011 became a continued
crash, and in a few momenta long
•
/ as battalion after battalion
became engaged, the roar surpassed all conception, and in-

dicated that the fight would be one of the most terrible
nature. General Berry's division, which had checked
the enemy's advance the night before, engaged him again,
and if it were possible for them to add more laurels to
their fame, then they did it thrice over again. The enemy
advanced his infantry in overwhelming numbers, and
seemed determined to crush our forces. But the brave
men of Sickles and Slocum, who fought their columns
with desperate gallantry, held the rebels in check,
and inflicted dreadful slaughter among them. General
French's division was sent in on the right flank of our line
at about 7 a.m., and in a short time a horde of ragged,
streaming rebels running down the road indicated that that
portion of the enemy's line had teen crushed. At 8 o'clock
a.m. General French sent his compliments to General
Hooker, with the information that he had charged the
enemy and was driving him before him.
Sickles maintained the attack upon his line with great
endurance. The enemy seemed determined to crush him
with the immensity of his forces, and, as subsequently
shown from the statements of prisoners, five whole divisions
of the rebel army were precipitated upon this portion of the
line, for from these five divisions we took during the day an
aggregate of over 2,000 prisoners.
The exploits of our gallant troops in those dark, tangled,
gloomy woods may never be brought to light; but they
would fill a hundred volumes. It was a deliberate, despe-
rate hand-to-hand conflict, and the carnage was perfectly
frightful. Cool officers say that the dead and wounded of
the enemy covered the ground in heaps, and that the rebels
seemed utterly regardless of their lives, and literally threw
themselves upon the muzzles of our guns. Many desperate
charges were made during the fight, particularly by Berry's
division. Mott's brigade made 15 distinct charges, and cap-
tured seven stands of colours, the 7th New Jersey, Colonel
Francine, alone capturing four stands of colours and 500
prisoners.

General Couch's Second Army Corps, though only in part
present, did excellent work. It was General French who
charged and drove the enemy on the flank, and it was the
went to the relief of the
hindomitabledHsai
enkc
loecsk. who gallan tl
The engagement lasted without the slightest intermission
from 530 a.m to 845 a.m., when there was a tempo-
rary cessation on our part, occasioned by getting out of
ammunition. We held our position for nearly an hour
with the bayonet, and then, being resupplied, an order was
given to fall back to the vicinity of the Chancellor House,
which we did in good order. Here the contest was main-
tained fcr an hour or more, not so severely as before, but
with ereat havoc to tha n.m,onrl considerable loss to our-
selves.

The vicinity of the Chancellor House was now the theatre
of the fight, and my visits to that spot became less frequent.
General Hooker maintained his headquarters there until
10 a.m , when it was set on fire by the enemy's shells, and
is now in ruins. Chancellorsville is no longer in existence,
having perished with the flames, but Chancellorsville is in
history never to be effaced.
Our new line was now so far established as to render it
safe to withdraw all our forces on that front, which was ac.
cordingly done, and at 11 30 a,m. the musketry firing
ceased.
The engs gement had lasted six hours, but had been the
most terrific of the war. Cur artillery had literally slaugh-
tered the enemy, and many of the companies had lost heavily
in men themselves, but the guns were all saved.
The enemy was now no huger in our rear, but had been
shoved down directly in our front, and is now directly be-
tween us and our forces in Fredericksburg, and we were
again in en entrenched and formidably fortified position.
The enemy has gained some ground, it is true, but at the
sacrifice of the flower of his force, five of his seven divisions
having been cut to pieces it the effort, and over 2,000 of
them have fallen into our heads.
Our right wing, under Gens. Reynolds and Meade, was
not engaged, save the division of General Humphreys,
which went into the woods m the enemy's left flank, and
fought valiantly under theit brilliant leader, until their
ammunition was exhausted.
During the afternoon theenemy has made several at-
tempts to force our lines, preticularly at the apex of our
position, near the Chancellor House, but Capt. Weed has
massed a large quantity of arillery in such a position as to
repulse with great loss everytiing placed within its range.
The enemy tried several bateries and regiments at that
point at different times duringthe afternoon, and they were
literally destroyed by the fire dour terrible guns. Nothing
can live within their range.
Our present position is imptegnable if our troops continue
to fight as they have to-day. General Lee, the prisoners
say, has issued an order that )ur lines must be broken at
all hazards. Let them try itagain with what they have
left. They can, and perhaps will, destroy themselves by
attacks upon this position.
Our troops are perfectly cod and confident. They have
fought with great spirit and eithusiasm, and will continue
to do so.
The rebel prisoners report bat General A. P. Hill was
killed this forenoon, during th sanguinary conflict his divi-
sion had with General Berry'i division. General Berry was
himself killed while gallantly fighting his brave men.
It is impossible to estimate;he loss in to-day's battle on
either side. We know that urs is heavy—heavier than
ever before in a battle of so short duration. We further
know that the loss of the eneuy is admitted by themselves
to be perfectly frightful. Wehad the advantage in artil-
lery, and our shells and miter tore and mangled their
ranks fearfully. The prisoners are silent as to the loss of
prominent officers, but some °Me Alabamians in A. P.
Hill's division say that he was killed early in the day, and
that General Raynor is now in command of the division.
The exact count of prisoners this far taken, during the
battle of Sunday, is not yet know; but it must he, all told,
nearly, if not quite, 2,000. They were brought in singly,
in squads, in companies, and by •egiments ; and our men
say they could have taken many bore, "but for the trouble
of bothering with them on the fled of battle." They would
rather shoot than capture. Tweregiments were taken en-
tire--the 23d Georgia and the Ith Alabama—the former
yesterday and the latter to-day. Then there are detach-
and South Carolina, Virginia, lississippi,
ments from 50 or 60 other regimests, including many North
and Louisiana
regiments. The enemy has undoubtedly taken several
hundred of our men, mostly wonrded, with some from the
11th Corps, who couldn't run fast enough to get away.
General Averell, with his cavalry command, returned to
United States Ford to-night, and rtported in person to Gen.
where
destroyed
on
Hooker this afternoon. General Averell has been out
23 days,
Orange days, a
and Alexandriandbeenas Ra
far south t s Rapidan
he
Station,
ir
cad
the bridge and track of the road. Luring his trip, he drove
Lee and Stuart out of Culpepper, Lad captured there about
very popular, and hereafter the people
5,000 deist. worth of salt and bacon belonging to the rebel
Government, which he did not destroy, but distributed
among the poor and suflering people of that vicinity. This
made General A.
there will prefer his visits to those 0' Lee and Stuart.
Gen, Averell has received instructions for important work,
and our communications may be considered entirely safe so
long ase his force is in reach.
The headquarters of the army of the Potomac in the field
are to-night under a large tree, just in the rear of the front
line of rifle-pits and abattis. Gen. Hooker has just dined
on hard tack and cold ham. The gentlemen of the staff are
looking for their "pack mule."
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, near Falmouth,Virginia,
Sunday Evening, 10 p.m.
I have arrived here from Chancellorsville, and learn of
the complete success of Gen. Sedgwick's attack upon the
stronghold of the enemy at Fredericksburg Heights.
The position was brilliantly carried by storm to-day by
Pratt's glorious light division of the 6th Army Corps, cap-
turing two whole regiments of rebels, the 16th and 18th
Mississippi, one company of the famous Washington Artil-
lery of New Orleans, and part of Alexander's Artillery, in-
cluding in all eight guns and nearly 1,000 prisoners. The
storming forces were aided by Gen. Gibbon, of the Army
Corps, who, with a force, came upcn the flank and rear of
the enemy, planting the American flag upon their works
before they had actually ceased firing upon our charging
column.

The captures were complete, and ou► loss only moderate.
Gen. Sedgwick afterwards engaged the enemy and drove
him back. At 6 p.m. ho advanced to the Brick Church, 41
miles out on the plank road toward Chancellorsville. Here
he had a severe engagement with Early's divison, rein-
forced by troops from Lee, but reFulsed them, and sent in
another lot of prisoners.
The enemy is now hemmed in between Hooker and Sedg-
wick, and will, no doubt, fight with desperate tenacity to
extricate himself from his desperate position ; but the ad-
vantage seems to rest decidedly with us.

"Au I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER ?"—The
Rev. Caroline Cleverbawl addresses thus her own
sex in L. Fairfax's Tale of the Confederate States of Ame-
rica, called " The Elopement :"—" But this blue and glo-
riously-bespangled banner has long enough waved in
mockery over our down-trodden race. 1, a weak, timid
woman, assert the right of woman to wield the sword, the
pen, the forceps, and the tnaulstick. Why are we excluded
from the Legislature, the jadge'e bench? Why are we not
allowed to ballot ? Who are the bravest in battles ? The
women who follow the camp. Who are the most profound
and successful writers ? Women- Who the most skilful
doctors ? Women. The most celebrated painters ? Women.
The most eloquent and untiring speakers ? Women. The
greatest poets ? 'Women. I could quote hundreds of ex-
amples to prove this platform. And yet, with our mul-
titudinous abilities. there is nothing left us but the thimble
and the needle. Since he leaves u, no other weapon, let us
fling aside the thimble, vile emblem of drudgery, unsheath
the needle, and upon him. I loudly assert, I assert the
right of woman to love and wed if she will freely, when, and
where, whom, and how she pleases. In ending this brief
speech, I cast my vote for free love, free speech, free ne-
groes, free women, free press, free soil, aril Fremont."
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THE KINGDOM OF ITALY,

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
TURIN, May 15.
The debate on Italian affairs which took place in
the House of Commons on Friday last, and to
which I have already alluded iu a former letter, has
created the liveliest sensation throughout; this
country. The speeches of friends and foes of the
Italian cause fill the columns of every newspaper,
and the comments we hear on them are, in my
opinion, just, and at all events temperate.
The population of Southern Italy is described
by certain orators in Westminster as held under
restraint by a tyrannical Government. How is it,
then, that this very Government continues to send
muskets for the use of the Neapolitans and Sicilians ?
All the previous Ministers strove to arm the Southern
people. The present Cabinet, which only came in
last December, already, as I informed you, has
supplied those provinces with 70,000 muskets for
the citizen militia. Now, do we see Austria busy
arming the population of Hungary or Venetia ? Is
Russia very anxious that every Pole should have
his firelock ? When this shall be the case we shall
acknowledge the correctness of the gloomy descrip-
tion of our Southern provinces as drawn by some of
the members of the English Lower House; but so
long as for the repression of evils bred from without
our Government appeals to the energy of the citizens
we have a right to deny the existence of a tyran-
nizing Government or of a tyrannized people among
us. We have, indeed, our woes, and serious woes
they are—the results of former corruption, of the
rancour of our adversaries, and even the protec-
tion of certain friends of ours; but when we see
hon. gentlemen in London compare our present
condition, such as it may be after only two years of
so profound and radical a revolution, with that of
a country which for the last 100 years has
marched safely on the path of orderly progress, we
doubt whether the discussion be any longer a serious
Would Lord H. Lennox and his friends
tbo onmpariavu botwaen nnr country as it
,a and theirs as it was two years after the landing
of William of Orange ? Then we are ready for the
trial; we shall examine the prisons, and the ad-
ministration of justice, the freedom of the person
and of the press, religious liberty, industrial and
commercial progress. Let the parallel be drawn on
these terms and we shall see who is the loser by it."
Such are the words of to-day's Opinione; and I
hope that English fairness will allow the Italians
the benefit of them. No doubt the comparison
would not be altogether just, because the world has
gone on with great strides during the whole interval
between William of Orange and Victor Emmanuel,
and even the most crushed and benighted commu-
nities have obeyed the influence of an all-reaching
civilisation. But, unquestionably, the condition of
Naples is an exceptional one, and it is a cruel injus-
tice to apply to it the rules of normal government.
To the north of the Liri and the Trouto, however—
i.e., throughout two-thirds of the Peninsula—ltaly
enjoys as perfect a state of order as England, and
without contradiction as great a freedom as any
other continental community.
Lord H. Lennox, for instance, complains that
the liberty of the press in Italy is a mere mockery,
and, to prove it, he ventures on the following
assertion :
" The Perseveranza of Milan, one of the first
journals in Italy, the organ of the old Milan aristo-
cracy, was seized on the 27th of last month, and
what did the house suppose it was for ? Surely,
the new Lord of the Admiralty, the hon. member
for Halifax (Mr. Stansfeld) would feel a throe of
sympathy—(cheers and laughter)—when he learnt
that the Perseveranza met with an untimely
fate because it republished in one of its columns
extracts from documents written and signed by the
present Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Italian
Government. (Hear, hear.) On this ground, one
of the most respectable newspapers in Italy was
seized, and not allowed to circulate on that day."
(Hear, hear.)
Now, would any man believe, after this, that the
Perseveranza, in its yesterday's number, should
come out with a flat denial that its numbers were
seized either on the particular day mentioned by the
noble lord, or on any other day since its first appear-
ance in 1860? Yet the Perseveranza actually as-
serted this fact yesterday, and if your correspon-
dent has won any credit with your readers for
veracity, I may freely add my testimony that the
alleged seizure never took place.
After breaking down in so essential a part of his
evidence let us hope that Lord H. Lennox's charges
against the Italian Government will be received with
reserve. I have lived many years in England and
America, and I must candidly express my opinion
that the press never was more practically free in
those countries than it now is in this country. The
number of papers seized almost daily is considerable
indeed, but this should scarcely be astonishing if we
reflect that the number of Italian daily papers is

one.

legion (more than a score in Turin and three times

,hat number in Naples), that many of these ha:

_ .
penny periodicals struggle into existence and cha

Lenge notoriety by the uttermost abuse of things and

persons, by the most outrageous intemperance of
language, often compelling the unwilling authorities

o apply the law, that their natural death should al

[east be hallowed by the crown of martyrdom. The

law on the press is liberal enough, though it is true

.bat every editor is bound to enter a copy of his

paper at the police-office, at the same time that he

sends it forth broadcast among the multitude, and
although it is true that when the police become aware
of any breach of the law, they are empowered to

seize on the offending journal, provided, however,
that they at the same time prosecute the offender and

are ready to prove the offence before a court of law,
upon the principle of a free and open trial by jury.
No doubt, if I am to express my own opinion, the
Procureur du Roi shows in his prosecution of libels
greater activity than need requires; many of the
papers that are seized would come to a much more
ignoble end if they were never interfered with.

NHUMANITY OF A WIFE.—On Friday Mr. Hum-
phrey, coroner, resumed at the Plough Tavern,
Shoreditch, an inquiry respecting the death of Mr. Wm.
Doggett,aged 36 years. It will be recollected that according
to the evidence taken on the previous occasion, the deceased
was a wealthy ironmonger, carrying on business at No. 18,
Shoreditch. His wife stated that in 1852 she entered the
service of his father as a servant. She had for two years
occupied the same room as Mr. John Doggett, the younger
brother of the deceased, but she would swear that that was
because he was ill, and that she did not occupy the same
bed, or live with him as his wife. Mr. Doggett, sen., Me.
John Doggett, and Miss Doggett, all died suddenly.
Two years after John Doggett's death she married
deceased, and they lived together, she said, "as happy as
the days were long." She was sober, and he also was, and
she never ill .used or threatened him. He had been ailing
for three years. They had been married about four years.
Mr. E. Spencer, on the other hand, deposed that Mrs. Dog-
gett was in the habit of threatening and ill-using her hus-
band to an extent that appeared to affect his intellect. Sarah
Dalton, nurse to Mr. Doggett, said that deceased was not
allowed by his wife to have the medicines which were sent.
She was generally tipsy, and her conduct to the deceased was
brutal in the extreme, omitting to pay any attention to him on
his death-bed, and even keeping from him little niceties which
had been sent by his friends. Deceased seemed to be in mor-
tal fear of her. A will had been made which appointed Mrs.
Doggett executrix and left her the property. One night sh
fell on the landing drunk. She called to him to pick her
up, and he came. She put her hand in her pocket, and said,
"I have got the will in spite of them all, and all is mine.
They can get nothing of it (the property)." She then
ordered her husband into bed again. Wm. Martin, foreman
to the deceased and now in the employ of the widow, de-
posed that he had seen no conduct on the part of the wife
which would hasten the death of her husband. She had once
struck witness on the face, and he returned the blow. Mr.
A, Roper, surgeon, who attended the deceased occasionally,
and who made the post-mortem examination, said that the
liver of deceased was diseased from drink, and that was the
cause of his death. Deceased had been most improperly
treated and managed by his wife. He had seen her strike
the deceased, and her language was of the most outrageous
kind. Witness discontinued visiting him from the fact of
her bringing him down from the second to the first floor,
with only a shirt on, and when he was in a most pitiable
condition from advanced dropsy. Witness considered that
if deceased had been properly nursed and taken care of he
might have been alive now. She insisted on being present
at the post mortem examination, and assisted at it in a most
inhuman manner. Witness would rather not state how she
acted on the occasion. Some further evidence having been
adduced, the coroner said that he should adjourn the in-
quiry until Monday next, to obtain the testimony of the
several nurses mentioned by Mr. Roper as having been per-
emptorily dismissed,