The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-19 00:00:00

FAMILY DISPUTES.

" The ease of all others that demands the greatest
caution and address on the attorney's part, is that of
imputed infidelity to the conjugal vow ; on whichever
side the charge arises, it is to be received with suspi-
cion, rut it is usuaiii made before it is well-founded,
and when once Made it has a direct tendency to substan-
tiate itself. . . . The first thing to be considered
in reference to this point is the temper in which the
complaint is made : and here I may observe that jea-
lousy is rarely prominent where certainty exists ; nor
is even violent excitement often exhibited where a set-
tled conviction of conjugal guiltis entertained ; if I see
a man actuated by very strong and bitter feelings, I
infer, that whatever ground he has for suspicion, it
is after all only suspicion ; and hence that my primary
duty is to allay it, unless he discloses facts that
ought to be conclusive to an unbiased mind, or that
are too unequivocal not to call for inquiry ; even
when this is the case, that inquiry must be con-
ducted in the most cool and dispassionate temper.
Artful servants, and mischief-making friends and gossip-
ing relations, are wont to put the worst construction on
conduct that may amount to no more than thought-
less levity, blameable but not decisive. The manner
of some men is naturally erapressee towards females,
without any criminal motive ; others from mere fop-
pery
.affect an air of gallantry, or a tone of senti-
ment, which :;ffhtly interpreted, means no more than
they afe thinking of in preference to any-
body else, whether male or female; and often have
I seen this coquettry returned, by married women,
too, so sympathetically, that plain n;:_ttter-of-fact
people would set it down to improper intimacy, while
others of more acuteness or more knowledge of the
world would only laugh at the deception each party
was practising on the other, and probably on himself.
Yet incidents and scenes like these are ill-naturedly
treasured up by some of the good folks I have men-
tioned, and, when a sufficient hoard of them is amassed,
liberally bestowed on the ' injured husband,' as a cha-
ritable donation by some pious friend, and like all cha-
ritable donations most gratefully accepted : the unfor-
tunate husband is of course made vigilant, officious
servants are set upon the watch, and to vindicate their
claim to confidence tell twenty lies for one word of
truth ; the husband kicks his wife out of doors—loads
his pistols—sends for his friends—his friends for the doc-
tor and a straight waistcoat—and after proper commo-
tion, and a decent Interval, all hurry away to the
attorney, who, without Motg ado, retains Serjeant
Wilde, issues the writ, and frorti that moment all
go their own way to the devil ! Instances sometimes
occur where even less doubtful indications of guilt
prove in the event to be utterly fallacious. A gen-
tleman once consulted me in a case in which,
with all my distrust in such matters, I could not help
arriving at. his conclusion ; but happily we discovered
our error in time to avoid mischief. He had been in-
.

formed by one of those pests of society, the lady's
maid,' that his wife received unusual attention from a
young clergyman, who was a frequent and welcome
visitor at the house, and moreover that a clandestine
correspondence had long been carried on between
them : a good night kiss,' too had twice been noticed,
and duly commented on below stairs, and sundry other
little liberties of no individual importance, but of large
aggregate amount, proclaimed a very good understand-
ing between the parties. After much uncomfortable
espionage that led to nothing more decisive, the hus-
band intercepted one of the aforesaid letters, and was at
once convinced of his dishonour. He brought it to
me without an hour's delay ; and oa the perusal of it
and hearing of the previous occurrences, I quite con-
curred in his impression ; with his approba-
tion I jmmediately went to the lady, to in-
timate the necessity of her taking refuge with
her friends. I found the fair one in gay spirits, seated
on the sofa with the young gentleman by her side, and
her sister next to him. I was embarrassed by the
frank and cheerful reception I met with from all the

trio. You are just come in time, Mr. Sharpe, we wain
your help.' I looked as grave as possible, while I in-
quired the occasion. We have lost a love-letter Mr.
Sharpe, and Alfred, here, is half mad about it.'
I have it in my pocket, Ma'am,' I replied with
awful gravity.—' Let me have it, my good Sir ; do
give it me directly ;' cried the sister, suddenly jump-
ing up from the sofa, and all but offering to search
my
pocket. Stay Caroline ; have patience : Mr.
Sharpe, how did you obtain that letter?'—' From
your husband, Madam,' still maintaining the most
inflexible severity of features, but I could not pre-
serve it long ; they looked at each other at first with
some blushing confusion that confirmed my impres-
As soon as she recovered herself,

sions.

the lady quietly asked me whether I had read the let-
ter, and on telling her that I had, she inquired with
playful anger, how I dared to pry into other people's
correspondence.—' Your husband desired me. And
how dare he presume to open it ?'—' Because it was
addressed to you.' So you neither of you noticed the
C below the seal I that letter is my sister's, Sir ; and
now allow me to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs
Lawrence I they were married a week ago, and have
been engaged these six months! ! I looked like a
fool, no doubt ; it was clear enough that the acuteness
of woman's wit immediately penetrated my errand, and
I a man never looks so silly as when abashed by woman's
superiority ; the mystery was soon explained ; the
clergyman expected a living from his uncle
An attorney cannot be too cautious in
_ _

receiving the first statement of a husband's dishonour,
or too doubtful of the evidence by which it is pro-
posed to establish the fact ; where, however, the proofs
are irresistible, even there he is not at liberty at once
to bring the action. I have already noticed that in
all such affairs, there is assuredly faults on both sides.
This will always appear on the trial of the issue, if the
action is not collusive ; and then both parties leave the
court irretrievably damaged, and the children, as a mat-
ter of course, are excluded from the pale of society.
. . Before he sanctions by his advice, proceedings
of which the consequences are so terrible and so exten-
sive, it becomes him to satisfy himself that the exposure
may not be shared by both husband and wife, and thus
orphanise their issue. It is the more important because
I have too often seen that in the impatience of redress
on the one side, and the eagerness of self-vindication
on the other, all parental anxiety is absorbed in selfish
feelings, and the claims of the infant are forgotten by
those who are especially bound to protect them."—Ad-
ventures of an Attorney.

The Nottingham Review well observes that
" the middle and enfranchised people—without whose
assistance no ameliorative change can possibly be carried
—.cannot remain much longer qu►escent witnesses of their
fellow-creatures' miseries; if they do, the poverty which
unjust laws has created, will invade their own homes, and
leave its unhappy concomitants there."

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATII.---On Monday,
the sth, as William Richard, a labourer, was mowing in a
field at Dolgun, within a mile of Dolgelley, he fell down
and died in an instant. He appeared in full health, and
had attended the Sacrament at Dolgelley Church the day
previous.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.-Yesterday, three young
men from the neighbourhood of Wellington, were ex-
amined at the Shirehall, on a charge of ♦iolently assaulting
and robbing William Roberts, on the Bth of July last. The
prisoners are colliers. The prosecutor stated that on the
day in question, he was sent by his master to collect money
from several persons who had purchased hay from him ; he
called upon seven persons during the day, and received
581. 183. 6d., in notes, sovereigns, and silver, which he
placed in a leathern purse in his breeches pocket. His
purse was taken, and at the same time he received a
kick on the head, which rendered him senseless for
some time, and prevented him seeing how many were
there. When he recovered he got up and missed the men
and his purse, upon which he shouted " Murder I" and
people came to his assistance, who took him to a cottage,
where he remained very ill all night, and was sent home
next day. He bad been bad ever since. The prisoners
absconded soon after, and were taken last week at Ponty-
pool, in Monmouthshire. The evidence of the prosecutor
having been confirmed by several material witnesses, the
prisoners were fully committed to take their trials at the
ensuing March Assizes.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.
OPENING OF THE ULSTER RAILWAY TO
LtssuaN.—On Saturday last several experimental trips
were made along the Ulster Railway to Lisburn, prepara-
tory to its being opened to the public, all of which trips
were performed with the most gratifying success. The
average time occupied was from 15 or 16 to 19 minutes,
but a much higher degree of speed could have been at-
tained had it been desirable, as the object was to use every
necessary precaution at the beginning for the prevention
of accidents. Yesterday morning, at 7 o'clock, the line
was formally opened, and the train continued to ply up and
down each alternate hour during the day till 8 o'clock in
the evening, as had been previously arranged. The
crowds assembled in the neighbourhood of the Railway
were immense, and universal enthusiasm prevailed at the
success with which that truly national undertaking has
been hitherto prosecuted. The number of passengers
during the day amounted to upwards of three thousand,
while hundreds were disappointed in obtaining places.
This is a flattering commencement, and we hope that it is
only a prophetic omen of the reward to which the Com-
pany may reasonably look forward, when the line shall
have been further extended.—Belfast News Letter.
THE MOORS.—Monday the 22th was highly
propitious for our sportsmen, as the weather was dry and
clear, without being oppressively hot. Lord W. Thynne,
the Hon. Captain Grey, and Mr. Cox, bagged 67 brace
on Lord Cawdoes moors. Mr. Baillie and Lord Gifford
were very successful at Glenshiero, and had sundry brace
dispatched to Inverness during the forenoon, shot by ten
o'clock, a.m. Mr. Langtry and friend, at Aberarder,
bagged 52i brace. The birds are unusually strong—the
best that have been seers here for some years at this early
period of the season. We have not yet had time to re-
ceive particulars from the hills. Lord Lovat was at Mar
Lodge last week. and killed five fine stags. His Lordship
has with him at the grouse-shooting. the Earl of Hard-
wicke and the Hon. W. S. Jerningham. The Duke of
Leeds is at Mar Lodge; Lord Kintore at Boner; Sir
Philip Gray Egerton and Mr. Cornwall Leigh at Tolly ;
Mr. Barton at Killin ; Mr. Wormald at Garve ; Sir Hume
Campbell at Novar; Mr. Wood and Mr. Parnther at
Strathglass ; Captain John Dixon at Invermorriston ;
Captain Inge and Mr. Eyton at Flowerdale ; Captain
Downes at Eskedale ; Mr. T. S. Gladstone at Loch
Rosque ; Captain Gerard at Rosehall ; Captain Willis at
Burnside, &c. Sm.—lnverness Courier.