The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-17 00:00:00

IRISH LAW INTELLIGENCE.

( A I.ridf,..-red from tl,o Dul.hin E+•eninq of Thursday.)
CO UR TOF CO il/JION PLEAS, • hr..; E 16.
BEEACII OF I'ILOMISE OF MARRIAGE.

'HENRIETTA ANNE HEAD V. SIMON GEORGE PURDON.
Mr. West, K.C., offered the pleadings. This was an
action for b,-each of promise of marriage. The damages
were laid at 20,000/. '['he d‘ lenient pleaded the general
issue and the statute of limitation.
Mr. Litton, K.C., stated the case for the plaintiff. H.,
said--Gentlemen of the Jury, the plaintiff in this case is
the daughter of the late Mr. Michael Head, a gentleman
well known as being of an ancient and respectable
and of considerable Iraperty, in the county of Tipperary.
The defendant, Mr. Simon George Purdon, is a gentleman
who lived about a mile from her father's house, upon the
opposite side of the river Shannon, at Terenana, the resi-
dence of his father, Major Purdon. The plaintiff was the
third daughter of Mr. Head, and in 1824, or early in 1825,
when she first became acquainted with the defendant, a
happy member of a peaceful family, loved by those who had
the honour of knowing them, and respected and regarded by
all. At this period the lady who here demands retribution
at your hands was a girl of 18 years old ; she was, I say it em-
phatically, the favourite daughter of her respected father ; her
education had been of the first clans ; and her accomplish-
ments of the highest order ; tier personal attractions very
great indeed. The defendant was at this time, when their
connection commenced, a gentleman of twenty-seven or
twenty-eight years of age, eldest son of Major Purdon,
and residing at his seat, which, as I have already stated,
was but a mile or a mile and a half from the residence of
Mr. Head. It is important, gentlemen, to recollect his
age, for it will remind you that he was no stripling, who
could be imposed upon or drawn into any connection dis-
graceful to his family. Indeed, not only was be of years
enough to be a man of the world, but by education and
previous- life eminently prepared to be above any imposi-
tion upon his judgment. He had been educated at Ox-
ford, and spent a considerable time in diplomatic employ-
ment, as attaché of an Embassy to Sweden, of which
Lord Vesey and Fitzgerald was the head. He came home
from Sweden, in 1825, an accomplished gentleman, who had
seen and known much of the world, and was every way cal-
culated to make an impression on a female heart to whom he
took trouble to appear attached ; and, in addition to the cir-
cumstances I have mentioned, of matured years, know-
ledge of the world, and varied acquirements, which he had
to assist him in winning the heart of this young and confid-
ing girl, he had also the ties of relationship, which procured
for him a free entrance into her father's house ; for, in
point of connexion, the parties were cousins-german.
The eldest sister of Mr. Head was married to Major Pur-
don, and thus arose the relationship. I will bring his
letters before you, and you shall judge out of them your-
selves the warmth of the attachment he professed, and
wished to excite and receive in return. You will find that
to Miss Edwards, to Miss Head, and finally to Mr. Head,
he declared his determination of marrying the plaintiff
whenever it was in his power to do so. The only obstacle
in the way of their union was his father, Major Purdon,
who, though he nowhere, or at no period, forbade his son to
carry on a correspondence with his cousin, was not fa-
vourable to a marriage -at that time. There was no at-
tempt at concealing the connexion from him, and though he
refused his direct assent to thoir marriage, he did not forbid
the parties to meet. The distance between their residences
was so short that they met every day of their lives that
business did not take him from home ; for during part of
their connexion he was high sheriff of his native country,
and for a long time a magistrate and deputy lieutenant.
I am to tell you that this was not an affair of a day or a
month, but that it went on unremittingly for eight years,
during which she lived in her father's house, scarcely ever
going to a party, but living solely for him, her affianced
lover, who declared she was more dear to him than a wedded
wife. From 1824 to the beginning of 1827 he remained
in the county, and was received at the house of Mr.
Head as his acknowledged son-in-law. The lady's mother
received his as a son, and her sisters as a brother, and
during all this time Major Purdon was perfectly cognisant
of his visits, and that he spent three-fourths of his time at
his uncle's house. In 18.27 it became necessary for him
to go to London on some family business, where he remained
tiil September, 1828, with the exception of a short visit he
made to the country in the summer. It was, I presume,
about some arrangements connected with an estate of
5,000/. a-year which his family possessed, and which is now in
his hands, that his visit was made. During his absence he
wrote, as you will anticipate, very frequently to her whom
lie wished to consider herself as his affianced and be-
trothed brids. Some of these letters I will read to you.
The Learned Counsel then read several letters, and went
on to say that from 1828, when the defendant arrived at
home from London, till the death of his father in Febru-
ary, 1836, there was between him and Miss Head's family
In uninterrupted scene of affectionate intercourse. He en-
gaged the confidence and affection of the lovely woman he
deceived, and she remained, for his sake, a wife unwedded,
and a maid betrothed. Major Purdon died in 1336. Mr.
Purdon, at his father's death, found himself master of
5,000/. a year. In the meantime be became acquainted with
the present Bishop of Derry, who was then Dean Pon-
sonby, and afterwards became Bishop of Killaloe ; and it
is beyond doubt that before this period he had formed
some design of connecting himself with one of the daugh-
ters of that Prelate. In August, 1836, he married Louisa
Ponsonby, of his attachment to whom not a member
of the bereaved, deserted, and almost disgraced family had
ever heard. On the 6th of April, 1836, a letter was re-
ceived from Mr. Purdon, trying to account for his unmanly
• conduct. (The letter was here read, and he offered in it
as the reason for his breaking off the correspondence, that
that his father left it a dying injunction upon him.) The
Learned Counsel, after stating that Miss Head had written
to the defendant, and received an answer from him, which
he characterized as cold-hearted and unfeeling, and after
remarking upon the conduct of the opposite party in plead-
ing the statute of limitation, concluded by an eloquent ap-
peal for his client. When he concluded, the bar ap-
plauded him by clapping vehemently.
Evidence was then adduced ; after which, Mr. BENNETT
addressed the Jury for the defence.
The Jury retired, and after a few minutes' deliberation,
returned with a verdict for the plaintiff-3,0001. damages,
and 6d. costs.

We understand that the Governor, Sir R. Bourke,
K.C. 8., has received a dispatch by the Fortune, reinstating
Mr. Riddell in the office of Executive Councillor. It is known
to the public that the Governor suspended Mr. Riddell from
this office about the close of 1835. In communicating that sus-
pension to the Secretary of State, his Excellency then inti-
mated his desire of retiring from the Government in the event
of this act not being confirmed by his Majesty's Government.
The Secretary of State, we understand, in a separate dispatch,
earnestly urges his Excellency not to persevere in his inten-
tion. His Excellency, however, abides by his first decision—
not to sit in council w ith Mr. Riddell. In this position of
affairs Sir R. Bourke only awaits the return of Colonel Snod-
grass from Hobart Town to make the necessary arrangements
for leaving in his hands the charge of the government, and for
proceeding himself to England.—Australian.
Professor Porson was once travelling in a stage-
coach, when a young Oxonian, fresh from college, was
amusing two ladies with a variety of talk, and amongst other
things with a quotation, as lie said, from Sophocles. A
Greek quotation, and in a coach too, roused our slumbering
Professor front a kind of dog-sleep, in a snug corner of the
vehicle. Shaking his ears and rubbing his eyes—" I think,
young gentleman," said he, " you favoured us with a quotation
from Sophocles : I do not happen to recollect it there." " Oh,
Sir," replied our tyro, " the quotation is word for word as I have
repeated it, and in Sophocles too ; but I suspect, Sir, that it is
some time since you were at College." The Professor applying
his hand to his great coat, and taking out a small pocket
edition of Sophocles, quietly asked him if he would be
kind enough to show him the passage in question in that
little bock." After turning the leaves for some time, he re-
plied, " Upon second thoughts, I recollect that the passage
is in Euripides." " perhaps, Sir," said the Pr,fessor,
putting his hand again into his pocket and handing a similar
edition of Euripides, " you will be so good as to find it for
me in that little book." The young Oxonian returned again
to his task, but with no better success. The tittering of
ladies informed him that he had got into a hobble. At last,
" Bless me, Sir," said he, " how dull lam ! I now recollect
--yes, yes. I perfectly remember—that the passage is in
lEschylus." The inexorable Porson returned again to his in-
exhaustible pocket, and was in the act of handing him an
2Eschylus, when our astonished Freshman vociferated, " Stop
the coach—hollea, coachman, let me out, I say, instantly—
let me out ! There is a fellow here who has got the whole
Bodleian library in his pocket."
Asses were first brought into fashion at Tunbridge
Wells, in 1801, by Lady G. Seymour, when the Prince and
Princess of Orange, and many other distinguished visiters,
were there. This sudden and unlooked-for fashion was for a
long time the topic of conversation, and caused many poetical
efiusions.

It is truly melancholy to observe the hundreds of
famishing unemployed operatives with which our streets are
literally crowded throughout the day; nor is the distress of
the town confined to them alone, as all classes of our towns-
men, particularly the shopkeepers and keepers of public-
houses and beer-houses are complaining most bitterly. The
money kept out of circulation in the payment of wages alone,
is more serious than could be contemplated by a stranger ; but
in order to give him some idea of the effect which it has on
the general interest, we will state that, with a very few ex-
ceptions, all the mills are working three and four days a week
ii7;Wsik„pnly ; and to show more clearly the operation which such a
, __7l skim must necessarily have on the condition of the opera-
-I:>C7:.--f
-'
t...1.-4ritmt one firm will pay this week less wages by 5001.
-----). -,- --- ..\4a 9.-t did a month ago, and 3001. less than it did last
./11)--,;S., V-vriZe)fr- The only mill of any magnitude now in full work is
..yi
:.,T
.P*(....:77,--,--:.:4114i 15 longing to the relatives of our esteemed borough re-
___,ltc.ieie tative Major Marsland.—Stockport Advertiser.
: ' ::'. .;* '.. r. Marc Aillard, a rich proprietor of Marseilles,
,---- ..-..i....___V'Ja deceased in that city, has left a sum of 500,000 f. (20,0001.)
a s ----to'the poor.