The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-25 00:00:00

THE BRIDE'S OUTFIT.

A young girl of about twenty appeared last week upon
the criminal bench of the Court of Assizes at Versailles.
She was weeping bitterly, while those around her were
endeavouring to console her. The following is the simple
narrative of the poor girl's offence, as related by her advo-
cate :—Marie Montel, a sempstress, inhabited the com-
mune of Sevres. She is the eldest of five sisters, and for
eight years her industry has been the main support of her
family. It may easily be supposed that her savings had not
been considerable ; nevertheleis, she had won the heart of
a young man at Paris, of the name of Marcel, and the
15th of May last was to have been, as people are wont to
say before marriage, the happiest day of their lives. The
perfidious spirit of coquetry, unfortunately, took possession
of the poor girl, and persuaded her that a muslin gown
embroidered with pink flowers, a silk scarf edged with a
little lace, and a smart cap with a wreath of anzez
would harmonise admirably with the maiden garland that
was growing for her in the parterre of St. Cloud. Her
heart also told her that the muslin cravat, tied on the wed-
ding day, by her own fair hands, would be for her dear
Marcel a token of fidelity. To obtain these braveries 40
francs in ready money were wanted, and how were they to
be raised ? She had still fifteen working days before her,
but her mother was to have one half of her earnings, and
the other half would never amount to the required sum.
Poor Marie thought when once she became Madame Mar-
cel she would soon be able to save the 40 francs out of her
housekeeping, but she felt that it would be impossible for
her to obtain credit for the longed-for finery ; and under
these circumstances, after having for some time hesitated,
she at length re4olved upon the commission of a crime. She
went to a mercer's elop in Boulogne, where she handed in a
letter, purporting to be written by a Madame Langlois, re-
questing that the articles therein specified might be en-
trusted to the bearer, her servant. The mercer himself was
absent, but his wife would readily have delivered the goods
if the embarrassed manner of Marie had not awakened her
suspicion, and she accordingly said that sbe would send the
articles ordered by one of her own people. All the fond
illusions of the poor bride were at once dissipated. Her
arrest followed, and already by an imprisonment of three
months, while awaiting her trial, she had bitterly expiated
her error. The advocate concluded by demanding an ac-
quittal, on the ground that Marie Montel had already been
sufficiently punished. After an hour's deliberation the jury
returned a verdict of guilty, by the simple majority of 7
against 5. The Court inflicted the minimum of punishment
—one year's imprisonment. Every one was surprised at
the apparent insensibility of the poor girl on hearing her
sentence ; but the fact was that the technical jargon of the
law had been unintelligible to her. When apprised of her
fate by one of the gens d'armes near her, she screamed and
fainted in the arms of her afflicted mother. Her cries and
sobs were heard for some time after she had been removed
from thebench of the accused.

NEWSPAPER COVERS.—It cannot be too strongly
impressed on the minds of parties wishing to send news-
papers abroad, that the directions must always be written,
without any printing whatever. We have now several
covers before us which have been sent to France, and merely
because " The Leeds Mercury," and " Mr." was printed
thereon, they have been returned, having written on
" printing on cover." This Post Office law applies, we
believe, to all parts of the Continent.—Leeds Ilfercury.
[And it is in our opinion a very absurd one.—Ed. Sun.]
Last evening, about seven o'clock, the City Arms
public-house, at present unoccupied, in East Harding-street,
Gough-square, Fleet-street, fell down with a tremendous
crash. From the opposite windows several bricks were seen
falling from various parts of the building, then the shutters
of the apartment usually occupied as the bar gave way and
fell into the street, but ere a few persons could be collected
to render assistance, the whole front of the house fell into
East Harding-street, and the rear into Featherbed-lane.
Happily no person was passing at the time ; but although
considerable danger existed of the old buildings adjoining
sharing the same fate, a crowd assembled, and remained in
front of them till Mr. Savage (Common Councilman of the
Ward) prudently sent to the Giltspur-street Compter for
the assistance of the City police, who were promptly in at-
tendance, and, without doubt, prevented loss of life, for the
crowds were no sooner removed than a brick wall fell down
into the street, on the very ground they had occupied. The
house opposite, in the occupation of Mr. Lewis, a milkman,
and also a chandler's shop adjoining, have sustained consi-
derable damage. A report was spread that a man was buried
under the ruins, but- up to eleven o'clock last night, the
truth of the statement could not be ascertained, although
it is feared that the report has a somewhat likely foundation,
and persons are employed digging in the ruins to clear up
all doubts on the subject.
SUDDEN DEATH.—On Sunday evening, Mr.
William Taylor, of Rochdale, clerk to the magistrates,
having been walking out with his children, was returning
home through Balie-street, when he was seized with a fit
of apoplexy, near the Association Chapel, and expired in a
few minutes. He was also Clerk to the Commissioners of
the Police, as well as to the Halifax road. Several can-
didates are already in the field, for the respective situations
which have become vacant by his death.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.—The excitement of the elec-
tion is over in Bradford ; and if any bad feeling had existed
during the contest, we are glad to find that it has died
away. The town has assumed its usual quietness, and the
tradesmen arc engaged in the important concerns of buying
and selling without reference to party distinction. We
believe that less petty animosity was exhibited during the
late election, than was shown in any of the preceding elec-
tions since Bradford became a borough.—Leeds Mercury.
TATIIANI V. WRIGHT.—The referee in this case,
it is said, is Mr. Robertson, Barrister-at-law, who will hold
his Court in Lancaster and Hornby in a few days, for the
purpose of examining witnesses and documents relative to
the amount of rents, &c., for the last six years, with sum-
mary power to compel witnesses to give evidence, on pain
of imprisonment. He will be accompanied by Mr. Peel,
junior Council for Admiral Tatham, and by Mr. Martin,
junior Council for the defendant, Mr. Wright.—Lancaster
Guardian.

PRESTON.—We are unfeignedly glad to be able
to follow up our report of last week, by a still more favour-
able account of the trade of this town. There are at pre-
sent very few•hand-loom weavers unemployed, and there is
a steady demand for goods at improved prices. A consi-
derable stroke of business was don• at Manchester on
Tuesday last, and our manufacturers and• spinners appear
to have gathered fresh hopes and buoyancy from the •pro-
mising state of that market. The factories are running
full time ; and on th, whole there is reason to expect, that
we shall speedily return to the wonted prosperity and ac-
tivity which for some years past, allowing for intervals of
gloom, the cotton trade has enjoyed.—Preston Chronicle.
Yesterday evening, between five and six o'clock, a
shocking accident occurred in Regent-street to Miss Som-
merville, a young lady, 17 years of age, who was knocked
down by a cab, and the wheel passed over her arm, which
was frightfully fractured. It appears that the cab-driver,
who was a mere lad, was driving at a frightful and furious
rate, being much intoxicated. On his discovering what
mischief he had occasioned, he galloped off into Oxford-
street, and effected his escape from his pursuers. The un-
fortunate lady was carried to a surgeon's, who reduced the
fracture, and she was afterwards conveyed in a coach tq
her residence, in Sussex-street, Bedford-square.