The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-19 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1853.

IMPBOV.EJLENTS IN NAVIGATION.

yesterday a public meeting was held, in the Mer-
chants'-room at Lloyd's, to which the attendance of mer-
chants, underwriters, shipowners, captains, officers, and
others interested in navigation was requested, through
the medium of a handbill which had been previously cir-
culated, and which was headed, " Lloyd's, August 15,
1853," which stated that " Lieutenant Maury, of the
United States Navy, superintendent of the National
Observatory at Washington, who has arrived in this
country on a mission from the government of the United
States, having consented, at the invitation of the com-
mittee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's and of the
committee of the General Shipowners' Society, to give
explanations of the system adopted by that government
for collecting and disseminating information relative to
the direction and force of winds and ocean currents in
all parts of the world, and meteorological observations,"
and that the meeting would be held as above.
The room was densely crowded long before the hour
named (one o'clock) and the gallant officer was very
cordially welcomed. The chair was taken by J. Poole,
Esq., and after the secretary had read the notice con-
voking the meeting, expressed his regret that Mr. Baring,
the chairman of Lloyd's, should be absent on an occasion
of so much importance to the shipping and commercial
world, and briefly introduced to the meeting Lieutenant
Maury.
Lieut. MAURY then said that he was most happy in
having the opportunity of explaining to the meeting the
objects of his mission to this part of the world— objects
which were altogether connected with peace. He had
been 30 years engaged in a seafaring life, and was much
struck with the fact that the best routes were altogether
matter of tradition, and that books were altogether
silent upon the subject. It was true that they had
a work which gave them in detail the routes of
the Indian Ocean ; but that had no reference to
the whole ocean space. It then became with him
matter of inquiry to find what ships had pursued
the same routes at the same seasons, in order that he
might form an average of the results of their experience.
With this view he had sought out for the old log-books.
First, he obtained those of the men of war of the United
States, but as that country had not ships on every sta-
tion, he soon found that those leg-books were inadequate
to the object he had in view. They had, however, enabled
him to show the end he desired to arrive at, and thus
prepared the way for his obtaining additional informa-
tion. Furnished with these log-books he projected'on
a chart of the North Atlantic the tracks of each ship,
the months of the year in which they made them, and
the force and direction of the winds. Having done
so, he observed that on looking at the chart, between
the tracks of the outward-bound and homeward-bound
vessels there was a large middle area of the ocean
altogether a blank, untraversed by any ship, and, if
he might use the expression, (in reference to the
sea) a teri a incognita. It had been usual for ships from
America bound for the southern hemisphere, to cross the
Atlantic to Cape Verd, in order to fall in with what was
called Cook's track, again to cross over to Cape St.
Hogue, and a third time to cross the same ocean, from
the coast of South America to the Cape of Good Hope.
Under these circumstances he had, under the impres-
sion that a vast saving of time might be effected, and
that the ships would likely meet with the winds which
they sought for on the old tracks, recommended to the
merchant marine of the United States, the propriety
and feasibility of making the voyage straight through
that middle space to which he had adverted. The W. H.
C.Wright, of Baltimore, commanded by Capt. Jackson,
was the first ship which had the courage to act upon his
suggestion ; and he was gratified to find that she had by so
doing reduced the duration of her voyage to Rio Janeiro
from 41 days, which had been the average, to 24 days.
The gallant officer here called the attention of the
auditory to the charts rhich he had prepared ; and
explained how that having obtained the assistance
of 1,000 ships, the captains of which, every eight hours,
noted in a special log-book the position of the ship, the
direction and force of the wind and ocean currents, the
height of the barometer, with the thermometer, and other
meteorological observations, he had, by co-ordinated in-
formation which they afforded him, been enabled, by
taking the averages, to note within every square of 5 de-
grees of ocean for each month of the year, the prevailing
winds and currents. He had now, on the authority of the
Secretary of the Navy of the United States, to announce
that the government of that country was willing to place
British seamen on the same footing with their own, and to
supply them with these charts, on the condition of their
keeping a special log-book, such as that to which he had
alluded, and forwarding it to the observatory at Wash-
ington for collation with those of other nations. They
chiefly wanted more information with respect to the winds
and currents prevailing in the Pacific Ocean, which
could be supplied by the ships trading round either of
the Capes. Furnished with such information, he had no
doubt that they would be able to reduce the voyage from
either America or England to Australia to an average
certainty, even under canvas, of 70 to 75 days. The
Marco Polo had just made the run out from Liverpool
in 75 days ; in fact, for ships coming from Sydney, and
taking the Cape Horn route rather than that at present
pursued, the .winds were as regular as the trade winds.
Before concluding this portion of his lecture, he had
to observe that information had been given to the
English minister in the United States (Mr. Crampton)
that the charts would be delivered by the American
government to whoever might be officially appointed
to demand them for the use of British seamen.
In thus noting, as he had described, the me-
teorological observations on the face of the charts,
he thought he should have been only half completing
his labours had he not also pointed out what he might
call the industrial resources of the sea. From co-ordi-
nating the journals kept by the American whalers, he
had been enabled in squares of five degrees to set down
the average of the number of days employed in hunting
the whales—how many " spermacetti whales," and how
many "right whales," were caught each season. Look-
ing at the chart compiled from these observations, they
would perceive that there was an equatorial belt of 2,500
miles in width, in which no " right whale" had, so far
as he had been able to learn, been ever caught.
It then became a question if! the "right whales"
found on the west coast of North America were
identical in species with those which were caught on the
east coast, and he had found out that they were.
Thus, catechising nature and taking her answers,
they were able to arrive at the conclusion that, inasmuch
as the whale on the one coast could not pass through the
equatorial belt which he had mentioned in order to double
Cape Horn, there must be a communication in the shape
of a north-west passage. In fact, relying on this cir-
cumstance, the Secretary of the American Navy had
instructed the American exploring expedition sent in
search of Sir John Franklin, after reaching Wellington
Bay, to look to the north-west for an open sea, and the
officer in charge of the expedition had obeyed that com-
mand, and had found that such open sea did exist. The
same was reported by Penny and others. The gallant
officer concluded his very interesting lecture by thanking
his auditory for the great attention with which they had
heard him.

Mr. DUNCAN DUNBAR moved the first resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. PHILLIPS :-" That this
meeting has heard with much gratification Lieutenant
Maury's very interesting detail of the measures that
have been adopted by the Government of the United
'States for improving the science and practice of naviga-
tion, and the shipowners and their officers now present
pledge themselves to assist in the completion of the sys-
tem so ably commenced."
Mr. N. GoULD moved, and Mr. HARNETT seconded
the next resolution :—" That the thanks of this meeting
_ _

be conveyed, through the Minister of the United States,
to that Government, for the liberal offer now made by
Lieut. Maury, on its behalf, to furnish copies of his
valuable charts and sailing directions to masters of Bri-
tish merchant-ships, who shall undertake to furnish the
results of their observations in the prescribed form."
Mr. H. HARFORD moved, and Mr. MARSHALL se-
conded the third resolution—" That a letter be addressed
by the chairman to the First Lord of the Treasury, ex-
pressing the earnest hope of this meeting that her Ma-
jesty's Government will cordially co-operate with the
Government of the United States in an object so in-
teresting to the navigation of this country."
Mr. CARTER moved, and Lieutenant MAURY seconded
the fourth resolution—" That the thanks of this meet-
ing be given to the committee of Lloyd's for their readi-
ness in granting the use of their room on this occasion,
and to the chairman for his able conduct in the chair."
The CHAIRMAN moved, and Mr. GOULD seconded a
vote of thanks to Lieutenant Maury, who acknowledged
the compliment.
In the course of the proceedings a letter was read

THE HON. G. C. NORTON AND THE HON.
MRS. NORTON.

WESTMINSTER COUNTY COURT, AUG, 18.

This was an action brought by the plaintiffs, Messrs.
Thrupp, coachbuilders, of Oxford-street, against the
Hon. G. C. Norton, defendant, under the following pe-
culiar and extraordinary circumstances :
Mr. C. Dod, the solicitor, appeared for the plaintiffs,
and Mr. Needham, counsel, instructed by Messrs. Flad-
gate, Clarke, and Finch, conducted the defence.
The case, which was fixed for hearing some time ago,
had been twice postponed on account of the nonattend-
ance of certain witnesses, and an unusual degree of in-
terest was excited, the court being crowded to excess
during the whole of the proceedings, which occupied
several hours.

Mr.- Dod said the claim was for 491. 4s. Gd. for work
and labour supplied by the plaintiffs to the Hon. Mrs.
Norton, who was the wife of the defendant. The de-
fendant was a police magistrate for Lambeth, and also a
member of the bar. The account of the plaintiffs had
extended from the 17th of April, 1843, to the 17th of
March, 1850, amounting to 1841. 4s. 6d., of which 1351.
had been paid in different instalments, leaving a balance
of 491. 4s. 6d., the amount sought to be recovered. He
should prove tthat the work was duly performed, and
that the orders were given by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, as
the wife of the defendant, and that the charges were fair
and reasonable. He (Mr. Dod) understood that a de-
fence of non-liability was about to be raised by reason of
some separation, or some living apart of the defendant
from his wife. He should, however, be able to satisfy
the court that the account was a proper and reasonable
one, and the items would show that they were such as
befitted the station of a lady in the position of the de-
fendant's wife. The plaintiffs had come into court to
show that their claim was a just one, and that they had
nothing whatever to do with private differences between
the defendant and his wife.
The Hon. Mrs. Caroline Norton, who was accommo-
dated with a seat on the bench, was now examined by
Mr. Dod.

She stated that she was the wife of the defendant, the
Hon. George Capel Norton. She had been subpoenaed
to that court to produce the accounts of the plaintiffs for
work and labour supplied by them to her from the year
1843 to the month of March, 1850.
Mr. Dod—What did the work consist of ?

The Hon. Mrs. Norton----liepairstomy carriage. I
beg to observe, I am here against my will upon subpoena.
I sent a statement of my case to Mr. Norton's solicitor.
The Court intimated that the witness had better con-
fine herself to the questions. of her advocate. _ _

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (ernph;ticaily):i am here for
justice, and as this is a court of justice, I insist upon
stating what I have to say. These tradesmen would
have been paid if Mr. Norton had not performed the
greate3t breach of faith that was ever accomplished by
man.

The Judge—Madam, pray allow me to say that this is
irregular.

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (with determination)—l will
speak.

The Judge—Will you allow this gentleman to conduct
your case ?

Mr. Dod—What is the description of carriage for
which the work was done ?

The Hon. Mrs. Norton—A brougham. I paid Mr.
Thrupp by instalments until Mr. Norton stopped my
allowance. We are not residing together, and have lived
apart for some years, by my wish and choice, because I
consider that I have sustained an injury that no woman
ought to submit to. I believe Mr. Norton's income to
be about 3,0001. a-year—viz., from his magistracy, his
patrimonial profits in Scotland, his chambers in the Tem-
ple, and other sources, altogether amounting to 3,0001.
per annum. I was parted from him in the year 1836,
and the following year he offered 5001. a-year until we
could arrange our matters, but made me a compulsory
allowance of 4001. per annum. He stipulated that I
should give up my children, and I said that I would
rather starve than lose them ; and I did starve for a
time. From the month of March, 1838, he made me an
allowance, and he advertised rue in the public papers
respecting this compulsory allowance. He paid me
4001. a-year until 1838. In reference to this there was
an agreement drawn up, He and my brother-in-law,
the Hon. E. Phipps, witnessed it. In the year 1851
my mother died, and she left me some money ; but there
is still 6871. 10s. due to my creditors, and I have re-
turned from Italy to have it paid ; and if the defendant
had paid me the money ho promised by the agreement
I should have settled with the plaintiffs ; but I under-
stood Mr. Norton's plea to be, that as this paper was
made between him and his wife, it cannot be binding
on him ; but if I had the money every one of my credi-
tors would have what is due to them.

Cross-examined by Mr. Needham—Have you received
your income from Mr. Norton regularly up to a period
beyond that of the last item, March, 1850.
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—He owes me 6871.

Mr. Needham—Have you not received your allow-
ance under the agreement ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l received my allowance up
to March, 1852.

Mr. Needham—Was your separation from your hus-
band a voluntary one ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton.—Mr. Norton sent my little
children to Mrs. Vaughan, to which I very much ob-
jected, and I received nothing in the shape of an allow-
ance for two !years ; and when I parted from my hus-
band I had no income.

Mr. Needham—Was not the allowance paid into your
banker's first, after the rate of 2001. a-year, and subse-
quently 4001.?

- The Hon. Mrs. Norton—No ; I have not got my
banker's pass-book with me. I never had a book at all
until 1848, because I never had isufficieut money to
make It worth my while to keep an account there.
Yesterday I sent for a list of what moneys I had at my
banker's.

Mr. Needham—l don't ask you that ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—You are afraid of my an
swers when I give them.

Mr. Needha—m—Will you let me see that paper you
are looking at ?

The Hoii. Mrs. Norton—No ; I have this here for my
own purpose.
The Judge—But it must be produced to the counsel,
madam, if he requires it.

-
Mr. Needham—Did you refuse to take the money
after it was paid into Messrs. Rawson the bankers ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l refused to do anything
while my children were taken from me.
Mr. Needham—l believe you had 15,000/. left you by
your mother ? _ .

Mr. Needham—Madam, that may be very tragical,
but it is not very polite.
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l am berry not to be polite.
I am in a.very tragical state.
Mr. Needham—From what time—up to what time
have you received 600/. a-year ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—You have my banker's-book
at home.

The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l have the interest of the
money paid to me through my brother.
Mr. Needham—Have you also 57i. 10s.
paid to you
by way of pension ?

Mr. Needham--Who paid it !
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—Lady Palmerston ; I don't
know how it is paid.
Mr. Needham—When did you receive the last ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—lt was in June or July.
Lady Palmerston gave me something this year. No-
body is bound to give me anything.
Mr. Needham--Have you received 6001. a-year up to
July in the present year ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l have not had 6001. a-year.
I don't know how much my income falls short of that ;
but I have not received that.
Mr. Needham—ln January, 1852, did you have 2911.
ss. on account of Lord Melbourne placed to your
account ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l dare sly I did. You have
the book,

Mr. Isfeedhana— Now, in July of the same year, per
Lord Melbourne, the sum of 2911. ss. Did you have
that ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—Yes, But Lord Melbourne
is dead. No one is bound to give me one farthing. We
are discussing simply whether my creditors are or are
not to be paid.
After a vast many questions bearing upon the domes-
tic relationship of the plaintiff and defendant, but which
involved no matters of interest to the public, the exami-
nation was thus continued—

Mr. Needham—l ask you, madam, whether the 5001.
a-year allowed to you by Mr. Norton was not upon the
express condition that you should receive nothing from
Lord Melbourne ?

'The-Hon. Mrs. Norton—My father held an appoint-
ment at the Cape of Good Hope. He died there, and I
have the pension in consequence.
Mr. Needham—Had you some sums of money sent to
you at Lisbon ?

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (emphatically)—I did receive
nothing, and, therefore, that condition could not be
called into question. Mr. Lemon (a solicitor) drew up
the agreement of contract.

The Hon. Mrs. Norton—He sent money to pay the
passage of his second son home. He refused to pay the
passage of his eldest son, and also what he wa3 indebted
to Sir Hamilton Seymour. I paid both.
The Hon. Mr. Norton here interposed, and said he
thought it very hard if this ex parte statement was to go
forth to the public without his having an opportunity of
saying anything in denial or explanation of the statements
that were being made against him.
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—I can prove upon my oath
that his son resided with me in Germany,
Italy, Bel-
gium, and in Portugal, and that I sustained the whole
expenses of such residence myself. The eldest has had
an allowance since he went to Lisbon.
Mr. Needham—Has the second son not been at Eton,
and subsequently at Oxford ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—Mr. Norton paid for his
education, but I paid for his residence. lam known as
a popular writer in my own country, and sometimes I
have 1,000/, a year, and sometimes I have nothing. I
have worked as hard as any lawyer's clerk in this court.
Mr. Needham—What is your literary income t Is it
500/. a year ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—No. Mr. Norton has
claimed my copyrights from my publisher.
The Hon. Mr. Norton (interrupting)—My solicitor
did.

Needham—Was not the 5001. a-year allowed
upon • the express condition that you should receive
nothing from Lord Melbourne ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—No.
A vast deal of correspondence between the Hon, Mrs.
Norton and Lord Melbourne was put in, the main
charges contained in it being that the Hon. Mrs. Norton
was " kept" by Lord Melbourne, and that the letters
produced in evidence were stolen. The lady declared
that all the letters found in her possession, and purport-
ing to be addressed to other persons, were addressed to
Lord Melbourne. The Hon. Mrs. Norton proceeded to
say that she corresponded with Lord Melbourne until
the day of his death, and that she believed she was the
last person who had communicated to him in writing.
The question bf liability having been ably disputed,
The Hon. Mrs. Norton made a statement in the fol-
lowing words :—I told you to be aware of your ques-
tions, if you were afraid of my answers. For seventeen
years I have concealed these facts, but they came out to
day because you bully me ; and I am ashamed for your
client if he does not feel ashamed of himself. My means
will perfectly suffice now that .1 know Mr. Norton can
cheat me, and I have no doubt that my friends will
assist me more than ever when they learn that the man
who calls himself a magistrate, a barrister, and a gentle-
hmias na,gcuannt,aalnsod e
it isatnpootobrintradidngesumpeonn, bheicma.usel called
his
for my rights. I have no right—l have only wrongs.
I have no doubt I have had a very ample income ; upon
an average for some years 1,5001. ; and now that I
know he can defraud me I will not live abroad with my
son. (Cheers in court.)
Mr. Needham—What rent do you pay, madam ?
Mrs. Norton—l pay 1001. a year.
Some other witnesses having been examined,
The Hon. Mr. Norton prayed for his right to have
his saying in court.
The Judge said, that at the present stage the case
was ex parte, and decreed for a nonsuit, upon which
Mr. Norton pressed for a hearing, in explanation of
the allegations made against him by his wife.
The learned Judge remarked that, as the whole case
was quite cx parte, the public could only attach such
weight as was due to any case under such circumstances.

from the Lord Mayor, strongly recommending Lieuten-
ant Maury to the meeting, and expressing his lordship's
regret that important civic business prevented his at-
tendance on this interesting occasion.

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (with indignation)—Does he
act without knowing what your wishes are, Sir ?
Mr. Needham—May we take it as 5001. a year ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—You may take it for what
you like ; and the only remaining source of income is
the assistance from my friends and family—any sums
that they choose to allow me.

DEATH OF MR. BRANSBT COOPER, F.R.S.—This emi-
nent surgeon and kind-hearted man expired suddenly
yesterday afternoon at the Athenaeum Club. Mr.
Bransby Cooper has been suffering for some time past
'from a disease in the throat ; but had been much better
for the last two days, and was seen walking in Lincoln's-
inn-fields about an hour previous to his death. The
lamented deceased passed the College of Surgeons
in the year 1823, was made a fellow of that college on
the grant of the charter in 1843, and was elected one of
the council in 1848. Mr. Bransby Cooper is the eldest
son of the Rev. Samuel Lovick Cooper, and nephew of
the illustrious Sir Astley Cooper. He was born at
Great Yarmouth, on September 2, 1792. Mr. Cooper
was formerly assistant-surgeon in the Royal Artillery,
and was present at the battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees,
the siege of St. Sebastian, and Toulouse. His death
will cause vacancies at Guy's Hospital, at which place
he was senior surgeon, and at the Council Board of the
Royal College of Surgeons.
INTREPID CONDUCT OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND FlREMEN.—Yesterday fore-
noon, about half-past eleven o'clock, considerable alarm
was caused amongst a great number of persons, who
were passing over the Charing-cross Suspension-bridge,
in consequence of the following occurrence :—lt appears
that a boy named Hill, a son of the superintendent of
the straw market, was in the act of passing over a plank,
in order to get to one of the vessels, when he missed his
footing, and fell headlong into the river. For some time
the boy was carried along with the tide, and he was just
in the act of being sucked under one of the oyster boats,
when Mr. Deputy Superintendent Barrow, of the West
of England Fire Office, who was on board one of the
boats, at once jumped overboard, and at the risk of
being drowned, succeeded in saving the life of the child.
Having handed the boy to some one on board an oyster-
boat, lie was greeted with the applause of the spectators.
Mr. Barrow ran great risk in the praiseworthy attempt,
as he did not stop to take off any of his clothes. The
present makes the third or fourth case where the same
I party has been instrumental in saving life.

Mr. Needham—Madam, we have already got an in-
come of 1,3001. a year. Do you mean to tell the
learned judge that you have no other source of income ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l mean to tell the learned
judge the truth.
Mr. Needham—ls one of those friends from whom
you derive an allowance Lord Beauvale, the late Lord
Melbourne ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—That is one of the sources.
(The witness here became much excited, and, rising
from her seat, said)—l do not receive an income, for
his property was strictly entailed. He left his solemn ,
declaration, as a dying man, and gave his word of
honour, that Mr. Norton's accusation against me, when
I was a young thing at home, was a false one. He left
his request to his brother, and to his solicitor, that as
" this young woman,"—young enough, and more than
young enough, to have been his child—would, on ac-
count of such accusation, undergo the great suffering,
Ithe great misery, the loss of a home, and the wreck of
her whole life— I stand here a blasted woman from
that day, because those people knew me, and Lord
Melbourne left me nothing but his letter, swearing that
I was falsely accused. His memory is dear to them.
(At this stage of the proceeding there was a burst of
applause from some two or three hundred persons in
the body of the court, but which was at once properly
suppressed by order of the Judge.) The witness con-
tinued—My husband can cheat me because I am his
wife.
The Hon. Mr. Norton (interrupting)—God forbid !
(To the Court)—ls it regular for me to say one word ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton —lt is all irregular.
The Judge—Mrs. Norton, will you have the goodness
to sit down ?
Mr. Needham—Mrs. Norton, I ask you whether it
was not upon the express assertion, at the time that
agreement was signed that you received nothing from
Lord Melbourne, that Mr. Norton was to make you the
allowance?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l did receive nothing from
Lord Melbourne.
Mr. Needham—Did you say, that you neither did
then, nor would ?
The Hon. Mrs. Norton—l aid not, for I never ex-
pected to receive anything.
Mr. Needham—Do you mean to say that on your
oath ?

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (with great emphasis)—l say
1 it upon my oath—man—What 1