The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-23 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT, iVoncEsri,R, Juzr 19.
The business began in both Courts yesterday. Mr. Jus-
tice PATTISON presiding at Nisi l'rius, and Mr. Justice
Littledale in the Crown Court. There are eighteen causes
entered, five of which are special juries. The calendar
contains the names of about thirty prisoners for the county
and city.

FORGERY.—John Court, a schoolmaster, was indicted for
having forged a bill of exchange for 981. 155, dated the 11th
of February, 1836, at four months, payable to the order of
James Watts, signed William Williams, payable at Jones,
Lloyd, and Co.'s, bankers, London, with intend to defraud
Nathaniel Husband. Verdict—Not Guilty.
Michael Burgess, aged 32, silversmith, was indicted for
having on the 15th of April last, forged the indorsement of
John Bissett to a certain promissory note for the payment
of money, with intent to defraud John Codrington and
William Merrefield.

The Jury found the prisoner guilty.
He is to be tried to-morrow on another indictment.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT, JuLy 21.
The business of the assizes for this county commenced
to-day. There are ten causes for the county and town of
Nottingham, two of which are special juries ; the calender
both for town and county contains bat the names of ten
prisoners, two being for perjury, one for the concealment of
the birth of a child, one for cutting and stabbing ; the rest
being for offences of a minor description. No case deserv-
ing of any particular notice occurred during the day.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yoar, Juzr 20
CRIM. CON.--.MELLIN V. TAYLOR.
Sir F. POLLOCK for the plaintiff; Mr. CRESWELL for
- the defendant.
This cause was tried at the last Assizes, and after having
• occupied the Court nearly two days, a verdict was given
for the defendant.' A new trial having been granted, the
cause was fixed to be tried a second time to-day.
Sir FREDERICK POLLOCK said—May it please your
Lordship,—Gentlemen of the Jury,—The plaintiff, Mr.
in .
Mellin business and has been so for some years, in
Wakefield, and resides at a place Called Belle Vue, near
that town. He married many years ago—l believe in
1825—the match was one altogether of affection—hardly
with the consent of his father. He derived no pecuniary
advantage from the union, being content with the personal
attractions, accomplishments; affection, and virtue of his
wife. Their union was blessed with nine children, of whom
six are now living. The defendant is an attorney, a'so
married, and the father of several children. He became
more particularly acquainted with Mr. Mellin, the plaintiff,
in 1830, when his father died ; and Mr. Taylor, the de-
fendant, being left trustee under the will of Mr. Mellin's
father, had much to do with the concerns of Mr. Mellin's
family, particularly of some of the sisters. In consequence
of this, a great intimacy arose, and it is scarce possible for
two families to be more intimate than were the families re-
spectively of Mr. Mellin and Mr. Taylor. Gentlemen, I
believe as early as 1831, from circumstances not then
known to all, a communication was made by Mr. Taylor to
Mr. Mellin, I think, of his having received some anony-
mous letter, either threatening or talking of some carica-
ture, the tendency of which was to connect the name of
Mr. Taylor improperly with that of Mrs. Mellin. Mr.
Mellin, confiding in the honour of his friend, and the chas-
tity of his wife, disregarded that communication, and treated
it as, I think I may say, in common with the opinion of
every body, anonymous communications ought always to be
treated, with extreme contempt. Mr. Taylor continued his
attentions to the family, and the intimacy that subsisted be-
tween them continued notwithstanding. Mr. Mollin's busi-
ness led him occasionally from home altogether ; and you
will find he was once at Hamburgh. You will find also that he
was occasionally at Liverpool, and that when he was in
Wakefield his habits of business were such, that he returned
home to dinner, and afterwards went again to his counting-
house, where he generally remained till a late period of the
evening. His habits were regular, and they were known.
The families continued to visit till in the latter end of 1835,
in August, all Wakefield was made aware of some circum-
stances that had occurred, which called upon Mr. Mellin
instantly to take some more decided step. Towards Mrs.
Mellin he conducted himself' with kindness and considera-
tion. She was connected with a noble family in Ireland ;
and I believe the friend who would be most naturally re-
sorted to lived there, and vas sent for. She was herself re-
moved to the house of a female relative of Mr. Mellin ;
hut Mr. Mellin instantly broke off any further intercourse
with her till the inquiry that was to take place had
been gone through. Some gentlemen wore named and
approved of by both the parties ; three gentlemen were
approved of both by Mr. Mellin and Mr. Taylor ; they
were to make an inquiry ; they were to sit as it were as a
grand jury. If they pronounced that Mr. Mellin, with
safety to his domestic happiness, leaving his honour
unstained, and his character as a man and a husband unim-
peached, could receive Mrs. Mellin again, that course was
to be and would have been adopted. On the other hand,
if they thought it became Mr. Mellin, that he would be
wanting in what he. owed to himself, to, society, and to his
children if he paused, they were to report their opinion on
the transaction, and they did so ; the consequence was, the
inquiry was instituted which you have to prosecute this day.
And then, Gentleman, there came out, that which not fre-
quently occurs, that the unhappy husband is the last per
son, not merely to suspect, but to hear of, the acts of cri,
mina intercourse on the part of the wife. It turned out
that Mr. Taylor frequently called, and was much in the
habit of calling at • Mr. Mellin's house, and seeing

morro

Mrs. Mellin alone, at periods of the day when he must
have been perfectly aware that Mr. Mellin was not, and
could not, in the ordinary course of his domestic life, be at
home ; that those visits were frequent—so much so, as to
be far beyond the ordinary attention which any married.
man would be paying to a married woman, that woman
being the wife of his bosom ' friend. It turned oiit that
their meetings on other occasions, and in other places, were
of such a character as if they stood quite alone, unaccen-
pm:cd by any other circumstance, would give rise to grave!
suspicion ; and there was no longer the slightest degree or
wonder as to the reports which were in circulation, and
which, it must be admitted, were in circulation at Wakefield.
But, gentlemen, that is not all ; it turned out that as far back
as 1831, when Mr. Mellin went to Hamburg, either the same
night, or a night or two-after, clean sheets were ordered, mid.
clean personal apparel and a person came to the house
under circumstances which I shall not here minutely detail.
Gentlemen, in the same year Mr. Taylor was in the break-
fast-room with Mrs. Mellin, the blinds were.down, the door
was fast, and some intimation had been given- to the ser-
vants, that they were to knock at the door whet-, Mr. Tay-
lor was there ; but the servants came, they did .knock at
the door, they tried it—it was locked. Mr. Taylor after-
wards opened the door, came and called for a glas's of
water, and Mrs. Mellin was found lying on a sofa ; L'ut
low Mr. Taylor came to be in such a situation with Mrs.
Mellin, with the blinds down, and the door fast, will be for
you to determine ; for of the fact, gentlemen, I believe
there is no doubt. In the year 1832, it turned out that
Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Mellin were at a place called
Stanley Ferry ; that they went there, had refreshment
there, and took that refreshment in a room whore there
was a bed ; that they came upon a second occasion, but
not being able to get to the room, they remained there but
a very short time. In August in that year, it will he
proved by a servant of Mr. Mellin, that Mrs. Mellin (her
husband being absent from home) let in Mr. Ti-ylar at the
house door herself, the servants being previously seat to
bed ; and at the late hour of twelve o'clock, Mr. Taylor
was seen to go in, with his boots in his hand ; he stayed
there two hours, and was then seen to return. Gentle.
men, in 1833, you will find a somewhat remarl:able fact
occurred, and the confirmation of it is a little extraoriinary ;
but I state to you a fact as lam instructed. A w;tness
who was a servant in the family, receiving a message to be
delivered to Mrs. Mellin, went straight into the library,
and there discovered Mrs. Mellin and Mr. Taylor, the
clothes of Mrs. Mellin being in a situation that could
leave in the mind of no person of delicacy and propriety
any doubt whatever of the impropriety of that visit, and of
a criminal intercourse of some sort having taken place.
Gentlemen, in the latter part of that year another circum-
stance occurred. Mrs. Mellin was taken, by some con-
nection or acquaintance of hers, a Mr. loves, who lived
in the neighbourhood of Driffield, to his house, which, I
believe, was at a place called Eastbourn. She wont there
without her husband, and might stay a fortnight or three
weeks ; her husband was to come, and return home with
her, when her visit was concluded. While there, Mr. Taylor
came, and passed a night in the house ; and in order that
he might be accommodated, I think a bed-room was as-
signed to him on the same landing where Mrs. Mellin slept.
On the Bth of August, 1835, Mr. Taylor was seen walking
along the river side in the neighbourhood of Wakefield.
Shortly after Mrs. Mellin was seen coming, I believe, in an
opposite direction ; a man of the name of Bell was there.
This man, Bell, had a boy with him. He and the boy
turned about—he continued his course on one side of the
hill, and the boy took another. There was a barley-field,
across which was a footpath, and adjoining this a wheat-
field. There was a stile to each. The boy proceeded
t too gh the corn, and as he approached, went on Lis hrnis
and knees ; Bell continued at a distance. They were seen
to approach the stile at the extremity of the wheat-field.
When they got to the stile Bell lost sight of the lady—she
evidently sat down upon a step on the stile. He saw the
defendant's person lower, and observed him in a situation
that he will describe to you, which excited his strong suspi-
cion that they were engaged in criminal intercourse. The
boy advanced in the corn upon his hands and knees, raising
himself occasionally to get a sight of them, and there he
saw the defendant engaged in a criminal intimacy. A pri-
vate investigation—a kind of grand jury—composed of
friends, was held at Wakefield, for the purpcse of inqui-
ring into these facts. They were examined very mi-
nutely ; and their decision was, that further inquiry was
necessary.

Numerous witnesses were examined in behalf of the
charge, for which we have no room.
At seven o'clock the Court adjourned.
THURSDAY.—The proceedings in this important case
were resumed this morning.
Temrest examined by Sir F. Por,Locx.—l was groom
to Mr. Main four years ago. I saw Mr. Taylor there
once at eleven o'clock. He has got into the house without
givinc, trouble—that is without ringing tile bell. I once
szw him at the house at six o'clock in the morning.
Allred Locknood, examined by Sir F. PoLLocK.—ls
ninete,n years old. Has been seven years apprentice to
Francis : remembers the Bth of August last year.
Muster, me, and the other apprentice, went to Sandal
Castle-hill, to milk the cows. After we had done. I saw
Mr. Taylor—he was in the field leading from Mr. Fernan-
dez's house towards Milnthorpe. I saw a litdy there—it
was Mrs. Mellin. Mr. Taylor went towards her ; they met
—they shook .hands. I went into my master's field.
I saw them at the second stile. Mr. Taylor was
sitting down on the stile, she was sitting on his knee. They
got up, and cross a grass field ; then they came to a wheat
field—they crossed that. From the wheat field they went
into a barley field. I went into the barley field by a gap
on the top side. I was hid at the time ; I saw the gentle-
man and the lady. Her back was towards Miintborpe ;
the gentleman was standing close to her, looking about the
close. He put his face towards her, as if he was going to
give her a kiss. I can't say that he did give her a kiss.
Ile then looked about and around, and then repeated what
I thought were kisses. He looked about again, and I then
concealed myself in the barley. The lady's face was to-
wards me, and the gentleman's back. He was leaning upon
the lady. He remained in that position a short time. His
side was towards me. Her arms were about him.
Francis Bell gave evidence nearly to the same effect.
Other evidence was then adduced, after which the Court
adjourned.

not expected that the trial will close till late to-

THUNDER-STORM.

On Thursday afternoon the thunder-storm with whirl

' tie metropolis was visited was particularly severe in the
viein'ty of the Bethnal-green-road. About a quarter to four
o'clock the storm raged with its greatest violence, the effect
b:ing very disastrous in many parts ; in one instance a rnan
of the name of Thomas Sherving, a weaver, living at No.
Bethnal-green road, having lost his
Skuddries-street,
life. The electric fluid, which was the cause of the unfor-
tunate man's death, struck the chimneys of the house, No:
1,-which, with the stack, were knocked down upon the
root; forcing that in. It passed through the room, where
there were several looms, at which a man named Peter Bi-
shop, the oecup'er of the house, was at work. In that room
his child, two years old, fell down by the suddenness of the
motion, and when taken up was Completely black and
q&:e insensible. The electric fluid next took its course to-
wards No. 12, down the front of the house, the houses
being only one story high. Having descended to about
the =ldle of that room, it crossed over to the part where
the deceased was at work, and came in contact with him
under his chin on the left side. Passing over his chest to
t!:e might side, it went in a line down the outside of the
rght leg, melted the treddle of the loom, which is made
-)f Iced, passed through the floor, severed a Dutch clock
in 0 p cees in the room below, and then entered the earth.
In the romn where the deceased worked were his wife and
sis'er-in I,w, who were also at work, but who were not in-
jured. On some persons going to tile deceased's assistance,
he w,s without life. The infant was taken by its father
to Mr. Vanderburgh's, a surgeon, in the Bethnal-green-
road, who gave it some medicine, and ordered a warm
bath, the effects of which were shortly to restore it, and it
now in a fair way of doing well. The shock of the concus-
sion to the two houses caused the demolition of above fifty
p times of glass, besides destroying a great quantity of crockery
and breaking to pieces a looking-glass belonging to Bishop.
c body of the poor man exhibited a very shocking ap-
, reran( e. His stockings and trousers were almost burnt to
adies. Mr. Vanderburgh and Mr. Taylor, medical gentle..
men, attended shortly after the awful occurrence, but it was
out of all human agency to render any service. - An infant
in a craddle in the parlour of No. 12 narrowly escaped.
Upon the circumstances becoming known, several hundred
persons collected, when, as an intention was shown on the
part of some to have a personal view of the interior of the
houses, Sergeant Tickle, K 8, by the order of his superin-
tendent, obtained the assistance of ten policemen, Who pre-
vented any violence. The K was afterwards relieved by
the R division, as the houses were in their district. During
time evening persons were admitted at a penny each to view
the premises ; though, at the same time, we are sorry to
s that. the relations of the deceased were lost to all
proper feeling.; towards the dead, as they also made an ex
filiation of the poor man's body. The same night informal
tion was sent to Mr. Baker, the Coroner, who ordered
an inquest to be-held the following day, at the Hope pub-
lic-house , where, yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, a
jury, consisting of several of the parochial Guicers, were
empannelled. Verdict—'That the deceased was killed by
lightning while working in his own house. The jury spoke
in strong terms of indignation at the exhibition of the de.
eeesed's body.

About three o'clock on Monday afternoon last, four
prisoners, confined in Dumfries jail, succeeded in taking them.
s?lves off in the handiest manner imaginable.

}TINGE.:; at the FOREIGN OFFICE.

(1 ;' . FROM A mortNtNo pArtsa CORRESPONDENT.)
• 41‘i.=ivt \iz Yesterday afternoon,pursuant to a circular addressed by
r,7\./v-;_c!,2.- r•,Lord John R ssell for.,bp.t purpose, a meeting took place at
%,,i'z/
41‘....Z: ." file Foreign-office, wlmn was attended by nearly all the sup-
:l'.!,,, "... % \<, . Airs of his Maje_sty's Government now in town, as well as
1:-.V, -,j:,:).". '..., ~ a3dinisters themselves, or at least such as hold seats In the
........--)
ale.S.:(--;--k:'-' ~i7l ~11c)-a of Commons. Among those present we recogro:zed
`'•,o4 j'<,,/"'N '',-'...;;',."' eading Members of the Administration in t':te Lower
-•-•,...i. ~..4....,:-,:, use, Mr. Hume,
Mr. O'Connell, Mr. G.-rote, Sir A. Leith
coe) AztV-i‘ • ay, Mr Aglionby, Lord W. Benti):4ek, the Attorney-Ge-
O w neral for Ireland, Mr. Wallace. 'Air. Oswald, Mr. ,bun-
combe, Mr. Callaghan, Mr.. J. Bridgeman, Mr. Baldwin,
Mr. Stewart Mackenzie, Mr. Potter, Dr. Bowring, &c.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose, and stated the object for
which he had called them together,—namely, the disposi-
tion manifested by several Hon. Members who had hitherto
supported the Government to oppose them on the three
Church Bills—t'ne Established Church Bill, Ecclesiastical
Duties and Revenues Bill, and the Church Discipline Bill—.-
now in progress in the upper and lower Houses of Parlia-
ment. It was well known that these Bills were introduced
and founded on the Report of the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioner;, and he thought it was not treating him with their
nstra courtesy and consideration to allow the Bills to be
bought in without observation, and to proceed through cer-
tain stages, as he thought, with their perfect approbation,
and when he was fully and entirely committed in their suc-
cess through the House of Commons, then to turn round
and meet him with decided and determined opposition. This
as he had stated before, was what he was not led to expect
from Hon. Gentlemen who had 30 disinterestedly, on all
occasions since the recent formation of the Government,
voted rand supported the Insesent Ministry, of which he had
the tionour of being a 'member. However, he felt it due to
hi-.. character to state, that the Bills, or at least that which
was fixed for a third reading on this day, had gone too far
to admit of any deviation on the part of the Ministry—that
to abandon it to its fate at this stage of the session, and after
the manner in which they were committed, would risk the
the sacrifice of honour ; and rather than for an instant lay
'himself open to such an imputation, he would unhesitatingly
and cheerfAlly resign the station he held in the Government
of the country. Had Hon. Members taken exceptions to
the ravort of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, or to the
Bil:ts on being brought forward, and that the Ministry on a
question of policy differed from them, then there would be
some ground of complaint ; but when the Bills were al-
lowed to be introduced, and to proceed to an advanced
stage with little remark, he thought it would be a harsh
proceeding to visit the Ministry with censure, which should
be applied generally to those who sat at his side of the
House.

Mr. HumE contended that the Reformers, who had so
liberally supported the Government, were justified in re-
fusing their assent to Bills that went to appoint additional
bishops to the number already in the country ; and, if not
to add to their already immense revenues, at least to
equalize and adjust them in such a manner as to give the
people no hope of relief from their pressure ; and this at a
time when there is a general outcry raised against the
wealth of the Church, and when all denominations of
Christians are calling out to be released from so heavy a
-burden, and to have the principle of " appropriation" ap-
plied with a steady and unflinching hand. He admitted
that the Bills had attained certain stages in the House
before the evil tendency of their enactments was discovered.
The moment it was the reforming party determined to offer
all the opposition in their power. On mature reflection he
(Mr. Hume) was free to admit that the Reformers should
have been more on the alert, and they would have been so,
but for the confidence which they had in the judgment and
discrimination of the Ministry. With this feeling he
thought there was some ground for excuse ; but he was of
opinion that it would be much better to postpone them
until next session of Parliament, to afford time for consi-
deration.
Mr. AGLIONBY followed, and took a similar view pf the
state of the Ministerial party, as that taken by his Hon.
Friend who had preceded him. He condemned the Bills,
and justified the Ministry in abandoning them.
Several other Liberal Members took the same view of
matter.
Mr. O'CONNELL was free to admit that more caution
should have been exercised by the Members of his Majesty's
Government before they brought such Bills forward, even on
the report of the Commissioners of ecclesiastical inquiry, par-
ticularly if they had reflected on some of the names on the
list of that Commission—men whom it was well known
would not recommend any reform that would in the smallest
degree tend to abridge the overgrown revenues of the
Established Church. He could not, therefore, dissent
from the conduct pursued by his Honourable Friends,
who had determined on opposing the Ministry on the
three Bills before the Commons. But, having gone so
far, he would implore them, for the sake of Ireland, to
reflect on the calamitous consequences that would result if
they persevered in their determination ! The Noble Lord,
the Home Secretary, had stated the course which, in
honour, he considered himself bound to adopt at this crisis,
and it would be for the judgment and good sense of the
-meeting whether they would press him to such an alterna-
tive. A division among Reformers at this juncture must
unquestionably lead to a break up of the Ministry ; and let
but the Tories, who were gasping for the opportunity, but
once more force themselves into power, and then the reign
of terror would be introduced into ill-fated Ireland. Of
two evils, he thought it better to choose the least, and he
was of opinion that it would be best done by passing the
one Bill with all its objections, rather than to allow the
Tories to assume power again.
A desultory conversation ensued, in which several Mem-
bers supported the view of Messrs. Hume and Aglionby,
and others approved of the policy suggested by Mr. O'Con-
nell, that it was necessary to bury all differences rather than
give ene Tories even a chance of returning to office. The
dee'ision, we believe, come to was, that such Members as
thought there would be no compromise of principle in sup-
porting the Ministers in passing the Bill appointed for a
third reading yesterday evening (the Established Church
Bill) were at liberty to do so ; but there was an almost ge-
neral impression, that the other two Bills should be post-
poned until the next Session, to admit of further investiga-
tion and inquiry.
The meeting then broke up.

PRICES OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock.
I
'• per Cent. ite:: 9134 i)itto Bonv!s -1:;.., Par 2 dis
3 per Cent. Cons..., 9074 1 iSqutb sc... t',trutt
31,6 per CCIV
‘... 7—.7 I 01‘,1 AtliiiiMes
Ditto Red..... -I& ' Ni3W iiitt,

..
New 316 p - Cent....ii.0.,ii...,it994 03:4 .into
2 per Cent. Annuities, 1751... -
New 3 per Cent— •••••.mg.
flank LougAioluitl'%iiiexpire !Ditto 'MO 9 II pm,
J.tri 5. ii'l°7 ...... 15.74 11-16 13-I6 Ditto Small
(l" u, 0, 1630
Jan 5, 11419 15% Ditto Advertised ' I'm
Jan 5, 1P,50....
Amil 5, 15A41 —' India Stock for Account —
J.m. 5, Is7ll — Consols for Acconnt
Omnium - pm. '

PrueEs OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
I.thitrian Bonds — I Peruvian Bonds .
delcian Bonds Irl3N Ditto Account
Ditto Account .
Brazilian Bonds
Ditto Account
Buenos Ayres Bonds
Ditto Account Ditto, 3 per cent. 4s',
Coilli•in Bonds — , Prussian Bonds • -
Ditto Account Russian Bonds, 182•2
Colin/Wan Bonds — : Ditto Account
Ditto Account' Ditto Metallic —
Columbian Bonds, :82t '')93ty 'Spanish Bonds —
Ditto Account,
DiMsli Bonds
Ditto Accoura
Greek , Bonds — , French, 5 per cent..... ..... —t. —c.
Ditto Bonds, I -it.s - 4 per cent. —f. —c
Ditto Account — __.— 2 per cent.
Mexican Bonds, 5 per cent.... ' Exchange —f. —c
ibtto Account — Dutch, N per cent. 554i%
Ditto 6 per rent ...... ..... —i Ditto Account
Ditto Account — : Ditto, 5 per rent 1173 .3i
N'enpolitan ., Ditto Account
PRICES OF SHARES THIS

Birmingham and Derby Railway Con
Commercial Blackwall Railway Com!
Great. Western Railway Company
Leeds and Manchester Railway Com'
Brighton Railway Company
London and Blackwall Railway
ondon and Greenwich Railway Com
N rtn Midland Railway Company
South Eastern Railway Company
London and Westminster Bank

COURSE OF EXCH.
Amster&inin C.F. 12 5!.:,
Ditto, at sight
Rottezdain U. 1.3 51'

Antwerp...
Hamburg. M.B. 13 13
Almna
Paris, 3 days• sight 25 50
Ditto .....................2 Us 25 80
Marseilles.
Frankfort OR Maine, Ex. M 153%
Petersbuigh, ruble 3 Us. 10 0
berlin
Vienna, effective fl 2 M. 10 10
Trieste ditto lO 11
Madrid 374
Cadiz 37%
Bilboa

Barcelona
Seville

2614.

Gibraltar ~

PRICES OF IRISH STI
3 per Cent. Consols
Ditto lteduced

3,4 per Cent. Stock 99%
Ditto New, MO 99%
!V(s per Cent. Debentures 91%
Bank Stock 203%
Royal Canal Stock

Grand Canal Stock

MAILS.

rrived, Due
0 America 0
0 Ilrazil it
o Buenos Ayres._ 0
0 Cartlittgen. 0
I Dublin...
0 Flanders