The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-11 00:00:00

WINTER V. BUTT.-BKEACII OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.,

Mr. Crowder and Mr. Barstow conducted the case for
the plaintiff; and Mr. Edo and Mr. But: that of the de—
fondant.
This was an action for a breach of promise of marriage.
The defendant pleaded that he had made no promise ; thNt,
if he had done so, it had been reFeinded by mutual con•
sent ; and that the plaintiff was a person of immodest awl
immoral character.

It appeared tl)at the plaintiff was tho widow of a pars=
who had kept a public-house called the Old Roomsst
Weymouth ; and she had been left a widow in 1837, a;
which time she was only 29 years of age. Of course, ac-
cording to the rule in actions of this nature, she was beau-
tiful, but it was not stated that she was accomplished.
She had two daughters. Toe defendant was a person
connected with the steam-packets, and was stated to havo
some share in them. In 1839 the parties became ac,..
quaintcd, and_ the defendant repaired to the plaintiff%
Old Rooms" t) lodge. This took place in June, 188 P,
and in a short time it 'could be seen that a courtship
commenced between them, which was carried en ie so
open a manner that all their friends and acquaint-
ances were perfectly an are of it, and the only
person who was ignorant cr innocent in the matter was
ihe servant gill of the plaintiff. Everrtbiig went Orl
harmoniously; each parts• was pleased with the other, and
such confidence had the defendant in the vlilititiff that he
wrote her the following letter ; and although to somo
persons the orthography may appear rather unique, and
the eapitrl letters appear to have been rather inopportunely
introduced, yet it is understood that the charms of person.
of the defendant must rather Inve exceeded his education,
as he has married a lady reputed to be worth 10,0001.,artd
is living in good style :

"June 6.
"My Dear :Vim Winter—l am truly unhappyrespect-
ing the 13iil I Have to meet Has I have Cal(' on a fii.2nd
who I cbligd with the Loan of 201. Short time A go
and He evict Pay ins Bat will take 'eagle proceedings A
gainst me ( r Rest the vessel has Soon as She Alive's which
will Not only attend to Expellees But wonderfully Hurt my
Credit which will Be, My Dear, injurious to you and your
Dear Children whom I have the greatest Regard for there
io not a person in Weymouth I would Be under the obliga-
tion to Excepting your Self to ask them for a stilling Now,
my Dear, I am short of 5/. and If you will oblige me with
the Loan cf 51. I shall he able to Pay you before you' may
whant it, you will Not only Ease my unhappy mind But I
shall be for ever under an Obligation to you which I heap
to live long to prove myself, A Affectionate Husband and
A Loving lather I should cold over to a.k of you Person-
ly But my feelings would not admit of it Pleas to answer
this By the Bearer has I am anxious Here the Result of
this Note as I must send of this afternoon By so doing
you will for Ever oblige your constant Lover untill Death.
" Captn CHAS BUTT."
" to Mrs. Winter Oldrooms."
The courtship progressed, but with it had grown up such.
an intimacy that, early in the year 1840,
wanting
peen s 1h to
the widow was of such a nature that hert
friends
ear
suspectedance n t
that there must have been a clandestine marriage. Such,.
Iginynd i turn
however, was not the fact; the only thi,or
mbytt
leavrt h. e m
Theman
widow an wife
became s
'Tian, therefore, from prty.
pressed her suit, and the pecks.
spot in which the foTraat
dential motives, sought a distant .
t longtemee
termed
parties
te bhaandnsitpe luebnl i
d, in order that all eha-
ceremony should be performed
ashe'd,
persons might reconcile it to their minda
dt-h. ses a 7srfieemd
ritably disposed
been united a ''s"
eret match, and that they hadccerniag
that he had
It would appeargone to Hat-
stock in order to have
that on some previous owchcaatsioisn
and from that place he favoured his lady love with the fol-
lowing epistle:—

li:erch 51, 1840.
" Dear Jane—
I lose no
4;iinnealisnto‘evk,
writing inform you I
did not arrive here until!
yesterday
alternoon'three o'clock
And I Assure you I ease very much f etuegd afeer
Jurney we cannot he cald over at Corsconahe I 411'
a conse-
quence of my not belonging to the pearish I • intend to leave
for London on Monday and shall Be back pleas ged by
that day week content yourself, untill that
shall he for the test answer this by timeriltihing return
let
me know how are by so
doing you will oblig ,ouitss truly
until death
" CHAS. BUTT."
" to Mrs. Winter."
After writing this letter he appeared completely to have
changed his mind. He returned not to SN reyrnout h
fur rimy months, hut by some strange accident.
in
January, 18.10, the widow favoured eh's slightly
populated district by the production of a sou.
In September the defendant was on hoard a steamer
in the port of 'Weymouth, and the servant girl, who
had never seen anything like courting going on between
the parties, was entrusted with a note to convey to the
defendant on board his ship. The contents of this note
did tint app9ar, but it was shown that the defendant was
apprised of the accession to his fortune by the birth of the
Et le innocent. He, however, kept far aloof, and at the
end of the year took unto himself a more favoured help-
mate, which aroused all the indignant feelings of the
widow, who immediately, in the very height of her wrath.
repaired to her attorney, who commenced the present ac-
tion, on
her behalf, calling upon a Jury to compensate her
for the wrong done to her, by directing the defendant to
pay • her a sum of money in damages for the injury she had
sustained. From the letters the defendant had written,
as well as from the mode in which the parties had lived
together, and more particularly from the fact of a marrine
settlement having been prepared with (ho sanction and
arprobroion of the defendant, it was clear that there had
existed this engagement between them, and no proof being
offered in support of the plea of justification, the Jury re-
turned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 1001.

EVENING 14°,DurieNT.

IMPEaIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Menem 10.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.

On the motion of Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY,
the Church of England Life and Fire Trust and An-
nuity Bill was read a first time.
Mr. BOLTON CLIVE presented a petition from
the Mayor and Corporation of Hereford, in favour of
the Severn Navigation Bill.

Lord WORSLEY brought in the Lincoln Road
Bill, which was react a first time.

Mr. W. EVANS presented a pe!ition from certain
owners', of stone quarries in Derbyshire, against the
Peak Forest Canal Bill, and praying to be heard by
Counsel in opposition to the Bill.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET brought in
the Newport Docks Bill, which was read a first time.
Mr. COLLIER presented a petition from Ply-
mouth, against the grant of additional powers to the
Poor-law Commissioners.
The Sheriffs of London appeared at the bar of the
House, for the purpose of presenting a petition from
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of
the City of London, in favour of the Jews' Declaration
Bill.—(Cheers.)
Lord SANDON presented a petition from the
Liverpool Guardian Society against the Liverpool Gas
Bill ; also a petition trom Kingsgreve, in Staffordshire,
praying for such alterations in the Poor-law Amendment
Bill as might grant out-door relief to the poor. Also a
petition from the. Liverpool and Manchester Railroad
Company, praying to be heard by Counsel before the
Committee on Railroads. Also from the tea-dealers
of Liverpool in favour of an alteration in the Import
Duties. Also from the Jewish inhabitants of Liver-
pool, in favour of the Jews' Declaration Bill. Also
from the Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool with a
similar prayer. Also one from the American Chamber
of Commerce, praying for an alteration in the Import
Duties, more particularly as regards tobacco, flour, and
timber.
Mr. B. SMITH presented a petition from Norwich,
praying for the abolition of all oaths, and in favour of
the Jews' Declaration
Mr. BARNARD p-esented a petition from Dept-
ford against the Poor-law Amendment Bill.
Colonel RUSHBROOKE presented petitions from
Stow Market and several other parts of Suffolk against
the Poor-law Amendment Bill.

Mr. JONES presented a petition from the Board
of Guardians of Carmarthen, praying for an alteration
in the Poor-law Amendment 818.

Mr. HUTCHINS presented a petition from Pea-
ryn, in favour of the Jews' Dechretion Bill.
Mr. ELLIOT presented a petition from a parish in
Shropshire, praying for the abolition of Lay Patronage.
Mr. PLUMPTRE presented petitions from the
Deaneries of Kent and Susses, praying for the repeal
of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. Also a petition for
tho equalization of tithes.
Colonel JONES presented a retition from Donegal
against intrusion in the Church of Scotland. Also a
petition from another part of Ireland against idolatrous
worship in India.
Mr. FOX MAULE presented petitions from the
Presbyteries of Perth, Ayr, and several other parts
of Scotland, against lay rwronage ; also a petition from
the guardians of a union in Norfolk, playing that no
alteration might be male in the Poor-laws ; also a pe-
tition from Bishop Stortford, in favour of the County
Courts Bid ; also a petition from Perth, praying for
the rev'sion of the Import Duties.
Mr. HUME presente 1 a petition, signed by forty
individuals of the town of Manchester, complaining of
the unhappy and miserable condition of the productive
classes, whieb, in their opinion, was caused by the un-
jest state of the representation, and praying for an
extension of the suffrage, in order that Members
might be returned who would have some sytn-
pathy with the middle and working classes ; also
from a society at Alarelebone, raiiing itself the Na-
tional Charter Association, stating that they view,
%vitt' feelings of surprise and regret, the acquittal of the
Earl of Cardiger, on the ground of a flaw in the in-
tliettnent, ea notwithstanding a similar flaw, Messrs. •
Frost, Wiliiams, and Jones were banished from tire
country ; and praying, that by granting a free pardon to
those individuals, the Legislature would give a
convincing proof of their determination ro dis-
tribute equal justice to aril ranks and classes
of her Majesty's subjects ; alas from the same Asso-
ciation, praying that an individual of the name of
Petty now confined in the gaol of Beverley, may be
released from imprisonment ; and front an individual"
in Marylcbone, staving that julfee could not be done
to the various classes of her Majesty's subjects unless
inquiry were made into the conduct of Lord Cardigan
to the officers of his regiment. • . •
Mr. ANTROBUS presented a petition from Surigy
in favour of Church Extervion. •- -
Sir DE LACY EVANS pre.sented "a
pz.,titioty'
from frneholderseletateholderse_o.nd_h_onacholders, in tbr
neighbourhood—of—Buekogbaln Palace, coinfluning'at'
the want of good rewera. _ .

Mr. fIObGES presented a petition from:Kent, in
favour of thri Jews 130,nlaratiun Bill. . •

Mr. E. BAINES presented a petition from York-
shire praying for the total abolition of Church-ratel.
Mr. EASTHOPE presented a petition from the
Protestant. Dissenters of Clitlmsforii, the first signature
to whial'. was that of John Thortvood, pray'ong for the
total, 'abolition of Chureh•rates, and for the rearse of
Mk\ Baines from imprisonment ; and from the Dissent-
tin of Warrington, from the Baptists of Ebenezer
(Chapel, Kettering, from the Independents of Goi:z-
iborottgb, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and from
the Independents of Lanczsbire, Cambridgn, and
other placei, to the tame effect. In presenting
the petitions, he trusted it woul I not be thought
he was violating the rules of the House in st,.tieg'
that it very large nu:nber of the petitioners ap•
peered to he labouring under a mistake in respect to
the pr oper mode of trans itting petitions. A number
of th( sendingthe petitions had paid heavy postage,
and many others had inquired whether they were
1if..06 to that impost or net." He trusted that it would
t 4,0 forth to the public that no postage crag eharg'ettbl
vpon petitions sent to a Member for presentation to
that House. _ _ _

Sir H. PEEL believed the Hon. Member was quite
correct in his statement ; the fact was not generally
known in the country. He had petitions to present
upon which heavy postage had been pail.
Mr. HUME said the rule laid down by the Post-
effice was, that all petitions addressed to a Member of
the House for presentation to the House, open at the
ends, and not exceeding 6 oz., were passed free.
Mr. WAKLEY had been de.i't with much more
favourably by the Post-t,ffice authorities than it appeared
his Hon. Fri...nd had—he had received petitions free of
postage which much exceeded 6 oz. They. were charged
when they were mule up into packages, and then the
Post-office had not the power of preventing frauds.
Sir K. PEEL said the mistake, no doubt, arose from
the Parliamentary Papers being now charged. `rum
u ,ht to be distinct information given to the country
t al proper authority.
Mr. O'CONNELL said tia:. mistake alluded to by
the 'Right Hon. 13o.ronet certainly pr .z ailed in Ireland.
It would be most important that such notice from au-
thority should be. given.
llr. EASTHUPE said it was ale important that it
should be clearly understood
K. ttit wai tile rule. He
thought the Hon. for was labouring
under a mistake, for he had received petitions free
that weighed much above six ounces.
Mr. F. NIAULE quit) agreed with the Rift Hon.
Baronet. The public ought to be made fulllyavare
of the Post-office regulations upon so important a
subject. As he was the only one connected with the
Government present, he would charge himself with the
duty of conveying the unanimous wish of the House to
the Cl ancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Arch-
deacon Bathurst, of Norwich, complaining of the
manner in which tithes were charged to the
ponrs'-rate. Stock in trade was now exAeml pted,
and so, in his opinion, ought tithes. s.o
N a
petition from Nottingham, signed by 4,246 inha-
bitants,_ complaining of the operation of the New
Poor-law Bill ; a petition from Kettering, to the same
effect ; a petition from Milton, in Gloucestersbire, com-
plaining of the increased expenditure under the New
Poor-law Bill ; from Tadworth, in Berkshire, and from
Thatchem, in Berkshire, to the same effect ; and from
Leicester, praying that the People's Charter might be
made the law of the land, as being the only effective
and radical remedy for the manifold grievagges of the
people.

Mr. SHAW presented a petition from Stafford,
against any further grant to the College of Maynooth.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the
operatives of Manchester, praying for the release of Mr.
Feargus O'Connor ; a petition from Barnsley, in York-
shire, praying for the release of Frost, Jones, and Wil-
liams ; a petition from the City of Westminster, to the
same effect ;,and a petition from Sutton Ashby, in
Nottinghamshire, to the same effect,
Colonel PERCEVAL presented a petition from
Sligo, in favour of Lord Stanley's Irish Registration
Bill.
Mr. GREG presented a petition from Alanchester,
in favour of the release of Frost, Jones, and Williams.
-Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the County
Palatine of Lancaster, complaining that the rates had
been increased by the new Poor-law Bill, and praying that
the House would put down a system so opposed to the
feelings of the people ; and also against the County Consta-
bulary Bill ; a petition from the inhabitants of Kensing-
ton and Knightsbridge, praying for a reduction of the
tolls on bridges over the Thames; and °petition from the
attorneys of Bradford, in Yorkshire, praying that in any
measure for the improvement of the County Courts, the
exclusive right of commencing suits might be reien ed
to the attorneys.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented petitions from places
in the counties of Donegal, Kerry, and Tyrone, in Ire-
land ; also a petition from Warrington, in Lancashire,
in favour of Lord Morpeth's Bill for the extension of
the franchise, and against Lord Stanley's. The
Honourable and Learned Gentleman also pre-

sented a petition from the carpenters of Dub-
lin, in favour of a repeal of the Legislative Union
between Great Britain and Ireland ; and anot Icr peti-
tion from the formers and land-holders of B Ilymore
Eu:tace, to the same effect ; also a petition fr,m Cork,
signed by 22;000 inhabitants, against ministers money.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
presented a petition from the inhabitantssof Po tsmoutb,
most numerously signed, in favour of the Jews' Declara-
tion Bill.
Mr. COLQUHOUN presented a petition from
Glasgow praying for improvement in the registration of
births and marriages. Also a petition against the grant
to the College of Maynooth.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a peti-
tion from Edinburgh in favour of the Jews' Declaration
Bill. Also a petition from the same place praying that
some change be made in the manner in which taxes arc
levied on railway passengers.
Lord ELIOT presented a petition from Liskeard,
praying that workhouses be exempt from the payment
of rates and taxes.
Mr. THORNELY presented a petition signed by
1,000 of the inhabitants of Livertaool, praying for a re-
duction in the duties on coffee and sugar.
SEVERN NAVIGATION.
The Report of the Committee of Selection on this
Bill was brought up, and moved to be printed.
COPYRIGHT OF DESIGNS.
Sir ROBERT PEEL gave notice that in Com-
mittee on the Copyright of Designs Bill, with a view of
protecting copyright for one season, and limiting it to
one Session, he should move that the period of copy-
'right of designs should be extended to nine months,
and restricted to that period.
Mr. LABOUCHERE gave notice, that if the
Right Hon. Baronet should press the motion of which
he bad just given notice, he (Mr. Labouchere) should
move as an amendment that the period of copyright
should be limited to six months.