The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-02 00:00:00

of injuring the property by acting as opposing interests.
lis was a renter, but he was most anxious to see the two
bodies pulling amicably together, and he trusted such a
measure would be effected.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BUNN wished to know if the trustees of the new
renters were parties to the agreement with Mr. Macready ?
The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative.
Mr. SPENCER then moved, and Mr. BONN seconded a
motion for the election of Mr. Samuel 'yells, as a mem-
ber of the Committee. The motion having been carried
unanimously, the six members of the Committee who
went out by rotation, were re-elected, and thanks having
been voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated. .

DISTRESS AT STOCKPORT.
The extraordinary and unparalleled distress into
which the town of Stockport has been thrown by the
stagnation of trade, has at length aroused the authorities
and the leading public men of the borough to the ne-
cessity of taking some measures in reference to it, and a
public meeting was called last night for that object. The
meeting, which was held at the Court, House, was con-
vened by the Mayor, upon a requisition signed by nearly
200 respectable inhabitants, to take into consideration
the growing distress, and to adopt such proceedings as
may seem expedient. The Court House was crowded
to suffocation. William Andrew, Esq., the Mayor, pre-
sided; and on the bench near him we observed Richard
Cobden, Esq., M.P. for Stockport, many of the leading
gentlemen and tradesmen of the borough, and several
ministers of the Gospel.
The MAYOR having read the requisition and the notice
of the meeting,
The Rev. &ARLES BARER moved the first resolution :
" That this meeting is of opinion that the distress
which now exists in this borough is more severe, and
has been of much longer duration, than ever before
known ; and that every succeeding week adds to the
number of its insolvent manufacturers and tradesmen, and
to the destitution of its operative classes ; and in order
to convince our rulers of this great distress, a committee
be now formed for the purpose of correctly ascertaining
the real condition of the various classes composing the
population of this borough, so that a statistical state-
ment may be prepared of so authentic a character as to
afford to the upholders of commercial restrictions and
monopoly no pretext whatever for disputing the extent
of our embarrassments and privations."
They had lately been taught, he said, the value and the
necessity of having facts, and of having them well
authenticated. A handiull, a hatfull, a bushel of facts
could have been produced at this meeting to show
that great distress existed in this town, had he known
the necessity of them, for such was the state of the
working classes that no man need go in search of
distress ; lie might meet it daily and hourly at his
own door—(Hear, hear)—and more than once had he
been compelled, by his compassion for the objects that
presented themselves at his door, to give away what
would have been a dinner to himself.—(Hear, hear.)
Not long ago a poor woman came to his door with a child
in her arms ; she was the third applicant that morning,
and it was not ten o'clock—(Hear, hear)—he hesitated
for a moment what to do, and. the woman observing his
hesitation, burst into a flood of tears, and said, " For
God's sake, Sir, you will not send me away." He asked
her why she thought he ought not to send her away ?
She assigned a reason he should not mention ; but she
said " This is the first day I have asked charity in my
life ; my husband is a dresser ; for years we were house-
keepers, and I hardly ever sent a beggar away from our
door without a crust of bread. We have now been driven
from a house to a cellar, and last night we consumed the
last potatoe in our house." They knew that this
was no iingular case. He had called at the house
of a friend, a shopkeeper, a few days after this, and he
learned that they had placed two loaves on the counter,
with a view of giving a slice to each beggar, and when
he called there was not a slice left. One woman who
went to that shop said she had just returned from the
pawnshop, where she had taken one of the last articles
she could part with, and for that she had obtained only a
penny: she was at a loss how to spend it when she got
it, for she said there were three children at home
besides her husband who wanted to 'be fed out of the
money ! She at length expended it in meal as the only
mode of supplying her family with sustenance for the day !
The Rev. Mr. LEROYD seconded the resolution, which
was adopted without opposition.
Mr. 11. COPPOCK, the town clerk, moved the second
resolution.
" That this meeting is of opinion that the whole of
our commercial difficulties, and their concomitants—

die.ress, crime, disease, and premature death—are occa-
sioned by the Corn and provision laws, or other unjust
and pernicious monopolies ; and that there exists no
reasonable ground of hope that relief can be afforded,
or greater calamities averted, but by the abolition of
these monstrous and wicked monopolies."

He would not take up their time by any general
observations, because he had facts to lay before the
meeting which would have much greater weight, and
facts, which, being taken from-. official and other
sources upon which no doubt could be thrown, were •
undeniable. The first document he would read was
one showing the increase of poverty by the quantity
of -provisions given away to what were called able-
bodied paupers, or persons who through want 'of work
had been compelled to apply for parish relief to the
Guardians of ' the Union, and who were not admitted
into the house. The quantity of provisions given away
to these, in the week ending the sth August last, was.
1;590 pounds of bread. By nay of contrast, to show the
rapid increase, he would jump over the gradual weekly
increase, and come to the quantity given away now, and
on the 21st of the present month he found that the quan-
tity of bread given away was 4,513 pounds.—(llcar, and
cries of " Shame.") Yes, shame, he said, for those who
caused the necessity for this relief, -and not to those that
gave the relief.—(Cheers.) The potatoes given away
had increased at the same rate, and he found that the
quantity given away on the sth August was 350 pounds,
while the increase on the 28th of October was 2,7,00 ,
pounds. Looking to the total quantity of provisions of
all kinds, given away on the sth of August, he found
it stated at 2,313 lbs., whilst on the 21st of this month
the quantity. had increased to 8,061 lbs.—(Hear, hear,
hear.) Having shown that there was not only distress,
but that it was greatly and rapidly increasing, he should
be able soon to show the cause ; and he Was glad that
he shouldle able to do this from official docufrients, and
not on his own authority merely. He found the increase
of paupers, as shown by the abstract for those townships
included in the borough, for the quarter sodiog Sept. 25,
receiving out-relief, was—adult inaleS4ds
,; adult fe-
males, 639 ; children, 1,066 ; while the nii-;bers for the
quarter ending June were, respectively, 303, 535, and
765. showing an increase of 65 males, 104. females, 301
children—total 470: making on an average for the quar-
ter an increase of 36 per week. In reference to the
causes of pauperism, he found that the increase during
the last quarter was chiefly confined to able-bodied
paupers, or men driven to seek relief through want of
employment. For the quarter ending in June, the num-
ber fur the four townships included in the borough, the
number was 192 ; in September the number was 361,
being an increase of 169. The increase on the
whole union was 197, thus showing that the distress
from want of employment was chiefly confined to the
borough, the remaining 28 belonging to no less than 13
townships. Mr. Coppock read extracts from the reports
furnished by the medical officers of the union to the
Board of Guardians, one of whom (Mr. Blackshaw),
whose district contained 30,000 persons, stated that he
could bear testimony to the utter destitution which at
present pervades that district, many families being at
present obliged, from want of employment, to subsist upon
the beneficence of the Board of Guardians alone; which
in some instances does not average more than from
ad. to ls. per head per week, and that within the last
week he had witnessed the death of two individuals,
John Frost and Sarah Parry, whose deaths,, after
much inquiry, he had no hesitation in stating had been
accelerated, if not directly produced, by a want of the
common necessaries of life.—(Hear, hear.) This was
particularly the case with respect to the former of these
two persons, who had appeared at the board and received
what was properly conceived to be necessary, but who,
in consequence of his previous privations, sickened the
day after his application, end died in one week from
pleurisy, leaving a wife and five or six children, most of
them very young, to deplore their loss. Mr. Coppock
concluded by mentioning that when the late census was
taken, one-fifth of the houses of the borough were found
empty; he felt convinced that the proportion would now
be much greater, and this would be a matter well worth
the attention of the Committee to be appointed.
Mr. GRIFFIN, a reporter to the Northern Star. made
a long speech denouncing machinery and not the Corn-
laws as the evil producing all this distress, at the same
time he professed him Self not an enemy to machinery. He
concluded with an amendment to the effect, " That the
greatest of all monopolies was class legislation, and that
the Corn-laws, though hard, were only an effect, and
that the only way to put an end to these and other evils
was to give the people's Charter."—(Laughter.) •
The amendment was seconded amidst great uproar,
by Mr. JAMES MITCHELL, who also attacked machinery.
Mr. COBDEN much approved of the object of the
meeting, and he had listened to the details laid
before them by Mr. Coppock with great interest,
because he thought the first step to be taken for getting
their distresses relieved, was to make them known by
bringing the details before the public at a general towns'
meeting like that.—(Hear, hear.) It was necessary to take
tkisstep to prevent that continued incredulity which ex-
isted among the party to which the present Government
belonged in the Legislature, and who were exceedingly
difficult to be convinced on this subject.—(Hear, hear.)
He had stated in Parliament what he thought to be the
condition of the people, but he found he was speaking to
incredulous hearers; they did not seem to think he was
speaking the truth. He believed there existed at the
present time a party. in power who did not know, and
who did not believe, in the distressed state of the country;
and, to tell the truth, he thought they were not over-
anxious to know it.—(Cheers and laughter.) But
it must be the policy of the people to take care
that just in proportion as they manifested an unwilling-
ness to hear, the facts should be forced upon their
attention.—(Cheers.) He was sorry to say that he had
entered their borough this evening with a heavy heart,
and he never addressed a meeting with less of that elas-
ticity of spirit which he should ever wish to feel on
f-
coming before his constituents. The town appeared to
lika more like a place which had suffered from a siege,
o an earthquake,
ir e regret
or some other calamity which had ope-
ratedsake of
to oppress and put men to any shifts for the mere
heaxvies t ennocte .t—i
m(eC
thoe
pre.}
rrse.p)
of his able speech.
The Chartists are a sketch
persisted in their amendment, but on
being put it was negatived by a 1 • •
large majority, and the
original motion carried amidst greatand enthusiestic
cheering. A Committee was -
and carried,
and named also
and the meeting separated.—Manchester Times.

The General Steam Navigation Company's
Packet, the Columbine, W. Norwood, from Rotterdam,
arrived off the Custom-house yesterday with the Dutch

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Oct. 22.
IN RE T. S. cANE.
EXTRAORDINARY SPECULATION IN MINES. This
was the day fixed for the final examination of the bank-
rupt, whose examination in August last was reported in
this journal. He was deeply engaged in mining specu-
lations in Cornwall a few years ago, and having been
comparatively successful in his first attempts, he soon
obtained the reputation of being a " fortunate " man, and
having embarked in an increased number, of a similar
nature, he obtained " subscriptions " from clergymen in
Kent to the amount of 100,0001., and upwards, and from
one Member of Parliament (Colonel Rushbrooke, M.P.)
no less than 75,0001. The mines turned out to be almost

a total failure.
The Learned COMMISSIONER asked if any solicitor was
in attendance to put any questions to the bankrupt touch-
ing his accounts, as, it not, he would not delay his last
examination for more than a few days.
Mr. Nias, a solicitor, who attended for several credi-
tors, said that from a severe inquiry by himself, and also
from information which he had derived from the official
assignee, he (Mr. Nias) was perfectly satisfied with the
accuracy of the bankrupt's accounts, as presented to the
Court by Mr. Hutton, the accountant, at the express de-
sire of the creditors.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—I am obliged to the official as-
signee for his very effective examination of these volu-
minous accounts, for I confess that my early impressions
of the case were very different from those which I now
entertain, having given to it in the meantime my most.

anxious consideration.
Mr. Nies—My clients, your Honour, fully share in
your feeling. Although they are fully satisfied that they
wilLnever get anything by delaying the bankrupt's final
examination, they still believe the accounts to be accurate.
Sir C. F. Wimams—l thought it almost impossible,
until the present case, that an estate, in which so large a
sum as 360,0001 had been embarked, should have ended
in producing nothing ; but in justice to the bankrupt,
and as affording some satisfaction to the creditors and
the public (who could not reasonably have been satisfied
if the utmost vigilance had not been exercised in the in-
vestigation of the bankrupt's extraordinary affairs), I
shall proceed to put some few questions to him, in order
that he may have an opportunity of explaining how it
happened that so large a sum should have been expended,
and end in producing nothing but " cobwebs." It must
really appear to be incredible to the world.
The bankrupt was then sworn ; and in examination
by the Learned Commissioner, gave the following
evidence :—I was for many years in the War-
Office at a good salary ; and about the year
1829 or 1830 I first commenced my view of en-
tering into mining speculations, and had property to
begin with to the amount of 12,0001. to 13,0001, partly in
cas and partly in an estate mortgaged to a Mr. M•Don-
nel for about 20,0001. I never put out any flaming pro-
spectuses nor seductive advertisements to induce any
party whatsoever to join me, nor did I ever ask any one
to join me who actually did so. On the contrary, all
those who did join me were actually " volunteers. I
collected 360,0001. in subscriptions in the course of five
or six years, and many persons, from whom I now hold
letters in my hand, pressed me to allow them to subscribe
to the speculation.
Several letters were here handed up to the Learned
Commissioner, and, after their perusal, he said that he
did not feel it right to mention the names of those persons
who had flung themselves into so profitless a speculation.
Examination continued—l did not know the names of
the writers of some of these letters ; and so many pressed
to join me, that I told them that I must reduce the inte-
rest from 10 to 7 per cent.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—Such delusion, spch infatuation
would scareely be credible, if we had it not upon oath

before us. -
The Bankrupt—Only two persons ever made any in-
quiry as to the produce of the " mines," or the nature of
the accounts, as the mines had a very "high reputation,"
and I think they are very valuable still.
Sir C. F. WILLIA3IS—Indeed! and they never realised
one shilling for the creditors. We shall have no such
delusion here. What was the amount of interest which
you paid upon those subscriptions, and from what funds
did you derive it? Bankrupt—The amount was 60,000/.,
derived from the subscriptions, and so acknowledged
by me.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—I am thus endeavouring to give
you an opportunity of setting yourself right with the
public, whose impression must have been against you
from what transpired at your examination. I also wish
to show _the public the gross imprudence which the sub-
scribers to this absurd speculation have committed, while
many of them, I fear, have been ruined. The ten per
cent. interest was also paid out of the subscribers own
funds ; and yet it was something in favour of the bank-
rupt that all this delusion was created, not by his decep-
tion or alluring insinuations, but by the whispers of one
to another that the speculation was likely to yield them
their ten per cent. What, Mr. Graham, was the produce
of the. mines ? Mr. Graham (the official assignee)—The
.mines never yielded any profit from the beginning ; but
two of those, in which the bankrupt held some shares,
produced 18,001.
By the Learned CO3IMISSIONER—Did you, Mr. Cave,
ever give any one any particular character of those
mines ? The Bankrupt—Never, except the printed ac-
count of the sale of the different ores ; and to pay the
14 per, cent. upon the advances, would have required an
annual profit of 36,0001., which I was nut allo•ved suffi-
cient, time to realise.
What is meant by the " Cook's Kitchen ?"—lt is the
name of a mine which has realised 2,000/ a-year. No
one ever asked me for any certificate or voucher-as to the
quality of the mines, nor did I ever ask any one to give
them the slightest recommendation.
At your last examination you said that your best mine
was sold, and your second best settled upon your wife.
Which was that second best ?—The Godolphin ; and
such is the general estimate of its value, that parties have
since advanced me from 30,0001. to 40,0001. upon it ;
besides which, the money has all been kept in this
Country.
That is your philosophical reflection ; but I think the
best thing would have. been if you had saved it for your
creditors. Your friend Captaiii Richards, the manager
of the mines, and who knew best about them, never sub-
scribed a single shilling.—l would .not allow him, and
though he did not subscribe, his uncle, a most respectable
6ival equal a year .for his manage-
to 100,000/. a year.
.
miney, did. I now owe Captain Richards about 22,00 a,
amneda
t, he
asw the expenditurehave had
°
was to
There are only three or four of the mines now at work.
I observe that 121,000/. was advanced by a very. mode-
rate number of the clergys—is that so?—lt is so; and I
ceased paying the 10 per-eettt. after the end of the year
1838. There was a registry ,of all the shareholders,
which any one who thought proper might have inspected
at any time, and there was no concealment of any sort.
The only funds in the banker's hands for the use of the
creditors were two sums of 51. 2s. and 1/. 105.
The abstract of the balance-sheet, as handed in by '
Mr. Hutton, shows the following particulars :—To cash
1,7031.35. 5d., besides an estate in the Kent-road, valued
at 8,000/. ; also several shares sold in mines in Corn-
wall, value 326,844/. 5s 4d. ; creditors, 37,2301. 103. 4(1.;
liability. '5OOl.—malting a total of 366,277/. 19s. ld.
The credits are stated to be—gooddebts, 1,16 A 16s. 10d.•
bad debts, 6,202/. 17s. 6d. ; balance at banker's, 51.
10s. Bd. ; property, nothing ; profit and loss account for
property in the mines by Mr. C., 339,7921. Os. 10d. ;
house and private expenses from 1833 to 1840, 11,111/.
13s. 3d. ; liability per fontra, 5001.—making a total of
336,271/. 19s. ld.
Sir C. F. WILLIAms—I think it should be made known
to the bankrupt's creditors and the public, that the
Court deems his explanations to be satisfactory, but it is
at the same time awful to think how so many persons of
education, rank, and station in society, could have been
deluded, by their own infatuation alone, of the enormous
sum of 365,000/. Unless cause be shown to the contrary,
I shall pass the bankrupt this day week.
INSOLVENT DEBTOR'S COURT, Nov. 1.
IN ItE THE REV. WILLIAM JOHN ST. AUBYN.

The insolvent, whose examination has been already
published at considerable length in The Sun, was a
Clergyman of the Church of England, and Rector of
the large parish of Stoke-Damarel, in D -vonshire, from
which be derived the annual income of 1,8001.: besides
which, be possessed hereditary property, and 8001. a-
year jointure by his wife. From the time of his taking
holy orders to his arrest, be bad, notwithstanding his
princely income, accumulated debts, chiefly with trades-
men, to the amount of 22,0004
On the insolvent appearing in Court,
Mr. CooKE, on behalf of certain creditors, stated
that a vary. important document, executed by the in-
solvent, had been discovered since his last examination,
and he trusted the case would be adjourned to afford
time for further inquiries. The Learned Gentlemen
then tilled
Mr. -Little, a sclieitor of Devonport, who produced
a copy-of tv deed by which the insolvent's income, after
its 'fit" sequelitratioti, was made over to three persons.
He had not had time fully to ascertain the provisions
of the deed yet.
The insolvent was then examined by Mr. Cooke, and
stated that he executed a warrant of attorney for
10,000/. in 1834. after which his living was seques-
trated. The Bishop of Exeter, up to 1839, allowed
the sum of 200/. to be paid annually for his (insolvent's)
support out of the tithes, and 100/. as a salary to the
curate who officiated in his place. Since 1839 up to
the present time he received the surplus fees instead of
this allowante. He found it very difficult to get any
satisfactory settlement with the sequestrators.
Mr. Coons.—Am I then to understand that the
sequestrator appointed by the Bishop has been receiving
1,0001. a-year, and you experience a difficulty in re-
ceiving his accounts.
Insolvent.—Yes
; and I have frequently applied for
it. Mr. Lynn who was a trustee, and one of the
sequestrators' bad been appointed by him (in-
solvent) as churchwarden in his parish. Several
debts bad been brought up, and in one instance
a person in Devonport, to whom he (the insolvent)
owed the sum of 347/., sold it to Mr. Lyn° for 1001.
The greater number of the debts on which the seques-
tration was granted were sold to Mr. Lynn and other
trustees, at the rate of about 65. Bd. in tho pound.
After some further observations by the Court and
the Learned Counsel, the
over until the Chief Commissioner should be on the
Bench. case was ordered to stand

GREENOCK) OCT. 27.—We understand that
the fleet of naval steamers, built and fitted out here, and
now in our harbour, haie been surveyed by an agent
from the Admiralty. Each of the steamers has been
found competent to thie from 800 to9oo troops on board.
The steamers not ready for sea are ordered to be fitted
out with all expedition.—Glasgow Chronicle.
Lord Wharncliffe is suffering under a slight at-
buck of gout in the hand. '46`

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
' George Johnson was charged by policeman Egan with
disorderdly conduct, in refusing to "move on" when
directed to do so.
The policeman stated that he observed the prisoner
about half-past two on Monday morning conversing with
a woman at the entrance of a court. He ordered him
to move away, and, on his refnsal to do so, he moved
him off at once to the station-house.
Sir PETER LAURIE—Is that all ? Policeman—Yes,
your Worship.
Sir PETER LAURIE—Was the prisoner drunk ?
The policeman seemed to think not.
Sir PETER LAURIE—And are you in the habit of
taking people into custody for merely talking to women
in the street, without their having committed any other
offence ? Policeman—Certainly, your Worship
Sir PETER LAURE—What have you to say, Johnson,
to the charge against you? The prisoner answered that
ho had been drinking late with a friend, and entered
casually into conversation with the woman as he was re-

turning home.
Sir P. LAURIE—WeII, there is nothing against you
but your own confession of having been drinking; for I
haie no notion of people being taken up by the police for
merely speaking to women. You are discharged.
T. Swift, Edward Ekes, and James Byer, were also
charged, by policeman 298, with disorderly conduct in
refusing to move on quietly when directed to do so.
The )pliceman stated that early in the morning he saw
tho prisoners walking arm-in-arm down Holborn-hill,
and creating a disturbance.
Alderman FARNCOMBE—What sort of a disturbance ?
Policeman—Oh, singing-your Worship, and making a
sad noise.—(Much laughter.) He then proceeded to
state, that he ordered them "to have done with that 'ere"
(air?), and on their still continuing it, collared as many
of them as a pair of hands well could—namely, two, and
the third good-naturedly waited till a brother policeman
came up. He then moved them off to the station-house
—a motion to which they showed as much reluctance as
he conceived amounted to a " resistance to him in the
execution of his duty."
Alderman FARNCOMBE—But on what charge after all
did you detain them ? Policeman—For singing along
the street.
Aldermali FARNCOMBE—Why, by your own account,
they were walking on peaceably enough ; and if you
did'nt like their singing, they would have soon been out
of your hearing. Policeman—Then they resisted me,
your Worship.
Alderman FARNCOMBE—Yes, after you had seized
upon them. I think it a great pity that you interfered
with them. What have the young men to say ? The
prisoners replied that they were returning home to-
gether and humming a low chaunt, when the policeman
pounced upon them and treated them very roughly.
Alderman FA RNCOMBE—WCII, it would, perhaps,
have been better if you had refrained from singing in
the streets ; but the policeman has been too forward in
the matter. You are now discharged.
WORSHIP-STREET.

Mr. G. Burnet was placed before Mr. Bingham,
charged by policeman G 30 with having obstructed him
in the execution of his duty, and used abusive language

towards him.
The policeman stated that in the execution of his duty
he called last Saturday night, about twelve o'clock, at the
White Lion, Brick-lane, to see that the house was duly
cleared and closed. A woman, coming out of the house,
observed to him, " Well, you see, policeman, we are all
going home," to which he replied that it was time for
them to go home to bed, when .%lr. Barnet passed by and
remarked " That's right, policeman ; do your duty,"
which he (the policeman) consideritr, " highly impro-
per," ordered him to go on if he did not wish to
be locked up. Mr. Barnet accordingly did go on
without taking further notice, and he tollowed him
to " remonstrate with him on the impropriety of
interfering with a policeman in the execution
of his ditty," but the lecture, instead of being thankfully
received, led to "some words," and, amongst the rest, to
the term " vagabond" being applied by Mr. Barnet to
the policeman, for which offence the policeman " in-
stantly" conveyed Mr. Barnet to the station-house, where
he was quickly bailed by his friends.
Mr. Barnet said that he had some most respectable
witnesses to call as to what passed, but
Mr. BINGHAM said it was perfectly unnecessary. He
had heard sufficient, and heard it with regret, not only
on Mr. Barnet's account for the inconvenience he had
suffered, but on the policeman's account, whose previous
conduct had been very correct. lie had no business to
follow Mr. Barnet in the manner he . had done. Mr.
Barnet's observation appeared to have been made in a
proper spirit; but even if it had been 'made' jeeringly,'
there was nothing in it to b 4 so, miglttily offended at.
The Policeman appeared to have lost his temper, and he
(Mr. Bingham) was very sorry for it, and trusted that he
would be more cautious for the future.
Mr. Barnet was then discharged.

RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL
RIGHTS.

ECCLESIASTICAL COURT.—NoRwzoi, OcT. 26.

REV. A. LOFTUS V. MARY ANN LOFTUS.

This cause has been for some time pending, and has
excited great interest in the fashionable circles from the
known respectability of the parties, and their relation to
the most distinguished families in the county of Norfolk.
Counsellor EVANS, Judge of the Court, after hearing
the defence the preceding day, .on the 26th inst. pro-
ceeded to deliver judgment as follows:—This was a suit
brought by the Rev. Arthur Loftus, of Fincham, against
his wife, Mary Anna Ray Loftus, for the restitution of
eon:lnn-al rights; and it appeared to him that the ltev.
Gentleman was fully entitled to what he prayed for. The
defendant prayed for a divorce, on the ground that her
husband had been guilty of cruelty towards her. Ten
witnesses had been examined, and it was his duty to
inquire whether their evidence made out the alle-
gations against the husband. The most serious
allegation made by the wife was, that Mr. Loftus
had been in thelabit of puffing himself in a violent pas-
sion, and in consequence she had suffered in her bodily
health, and had been prematurely delivered three times.
Mrs. Loftus had had three children, and it was in evi-
dence, by both suit and defence, that the first was born •
prematurely in October, 1837 ; but that it was caused
by the violence of the husband seemed doubtful, the
.
violence complained of being, committed near three
months before the birth of the child. The evidence of.
the servant, nurse, and medical men showed that the
premature birth was caused by her own over-exertion
the.day before her confinement, for it was stated she
went up the steps of a mill, was frightened by some
horses, and slipped down in a hurry. The Learned
Gentleman was satisfied the second confinement,
though premature, was not caused by violence ; and
the charge also failed with respect to the third
confinement. Mrs. Loftus loft her husband in
Oc-
tober, 1839, and the child was not born till four
months after. There was no pretence for saying:
the violence of Mr. Loftus had anything to do with it
The eighth allegation charged that Mr. Loftus entered
his wife's room a few days after her second confinement,
put himself in a violent passion, and excited so much
terror as greatly to increase the fever she was suffering
under, to the danger of affecting her intellects. This'
was a grave charge, but the only evidence supporting it-
was that of Mrs. Clayton, who stated that Mrs. Loftus
afterwards appeared out of spirits. The medical - man
did not appear to be aware that the fever was increased,
and the nurse denied the existence of any such fever.
The fourth allegation, continued the Learned Judge,
states that Mr. Loftus was in the habit of reflecting on
his wife as a person of inferior birth ; the fifth with
interfering in the domestic affairs. It was stated, in
evidence, that on a certain occasion Mr. Loftus called
in the maid and told her she was of superior birth
to her mistress, in the presence of the later. In conse-
quence she left her husband's house in the middle of
the night, and travelled with a Mrs. Green to Norwich;
he (the Learned Judge) did not think there was anything
to justify the step of her leaving her husband. Eighteen
witnesses contradicted the statement that Mr. Loftus's
violence made it impossible they should live comfortably
together. All the eighteen witnesses speak of his man-
ner to his wife being uniformly kind, and deny that he
was in the habit of swearing. The case showed that
Mr. Loftus had been in the baba of using some of the
language described, and whatever irritation he might
have had, it could not justify him. The Learned Judge
concluded judgment by saying nothing had occurred to
justify her leaving her husband, and he was bound
therefore to declare that the marriage being well proved,
Mr. Loftus is fully entitled to the judgment for which
lie prays, and that Mrs. Loftus do .return to her husband.
It is reported that other proceedings will be taken.