The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-08 00:00:00

MORNING SUN

. dividends. He would be glad to see. her, accompanied
either by her mother or by leer sister Elizabeth, to settle
money and other matters. She might, 'ere long, have oc-
casion to say that Old Robin ,Gray was very good to her ;
she knew his affectionate heart towards her. First
they had a threatening letter ; then a wheedling letter
in reference to money matters, ho
_ping to get the
affair settled in that way. By and bye, it
would be said that the parties had relinquished each their
claim upon the other, and, therefore, that no claim could
be set up now on the part of the plaintiff But, in addition
to these, a letter was written addressed to the mother of
this lady. In that letter he said that on his return to
town from Gloucestershire, to him a very wearisome
journey, he had learned that Sophia was promising him
a very indelicate, iniquitous, and Pickwickery suit again.
He could not believe that it had originated with herself,
and wished to prevent her from being held up to ridicule
for aiming at an old man such as he was for a
husband against all causes and reasons on his
part. He then went on to allude to the connexion
between the plaintiff and a Mr. W. E. Kitchen,
who, he said, lived in Northumberland-court, which
had written upon it at both ends " Beware," and
said that in case she persevered in her present conduct
all the circumstances would be exposed. His confidence
in Sophia had, he said, sunk materially ; but still he had
a kind feeling towards her, pitied and sympathised with
her, and although he thought she had dealt unfairly
by him, he was rather more inclined to rescue her
from the terrible fangs of the laws than, to hold her
up to ridicule. If she chose to pursue her Pick-
wickeries, he would take back the monies which
he had placed in her name, to enable her mother to afford
her more comfort, and to make her less of a Cinderella
or drudge to the family. He had acted under the belief
that she was an innocent and artless girl. He wished
the mother to read Mr. Kitchen's letters attentively.
The engagement bad, he believed, been broken
off, because Mr. Kitchen could not afford the
match. If he found Mr. Kitchen an eligible
match he would do something towards removing
that difficulty. It was then suggested. that her
object was to unite with him because she knew he could
not last long, and she could then unite herself to Mr.
Kitchen. He was truly sorry, he continued, for the
trouble which Mrs. Darbon must have experienced, occa-
sioned by Sophia's pursuit of him against all his remon-
strances. This letter, said the Learned Counsel, was a
most artful and designing one. It was addressed
to the mother, who of course had the most tender regard
for her child, who would be particularly desirous that the
breath of slander might not sully in the least degree the
reputation of her child. On the one hand he held out to
her the chance of an exposure, and on the other he made
an offer of compromise. An attentive perusal, however,
of those three letters seemed to have changed his mind.
On May 11, 1840, there was a letter in his hand-writing
addressed to Mrs. Darbon. In this letter, he said he sent,
by Sophia's request, three letters of her's, of the 3d, 9th,
and 15th of October, 1836, which he had again perused
with attention. He did not, be said,
.attribute the least
blame to her, but he considered it a misfortune to
her that she should have been connected with a per-
son of the description which she mentioned. He
begged, in conclusion, that she would give his very
kindest regards to Sophia, showing, that upon that
date he had passed a deliberate judgment upon those
letters. On the 20th of July he addressed another
letter to the mother. He said he had yesterday
received information from the family attorney,
that she had sent him his confidential letter,
" totin quoties, or neck and heels." He (the attorney)
seemed in great anxiety lest the Pickwickery scheme
should be frustrated, by his calling upon and seeing
Sophia, and getting her to unriddle the scheme which
she had brought upon the tapis. To release them from
any further trouble on that score, he assured them that
he did not intend to intrude ,any call upon them but
with their entire approbation, and he (the attorney)
need not hold himself in readiness for meeting
him at their residence. The Learned Counsel said the
Jury would know that this matter, having been placed in
the hands of an attorney, it was altogether unprofessional
for the defendant to send a letter to the parties
interested. It was to a complaint made in conse-
quence of this unprofessional conduct that the letter
alluded. When speaking of the anxiety of the
attorney, " Mine and Sophia's," confirmed this
letter, will be a tidy little farce, and may be entitled " A
Timely Discovery and Lucky Escape." On the 4th of
October, 1841, Mr. Rosser, continuing his course of in-
sult, addressed a letter to the plaintiff: In this
letter he said he lamented much for her sake that she
had been placed, or been driven into the trammels of the
law, instead of accepting gratefully his philanthropic
future boon ; induced purely by compassion for
his circumscribed means, and relying; upon his as-
surances respecting W. E. Kitchen ; but, as she had
chosen to pursue her suit against him, he had been
under the necessity of searching out those who had been
able to interpret Mr. Kitchen's three letters. He had
been informed, he said, of many of her adventures, and
amongst the rest of her accepting an invitation from an
East Indian Captain, and the offence given to Mr.
Kitchen by that act. He left it to her whether she would
withdraw her abominable action, or submit to an exposure.
The defendant next tried the persuasive powers
of his poetry upon the plaintiff: But he (Mr.
Platt) could not say whether his verses were iambic or
trochaic, or of that peculiar style which the writer him-
self described them " doggrel. —(A laugh.) One epistle
ran thus—

" Little Sophy, I've not forgot
Your loving letters, and what not,
For, looking over your long epistles,
Therein I find your loving missiles ;
Their purpose I will not abuse,
Deeming them handsome and of mighty use;
But soon the honey being gone,
You called for more of that ere long,
You higgled, bartered, and cried "Pickwick!"
And called to your aid a son of Old Nick. .
I find I have with all pain
Shown you that all you do is vain ;
That cheats of all degrees there are,
And China talk is earthenware.
Your conduct it is most provoking,
And Pickwick's driven beyond joking.
These lines are doggrel, I allow,
But yet will think they meaning show;
But if you come with due subjection,
You shall have all my kind protection."
(The reading of these verses was frequently interrupted
by bursts of laughter.) He (Mr. Platt) could not doubt
that the Jury would perceive that all the object of the
letters and epistles was to insult and terrify the plaintiff.
They were a gross aggravation of his previous conduct.
He, therefore, did not doubt that when he had shown
them that the character of the plaintiff was irreproach-
able, and that the defendant had no excuse for his inju-
rious conduct towards her, they would give her such
damages as would satisfy the world that she had not
merited the treatment she had experienced.
Mrs. Sarah Darbon was then called and examined by
Mr. Wright. She said she was the widow of Mr. John
Darbon, who died in 1812. His father did not die until
1821, witness having succeded to her father-in-law's bu-
siness in 1814. In 1822 she gave up the business, hav-
ing met with some losses in it. Each of her three daugh-
ters, Sophia, Sarah, and Elizabeth, had been left legacies
by the will of their grandmother. Her daughter Sophia
ahbasdenaltwtraoyms been brought
except
tput pfoart home.ab out Shethree
ohawd never
absent
she stopped with the Countess Mentalembert. The
property to which she was entitled by the will of her
grandmother was a little under 401. a year. Witness
and her daughters had resided for the last ten years at
Hampton, in this county. Mr. Rosser received the
rents for her daughters, who used to call on him to re-
ceive them. Her daughter Sophia went to the Countess
Montalembert before the death of Mrs. Rosser. It might
be a year or two, or it might be more. It was by Mr.
Rosser's recommendation plaintiff went to the service.
About a month after Mits. Rosser's death plaintiff went
to defendant's house.

In answer to Mr. TIIESICER, who objected to the
andqu e sdt
do nn, wt
nn
oe sv‘s.
osfaitdh
eslvieisidt,idof nhoetr goownwikth hnowelreddgaeu.gihitaedr
s
roe,fae
Asn‘rraerlcieelt,itleaeri(
.:I,f
or
uobinty
ahMINe rr,
e.
About that time was in the habit of cotmotionn
eildka•
ut
bog
ehbf
toeerrre d
asa
egi
ihwat eme
nrpti n Apr il, 1837. It
coming
Int
Lhueoonsl
dsoeotrhn.
with her daughter,and
went generally to Northumber-
land-street. After the 10th of April recollected the letter
now shown to her coming. Her daughter was making a
communication relative to this subject when she received
the letter, at the time they were at Mr. Robinson's
in Northumberland•street. Had been in the habit
of going to that house when they came to London.
Her daughter went to Mr. Rosser alone, a few days
afterwards. Recollected a letter being received by her
daughter, begging the acceptance of 201. Recollected
Mr. Rosser coming to her house at Hampton, shortly
before the burial of the late King. He came by the
stage-coach. He came purposely to state the affection
he had for witness's daughter, and to ask her consent.
They bad a long conversation. Witness felt surprised
aMrs. Rosser's oiz sern'osrdeeweoausled.
Witness
thnee
spsr ospaoi
said
i t isohne,
couldearly
n
any of his relations. He said he must beg. to be excused
making his proposals so early, as he was afotafateprprMove n
be engaged at the twelve months' end. On witness tell-
ingraidi she might
him that his family would not approve of it, he said
they were well provided, and would not object. lie said
he had always liked her daughter since she was eleven
years of age. • Told Mrs. Rosser what her daughter had
said about himnaming the subject so soon after hiswife's
death. He spoke of Mrs. Rosser in very kind terms;
but said he could not bring her back again, and he
thought her daughter would make him comfortable.
Upon witness objecting to the age of Mr. Rosser, he said
he enjoyed excellent health, and was in constitution not
more than 30 years of age. Witness told him she dis-
approved of the match altogether. He told witness that
he had amassed great wealth by his own industry ; that
what he might acquire could be settled on her daughter,
and that he would marry her at the twelvemonth's end.
Mr. Rosser, on this occasion, was with them several hours.
herlle saw witness's
ewri
suitor.tn ss 's
o n daughterthe
followingon t a
Sunday
t d sx4 addressed
Mr. Rosso'.
came to witness's house. On the previous interview Mr.
Rosser left her house, with the understanding that he
was to marry her at the twelvemonth's end. When the
defendant came on the Sunday, it was about eight o clock
in the morning. He came in a carriage. Witness was at
breakfast ; and, upon asking him to breakfast, he said he
had had it before he came out. The carriage and horses were
sent to the Clarence Arms, Hampton. Mrs. Bennett was vi-
siting them there. W itness and her daughter went with Mr.
Rosser to Hampton Church. He paid great attention to
her daughter, and would not have a book to himself, but
read out of that which witness's daughter had. After-
wards went out a drive with Mr. Rosser, who dined with
them. At dinner he paid her daughter great attention,
and said that Providence had been kind in finding him
such an object. Mr. Rosser drank tea with them,
and left her house while witness was gone to
Church with Mrs. Bennett in the evening.
On another occasion went to Mr. Rosser's house,
t his written req4esti Ur. Rosser was very busy. ale