The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY tiVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1870.

in confinement, and quite likely to drop into ob- THE MORDAUNT DIVORCE CASE.
scurity. The Emperor, it is said, has-offered, if The Mordaunt divorce case has at last come to be tried
necessary, to take the reins of government for 48 by Lord Penzance and a special jury ; but only at present
hours, and, after another coup d'etat, return Paris
is to whether the respondent is sane or not ; as in the
in good condition to M. 011ivier and his associates.
latter case of course she is not able to plead to the main
Of course these gentlemen are on their meta', and
allegations. Sir Robert Moncrieff, the lady'
intend to prove to the world their ability to control s father, who
any turbulende which may be excited. To the shop-
says his laugher is not mens comp(); is made a party to
keepers these disturbances are very trying, and it is the suit as her guardian, and for him Dr. Deane, Q.C.,
understood that a petition is being prepared, to be Mr. Archbold, and Mr. R. Searle are counseL
circulated in all sections of Paris, requesting the The petitioner has Serjeant Ballantine, Dr. Spinks,
utmost stringency on the part of the Government. Q.C., and Mr. F. A. Inderwick. By an earlyhour the doors
Many think tbis petition will represent nine-tenths of the court were besieged by some hundreds of well-
of the business men of Paris, and it will be a strong dressed persons of both sexes ; but thanks to wise precau-
tions the members of the press were well accommodated,
guarantee to the Government in any future action.—
and thoseengaged in the cause were not inconvenienced
The second presentation an 1 ball at the Tuileries
more than was unavoidable.
was po3tpone.l at a late hour yesterday, greatly to At eleven o'clock the Judge Ordinary took his seat, and
the disapp dntment of some of our American belles, the proceedings were opened by Mr. Searle stating the
whose tresses were already " coiffed " in the highest the jury that the petitioner
pleadings, and informing
d for a divorce on the ground of his wife's adultery,
style of art. The reason given was the indisposition with Viscount Cole and Sir James Johnstone ; but inasmuch
of the Empress, but it seems quite possibla that the as there was an issue as to whether the lady was sane or
street troubles may hove been the real cause for the insane, the jury would have to determine that question
postponement.—The postal arrangements between first.
France and the United States are a source of reat
On the special jury being called into the box there was
g
annoyance. All our letters are -prepaid at home, found to be only eight present. Sergeant Ballantine, for
the petitioner, prayed a tales.
and yet full postage is demanded by the French Go- Mr. Searle opened the plea,dings, and said that Sir
vernrnent. Messrs. Bowles, Brothers, and Co. are Robert Moncrieff, as guardian of the respondent ad litea,
collecting all the envelopes indicating extra postage, pleaded that at the time the citation was served Lady
and will make a reclamation a gainst the United Sfordannt was not of sound mind. On that issue the jury
would have to find.
States Postrnaster-General for damages.—lt is un- Dr. Deane, in opening the case for the respondent, said
derstood that the Washington Club have decided to that with the adultery the jury had nothing to do.
give a grand ball on the 22nd of February, at their For the present inquiry it mattered not whether the re-
newmdn was the most guilty wife or the most faultless
rooms. This club is quite a success, and the
location, opposite the New Opera and the Grand
o`ie in the world. The simple issue was, whether on a
certain day Lady Mordaunt was of sound mind. These
Hotel, is the best in Paris. Report nays that Frevost proceedings were novel to the court. The principle on
Paradol is to be sent as Minister to Washington.that no
naabnl e or
ro
womand
n
You have already had in England some evidence of w:iich they were taken welthwiltilotuh
toulteolutTone theiri t
The inquiry began on a certgain day—on the
d
his talent, and certainly of his thorough knowledge 30th of April Lest year—that was the day on which the
of the English language.— -The Paris Directory for citation and petition were served on Lady Mor-
-1870 is just out. It contains over 500,000 names, daunt. On the 31st of July the question was
and the trades and professions are distributed as settled whether the respondent on the 30th of
follows :-862 lawyers, 1,893 doctors, 897 boot and April was of sound mind. There were two theories that
had to be supported—one his (Dr. Deane's), and the
shoemakers, 961 eafés, 894 restaurants, 2,423 wine second Serjeant Ballantine's. The latter was that the
dealers (wholesale and retail), 590 butchers, 800 symptoms were all feigned. Before certain persons they
bakers, 500 dentists, 830 modistes, 552 young ladies' i disappeared, and before her relations and friends Lady
Aloraunt apd to e f mind but before
schools, 1,154 tailors, and 2,173 grocers. In place
others such waspeare not theb unsoun d
case. How strange; (exclaimed
of the innumerable Browns and Smiths, we find 263 Dr. Deane) that Lady Mordaunt should try to be out of
Lasroixes, 187 Henrys, 232 Bernards, &c., &c. her mind before those most interested in her innocence.
BEN HAMET. His theory was that Lady Mordaunt was suffering from
a disorder that had gradually proceeded from a given time,
was existing on the 30th of April, and had become, until
last Saturday, worse and worse. Sir Charles Mordaunt
had a country seat called Walton Hall. The respondent
was living there on the 30th of April. She was at that
I place served with a citation. She remained there till the
15th of May. Then she came to London and resided in
Belgrave-square. She returned from thence to
Worthing, where she stayed till the .15th of
August. She was then taken to a place called
Bickleigh. On the 14th of May she was seen
by Dr. Priestley, Mr. James Alderson, and Dr. Luke,
and between the 16th and the 18th of May by Dr. Priestley
and Dr. Gowan. From that time till August she was
constantly attended by Dr. Harris, a medical practitioner
at Worthing, and subsequently by other doctors. The
15th of August was a most material date, as on that
occasion Lord Penzance directed that Dr. Wood should
see the unfortunate lady. He saw her on the 18th, 23rd,
25th, and 30th of September, and on the 25th of October.
On the 27th of August a gentleman named Hughes, resid-
ing at Bromley, saw her, and on Saturday last she was
seen by Sir James Simpson, a gentleman who was known
beyond the United Kingdom. It would be proved that
Lady Mordaunt suffered from want of memory ; from in-
capacity to carry on a conversation ; from slowness of
mind—she had no power to suggest a subject—and she had
a particular stiffening of the muscles of the body.,
arising from hysterical catalepsy. On the sixth
of May her condition had become worse and worse,
and he believed that Sir James Simpson would
tell them that there was little hope of recovery. No
doubt his learned friend would tell them that a good deal
was simulated; he would say that a person accused of this
or that crime feigned madness ; but if the jury believed
that because there was a motive, there was a pretence of
madness, they at once begged the question. 'They must,
however, look at the length of time, for one thing. Take
Dr. Wood's evidence. At his first visit the doctor
thought that perhaps the unsoundness of mind
would not be so certain as to allow him to
come to an absolute conclusion. He took dinner and
played whist with her • and though he found that some-
times a light would flash through her dark mind, yet,
except on these occasions, all was enveloped in haze. The
learned counsel proceeded to tell the jury certain instances
where Dr. Wood found the respondent was not mens
compos. Lady Mordaunt was remarkably docile. Dr.
Wood asked her from time to time to do the most trivial
things, and she did them without a murmur. He
asked her 'to take a piece of China from off
the mantelpiece, and hold it in one position,
and then in another—she would do it without a word—
such was the subjection of her mind. Another class of
evidence it was material to consider. The respondent's
nights were frequently. sleepless. She would wander
about the house, dressed or undressed ; would go into the
servants' room ; and would shew no sense of womanly
modesty. Even in the drawing-room she would misbehave
herself. On one occasion she came downstairs with
nothing on but a pair of stockings and a
short cloak. 'At Bicksleigh she went to
the butler's room, and tried to throw herself
out of the window. She would expectorate anywhere.
At dinner she would help herself from other per Sons
plates. Her child was brought to her, but nobody dare
trust her with it by herself. Dr. Deane would call before
them Sir Thomas Moncrieff, who would tell them a story
so touching that lie (learned counsel) did not dare to
speak of it. He would admit that some of these outward acts
might be feigned ; but was it likely that for ten months
this youn,, woman could so govern the beat of her pulse
and the throb of her heart -so as to deceive the medical
gentlemen? How could she regulate the pores of her skin;
Yet it was cold and clammy with disease. Those were
things that could not lie ; they spoke in language that
could not be misunderstood. They were produced by
nature alone.
The following evidence was called.
Jane Lang said that in May, 1869, she became .ady
companion to the respondent, who was in Belgrave-square.
She accompanied her from thence to Worthing, where she
resided with her, and in close communication with her.
There were other female attendants. Lady Mordaunt's
memory seemed quite gone. She made efforts to remem-
ber, and asked witness to help her to think
She would use her fingers for taking her food. When out
walking witness observed that Lady Mordaunt would pick
up any dirty article—such as dry mud, and other things
even less pleasant than that—and it was difficult to make
her put it down. There was also a total want of modesty
in her ladyship's behaviour. She went about the house
with scarcely anything. on, and was very dirty in her habits.
The respondent came into the drawing-room when attired
in a muff, opera cloak, stockings and slippers, and her
brother bribed her with a penny to get her to bed. On
another occasion she was out in a fly and had no money.
She told the driver to pay himself. When out driving the
respondent continually tried to throw herself out of the
vehicle. The respondent's temper varied very much, and
.
the least noise distressed her. She had a strange look
about the eyes • and spoke about seeing black things mov-
ing about. When strangers were present she tried to
control herself ; but it only made her more excited after-
wards.
By Seajeant Ballantine : Lady Moncreiff came to see
the respondent in July, as did two of her sisters. It was
at the former's wish that witness attended on the respon-
dent. Never conversed with• the respondent as to what
her mother said. Lady Mordaunt referred to the time of
her confinement and referred to persons.
Serjeant Ballantine : Did she ever speak of any act of
impropriety committed by her
Dr. Deane objected, as it was foreign to the issue.
Lord Penzance thought it a pertinent question, and al-
lowed it.
Cross-examination continued : She never accused herself
of improper conduct withanybody. She neveralludedtosuch
a thing, or conveyed such an idea. The respondent did
mention names of acquaintances, and talked of inviting
people, but never referred to things that happened years
ago, with the exception of one day, when she talked of her
confinement. She talked of the child sometimes, but
never referred to the state of its eyes at its birth. She
Norway,
go. [At this
and said that
thereferredpetitioner
toSSir
stage of the proceedings the witness fainted.] Lady
Mordaunt's maid did not sleep in the same room as her
mistress. The dressing-case was not in the room of the latter.
had Charles'sproposed
t a S, e
she N
She was allowed to have such articles as scissors at times.
The cheques (produced) were in Lady Mordaunt's writing.
Lady Moncrieff had told witness of certain statements
made by Lady Mordaunt shortly after her confinement,
and mentioned names. Witness had referred to those
statements, but never mentioned names, and Lady Mor-
daunt has said, "Qh, remember what was said I said ;
but I did not say so." Lady Mordaunt only said so once.
That conversation must have been towards the end of
July. The letters (produced) were in the handwriting of
Lady Louisa Monerieff.
Dorothy Frances Carruthers had been accustomed tothe
care of persons of weak mind. She went to Worthing
in May. The respondent had a bad memory.
She used to eat food on her fingers. This witness corrobo-
rated the preceding witness as to the various dirty acts
committed by the respondent. She sometimes boxed
witness' ears without any provocation. The dressing case
was in the respondent's room, and witness had it taken
away. •
By Serjeant Ballantine : She had the piano, drawing
materials, etc., to amuse her, and drove out every day.
She had, books, but seldom read them. She was not
allowed to go shopping, as witness did not think her
capable of doing so. The respondent very often expressed&
wish to go into the shops. Dr. Luke sent witness to take care
of respondent. She saw Lady Moncrieff once and only once.
Lady Mordaunt often talked of her baby
said she did
not like it, and would like to kill it. Witness asked
her the reason, and she began to laugh. When she
went down she believed that she was going to attend a
lunatic.
By Dr. Deane : Sometimes Lady Mordaunt was cross
because she was not allowed to shop. Mrs. Theddle was
companion in last October to Lady Mordaunt. On one
occasion she and Lady Mordatlnt met a beggar, and wit-
ness gave her a penny, whilst the respondent picked up a
dried leaf and gave it to her. When the baby was
brought the respondent gave it a book to amuse itself with,
and put it on the floor. Lady Mordaunt seemed to be lost
to all feelings of delicacy or decency. When Dr. Wood
stayed to dinner, witness was one of a whist party after
that Meal. Thought that Lady Mordaunt had been
-vetting worse since October. Witness; went to Lady
Mordaunt at the request of Dr. Reynolds.
By Serjeant Ballantine : Never had anything to do
with lunatic patients previously. Dr. Reynolds asked
nor to go ; she was told that Lady Mordaunt was ill and
that her mind was rather affected. Kept a diary for a
short time, but destroyed it after. Had written to Lady
Louisa Moncrieff twice, and had received one letter from
her. Believed that was in December. Lady Moncrieff
came down three times. Lady Mordaunt knew her. They
were together some minutes. Collected the letters (pro-
duced) in the respondent's desk. Lady Mordaunt's father
came down ; but the respondent would not stop to talk to
him.

FINE Alli7S IN NEW YORK.

The Winter Exhibition, at the National Academy of
Design, although not so important in some respects as the
Spring Exhibition, merits attention from all lovers of art
in New York, interested in the dissemination of taste in
this direction, from its educational effect. This exhibition
lasts four months, during which time changes are ma le on
the walls of the pictures. One very interesting feature

is a separate department devoted to members of the Ame-
rican Society in Water Colours, for their third annual
exhibition. It will be seen, therefore, that this the first
society of the kind ever instituted in America is yet in its
infancy, and for this reason it deserves fostering care
and encouragement. It must not be supposed, how-
eves, that all the drawings the society have on
view are the productions of artists of only three years' ex-
perienco (else they would not be worth mentioning); but
though there is a large number of very primitive drawings
on the walls, there are sufficient fine works to give tone
and character to the collection, and to rescue it from sink-

ug below average water-colour exhibitions. In fact, there
are a few drawings that would do credit to any water-
colour exhibition even in the Old World. It may be well
to state that most of he members of the society aro oil
painters of more or less distinction; so that, however slight
their knowledge of the new material, they generally suc-
ceed in obtaining effects that give value to their slightest
sketches. This exhibition, having just been opened
to the public, I shall proceed to review the water-
colour pictures, beginning first with the figures. Among
these, the place of honour must be accorded to a charming
picture by Felix 0 C. Darles, N.A., entitled "A Rural
Scene," representing a barn-yard, with children and cows ;
all admirable in drawing, expression, and treatment. In
fact, Mr. Parley compoies and draws so well, and invests
his figures and animals with so much individuality and
character, that one hardly has the heart to complain of his
want of colour and technical skill in the execution. Mrs.
E. Murray strongly contests the first place among the
figure painters in the exhibition, with Mr. Darley ; and in
beauty of colour and finish she stands among her imme-
diate compeers without a rival. In all of the five or six
drawings contributed by Mrs. Murray, the same high quali-
ties of composition, general drawing, and colour, are dis-
cernable; but iu the faces, and in the hands, the artist
seems weak and inexpressive, a feet of wh:ch she appears
to be conscious, as she is rather fond of hiding the
faces under ample hats, or of averting them from view.
The subjects are all selected from the Spanish peasantry. I
Her best picture, perhaps, is (294) "The Peace Offering ;"
but all her drawings are fine. No. 242, "A Study," of a
boy with a lantern, from which his face and hands are lit,
is a very clever drawing by F T. Banes ; and 323, " The
Death of Abel," by Alfred Fredericks, A., is a well exe-
cuted drawing ; but the " Maud Muller" (358), by the same
artist, i~ better. The figure, standing iu a rustic gate-
way,
is well posed, and, except the foot and handA, fincly
drawn and painted. The Lice is injured by being too hot
in the shade under the hat. " A Vision of the Cross" (417)1
is a strange picture, by J. 0. Eaton, A., showing, in the
tilde and sleeping figure of a young boy, some exceedingly
fine flesh painting, equal to anything in the gallery in this
respect, and good sketching, except in the face and arms,
which are out of drawing; but in the back-ground there
are a number of crude, angular lines that do great
injury to the composition; and altogether the draw-
ing is on too high a key of light for the spirit
of the subject. This will conclude the list of figure
painters of the society, though there are others
who deserve notice, but I must not overlook the supe-
rior claims of the landscape department, in which the
president of the society, Samuel Colman, N.A., ably leads
off with his large and well-executed drawing, called "Adi-
rondacks, from Lake Placid" (367), also (374) "Sketch
from Nature—lrvington on Hudson," and (390) "Strat-
ford-on-Avon." These two are powerfully painted; but
not quite equal to the former drawing. Mr. Colman also
exhibits two or three other fine drawings. A. F. Bellows,
N.A., follows with a large and masterly drawing of great
excellence (394), "A Surrey By-way," which has beauty
and quality admirably combined. A. H. Wyant, N.A.,
contributes two fine drawings, (396) "A Coast Scene near
Now Bedford," and a "Scene on Montauk " (400). Both
show fine qualities of colour and of execution, but the
water in each picture is so blue that the harmony of colour
is lost. R. Swain Gifford, A., has a drawing of much merit
(373), "
.Teal Rocks, San Francisco Bay," but it does not
seem to realise this high aim of the artist, who is remarkably
successful in his oil pictures. 363 is a clever "Study from
Nature," by Geo. H. Smillie, A.; and 366, " Study front
Nature on the Ausable River," by James D. Smillie, A.
(the treasurer of the society), has fine points in-it. Fred.
Ronde!, A., has several careful things on the walls, as have
C. P. Crunch, N.A., J F. Cropsey, N.A., Bayard Taylor,
Wm. J. Linton, J. C. Nicoll, L. C. Tiffany, H. D. Linton,
S. P. Jackson, and other members of the society. There
are some fine drawings by eminent foreign water-colour
painters whose names are so well known abroad and at
home that their works need no review from me, among
whom may be mentioned Prout, Rowbotham, the late David
Roberts, R.A., the late Thomas Stothard, &c.—Cor-
respondent of Anglo-American Times.

Dec 4, Jan. 1,
• 186 t. 1870. llncrease. Decrease.

Bank of England I 23,131,1301
Private Banks ?,7M,71)
!cite-stock Banks 2.3 8,73)

22,70,;,752
2,66 .1
2,281,1981

- 1174,438
1.1,599
- I 87,541

Total In England. / *.:8•301,644i 27,650,0701
Scotland 5,237,453: 4,975,,,47
Ireland 7,354,163 7,0'6,256

- 6 .1,57 i
I - 312,111
- k 97,907

United Kingdom. 40,9;3,2E9' 39,631,373 —1,261,89 d

And as compared with the month ending the 2nd of
Dec., 18G9, the above returns show a decrease of
£112,119 in the circulation of notes in England, and a
decrease of £50,413 in the circulation of the United
Kingdom.
On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the
several banks the following is the state of the circulation:—
The English private banks aro below their
fixed issue •••
The English joint-otock banks are below their
fixed issue

£1,380,506

... 457,442

Total below fixed issue in England £1,837,948
The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue... 2,225,776
The Irish banks are a b iv, their fixed issue ... 701,762

The average stork of bullion held by the Bank of Eng-
lid in both departments during the month ending 29th

Pee was ~£19,(01,.?39, beinp,;an increase of 4/48,033,
as compared with the previous month, and an increase o
.£903,873 when compared with th." snine period last year.
The following are the amounts of specie held by the
Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the. Ist
of Jim. :

Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks ... £3,087,G04
Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,757,358

£5,844,962
boing a decrease of £i9,68.9 as compared with the pre-
vious return, and an increase of £314,579 when compared
with the corresponding period last year

Witness had seen the paragraphs in the papers about the
case, and had shewn them to Lady Mordaunt ; but shf
only laughed at them.
Sarah Barker, lady'smaid to Lady Mordaunt said her
mistress was no better than a beast, of the field in her
habits.
Dr. Priestlyksaid he had long been medical attendant to
her ladyship. Ho had gone with others to Walton Hail to
see her. At first Plc was very cordial, but soon

At an extraordinary general meeting of the
shareholders of the Oriental Hotels Company
(Limited) it was resolved that the company be
wound up voluntarily.

Z",P,I 1:10 A tACITUM 8. ie, •Ana conversation
with her was impossible. In his opinion she
was of unsound mind He had heard from Sir
Thomas Moncrieff that respondent had stated that she had
been guilty of impropriety with other men. If it turned
out true, he should still think she was insane. Sometimes
she thought she was being poisoned. He attended the
respondent on October 9, 1868, and at that time
believed she suffered from lenchorrea. A child
born under such circumstances might suffer
from its eyes. He did not believe that the illness
was the result of improper conduct. He had since seen the
child and it was quite well. The complaint of respondent
would not be likely to cause illness to her husband.
Dr. Luke said that he had gone to Walton Hall to see
respondent, and had no doubt that she was suffering from
insanity. He knew that Lady Mordaunt had been under
a delusion with regard to dead bodies being in her room.
Sir James Alderson gave corroborative evidence. He
had asked the respondent questions, but she gave no sen-
sible answers, generally enclin in a silly laugh.
By ,Serjeant Ballantine Insanity was not his sped-
ciality, but he could tell an insane person in the dark, by
the odour.

Sir James Simpson had found the respondent perfectly
insane." Her bodily health was good. Thought it was
puerpural insanity, which came on in the pains of labour.
Dr. Gull had questioned the respondent on many points
some relating to her position. He asked her what was
to be done, when she replied that a dose of castor oil
would put it all right. He could not say that she was
suffering from puerpural insanity. His duty had been to
see whether Lady Mordaunt was shamming or not, and
he considered her insane. She could not converse much,
so the witness could not speak as to her delusions.
Dr. Burrows had stayed some time with the respondent,
and was convinced that she was insane. He had heard the
evidence which had been given, and it confirmed the
opinion he had formed in the case.
Dr. Reynolds was called, and after his examination
the :.;ourt adjourned.
. •-

MISCELLANEOUS IVEWS.