The Sun.
London, England, 1834-11-11 00:00:00

ELOPEMENT OF A PRIEST'S NIECE.

It is known to most of our readers 'that in the rural dis-
tricts of Ireland the cottage of the Priest is generally
cheered by the presence of a fair tenant who passes under
the mysterious designation of the Priest's " Niece." In
some instances, Fortune is so liberal in the dispensasion of
her favours, that the good man is doubly blessed, and re-
joices in the possession of two blooming relatives. Such
is, or rather was the case with a Reverend Father located
in a parish of this county, and distant little more than half
a dozen miles from Parliament Bridge. The parish is
situated southward, and it would seem that even the sanc-
tity of his office could not protect him from some of
the inconveniences incident to the latitude, for on Saturday
night week one of the lasses who had been so long the
objects of his care bade adieu to his dwelling and placed
herself under the protection of a neighbouring swain, who
with commendable foresight had a travellor in waiting, into
which he handed the fugitive, and then seating himself by
her side, ordered the driver to lose no time .in placing both
beyond the reach of pursuit. The driver obeyed his orders,
they soon set down safely in the city, and here they con-
tinued for three days in the uninterrupted enjoyment of
each other's company. Things, however, did not long pro-
ceed thus smoothly. As soon as the flight was discovered
the peaceful village was in an uproar : among those who
seemed to take the matter most to heart was the mother of
the hero of the tale. Resolved to leave nothing undone to
prevent their union, she hurried into town, and for three
days did she pace indefatigably its lanes and alleys. On
the fourth she succeeded in discovering their retreat, and in
it she found her son and his Dulcinea, both of whom were
petrified with astonishment at the entrance of their unwel-
come visitor. The scene that ensued we are unable to
describe. Remonstrance and entreaty were employed in
vain to induce the gallant to abandon his companion. The
old lady's resentment was roused and her pride was stung,
and after repeated upbraidings for his breach of duty, the
indignant mother left the house declaring that if he married
her, one penny she would not leave him. He might marry
any " decent body" he pleased, but " to marry a Priest's
niece !—who ever heard of such a misfortune befalling any
honest woman's son ?" Why the old dame should be so
inveterate in her prejudice against the Priest's niece, we
know not—especially are we ignorant of the grounds of the
prejudice in the present instance, for she is herself not only
a parishioner but an intimate acquaintance of mine " uncle.'
Be this, however, as it may, prejudiced she was, and pre-'
judiced she proved herself to be, for words less gentle than
those which she used to declare her displeasure, have sel-
dom issued from woman's lips. All, however, had no effect
on her graceless son, for in a day or two after, he aril his
companion repaired to a priest, and were made " one for
life."—Cork Paper.

KENSINGTON SPECIAL SESSIONS.

IMPORTANT TO THE PARISHES ROUND LONDON.

THE PARISH OF CHELSEA V. THE COMMISSIONERS OF

METROPOLITAN ROADS.

(Present Sir JOHN SCOTT LILLIE, Chairman, THOMAS
FRANCE, and --- TUBBS, Esqrs.)
On Saturday last a Special Sessions of the Magistrates
of the Kensington Division was held at the Bell and An-
chor Tavern, Hammersmith, to hear and determine in a
case of great interest to the parishes within the limits of
the Metropolis Roads' Act. The following are the facts
of the case :
For some time past great dissatisfaction has existed
among the inhabitants of Chelsea, in consequence of the
great expense to which that parish had been put in keeping
in repair the extensive lines of roads which pass along and
intersect it, more especially at the additional expense
thrown upon them since the removal of the turnpike from
Hyde Park-corner, of having to repair the King's-road,
which has become a great Western thoroughfare, along
which numerous waggons and carts daily travel, heavily
laden with materials, to repair the turnpike roads under the
Metropolitan Trust ; but for which accommodation the
Commissioners of the metropolis roads afford the parish no
compensation, beyond exacting from them yearly the sum
of 701. 15s. in lieu of statute duty.
On the 9th of last month, a public vestry of the inhabi-
tants was convened to take the matter into consideration,
when it was unanimously resolved, " That application be
made to the magistrates acting in the Kensington division,
to hold a special sessions, for the purpose of relieving them,
if possible, from the payment of the statute duty." A
special sessions was accordingly convened for the 25th ult.,
but, previous to that day, the conflagration of both Houses
of Parliament through a new light upon the road the parish
had to travel, in obtaining relief from the impost of the
metropolitan trust. One of the inhabitants of Chelsea,
returning on the night of the fire, from the scenes of de-
vastation, picked up some papers in one of the adjacent
streets, which, on his arrival at home, he found was the
" Eight Report to Parliament of the Commissioners of the
Metropolitan Roads," from which it appeared they had a
balance on hand, on the 25th of March, 1833, of 2,1771.
7s. 2d. ; and on the 25th of March last, 2,104/. 17s. On
the 25th ult., a deputation of the vestry attended the spe-
cial sessions, when, on the complaint of Henry Slyfield,
the parish surveyor, a summons was granted by the bench
against the clerks and surveyor of the trust, requiring them
to appear before them and produce their accounts, on
Saturday last. On that day the vestry clerk and a large
body of the parish were in attendance ; but the parties
summoned, with the exception of Mr. Newman, the sur-
veyor, neither appeared, nor sent any excuse.
After waiting from eleven until one o'clock, the Magis-
trates adjourned until eleven o'clock yesterday, and issued
fresh summonses for that day.
Yesterday the Magistrates again assembled at the same
place, pursuant to adjournment, when Mr. Newman at-
tended, and delivered to the Chairman a letter from the
office in Whitehall-place, stating the absence from town of
Mr. Panter, one of the clerks, and requesting a postpone-
ment of the case until Monday next, the 17th inst., which
the Magistrates acceded to, and again adjourned.
The above is only the second case of the kind which has
occurred since the passing of Lord Lowther's Act. The
first, " The Parish of Fulham v. the Commissioners of Me-
tropolis Roads," was heard on the Bth of July, 1833, before
the same bench of magistrates, who decided in favour of
Fulham. The commissioners were, however, not satisfied
with the decision of the magistrates, and appealed against
their order, which appeal was heard at the Middlesex
Quarter Sessions on the 28th November last, and confirmed.
A precedent was thus established, which, we doubt not,
other parishes besides Chelsea will act upon.

PROSPECTS OF LITERATURE.—The approach-
ing publishing season, according to Mr. Bentley's recent an-
nouncement, promises to be one of rare attraction. We ob-
serve with pleasure that the encouragement afforded by the
public has infused a spirit into literature which it has long
wanted. Valuable as well as amusing publications daily issue
from the press. In the class of works of fiction we may ob-
serve that since the whole town were on the qui vice for the
new novel by Sir Walter Scott, we do not remember any pro-
duction which has attained the popularity of Mr. Bulwer's new
romance of " The Last Days of Pompeii." Lady Morgan
has announced a new novel to be called " The Princess ;"
Miss Landon is about to present us with a romance entitled
" Francesca Carrara," and an Old Maid promises her " Vil-
lage Reminiscenses." A new edition of Miss Edgeworth's
novel, Helen,' as well as of Mr. Morier's Turkish romance,
" Ayesha," have just appeared. The following valuable works
will possess attraction for readers of all classes :—Mr. Beck-
ford's Italy, with Sketches of Spain and Portugal ; the New
Voyage of Discovery to the South Atlantic Ocean, by com-
mand of the British Government, performed in his Majesty's
ship Chanticleer in 1829, 1830, and 1831; The United States
and Canada, in 1832, 1833, and 1834, by C. D. Arfwedson,
Esq. ; Oriental Memoirs, comprising a Narrative of Seven-
teen Years' Residence in India, by the late James Forbes,
Esq., edited by his daughter, the Countess de Montalembert ;
and a new and cheaper edition, of the delightful Letters of
Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, edited by the late Lord
Dover. Here surely will be found ample recreation for the
approaching long winter evenings.

COURT OF CHANCERY, Nov. 10

BROOM V. PAGE.

When this case was called on Mr. KNIGHT said he was
in one of the appeals arising out of it. Mr. Wakefield was
also in one of them, but in that which was to come on first
was Sir E. Sugden, who wished to open it himself, but he
was kept from Court by slight indisposition.
The LORD CHANCELLOR asked who was with Sir Ed-
ward?

Mr. KNIGHT said Mr. Tinney.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—Very well ; Mr. Tinney may
open the appeal, and Sir Edward Sugden may have the re-
ply. That course was often ordered by Lord Eldon.
Mr. KNIGHT said it would be more convenient to him-
self if all the appeals were to remain over, but, fearing his
Lordship would order them on, he told Mr. Tinney he
should be in Court at the close of the last case.

Mr. Tinney not being then in Court,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he would give a quarter
,f an hour. At the end of that time his Lordship came

from his private room, but, Mr. Tinney not being then in
Court, his Lordship said as he had to wait half an hour for
the Lord Mayor he would give the parties the benefit of
that time before he should strike out the appeal.
The Lord Mayor and Recorder, &c., came in about two
o'clock, and invited the Lord Chancellor to dinner to-day,
which invitation his Lordship accepted.
After they retired his Lordship not seeing Mr. Tinney,
asked the solicitor why he did not send for him ?
The solicitor said he thought he could not have him in
the time named by his Lordship.
The LORD CHANCELLOR ordered the appeal to be struck
out : but that order was not to affect the appeal in which
Mr. Knight was concerned. His Lordship added that be
would have a notice put.up, that for the future all causes in
which counsel were not ready to go on with when called
should be struck out. That would be a good general rule.
His LoRDHH' rose about half-past two o'clock.

ROLLS' COURT.—Nov. 10.