The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-31 00:00:00

IN RE AUGUSTA TALBOT, A WARD OF C•URT.-DOYLE

V. WRIGHT.
At the conclusion of the Solicitor-General's argu-
ments, and, after a few words from Mr. Parker, claim-
ing a right to vindicate the conduct of Lord Shrewsbury,
Mr. Rour said, what was asked with respect to Lord
and Lady Shrewsbury was, that in consequence of
charges made in measured language, they should be de-
pt of all share in the care Mid custody of the infant.
That was the second object of the petition, and the
third was, that Mr. Berkeley have access to her. The
grounds of the application were, in fact, that Dr.
Doyle, in dealing with the orders of the Court, had
committed a fraud on it. They were first charged with
sending her improperly to a convent for education,
and then, having withdrawn her from it, they were
charged with sending her back again, in order that
she should become a nun. Now, how far could such
a relief be founded on the prayer of the present poi-
tion? That petition would lead the Court to believe
that the petitioner, for eight years,was totally ignorant of
the movements of the infant, and believed her to be tra-
velling abroad under the care and custody of the Earl
and Countess of Shrewsbury. Tho petitioner further
stated, that he believed the mind of the infant was un-
duly influenced with regard to a marriage with M.
Roc hefoucault of France, and that the Countess bad de-
clared, if she did not fall into her views, she was deter-
mined Miss Talbot should take the veil, and accord-
ingly sent her back to the convent with the avowed
object. It was further alleged that Dr. Doyle silently
acquiesced in all these proceedings, and did not interfere
in any way, and the petitioner concluded by praying
that the infant should be placed in other hands, and that
he (Mr. Berkeley) should have access to her at all rea-
sonable times. These were the grave charges on which
the Court was asked to make an order. Until the peti-
tion was opened, Dr. Doyle did not know what he had
to meet, but now that it was opened, he thought he
might say the case was as futile as could be well ima-
gined, and that ho had done right in not asking any
time to prepare to answer it. The Vice-Chancellor
bad distinctly declined to interfere with the education
of the infant under the guardianship of Dr. Doyle,
and no case had been made to impeach the propriety of
that determination of the Court. It was insinuated that
the Countess of Shrewsbury had attempted to form a
marriage between one of the Rochefoucaults of France
and one of the Talbots of England; and that because
her views on that subject were resented by the infant,
she had banished her to the convent with the view of
compelling her to take the veil. But all these things
were abandoned in the opening of the petition, and a
something else was set up, which was equally deserving,
from its want of any foundation, of the censure of the
Court. Referring to the past conduct of Dr. Doyle,
the Learned Counsel said that at one time he had pro-
posed New Hall in Essex, or Spetisbury in Yorkshire,
as fitting places for the education of the infant; but
that was during the life of the mother, Mrs. Berkeley.
Afterwards, from the change of circumstances,
he had placed her in the convent at Taunton, in
what he believed to be the proper discharge of his duty,
and he had continually visited her there, and watched
over her welfare. He throughout acted under the obli-
gation he believed he had incurred with the father, and
no imputation was cast on him. If Mr. Berkeley
thought there was an impropriety in sending her to
Taunton, he ought to have complained; but he did not.
He gave her up. lie either knew she was there, or he
did not. If he knew she was there, he ought to have
moved; if ho did not know she was there, he was guilty
of neglect on his part in not ascertaining where she was.
But no complaint was made till 1843, and then it was not
a complaint of the school, but of the amount of the
allowance in regard to it. But she was placed there
with the full concurrence, and indeed at the request of
Lord and Lady Shrewsbury.
The Learned Counsel was proceeding to read the affi-
davit made by Dr. Doyl© in 1843, when his Lordship
postponed the further hearing till Monday, but requested
to see Mr. Bolt and the Solicitor-General in the mean-
time in his private room.
The following is Miss Talbot's letter to the Lord ,

" MISS TALBOT TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.

" Taunton, Tuesday, Feb. 18.
"My Lord,—You will of course see that I have
written an answer to Mr. Craven Berkeley's FALSE
statements; and lam sure in such a case you will think
it only just for me to express myself what is the pure
truth, as I have done. It is scarcely credible how a
GENTLEMAN can act as Mr. Craven Berkeley has done;
for I asure you, my Lord, he was down here at the con-
vent himself on the 14th of February. He then asked
me a numerous sET FORM of questions, as if he had some
object in view, but wished to get a little information
beforehand, and at his departure he said he should come
again and bring with him a little HALF -sister of mine;
no opposition was made, for how could we know how
Mr. C. Berkeley intended to act? but after the manner
in which he has spoken of the convent at Taunton,where
I have spent the happiest days of my life, and whore I
have experienced for nine years the most unchanging
kindness, how could I read his petition and not feel a
just indignation at such conduct; so that it is now, my
Lord, my own free and deliberate wish never
again to see Mr. Craven Berkeley; should I meet
him anywhere he would not surely be the first
to address me, and most assuredly 'should not. He has
disgraced himself for ever in my eyes, and I should think
in the eyes of every just and reasonable person. Believe
me, my Lord, I ALONE in this house, have shown any
feelings of indignation, for all under this roof are too
good to let any feeling rise but that which every one
must naturally feel, compassion for so WEAK AND DIS-
HONOURABLE a man. This letter your Lordship is at
liberty to show to whom you please. I do not feel to
have said more than I ought. I have spoken strongly of
Mr. C. Berkeley's conduct, but I have not passed the
limits of truth and justice. I must add, that every word
of the letter is FROM MYSELF. lam alone while writing
it, and therefore no one CAN allege that I have been
prompted by any one. Every word is the result of my
own thoughts and reflections. Mr. Norris, whom I saw
on Monday, told me of your Lordship's wish that I
should go up to town again and see a little more of the
world. It will cost ME much CERTAINLY TO LEAVE
TAUNTON, where are all my dearest and truest friends;
but your Lordship acts for the best, and I would not
therefore on any account oppose your wishes. After
Easter I shall bo ready to yield myself, and again enter
a world, WHOSE CHARMS I CAN NEVER VALUE.
"Thanking your Lordship for the kind interest you
have taken in my welfare,
" I remain, yours respectfully,
" AUGUSTA TALBOT."

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE;
HOME ClRCUlT—Kingston, March 29.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE has been engaged during
the last two days in trying common jury cases, and the
list has been gone through with such celerity, owing to
the absence in many cases of anything like a defence,
and in others to the causes being entirely undefended,
that there are very few common jury causes remaining
to be disposed of. The special juries will be taken in
their order ou Monday morning.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. BARON PARKE.).
George Roberts, 32, and Charles Dowe, 11, were in-
dicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of Resta
Moore, and stealing three silver spoons, a pair of gold
spectacles, a coat, and other articles, his property.
Mr. Garth conducted the prosecution.
It appeared from the statement of the Learned Coun-
sel for the prosecution, and the evidence that was ad-
duced in support of it, that the prosecutor occupies a
house at Epsom, a portion of which, on the ground-
floor, was let as a branch of the West Surrey Bank.
The robbery in question was committed on the night of
the 31st October, and it was evidently the intention of
the prisoners to have plundered the bank, from whence
they no doubt expected to have obtained a large booty.
The house was all locked up as usual on the night
previous to the robbery, and about two o'clock
on the following morning a person named Holland,
who lived next door to the bank, was awoke by a light
shining into his window, and upon looking out he saw
two men, whom he clearly identified as the prisoners, in
the act of examining the drawers in the back office of
the bank. He afterwards saw a third man, and upon his
giving an alarm the light was extinguished and the pri-
soners and their companion attempted to make off. The
two prisoners were, however, stopped by the police close
to the spot, and upon their being searched several arti-
cles that had been stolen from the bank were found in
their possession, and also a chisel, the size of which
corresponded with marks that appeared upon the iron
chest of the bank, and also upon some other places of
deposit which the prisoners had succeeded in forcing open.
Dowe said nothing in his defence, and Roberts said
that he met Dowe by accident near the town of Guild-
ford, and that, as they were walking along, he saw him
pick up a bundle which contained all the articles that
were found in their possession.
The jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict
of Guilty against both prisoners.
Mr. Baron PARKE said, in passing sentence, that the
crime of burglary had been so much on the increase that
it was absolutely necessary it should be put down by
severe punishment. If any evidence had been adduced
to show that the prisoners had been ever convicted of
any other offence, be should certainly have sentenced
them to he transported for life, and as it was, they must
expect to pass the greater portion, if not the whole, of
the remainder of their existence m a state of slavery.
He then sentenced the prisoners to be transported for
20 years.
Both the Courts rose to-day at three o'clock, and they
were adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday morning.

OXFORD ClRGUlT.—Monmouth, March 28.
Mr. Justice Patteson did not reach here till half-past
7 last evening.
At the sitting of the Crown Court this morning a
number of the prisoners having pleaded " Guilty,"
His LORDSHIP said, they should stand aside till to-
morrow, as he had not had time to read the depositions,
having been yesterday detained for five hours at Here.
ford by one obstinate, ill-conditioned juryman (a special
juryman, too), who came into court and asked questions,
and exposed himself awfully.
Hui Lordship P Was engaged the greater part of the day
in trying cases of which the details are unfit for pub-
licattou.