The Sun.
London, England, 1802-04-19 00:00:00

. ...: ,~

SEDUCTIOY.

SHERIFF's COURT,. Arxtz. 17.

BARRITF V. qpiLAml3l%

This was an Action upon the case for seducing
the Plaintiff's daughter. The Plaintiff, Mr n. Theo-
dusia Barriff," wa the widow of an Officer who had
served with considerable reputation and bravery
during die American war. Upon the termination
of that diSpute, he came over to this country with
his wife, the present Plaintiff, who was the daughter
of a distinguished-American Loyalist. They took
a hobse in the neigtibbkhood' of Blackbea:h, where
they lived for severa-lyears upon an annuity for their
joint lives, of 4.034:

Mr. Barriff died about six years ago, leaving his
wite and a. daughter, then eleven ye:it s of age.—
Miss Maria Barriff wasa young lady extremely well
edbcated, and possessed of Uncommon beauty' and
accomplishments. It happened about twoyears and
a halrago, 'she went to Ascot-Heath Races, where
they accidentally ,met the Defendant, who_ was in-
troduced to them as the acquaintance of the -friend
at whose house they resided during their excursion.
The Defendant paid very particular attention to
Miss Barriff, and professed himself a candidate for
the 'honour, of her band -in marriage. Soon after her
return honie with her another, ~she was visited by
the Defendant, who declared his intention in form ;
and as Mrs: Barriff, upon inquiry-, found his.con_
neCtions.were respectable, and his prospects flatter-
ing, she gave her consent to 'his addr6sing her
daughter •as' her future husband. The courtship con.:
tinned Jill last- Sum Mer, when the =day for the cele,
bration of the nuptials was appointed. No supi_
cion whatever-of any dishonourable design on- the
part of the Defendant, Was entertained, conseqUent-
ly it was nut thought- necessary to impose any re-
straint with regard to the intercourse. of the youn
couple, who were to be'so soon united. They fie:4
quently went to assemblies and different puhlie
places, some times alone, and sometimes with their
mutual friends.

In the month of July last, a' few months before

the marriage was to have taken place, Mr. Hollarn_
by invited Miis Barriff and her mother to 'accom-
pany him with a
.party to Vatixhall, Mrs. Barriff
excused herself on accOdra, of indisposition: but
suffered her daaghter to, go tvith him.
The remainder of the. case was detailed by Miss
Barriff, who twice fainted during the recital. She
said; she accompanied
_the Defendant in a coach as
far as Westminster bridge, wherethey took water.
and proceeded to Vauxhall.... When they had, been
some time in the gardens, they joined the Defend-
ant's party, consisting of seVeral.Ladies and Gen-
tlemen, dune of whom the Witness kneW. They
ecgaged- a box, and about elev.' ► o'clock sat down
to supper. There were several ,:orts of wine upon
the table, of which the Defendant pressed her to
partake. In the course of the evening, several of
the company became much elevated and drank her
health as Mrs. Htallamby. Her own spirits were
raised by the compliment, and she was persuaded to'
drink a- glass. of .champaigne. She found, herself
shortly .aftecindisposed, and signified her wish to
return. The Defend.ant and .herself quitted the
gardens, and he handed her into a carriage, and
ordered the coachman to drive to Blackheath. She
grew worse, and became totally insensible. When
'she recovered herself, she perceived , she was in a
bed-chamber, with the Defendant near her.: She
was conscious of her situation, and of the outrage
she had sustained. She swooned, and was a long
time before she recovered... When "she came to
herself; the Defendant endeavoured.to appease her;
but she insisted on returning: home. The. Defend-
ant told her it was impossible they could return till
the morning ; that her mother would not eipeet
her, and that their marriage would rake place on the
day appointed. She consented to remain on con-
dition he quirted the raom. He did. so, and she
threw herself on the bed in a state, of distraCtion and
despair., •

' The next morning-ihe returned to her mother,
and related • all that :ha& passed. It appeared the
house she had been iil,-had been hired and furnished
by the Defendant. He never afterwards came near
her mother's house, but on the contrary, paid. his
addresses to a young Lady of fortune in Loadon.—t-
Mrs. Barriff waited on the father of this Lady, and
apprised him of the Defendant's dishonourable con_
duet, in consequence of which he forbad his visits
to his. daughter. The Plaintiff. then brought the
present Affirm, and, after a full hearing of all the
circumstances, the jury, to the great satisfaaion of
a most 'crowded Court, lave a verdi6t for the Plain-
tiff, with toool. damages.

The Stamfora•Paper .of Saturday says, " A cat
belonging to Mrs. Pollard, in this town, some time
since had a kitten possessed of two distinct and per_
feet ..heads, two bodies (united); eight legs, two
tails, And was in fatt a complete duplicate. It is
singular, that the same cat yesterday kittened a se.
cond phenomenon of this description."