The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-18 00:00:00

W OR SHIP-STREET.

Yesterday Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, of No. 10, Ed-
ward-street, Bethnal-green-road, appeared before Messrs.
GROVE and TWYFORD, to show cause why she refused to
contribute towards the maintenance of her husband, an in-
sane man, and who had become chargeable to Bethnal-green
parish.
It appeared that the husband had been in a deranged
state for some time, and had been kept under restraint in
Bethnal-green workhouse ; but, in consequence of the pa-
rish surgeon declaring that he was in a fit state to go at
large, he was last week sent home. On the following day
the wife's friends made application to the Board of Guar-
dians for his re-admission into the workhouse, as his conduct
was still more outrageous and highly dangerous to those
around him. The Board, however, objected, on the ground
that the wife continued to carry on the business of her hus-
band, and ought to contribute towards his support.
The wife declared that it was quite impossible for her to
do so, for her earnings were hardly sufficient to support her
and her child.

Mr. Brutton, the Vestry-Clerk, said that Mrs. Hamil-
ton was a composition-doll maker, and employed extra
hands ; and her weekly earnings, he could prove, were suf-
ficient to support her husband, as well as herself and child,
and that very comfortably too.
Mrs. Hamilton said that nothing would give her greater
pleasure than to contribute to her unfortunate husband's
maintenance if it was in her power, but she assured the
Magistrates that it was not.
Mr. GROVE said that, in point of law, a wife had nothing
belonging to her ; all the property belonged to the husband,
and the earnings of the wife the husband could insist upon
having ; but where the husband was incapable of taking
care of himself from insanity or other causes, and became
chargeable to the parish, all the property went into the
hands of the overseers.

Mr. TWYFORD said that he had never known an in-
stance of a wife being compelled to maintain her husband ;
but still, as to the point of law, he perfectly agreed with
his brother Magistrate ; for if a woman were to realize
500/. a year by her own labour, it would certainly be the
property of her husband, and he might dispose of it as he
thought fit.
Mr. GROVE said that if a woman were to elope from her
husband, and refuse to maintain him if in her power to do
so, a Magistrate could commit her to prison under the Va-
grant Act for desertion.
Mr. Brutton said that was the law, however hard it was ;
but the parish did not wish to be at all harsh with Mrs. Ha-
milton, if she would allow 4s. a week to the parish for the
support of her husband, the parish would be satisfied.
Mrs. Hamilton said she would not hesitate a moment if
she thought she could, but she knew well that it was out of
her power.
The Magistrates decided that, unless Mrs. Hamilton
could come to some amicable arrangement with the over-
seers, while her husband remained in the care of the parish
it would be for them (the Magistrates,) to adjudge her to
contribute some decisive, weekly sum, adequate to her

earn...
Th case was ordered to stand over, in order to
e
opportunity of coming to some
afford Mrs. naillton an
ettletneLt with the parish,

ANTI-` ont ttnNT., At the meeting o; .the
Anti-Tory Association, on Saturday, Mr, O'Connell gave
notice that on Tuesday (to-morrow) he should siihinit a plan
for the collection of an anti-Tory rent throughout Irelaricl.
This is a measure of the most vital importance at the present
rhotant. It is all that was required to ensure the utter dis-
comfiture of the Tories at the elections. The necessity of
creating a fund to aid the return of neformers is proved by
the efforts of the Tory party, backed by abundant pecuniary
resources, in various parts of the country. We have learned
that a bold attempt is to be made in the Queen's County to
procure two supporters for the Peel-Wellington Government.
A meeting of Conservatives was held on Friday, when it was
determined to support Sir Charles Coote, one of the present
Members, and the lion. Mr. Vesey, son of Lord de Vesey.
Baronial Committees were appointed for the purpose of co-
ercing the freeholders, and adopting other arrangements cal-
culated to effect the object of the gang. The independent
electors of the Queen's County, who made so glorious a
struggle in 1832, should be up and stirring. It is in their
power to give a signal defeat to the factious aristocrats who
are now leagued against their independence.—Dublin Morn-
ing Register.