The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-07 00:00:00

MARRIAGE.

This was an action t,) recover damages for a
breach of promise of marriage, to which ;he defend-
ant pleaded that he did not make the cowract, an;
that the contract had been broken by mutual can-
sent.

Mr. Macaulay and Mr. Hawkins were counsel
for the plaintiff ; Mr. Edwin James and Mr. 13c11
represented the defendant.
Mr. Macaulay, in opening the case, said the
pla ntiff, Miss Sarah Ann Chamberlain, was now
about 25 years of age, was the daughter of a re-
spectable farmer residing at Keybatn in Leices-
tershire, and the defendant, Mr. William Day
Weston, was also a farmer, now about 45 year,' of
age, who for many years, and until very recently,
had resided in tha same neighbourhood. In 1848
the defendant commenced paying his addresses to
the plaintiff, who was then only 15 years of age,
and from that time until February last he had
visited at her father's house, and had been always
treated as her accepted suitor. Several lettera had
passed between the parties. The first of these was
as follows :

"Nov. 19, '4B.
"Dear Miss,—l have taken the opportunity to
write these few lines hoping to find you well as it
leaves me at this rime. I hope you arrived safe on
your gouney my dear Sarah l have great respect
for you and I often think of you when you absent
I hope you will injoy yourself my dear I never
shall forget you the last time I saw you I am
rather short of time gust now Your father and
mother and your brother and grandfather are all a
bout the same Your mother his reather lost with
out you but be cheerfull my dear Sarah Ann You
need not say any think about this letter coming to
you lam Dear Miss Your sinceer and a Fectnate
iend I have not subscribed my name You will
I have no dut regard me."
The learned counsel then read a number of
letters, which were afterwards put in in evidence,
frum the defendant to the plaintiff, written with
to say, thstfrom 1848 up to a few weeks ago
the defendant had been received by every mem-
ber of the plaintiff's family as her affianced
husband, and they were about to be mar-
ried. During a part of the courtship the d-fen-
dant's father was living, and was ra her averse to
the match, as he thought, very naturally, that the
girl was too young. The defendant, however, was
of a different opinion; and his father b -ing dead he
was at full liberty to indulge his inclinations. In
February last preparations were made for the mar-
riage, and no one had the least reason to think
it would not take place ; when to the amazement
of every one, the following letter wen received by
the plaintiff from the defendant :
" Key b am, Feb u ry.
"Dear Miss,—l write these few lines to say that
I dont think you and me shd agree if we was to
come together. lam gonersly inclined and you are
the other way ands', I begtobs excu4'd—(laughter)
—and will decline it altogether. (Renewed
laughter.) I have loved you as much as aney one
ci do. May the Lord bless you and us all what I
have said and promised you I hope you will freely
forgive ms miss I have cheenged my mind
(Laughter) I hope you are none the worse for me
and hope I am roue the worse for you dear ra.ss
I am yours with the greatest respect for you.
W. D. WESTON'.

The motive for the defendant's conduct was,
however, shortly disclosed, for in a week he mar-
ried another lady. The present action was there-
fore brought to recover damages for the injuries the
plaintiff bad sustained by o oiduct so unjustifiable
and unaccountable. Here wag this young woman,
of whom be had taken psiesidon at the early age
of 1.5, who knew no other lover, who had refused
the addresses of other men nearer her own age and
mote likely to win her aff-Ttion4, thr iwo aside at
the age of 25, and wis subjected to all the scandal
and pain occasioned by such treatm-nt. He would
call every member of the plaintiff's family before
them, and then would ask them to give not vindic-
tive but substantial damages for this most heartless
and indefensible cquduct.

The following evidence was then adduced :
Mrs. Chamberlain—l am the mother of Sarah
Ann Chamberlain. My husband is a farmer at
Keyham iu Leicestershire. I knew the defendant
there 10 years. He is a farmer at K-Tham.
In 1848 the defendant was about 34 or 35.
My daughter was then 15. After Christmas,
1848 Mr. Weston began to pay attentions to my
daughter, and his attentions continued from time
to time. He spoke to me about the match about
fcur years after I became acqu tinted with him. He
seemed very fond of my daughter. He visited oc-
easionaliy, but not very often, as his father was not
agreeable to the marriage, my daughter w•ts so
young. In 1851 he said to me, " Mrs. Chamber-
lain, can you spa-e S rah Ann ?" I said, " You
are j )king, sir, you don't mean it." Ho replied,
" Yes I do, though." He seemed fonder of my
daughter everyday. He grew warmer instead of
colder. Mr. Wes•on's father died in March, two
years ago. My daughter told mr in July last that
the marriage was to take place in February. She
bought some linen and a carpet and two dresses for
her marriage. She was at Leicester buying things
for the wedding when his letter declining the mar-
riage arrived. The whole village knew they were
going to be married. Mr. Weston married another
person in March last. He has left the village since
I came to London.

Crost-oxaidned by Me. James—The defendant's
father oljected to the marriage. Mr. Westen came
to break it off, bu'; made it up again. I hAve been
told that the defendant's father said we should not
encourage the match with a girl so young. The
defendant is 44. I know Billy Day, the defendant's
nephew. Ido not know what you call silly. Some
people in the village say he was a little wrong iu the
head. I never said the defendant was as big a foul
as Billy D ty. I never heard my daughter say so.
I never heard her say defendant was as big a fool
as oil Jake 4. When Weston and his wife passed
the house after his marriage my daughter could
hardly contain herself. She instructed the attorney
herself to bring this action the day after the de
tend,int's marriage. What- s-)rt of a person is th,4
defendant ?' Well, I think he is a very sober, steady,
respectable gentleman. I was never present when
it was proposed that the litters between them
should be returned ca. destroyed. I did hear my
daughter say that defendant had put ber letters
into a cupboard, and the mice had eaten-some of
them. (Laughter.)
Mr. James—They were so sweef, I suppose.
(Great laughter.)
Witness—l'm eure I cannot say hew sweet they
were.
Samuel Chamberlain examined—lo am the
pecPtla
x
st re
tiff's father. The defendant is. a m
man. He has held all the offie s,n the parish, such
s-tilie
as guardian and overseer. We regarded the de-
ftndant during his court-hip as one of the family.