The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-18 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 18, 1858.

EAST NORFOLK. ELECTION. —At a
numerous and influential Bleeting of the Conservative
Electors of the Eastern Division of the county of Norfolk, held at
the Swan Inn, Norwich, on Wednesday, the Sixteenth day of June,
1858, " to consider the best course to be adopted at the forthcoming
Election to ensure the success of a Conservative Candidate,"
The Right Ron. the EARL of ORFORD, in the Chair,

The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted :

First—On the motion of EDWARD FELLOWEs, Esq., M.P.,
seconded by Sir SAMUEL BIGNOLD—" That the thanks of this
eeting be offered to Henry Negus Burroughes, Esq., for his valu-
able services during twenty years of his Parliatrientaty life, as one
of the Representatives of the Eastern Division of this County."
Secondly—On the motion of EDWARD FELLOWES, Esq., M.P.,
seconded by Lieut.-Col, FITZ ROY—" That this Meeting pledges
itself to use every exertion to secure the Return of S,r Henry J.
Stracey, Bart., to Parliament, as one of the Representatives of the
Eastern Division of Norfolk, in the room of the late Sir Edwd. Nor,h
Buxton, Bart."

Thirdly—On the motion of EDWARD FELLOWES, Esq., M.P.,
seconded by Sir HENRY J. STRAC EY, Bart.—" That tha thanks
of this Meeting be accorded to the Right Hon. the Earl of Orford
for having convened the Meeting, and for his able conduct in the
Chair."

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.-
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the South Coast of Devon), calling at Weston-super-Mare, Bridge-
water, Taunton, Tiverton-road, Exeter, Barnstaple, and Bideford
(for Ilfracombe, and the North Coast of Devon), Starcross, Dawlisb,
Teignmouth, Newton, Torquay, Totness, and Kin.:sbrid4e-road, and
returning on Monday, the sth of July, from Plymouth, at 6.20 a.m.,
and Intermediate stations as per handbills.

TARES THERE AND RACE.
Weston-super-Mare and Bridgewater,'2oB and 13s ; Taunton and
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bridge Road and Plymouth, 30s and 20s.
Children under twelve years of age, half-price. Tltkets not trans-
ferable, and only available by the Excursion Train.

EPPS'S COCOA-11b. and -Ib. packets, Is. 6d.
and 91.—EPPS, liomceopathic Chemist, 170, Piccadilly ;
112. Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury ; awl 82. 010 Broad-street,
City; manufa,'_dory, 398, Euston-road ; also of Grocers and Chemists,

SCHWEPPE'S SODA WATER, MALVERN
SELTZER WATER, POTASS WATER, and LEMONADE
Every Bottle of the Alkali Waters is protected by a Label over the
cork with their signature. Sold by all resputable Chemis's, Con-
fectioners, and at the leading Hotels. Manufactured at London,
LiverpooL:Bristol, Derby, and Malvern Wells.

" OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT" says
Twenty-one Million Pounds of Tea have been released by
the Possession of Canton.—The EAST INDIA TEA COMPANY
anticipate the arrival of this, and have reduced the price of their
Sib bag of Sound Tea to Is. 2d. per lb., and Coflee in the Berry to I Id.
—Warehouses, 9, Great St. llelen's-churchyard, Bishopsgate.

F. HANCOCK, of Bruton-street and New
C• Bond-street, Jeweller and Silversmith to the Principal
Sovereigns and Courts of Europe, begs leave to remove an erroneous
Impression which exists amongst some of his cuAtoiners, that he has
retired, or is about to retire, from business. This impression (which
is entirely unfounded) has probably arisen In c.nsequence of the re-
tirement and selling off of a jeweller of the sane name, also of New
Bond-street, but with whom C. F. Hancock is not, and never has
been, in any way connected, either in business or by relationship.

GEORGE HOBSON begs to invite the attention
of Gentlemen to his new Stock of Trowserings tor the pre-
sent season, price 21s. to 255.

• .
G. H. submits for insp9ctlon his new Overcoats, in all the new ap-
proved and various shades of colour for sp• ing wear. Excellence
with Economy. A suit of clothes made in a few hours' notice.
GEO/tGE HOBSON, 57 Lombard-street.
ESTABLISHED 1796.

India.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—June 17.

COURT OF, QUEEN'S BENCH.
lITIGHES V. LADY DINOIBEV.
The Attorney-General, Mr. Edwin James, Mr.
Bovill, and Mr. Honeyman were counsel for the
plaintiff; and Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Lush, and Mr.
Harcourt appeared for the defendant. -
The declaration stated that the defendant had
published, in the form of letters, several libels of
and concerning the plaintiff, to which the defendant
pleaded "Not Guilty."
The Attorney-General said the case was oue of a
very painful nature. Mr. Hughes, the plaintiff,
was a gentleman of fortune, the proprietor of Kin-
mel-park, in Denbighshire, and he brought this
action against Lady Dinorben,' the widow of his
uncle, the first • Lord Dinorben, under peculiar cir
calms tepees. The first Lord Dinorben was the eldest
son of the Rev. Edward Hughes, a gentleman who,
besides being possessed of a very large property,
married an heiress, and acquired another large pro-
perty also in the north of Wales. At his death the
whole of his vast fortune passed to his eldest son,
Colonel Hughes, who afterwards became Lord Di
norben. He married, and had two daughtev, but
only one son, who unfortunately became a lunatie.
Having lost his first wife, Lord Dinorben, in 1810,
being then at the advanced age of 72, married the
present defendant, and died in 1352. The plain-
tiff was the son of Lord Dinorben's younger brother,
who died about 1836. There had not been that
friendly intercourse bittwOen. 'the two brothers
which might be expetiecl a'ad eesired from such
near relations ; and after the death of Mr. Hughes,
the plaintiff's father, the estrangement was con-
tinued between'the plaintiff and his uncle. Upon
Lord Dinerben's .death an attempt was made iby
the plaintiff to bring about a reconcilfation, bat in
vain; and although some communication passed be-
tween him and Lady Dinorben, be continued to be
almost a stranger to her. In consequence of the
unfortunate condition of the second Lord Dinor-
ben, proceedings were about to be taken to i,sue a
commission of lunacy, and contemporaneously the
plaintiff became attached to one of the daughters of
the present Lord Ravensworth. In July, 1852, an
engagement was made between them, al:hough the
marriage was fora time deferred, and of course the
intercourse between the plaintiff and the family of
his intended wife was of the most friendly nature.
At this period the first of the letters now charged
to have been written by Lady Dinorben was ad-
dressed to Lord Ravensworth the father of the
lady. It was an anonymous fetter without date,
and bore the Durham postmark of July 9, 1352.
It was in these terms
"My Lord,—l am an old friend of the family, but can-
not now give my name. lam informed that your grand-
Mr. Hugh Hughes. Mr. H.
daughter is going to marry
Hughes is not in a position at present to marry a young
lady without fortune,; be has next to nothing now. The
present Lord Dinorbon is in excellent health, and likely to
live many years. I wish your lordship to inquire into this.
"Mr. H. Hughes LS in the hands of the Jewv, and is
hard up ; but the mother conceals this, of course. Her
wish is to get him off her heeds, as she cannot support him
iu his extravagant ways.
"My Lord, your son will lya taken in ; and be assured
Mr. H. Hughes will not succeed in procurine au allowance
from the estate. The Jews may certainly give him more,
but what is that to live on ? His tailor's bills are more
than he can pay, and he is fond of dress and show ; he is
named ' Bandbox Hughes.'
" The mother of Mr. IL 11. is full of vanity, and has
told her son you will give him what he wants, as the father
of the young lady has not the means; also, she tells him he
must marry with a nobleman's family. Vulgar woman!
If Mr. H. H. goes on in his extrava ant way he will soon
get so deep with the Jews that nothing would be left him
should he oven get the property.
" Excuse this, but all is tree. From an old friend.
"I will write again. Ibis Mr. 11. H. is full of the
king's-evil ; all on his mother's side. Have nothing to do
with this young man.
" I wish you well with all my heart.
"The Lord Ravensworth, Ravens worth Castle, Durham."
The communication was naturally calculated to
pain the feelings of Lord Ravensworth and his
family, and to injure the young man, if they had
not relied upon his chatty:ler for integrity. It was
followed by another letter—the secend declared
upon iu the present action—addressed to the bon.
Mr. Liddell, the present Lord. Ravensworth, the
father of the young lady. It bore the postmark of
the 13th July, 1852, and was in these terms :
" Mr. Liddell, you are ill advised in your opinion of Mr.
H. Hughes. I have made matly inquiries about him, and
regret all icy information is much to his ,ii4Thdvaritage.
There is one circumstance not mucliknotrn in L'eldon ; it
is, Mr. H. H. is illegitimate; it is well known in Liver-
pool: inquire.
" The first wife of Mr. H. H.'s father was sent to her
grave in consequence of his intrigue with Miss Lance, the
mother of this Mr. 11. H. ; this circumstance may soineof
these days be proved.
" I am told that. the late Lord Dinorben could not forget
this !
"Mr.•H. H. cares nothing for your dear daughter; he
cares for his stomach and his b ely to be well clad.
" He cannot obtain 2rom his mother whet he requires
for his extravagance ; indeed she has small means, but she
tells him your father will give him as much money as he
wishes.
" The Jews are, of course, anxious to have him, and he
must continue in their hands.
" More I could say, but enough to open your eyes.
" Have nothing to say to this young man.
" Mrs. H. H. s aid that last year your fa'uily had here-
ditary madness in it. What has hers !
" Hon. Henry Thomas Liddell, Ellington-house,
Alnwiek, Northumberland."
Shortly after the receipt of these two letters they
were placed in the hands of the plaintiff by the noble
family to whom they were addressed. Mr. Hughes,
from the absolute estrangement from Lady Diner-
ben in which he had lived, was not acquainted with
her handwriting ; and, whatever suspicions might
have crosstd his mind, he certainly had no idea
that they were written by her. Bat a few days
afterwards, on the 21st of July, he himself received
the following letter :
"Hugh, how can you be such an ass ! ! ! ! to marry one
you do not care for ! ! Remember it cannot be changed if
once the knot is tied ! ! ! By-and-by you can marry whom
you please ; consider. Hugh, get off if you can.
" Burn this, but remember all. No money is sad in the
marriage life."
This was an obvious motive for the wish of Lady
Dinorben to break off any marriage into which the
plaintiff might be about to enter. The large estates
of Kinmel-park and other estates in various parts
of the principality had been settled in such a man-
ner that, setting aside the second Lord Dinorben,
who was a lunatic, if Mr. Hughes, the next heir,
should die unmarried without heirs male, theywould
pass to the daughter and only child of Lady Dinor-
ben. The letters were written in a disguised hand,
but beyond all question in a female band, and he
had no doubt he should be able to show that the
person who wrote them was Lady Dinorben. In
Nov., 1852, Mr. Hughes consulted Sir F. Thesiger,
but at that period it was much more difficult than
at present to prove handwriting.
Mr. Macaulay observed that it was not usual to
relate what had passed between a gentleman and
his counsel.
The Attorney General said he should be sorry to
overstep the boundary line by which counsel ought
to be circumscribed, but ho wished to show that Mr
Hughes acted under sound advice in resolving at
that pried to take no notice of those letters. On
the 6th Nov., 1852, the following letter was written
to Col. Williams, a very popular gentleman in
North `'Pales
" Dear Tom,—You I know have some influence over H.
Hughes, so do try and use it at present; he lR not acting
as a gentleman should to Lady Dinorben ; it is a
pity
be
has not some one to advise him at this moraeat. I under-
stand that he (11. H.) has actually named an early day for
her to quit Kinmel. La ly D. has behaved most liberal to
him, and ho has not offered her the slightest civility. I
am interested for him, and regret this.
" Thomas Williams, Esq., Craig-y-doe,
Beaumaris, Anglesea.'
The lunatic, Lord Dinorben, died on the 6th Oct.,
1852, and the plaintiff then became the owner of
Kinmael-park and the estates. Lady Dinorben,
who resided there, was allowed to remain some
time after that event, but appeared to think that
the time was nevertheless too short.
Mr. Macaulay said, the Attorney-General was
reading letters of which he had never heard until
that moment, and he hoped he intended to put
them in evidence as being in the handwriting of
Lady Dinorben.
Lord Campbell observed, that they must of course
be proved before they were read.
The Attorney-General said, he should ill dis-
charge his duty if he read any letters which be did•
not prove to be in Lady Dinorben's handwriting.
On the 31st Dec., 1852, Mr. Hughes, who had
then taken possession of Kinmael-park, received
this letter :

" Neglected.
" Remember the poor. Christmas cheer. Beef, cloth-
ing, coals.
" Mr. Hughes, of Kinmael-park, 25,00 / a-year.
" Remember the Ist of January.
" Immediate.
" Hugh Hughes, Esq., Eslington-park, Alnwick,
Northumberland."

In March, 1853, he received the following
"Dear Hugh,—The reports in circulation as to what
you say and what you do will not tend to make you a popu-
lar member of society. All the pettifogging acts of Mr.
Hurnberston are attributed to you, as ho says how is a
man to act with a stubborn, ignorant youth ? —never will
take advice from me, and I have threatened to give up
acting for him. In Chester Humberston's mean disposi-
tion and love for money are well known ; his object is to
arrange your property for his son in case you may nothavo

one. Be that as it may, your mother will advise you in
this case. All those acting for you—Blox, Ellison, &c.—
play into each other's hands.
• " Consider all this advice. You are beginning life with
excellent prospects. Select some high-minded professional
man for conducting your affairs. I repeat, Humberston
despises you. Yon may find this out yet, and too late.
"A SINCERE FRIEND AND WELL-WISHER.
" H. R. Hughes, Esq."
The next letter was addressed to the mother of
Miss Liddell, who, in April, 1853, had become the
wife of Mr. Hughes. It was dated November,
1853, and Was as follows :
" ISfafiam —lt is but right to inform you how your
daughter is treated by Mrs. Hughes. Your daughter is
quite in the background. Mrs. and Miss A. Hughes are
everything at Kiemael. They say your daughter is igno-
rant, and her family beggars, and what can she know ?
Now, Madam, this is bad, and you ought to put your
daughter in her place. Your daughter will not complain
now, but later she will be the victim of her artful, shuffling
mother-in-law. You should see to learn all. Try and put
an end to this influence. I can assure yon the house is
quite a ridicule in the country —that Mrs. Hughes is vul-
gularly purse-proud. • S ive your dear daughter. Send
her a letter privately. Mrs. Hughes detests you and all
yours, and is fearful any should see her ways.
" Addressed to the Hon. Mr. Liddell, Nottingham-
place, Marylebone."
On December 4, 1853, the wife of the plaintiff re-
ceived this letter:—
"Madam, —How can you expect to keep respectable
servants when you allow Mrs. Hughes to be the director
in your house? As long as she is, depend on it you
never will keep one servant to your satisfaction.
" Mrs. H.'a character is well known ; therefore, no one
respect her ! You may not be acquainted with your
motheren-laW's history 1 It is right you should know the
mother of your husband lived with his reputed father in
adultry during the long illness of his first wife ! The
cause of this first wife's death was this woman's conduct.
Inquire from one of your own family into this ; is it true !
The housekeeper's room is the place for Mis. Hughes—
vulgar woman. You will never even have the happiness
of your own family remaining in your house with that
fiend ; for she detests your family, and calls them beggars.
What was she—what was she entitled to !! A Liverpool
upstart. Hosi dare she call your old family beggars ? She
is always filling your husband's head with things against
your family to prevent his giving them money. Get her
out of your house then ; you will have your own in it.
"Addressed to Mrs. Hughes, Kinmeal-park."
These letters were of course calculated to introduce
suspicion and dissension into the family.
Lord CAMPBELL said, these letters were not evi-
dence, except as fir as they showed that the letters
declared upon were written by Lady Dinorben.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL assented. It was most
painful to him to have to read those letters, but
he was obliged to dc it in order to give a complete
history of the transaction. They were not only
material as links in the chain of evidence by which
the letters declared upon were irresis ibly proved
to be in Ledy Dinorben's handwriting, but they
were also necessary to explain how it was that Mr.
Hughes had been compelled to adopt thee pro-
ceedings. There was another letter of the 17th of
Aprd, 1854, addressed to Mr. Hughes :
" The housekeeper, oh ! the housekeeper ; it is not too
late to give the place to your clever mother. My boy,
that is the plan !!!
" What can any one expect from you after the manner
you served out the faithful Mr. Murray. Remember how
you treated his chairs, tables, he.
"You.boaster and coward, why are you afraid to pull
down Mr. Murray's old house ? Oh, you will have an all
house yet. A curse must fall on you and yours; he that
says what he likes will be sure to hear what he does not
like. You shall hear that you are the son of a iv— —.
Your butler is a fine fellow, and knows how to rob.
" The H-keeper—Oh ! oh ! oh !"
In Mereh, 1857, shortly before the general election,
Mr. Hugh, s received a letter recemmencling Lien to
stand for the county of Anglesea, which was repre-
sented by Sir R. Bulkeley, a connection of L idy
Dinorben. Mr. Hughes felt it his duly when he
met Sir R. Bulkeley to allude in conversation to
that letter, and also to the letters, of July, 1852,
writ' en to the late and to the present Lord Ravens-
worth. The letters` were seen by Sir R Bulkeley,
and instantly pronounced by him to be in Lady
norben's handwriting..
Lord Campbell—You propose to call Sir. R.
Bulkeley ?
The Attorney-General said he did. In June or
July, 1857, Lady Dinorben appeared io have learnt
that Mr. Hughes was in possession of these anony-
mous letters, and that he had stated that he knew
from irresistible evidence that they were written by
her. Lady Dinorben thereupon thought proper to
despatch to Mr. Hughes her brother, Col. Smyth,
who had had the misfortune" to kill two of Ira fel-
low-creatures in duels. Mr. Hughes placed himself
in the hanclsof Col. Knox, who wrote to Col. Smyth,
decliningto grant birn an in'erview with Mr. Hughes,
but expressing his readiness to see him at White's
on the following day. Colonel Smyth refused to
see Colonel Knox, and wrote to that effect to Mr.
Hughes, who merely acknowledged the letter.
Colonel Smyth wrote again to Mr. Hughes, stating
that his conduct rendered him unfit for the society
of gentlemen.
Lord C.impbT—Do you prove that these letters
were written by the authority of Lady Dinerb .n ?
The Attorney-General said he presumed they
were, as they called up m Mr. Hughes to retract
or substantiate the statement that the letters were
written by Lady Dinorben. The question was one
for the consideration of the jury. Lady Dinorben
had two nieces, Miss Wallace and Miss Smyth,
whose handwriting, he admitted, bore a striking
re,emb'anee to that of their aunt. In the May of
last year Mr. Wallace, who would be called, was at
St. Leonard's, attending his sister, who was upon
her deathbed. She received an anonymous letter,
which would be proved to be in the handwriting of
Lady Dinorben, and which was sealed with the
identical sell affixed to the letters upon which this
ac'i n was founded. Mr. Hughes felt considerable
pain in appearing as prosecutor on this occasion,
but he hid no choice. He was compel ed to give
Lady Dinorben the opportunity of coming forward
and saying whether these letters were or were not
in her handwriting.
The following witnesses were then calls d :
Lord Ravensworth said Mr. Hughes, the plain-
tiff, married one of his daughters in April, 1853,
but had been paying attentions to the lady in the
lifetime of witness's father The letter produced
was handed t 3 him by the late Lord Ravensworth
in July, 1852. [The letter was addressed to Lord
Ravenswotth, Durham, and bore the Dur-
ham postmark of the 9th of July, 1852.] Witness
was then member for Liverpool, and about the
time paid a visit to his father, who was in, a de-
clining state of health. A few days afterwards he
received the letter produced. [lt was addressed to
the Hon. H. T. Liddell, Esling!on-park, near
Alnwick, Northumberland.] Witness showed the
letters to Mr. Hughes.
Cross-examined—He believed that he showed
the letters when Mr. Hughes was on a visit shortly
afterwards. He was quite sure he gave the letters
to Mr. Hughes, and did not send them to him.
Mr. Hugh Thomas Hughes said be was the plain-
tiff in the action. He was entitled to the estates
on the death of the second Lord Dinorben, and on
his death without issue they would have gone- to
the daughter of Lady Dinorben. The second Lord
Dinorben was insane, and there were proceedings
in lunacy shortly after the death of the first Lord
Dinorben, in February, 1852. The second lord
died in October, 1852, and on his death witness
came into- possession of the property. In the life-
time of the second Lord Dinorben he was paying
his addresses to Miss Liddell. The letters were
given to him as stated by Lord Ravenswortb.
He also received an anonymous letter, in July,
1852. He had no suspicion at the time of the per-
son who sent it. In December, 1852, he received
another letter, beginning " Hugh." In March,
1853, he received a third, and io April, 1854,
a fourth. The last letter was received in
March, 1857. In Dec., 1853, the letter produced
was received by his wife. . Witness was introduced
at Court and proposed at a club by Lord Dinorben.
Lord Dinorben was 72 when he married the de-
fendant, and 84 when he died. Upon his death
witness addressed to the defendant a letter of con-
dolence, and received an answer. He offered to
go to the funeral from the house, but was refused,
and attended it from Chester. After the death of
the second Lord Dinorben Lady Dinorben had a
certain time allowed her before leaving Kinmel-
park, and it was extended another fortnight at her
request. Upon the lunacy proceedings being taken
witness was desirous of obtaining an allowance as
next heir, and of being appointed joint-committee
of the lunatic's estate. Lady Dinorben opposed
his application. Everything which could be left
to Lady Dinorben by her husband. Witness showed
the letter of March, 1857, t 3 Sir R. Bulkeley, and
afterwards received several communications from
Colonel Smyth, the brother of Lady Dinorben.
Mr. Bovdl said he would tender those letters
and put them in, or not, as the learned counsel for
the defendant thought proper.
Lord Campbell—They are inadmissible. Pars
to another point,
Mr Hughes, upon being further examined, said
proceedings were taken at the Marlborough-street
police court, and Colonel Smyth was bound over to
keep the peace, Colonel Smyth called on him to
substantiate or retract the statement that he be-
lieved the letters were written by Lady Dinorben,
and upon the advice of Sir F. Thesiger he com-
menced this action.- .
Cross-examined—When Lord Dinorben =tied