The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-11 00:00:00

A CIIANCERY VICTIM.

At the Leicester Quarter Sessions, the other day,
the report of the visiting justices referred to a most
extraordinary case, in which a poor woman, who
had been engaged in a chancery suit, was the vic-
tim. She had been detained in gaol for several ,
months on account of the non-delivery of certain
papers which her attorney had neglected to deliver
over, when he ceased to act because all her money
was expended. The magistrates regarded the case
as a scandalously cruel one ; but they did not see
that the court could do anything further than had
been done already. The deputy-clerk of the peace
has since addressed aletter to a Leicester paper, de-
tailing the circumstances. He stated that the poor
woman was advanced in years, a widow, having
children and grandchildren. She was sent to
prison for, not obeying an order of the Court of
Chancery, directing her to deposit in court certain
title deeds and other documents for the inspection
of the attorney on the other side. When she re-
ceived a paper directing her to leave the documents
with the clerk of records, she thought all that was
necessary was to tell the person bringing the order
that she had none of them, as they were all with her
attorney. A few day after this she was taken into
custody, and as there were no other female prisoners
in the debtors' ward of Leicester gaol, she was of
necessity' placed in solitary confinement. The
deputy clerk states that the plaintiff's attorney
knew perfectly well that the papers were not in the
prisoner's possession ; and appeals were made in
vain to the prisoner's attorney that something
should be done for her release. August, Septem-
ber, and October had passed away; and in Novem-
ber the plaintiff's attorney obtained, under counsel's
opinion, an order on the prisoner's attorney to give
up the title deeds, other papers, of no value, being
left in his possession. But still the old woman re-
mained in gaol, "in such a state of mental anguish
as was pitiable to witness." In December the visit-
ing magistrates took the matter up, and placed it
in the hands of the deputy clerk of the peace. He
firmly believes "that a little longer imprisonment
would have sent her to the lunatic asylum." The
plaintiff's attorney now denied responsibility in the
case ; he knew the other attorney had the papers,
and it was his fault that the poor woman had been
kept in gaol a day. The prisoner's attorney pro-
fessed to have given up all interest in her case, and
said he had written to her to desire her to employ
some one else. He promised that the remaining
documents should at once be sent to London. This
was done, and the poor woman was at length re-
leased. She had been in prison for upwards of
four calendar months.--Manchster Guardian.

"TION HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF
—The number of patients
--nek was 941, of

CITY OF Lot.
THE CHEST, VICTORIA-PAlc..
relieved at this institution during last ti--
which 141 were new Gases.

THE NAVY.

It is rumoured in naval circles that the Govern-
ment have it in contemplation to make a consider-
able augmentation in the Channel squadron by the
addition of 12 sail of the line. The greatest activity
prevails in all the dockyards in hastening forward
the completion of those line-of-battle ships which
have been on the stocks several years, most of which
are 'nearly completed, in order that they may be
commissioned and made ready for sea. During the
present year several first-class screw steamers will
be launched at Portsmouth, Chatham, Devonport,
and Pembroke, when other line-of-battle ships are
to be immediately laid down on the same slips.
The screw steamer Scotia, of Greenock, of 1,020
tons, Capt. Bell, arrived at Falmouth on Saturday,
in ballast, from the Havannah and Savannah. This
vessel about 17 months ago took out to India the
head-quarters of the 72d Highlanders, and then
proceeded to China, where she embarked a cargo of
coolies and took them to Cuba. Owing to the de-
pression of freights at Havannah,and the high port
charges she could not succeed in obtaining a cargo
either there or at Savannah, where she touched on
her homeward voyage.
Her -Majesty's screw steam transport Urgent it
is expected will proceed to Waterford about the
20th inst., and there embark the Tipperary Militia
Artillery, for service in the different forts on the
Gosport side of -Portsmouth Harbour.
The Bloomer troopship, Captain Smith, sailed
from Spithead at 11 a.m. yesterday for Bombay
and. Eurraeheo.

Captain the Hon. J. Drummond, Aide-de-Camp
to the 'Queen,-recently appointed Commodore and
Superintendent of Woolwich Dockyard, and at pre-
sent on leave of absence, yesterday visited the
establishment, and conferred with the authorities
for the purpose of making arrangements prelimi-
nary to his assuming office.
Rear-Admiral Smart and the members composing
the Dockyard Economical Committee at Woolwich
yesterday assembled in the pay office belonging to
the factory and investigated the system of book-
keeping practised in that department. After a
thorough inspection of the books and offices they
expressed their approbation of the ready and effi-
cient method now in force for the payment of the
men, as well as the efficiency perceptible through-
out the offices.

Her Majesty's paddlewheel sloop Alecto, Com-
mander J. Hunt, was yesterday morning ordered
to be paid off at Woolwich on Saturday next.