The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—EXETER, July 31.
(Before Mr. Baron Channel].)
CLAMPIT V. PRIDIIAM—BREACH OF PROMISE OF
MARRIAGE.
This was an action for breach of promise,
damages being laid at £l,OOO.
Mr. Collier, Q.C., and Mr. Carter were counsel
for the plaintiff; and Sir F. Slade and Mr. Millar
appeared for the defendant.
Mr, Collier stated the case. The plaintiff was
Miss Clampit, and she carried on the business of
a draper in Bridge-street, Exeter. She was a
highly-respectable woman, and had carried on her
business with great propriety for some time. He
could not call her a young woman, because he be-
lieved she was nearly 50. (Laughter.) The de-
fendant, who was a clergyman, the rector of a parish
in Lincolnshire, but had resided in Devonshire for
some time, became acquainted with the plaintiff in
this manner. In December last, he came to Miss
Clampit's shop for the purpose of inquiring the
eharacter of a servant. He called a good many
times, and appeared to have become very much
attached, to her. Belonging to the Low Church
party, and the plaintiff being a Dissenter, there
was a good deal of conversation on religious sub-
jects, and defendant said he had written a work on
Church reform, a subject in which he was a good
deal interested. He lent her the book, and after
that she received a note which a good deal sur-
prised her. It was to the effect that when he
called upon her a fortnight ago, the plaintiff made
a declaration respecting the conduct of servants,
generally speaking, which gave him a high opinion
of the integrity and uprightness of her mind ; that
he loved a woman of such a disposition, and should
like to obtain one for a wife, who could say from
her heart—" Dear John, I love you sincerely ;"
(laughter)—and that he wanted a partner to sooth
and comfort him in passing through this wicked
world, and in walking—not in the broad road that
led to destruction, but in the narrow path that led to
eternal life. Now, undoubtedly, the defendant was an
old man, u,,wards of 70. The other side said he
was 80. (Laughter.) But he (the learned counsel
was informed that he was remarkably vigorous,
and like Adam in " As You Like It,"
" His age was like a lusty winter,
Frosty but kindly."
(Laughter.) He did not know then, if a man was
old, why ha should not take to himself a wife in his
old age to sooth his declining years. He did not
pretend that there was any romantic attachment,
but he should show the• jury that there was a dis-
tinct contract to marry entered into by a man in the
possession of his understanding. The learned coun-
sel then stated that defendant had fixed the day and
given instructions for the marriage; that he had
engaged Miss Pethybridge, a governess, to super-
intend the plaintiff's business whilst they were ab-
sent on their married tour ; that he had agreed to
settle £5O a-year on the plaintiff, having informed
her and others that he had an income of £3OO a
year, and that the licence was taken out; but that
in consequence of the defendant's daughters having
over-persuaded him, a caveat was lodged with the
registrar against the marriage, and it did not ac-
cordingly come off.
A plea had been put on the record to the effect
that the defrndant was of unsound mind, and after
the case had been proceeded with for some time it
was agreed between the learned counsel to settle
the matter without going to the jury, and accord.
ingly a juror was withdrawn.

THE HARVEST IN ESSEX.—The continuance of
fine weather during the past few days has had a most bene-
ficial influence upon the corn crops, now generally becom-
ing fit for reaping. The wheat upon the more upland and
light soils being quite ready for the sickle, harvest com-
menced in many districts on Monday, and large breadths of
wheat are now standing in sheaves, but the harvest will not
become general for another fortnight. The aspect of all
kinds of grain is satisfactory, and expectations of a full
average yield are entertained. The potato disease is un-
mistakeably spreading, and fears are awakened that its
virulence will equal if not exceed that of former years.
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