The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-28 00:00:00

LAW AND POLTCE.

THE " ORCUESTRA," " HANOVER SQUARE," AND "BOND
STREET." —ln the Court of Common Pleas a case has just
been concluded of some importance in the musical world.
It was an action by the firm of Ashdown and Parry, pro-
prietors of the new musical magazine Hanover Square,
against the firm of Cramer and Co., to recover damages
for an alleged libel. The defendants are proprietors of the
Orchestra, and in reviewing Hanover Square and Bond Street
they spoke of the proprietors of the former in such a way as
to create (as the plaintiffs alleged) the impression that
they were insolvent. The defendants contended that there
was no libel. They had always been willing to apologise
in' terms which ought to have been accepted for any
expressions of which the plaintiffs might think that
they had a right to complain. Lord Chief Justice
Bovill, in summing up, said that it seemed to him
that there had really been very little difference between
the parties as to the terms of the apology. The
defendant was willing to print in his paper, "We
retract it, and express our sincere regret that the matter
ever was inserted," and to state that no imputation was
intended ; but declined to say that it was " unjustifiable
and without foundation." The apology actually inserted,
after detailing the negotiations regarding it, said : " We
have only to state that no imputation was intended
on Messrs. Ashdown and Parry, whose firm indeed
stands too high to be affected by anything of
the kind. If anything in the article appears to convey
a contrary impression, we are most anxious to re-
move it, and to express our regret for any annoyance
that a dubious or inadvertent phrase may have been the
cause." His lordship then went through the alleged libel,
and left it to the jury to say whether, in their opinion, the
article was a fair comment or was libellous. After the
jury had been locked up for three-quarters of an hour it
was agreed that the finding of the majority should be
accepted as the verdict. Upon coming into court, they
stated that the whole of them were agreed that the article was
a libel, and the majority of them thought that the damages
should be one farthing. His lordship declined to certify
for costs.

AN'OTIIER RITUAL CASE.—Another case relative ,to
Ritualism is before the Court of Arches, Mr. Cordinley,
a churchwarden, removed from the communion table in
Atherton Church, Warwickshire, a super-altar and other
articles ; and the incumbent, the Rev. F. H. Richiags,
has taken proceedings against him for so doing. The case
is one not only of interest as affecting the Ritual contro-
versy, but also the powers of churchwardens.
OBTAINING GOODS UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.—At the
Mansion house John Pennicaud, John Tow, and James
Fennell were charged before Alderman Sir Robert Carden
with obtaining by false pretences goods of the value of
£156 from the Indiarubber, Gutta Percha, and Telograph
Works Company, of 100, Cannon-street. Mr. Richard
Wardrop, a clerk to the Indiarubber Company, said
that on the 4th November last a letter was received
from James Fennell and Co., of 21A, Hyde-park-place,
ordering goods to the amount of £BB 12s. 2d., and
giving as a reference James Webb. In consequence the
company wrote to that person, and received in reply an
answer speaking in high terms of Fennell and Co.
Believing that there was such a firm, and that the reference
was correct, the company supplied goods to the amount of
£23 14s. 9d. Witness had since ascertained that those goods
were pledged immediately for £7 by the prisoner Pennicaud.
He visited Hyde - park • place, and was told that Fennell
and Cu. were fitting up and decorating houses in Belgravia,
and that in consequence they had laid out their money,
and that they did not like to press fur payment for
fear their customers would be offended. Witness asked
where the goods supplied by the company were, and the
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were supplied. lie took Tow in custody by virtue of hi.;
warrant as a special constable. lie told him the char,-e,
and Tow replied that he was only Fennell's clerk. Wit-
'less had since been over the house in Hyde-park-place. It
was completely empty. After some corroborative evidence,
the prisoners were committed for trial.

Mr. Spencer Perceval, who was Principal Secre-
tary to Lord Chelmsford, has been appointed Principal
Secretary to the new Lord Chancellor, and the Hon.
Frederick Thesiger retains his office of Gentleman of the
Clamber,