The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-22 00:00:00

ASSASSINATION.

The Northern Whig, received this evening, con--
taws an account of a most cold-blooded and de-
liberate murder committed on Tuesday night, the
/ictiea being Mr. John Woolsey, who resided at
'4bout a mile from Portadown, on the Armagh road.

When the shot was heard below the maid thought
her master had discharged a pistol which he kept
in his bed-room, but hearing a heaiTy fall on the
floor she ran up stairs and found the body lying with
the head towards the window, and a large effusion of
blood, with a portion of brains, on the carpet.
Medical men and the constabulary were immedi-
ately brought from Portadown, and life was found riot
to be completely extinct for about,t bret,qtiarters of an
hour.
A respectable jury was held by the coroner, and
the inquest was proc?eding yesterday evening at the
date of our latest information.—Times.

LEANHINGTON ANNUAL
STEEPLECHASES.
(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
Match—Free Lance beat Red Knight.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase.
Sir Peter Laurie ... ••• •• •••
Prcceed ••• ••• ••• •••
•••
•••

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The great English tenor, Mr. Sims Reeves, made
his debut here last evening in the character of Ernani,
in Verdi's opera of that name, and by his perfor-
mance went far to prove that he is not only the
greatest of English tenors, but without exception the
very greatest tenor of the day. Of all living tenors
DO one at present on the stage has approached Mr.
Sims Reeves with the single exception of Duprez,
and he is filling into " the sere and yellow leaf,"
while Mr. Sims Reeves, in the full possession of his
powers, is what M. Duprez was twenty years ago.
Never before has the character of Ernani, or indeed
the opera itself, been nearly so well represented in
this country as it was last night. The cast was
very strong, as in addition to Mr. Sims Reeves
as Ernani we had Mademoiselle Parodi as Eivira,
Beletti as Silva, and Lorenzo as Carlo V. The act-
ing of Mr. Sims Reeves was full of impassioned
energy, and his rendering of the music was charac-
terised by immense power, and by that deep intensity
of feeling without which it is impossible to achieve
any success on the Italian lyrical stage. He was in
excellent voice, and his rich chest notes were
very fine. The management of his voice, too,
showed that he was a perfect master of his art, an',
after hearing him last evening, we have no hesitation
in saying that in him nature and art have combined
to give to the world a perfect tenor singer. His
embellishments were all in the best possible taste, and
nothing could exceed the purity of his elocution.
From his opening scene, " Come rugiada," to the
closing scene, he was alike perfect. He was loudly
applauded in the opening scene, and was encore d
in the fine trio, " Tu se' Ernani," with Parodi and
Lorenzo, in the first act. In the second act the beauti-
ful duet, "Ah morir potessi adesso," with Parodi,
was encored, and in the finale to the opera he
excited a perfect furore. Seldom have we seen an
audience worked up to such a pitch of enthusiasm as
was the audience of Her Majesty's Theatre by the
impassioned acting of Sims Reeves and Mademoiselle
Parodi in this scene. They were admirably sup-
ported by Beletti, whose impassive sternness as Silva,
rendered, by the force of contrast, still more effective
the impassioned agony of Ernani and Elvira.
Of the Elvira of Mademoiselle Parodi it is impos
Bible to speak in terms of too high praise ; it was
a perfect exhibition of impassioned energy, and her
vocalization was excellent. Her scena d'intrata,
" Ernani, Ernani, involami," was a brilliant speci-
men of florid vocalization, and drew down rapturous
plaudits, and her acting throughout was of the very
highest order of tragedy. Sig has Lorenzo
has, by his Carlo V., more than realised
the favourable expectations which we enter-
tained of him from his Nino, and he now takes his
place in the very first rank of our barytones. Be-
letti was, as usual, admirable as Silva. His render-
ing of the " Infelice a tuo credevi " was full of
pathos, and earned for him a rapturous encore.
The principal performers were called on at
the conclusion of every act, and at the fall of the
curtain Mademoiselle Parodi, Mr. Sims Reeves, and
Beletti were called on twice, and the great tenor was af-
terwards honoured with a special call to himself. Never
has this opera been nearly so perfectly represented in
this country as it was last evening, and never before
has any opera of Verdi been so applauded, a com-
pliment, however, due, not so much to any talent
in the composer as to the transcendent genius,
and the exquisite taste of the accomplished artistes en-
gaged in its production. Les Metamorphoses, the
most elegant and splendid of ballets, followed, and
the expressive dancing and pantomime of Carlotta
Gri%i had such charms for the audience that the great
majority remained until the conclusion of the perfor-
mances. The theatre was crowded.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—There were present
yesterday (Thursday evening) at ber Majesty's Theatre
the Duke of Leeds, his Serene Highness Charles Duke
of Brunswick, the Baroness Brunnow, Didlle. Olga de
Lechner and aidlle. de Brunnow, his Excellency the
Swedish Minister and the Baroness Rehausen, M. de
Berg, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde and
Lady Emily De Burgh, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Earl
of Bradford, the Count de Backe, the Comte de Songueil,
the Comte de Ciyry, the Viscount Cantilupe, the Count
de Frescobaldi, Lord Templeton, Lady Adelaide Howard,
Lord George Paget, Lord and Lady Foley, Lord and Lady
Templemore, Lord Rendlesham, Lord Harry Vane, Lord
W. Lennox, Lord Gardner, Lady E. Russell, Lady
Glentworth, Mr.- George William Repton, M.P.,
and Lady Jane Repton, Lady Charles Somerset,
Lady Caroline Sandford, Mr. and Lady Augusta
Wentworth and the Misses Wentworth, Lady W.
Ball, the First Lord of the Admiralty and Lady
Arabella Bsring, the Hon. Mr. Chichester, the
General Santa Cruz, General the Hon. H. Cavendish,
the Hon. O. F. Toler, the Hon. Robert Boyle, Hon. A.
Willoughby d'Ereeby, the lion. C. R. Neville, the Hon.
Mr. Templemore, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Ward,
Lady A• Gordon, Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., M.P., and
Lady Howard, Major. General Sir Alexander Woodford,
Bart., Lady and the Misses Woodford, Sir John Lowther,
Bart., Sir Henry Webb, Bart., Sir James Clark Ross and
Lady Ross, Sir George Pocock, Bart., and Lady Pocock,
Sir Thomas Barrett Lennard, Sir Woodbice Parish and
Lady Parish, Sir Seymour Sadler, Mrs. Heneage, Mrs.
G. Arbuthnot and Miss Arbuthnot, the Hon. Captain
Phipps, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Palmer, Major Buckley,
Mr., Mrs., and Miss Brereton Trelawny; Mr. Henry
Baring, M P., Mr. Hubert do Burgh, Mr. Montague
Gore, Mr. and Mrs. Sandford, Mrs. Paul, Mr. C. W .
Packe, M.P., and Mrs. Packe Reading, Mr. C. Barry
Baldwin, M.P., Mr. George Cornwall, Miss Boileau,
Captain Vivian, Mrs. Charles Hammersle, Mr. Henry
Singleton and Miss Singleton, Mr. W. 'Cubit% M.P.,
Mr. F. Cutler, Mr. Morgan, M.P., Mr. Rice, &c.
MADEMOISELLE RITA FAVANTI.—This charming
vocalist, whose success at her Majesty's Theatre we have
often had the pleasure of noticing, has lately be en en-
chantieg the dilettante of Brussels, by the extraordinary
compass of her voice and her exquisite singing. On dit,
we are likely to hear her in London, late in the season.
THE LAST OF HENRY RUSSELL.—No vocalist, in
the present day, has stamped the spirit of the time
on his music and singing more felicitously than Henry
Russell. His compositions, and his very style, belong
to " the movement." His farewell performances iu
London (prior to his visit to the United States) will take
place, at the Lyceum Theatre, during next week.
SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING.—The late ad-
vices received at Havre from New York respecting
cotton, although favourable to advanced rates, had rather
a depressing effect on that market, as sales yesterday
were languid and at prices somewhat firm. The Vestu,
with cotton, from New Decline, leached Havre yes-
terday.
Lord Fortescue, who is now staying at Malta, cn
account of his health, has resigned the office of Lord
Steward of Her Majesty's Household.
THE MARQUIS OF WESTMINSTER.—The Times of
this morning, in a leading article, says,—" We have the
satisfaction of announcing that the Marquis of West-
minster, the most opulent member of the English
nobility, has finally attained the object of his life, aed
is appointed to the office of Lord Steward, with the full
privilege of carrying a white stick s.bout, like Polo
the
onius
in the play, whenever the Queen gives a party t
lieges."
THE CASE OF THE REV. DR. ROOKES.—The Rev.
C. Rookes, LL.D., Rector ot Nymet Rowland, in
.the
diocese of Exeter, against whoa? a sentence of. depTa-
tion, on the ground of immorality, was some time since
passed by the Bishop, has been removed from his bene-
fice, the Bishop having instituted the Rev. Thomas
Rutherford Dickinson, M.A., to the vacant rectory.
THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT ST. VINCENT'S
ROCKS, BRISTOL.—The coroner's inquest an the body of
Miss Craven was held on Wednesday. evening at the
Brownlow Tavern, and ended in a verdict of " acciden-
tal death." The jury expressed their opinion that some
means ought to be adopted by the authorities, either by
the provision of some railings or otherwise, to prevent a
recurrence of such accidents.
Virtue shines, though contemptibly clad,. and
is
recognized and respected by noble minds.--Eliza Cook's
Journal.
ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.—At
the sittings of the magistrates at the Guildhall, Ro-
chester, on Wednesday last, the Rev. Henry Meeres, head
master of the Grammar School, was charged with hav-
ing unlawfully assaulted and beaten Frederick Seymour
Bamford, one of the foundation scholars, by striking him
several blows with a stick, and otherwise ill-treating
him, without just cause or provocation. The evidence
in support of this charge went to the effect that the boy
for coughing had been slapped violently on the face,
caned with a walking-stick, which was broken over his
shoulders, and afterwards compelled to beg pardon on his
kcees. He was kept in that position for three-quarters
of an hour, and had been ill in CODS, quence of the severe
c.:hastia-ercant which he received. On the part of the de-
feadant it was sought to he proved that Mr. Meer es had
punished the boy to secure subordination among his
scholars, and that the chastisement had not been exces-
sive, the coughing in which Bamford had taken part
being it tended as an insult to Mr. Meeres, who had
only recently been appointed head master instead of the
Rev. R. Whiston, by the Dean and Charter of Roches-
ter. Evidence was also given that the defendant was
always a humane and firm waster. The magistrates

-
sentenced the defendant to ray a penalty of 3/. and 25s

Coat,.
TRADE REPORT.—MANCHESTER, MARCH 21.—We
have little or no change in business since Tuesday ;
prices are, perhaps, in some goods a shade lower, and
generally, a feeling of dulness prevails. The yarn market
also remains without material attention. . .

CANADA COMPANY.—A meeting of this company
took place yestereay at the offices, St. Helet.'a-place,
Bishopsgatt -street; Mr. Charles Franks in the chair.
The report stated that the expenditure in London for
the year has amounted to 2,2331, end in Canada to
4,8051., exclusive of taxes and assessments. The receipts
for 1849 wero 26,5061. Their total liabilities amounted
to 451,3371., and the assets to 962,4701. It appeared
that the original otject of this company was to pur-
chase from the Crown large tracts of laud, which were
t) be resold at a low but gradually increasing rate, ac-
cording as the land was cleared and improved by culti-
vation. The report was unanimously adopted, and a
vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of
the day.
Young men, when they are once dyed in pleasure
and ♦anity, will scarcely take any other colour.—Eliza
Cook's Journal.

CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—The
Intrepid screw-schooner (late the Free Trade) arrived
at Woolwich from Blackwell yesterday morning, and was
immediately commanded by Lieutenant John Bertie
Cater, as tender to the All3sibtante. She was taken into
dock yesterday afternoon, and the shipwrights are to be
employed upon her, and also upon the Pioneer, by task
work. Captain Austin, C. 8., was at Woolwicn all day
yesterday superintending the arrangements, and as soon
as the ships arrive from Blackwell he will reside at
Woolwich entirely. They are expected to be out of
hand at Blaclmall by the 30th, when they will be im-
mediately removed to Woolwich, to complete their fittings.
1,000 tons of Welsh coal and 200 tons of patent fuel have
been ordered for the expedition.
THE SHERIFF AT BRIGHTON.—Chief Justice
Wilde inflicted a fine of 50/. at the Sussex Assizes on
Mr. Hudson, the officer of the Sheriff in Brighton, for
allowing one of the jury, of whom ho had charge while
they lett the bex for a few moments to obtain refresh
ment, to separate from his fellows, and to "run up and
down i❑ his bailiwick." The officer appealed next day
to the Learned Judge " to let him off," but the apylica-
tion was not attended to, the Chief Justice insisting on
the necessity of discipline.—Brighton Guardian.
MR. DisuAELL—We regret to state that Mr.
Disraeli was not sufficiently recovered to accept the
Lord Mayor's invitation to meet his Royal tlighness
Prince Albert at the Mansion-house yesterday. Mr.
Disraeli is, however, convalescent, and will, He
hope, be able to resume his place in Parliament after
Easter.

BRIGHTON, MARCH 21.—The Count de Neuilly,
(ex• King cf the French), accompanied by the Countess
de Neuilly and suite, is expected to arrive in Brighton
on the 3d or 4th of April. The Count and Countess will
take up their abode at the residence of the Marquis of
Bristol, in Kemptown, the Marquis having placed his
mansion at the disposal of the illustrious exiles. Their
stay, it is believed, will b 3 of some weeks' duration. The
Duke de Nemours arrived yesterday et the Royal Al-
bion Hotel. It is the in:ention of the Duke and Duchess
de Nemours to remain here Curing the sojourn of their
illustrious parents. The Duke of Devonshire is expected
to arrive at his residence in Kemptown either to-morrow
or Saturday.
SOUTH SEA COMPANY.—The general half-yearly
meeting of this company was held yesterday at the
South Si a House, Threadneedle-stre-t. Mr. Charles
Franks, Sub-Governor of the company, occupied the
chair. The Secretary read the stilt, ment of the bond
debt, to the cifect that the balance of 4,500/. due in Sep-
tember last, was still unpaid. The standing orders being
thus complied with, the meting immediately adjourned.
It transpired yesterday in the City, that a clerk in
the banking-house of Messrs. Glyn, Halifax, Mills, and
Co , has ab conded with property to the amount of about
8,000/., nearly the whole of which has, however, been
recovered.

THE NEW HOSPITAL AT BROMPTON.—Yesterday
a very full and influential meeting of the board of manage-
ment was held at the Hospital fir Consumption. Amur g
those i r, sent were the Hun. Aithur Kinnaird, the Earl
of Arundel and Surrey, the Hon. Octavius Duticombe,
M.P., Captain Gladstone, and Major Ly..n. The chair
was taken by the Hey. :Sir Henry Foulis, Bart. The
principal business of the evening was iu relation to the
immediate erection of the eastern wing, and the final
completion of the hospital, which, when achieved, wid
accommodate upwards of 200 patients. Several new
rules and regulations relative to the corporation were
moved and adopted, and thanks having been voted to the
Rev. Chairman, the meeting adjourned.

Vain-glory is a stimulus that pleasingly titilates
our heart, and finally tears it.—Eliza Cook's Journal.
♦ Frenchman, named Albert Merriewood, was
yesterday remanded by Mr. Alderman Finnis, from the
Guildhall, on a charge of having in his possession two
bills of exchange of 2501., and a half of a Bank of Eng-
land note for 3001., the property of Mr. Solomon Cahn,
which had been stolen in Paris, and of having forged
Mr. Cahn's name to the bill of exchange.
At the Thames Police• court, yesterday, Mr. Ing-
ham committed a coal porter, named James Regan, for
trial, on a charge of arson. He is supposed to have set
fire to a number cf premises during the last twelve
months in the neighbourhood of Ratcliffe highway, for
the sake of receiving. a small reward for calling the fire-
men and the turneocks.
MERCHANTS AND TRADESMEN'S MUTUAL LIFE
ASSURANCE SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of this
society tok place yesterday, at the offices, Chatham-
place, Blackfriars, John Macgregor, Esq., M.P., in the
chair. The report stated that during the past year 293
policies had been opened for assurance, to the amount.
of 78,6201., the premiums on which were 2,4861.; 34
proposals bad been submitted' to the directors, which
they had deemed proper to decline. Not one death had
occurred during the year, and their affairs were in a
most favourable position. The report was unanimously
adopted, and a sum of 5001. voted to the directors, who
had hitherto received no remuneration whatever. The
retiring directors and auditors were then re-elected, and,
after a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman, directors,
manager, and secretary, the meeting broke up.
EVENING CLASSES FOR YOUNG MEN.—An appli-
cation has just been made to the Court of Common
Council by the Metropolitan Committee for Establishing
Evening Classes for Young Men, for assistance in ena-
bling them to carry into full effect the object they have
in view. That object, as we stated a short time since,
is, by means of the establishment of evening classes, to
furnish the apprentices, shopmen, and clerks of the me-
tropolis, with the opportunity of improving their minds
by the study of languages, and receiving instruction in
the arts and sciences. The plan has received the sane-

tion of the Archbishop of Cauterbury and the Bishops of
London and Winchester; together with nearly the whole
of the London clergy, who, in many instances, have vo-
lunteered their gratuitous services in aid of the cause.
The application to the Court of Common Council was
presented by T. Dakin, Esq., and was referred to the
corn and coal committee.
A commission-agent, named Jones, who carried on
business in Castlf-street, Holborn, was yesterday refused
his certificate by the Court of Bankruptcy.
At Exeter, Thomas King, convicted of having at-
tempted to murder hi:: own father, and also his tathet's
housekeeper, Sarah Hutch, was sentenced by Mr. Justice
raltourd to transportation for life.
An employl of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Rail-
way Company, named Wood, has recovered 1001.
damages from Messrs Miller and Blackley, the con-
tractors, for the loss cf his leg, caused by the negligent
driving of one of their stationary steam-engines. The
cause was tried at York on Wednesday before Mr. Baron

Alderson.
KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Major Herbert Ed- '
wardes, the distinguished officer of Moulton, who was
famerl'y a student and since an associate of King's Col-
lege, has intimated his intention of presiding over a
tebtieal in May next, to promtto the building and en-
dowment of a more efficient hospital in connexion with
that college.
MR. ELIOT WARBURTON'S NEW 'PORK.—Rarely
has more interest been created in literary circles, than
by the announcement of the uew historical romance, en-
titled " Reginald Hastings," from the pen of Mr. Eliot
Warburton, the author of that popular work " The Cres-
cent and the Cross." It is stated that the hero of the

story belongs to the high-souled class of Cavaliers, and
that he goes through all the stirring incidents of the Civil
War. The Puritans are represented in the person of the
father of two sisters, who fill the characters cf the hero-
ines in the imaginative portion of the story. The most
prominent personages of this exciting period of our his-
tory are, it is said, depicted with a strength and liveli-
ness of colouring which will probably give Mr. Warbur-
ton the highest rank in the class of historical novelists.
"INTREPIDITY REWARDED.—We understand that
the Royal Humane Society have awarded to John Rol-
lins, who so nobly rescued Elizabeth Higgins and her
three children from drowning in the Regent's Canal, on
the 18th of last month, the honorary bronze medallion
of the institution, in addition to a pecuniary reward.
ABORTION. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The
infamous and disgusting practice of persons using instru-
ments and other means to procure abortion is notori-
ously known to prevail throughout the country, and es-
pecially in the manufacturing districts, and the time is
come when the strong arm of the law must be used to
arrest the progress. At Nottingham Assizes this week
a man (in a case where the girl died) has been convicted
of the murder of her, and received sentence of death ;
and in another case a woman (where the girl did not
die) has been sentenced to transportation for life. It is
to be hoped that when those sentences become univer-
sally known (as they will do through the public press)
the desired effect will be produced. In the man's case
a point of technicality is reserved for opinion of the
Court of Queen's Bench.
FOREIGN SUPPLIES.—Owing to the prevalence of
contrary winds the arrivals at the port of London from
all parts of the world on Tuesday last were liknited to
three vessels, one of which was from Rotterdam, and
one from Rouen, with general cargoes, the produce of
Holland and France respectively, and the other from the
Channel Islands. The fact of so few ships reporting in
a day at the London Custom-house from abreact is
almost unprecedented. The several docks are very slack
of business at the press nt time, in consequence of the
east wind preventing vessels from long voyages from
arriving at their destination ; and the principal of the
arrivals at the present time are limited to importations
of cattle, grain, and provisions from the European states,
and to valuable articles of silk and fancy manufacture
from France and Germany, of which the most extensive
supplies, usual at this important season of the year. are
now taking place.
THE WEATHER.—We have had no rain in this
neighbourhoed for more than a month, the last having
fallen on Monday, Feb. 18, which was a very wet day.
The farmers are very easy on the point, but the proprie-
tors of gardens are beginning to " cry out
Journal.

ASSIZE INTELL IGEN CE.
HOME ClRCUlT.—Maidstone, March 21.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before LordChiet Justice W. ILDE and

a Special Jury.)

BREACH OF PROMISE OF bIARRIAGE.—EXTRAORDINARY

CASE.-ADAMS V. GIBBS.
This was an action brought by Jane Emma Adams
against Richard Gibbs, to recover damages fur the bleach
of his prohibst. to marry her.
The defendant, in addition to the uftial formal pleas
denying the making of the promise, &c., also pleaded
that the plair.t,ff had not required him to perform it; and
he had also caused to be placed upon the record two
other pleas of a very extraordinary character, in one of
which he alleged that after making the promise to the
plaintiff he had ascertained that she was suffering from
an incurable disease called consumption, and was on
that account unable to perform the duties of a wife; and
in the other he stated, that he was required to assign
over certain property, to which, through his wife, tie
would have been entitled, to other persons, and pnthe!e
grounds he alleged that he was justified in refusing to
perform the promise he had made.
The damages were laid at 2,000/.
Mr. M. Chambers and Mr. Bovill were for the plain-

tiff; Sergeant Shee and Mr. Ogle appeared fur the dt-
fendane.

Mr. CHAMBERS, in oeening the case, said that it was
his duty, on the part of the plaintiff, to lay before the
jury the extraordinary circumstances under which she
was oblige] to appeal to their justice for com[ensation
for the deep and distressing injury which she had re-
ceived at the hands of the defendant; and, when to had
laid before them the singular circumstances of the
transaction, he was satisfied they would see that the
case was one which required their most serious consi-
deration, and which de mended very heavy damages in-
deed at their hands. The plaintiff, Sliss Jane Emma
Adams, was the eldest surviving daughter of a gentle-
man residing at Wateringbury, in this county. He bad
formerly carried on the business of a farmer, at Nettle-
stead, very extensively, but he was un'ortunate, and, in
consequence of the circumstances of this case, he felt it
necessary to give the jury some information with regard
to the condition in life of the father of the plaintiff. It
appeared that, being in difficulties,
and indebted in a
considerable amount to his wife's relations, he bad
agreed to give up his farm to his brother-in-law, and
his relatives consented to pay the whole of his debts, he
undertaking, on his part to give all the se-
curity in his power for the repayment. The
defendant was a farmer and hop-grower in the same
neighbourhood, and he and his. family were on
the most intimate terms with the plaintiff and her
relations, and constantly visited them, and he therefore
had ample opportunity of observing the conduct of the
young lady and also the state of her health before he
made the promise of marriage, upon which this action
was founded. At the time the offer of marriage was
made the young lady was about 24 )ears of age, and the
detendaut was about 45, and it appeared that in August,
1848, he first male the proposal to the young lady. She,
very properly, immediately communicated what had
taken place to her feeher, and he subsequently had an
interview with the defendant, and upon that occasion he
called to his attention the disparity between their ages;
but the defendant made no difficulty of this circumstance,
and the plaintiff's father thee said that if they them-
selves saw no difficulty in this respect, he should net,
upon the ground of their differences of ages, offer any
opposition to the union. He at the same time told the
defendant that be was aware of his circumstances, and
that he was not in a condition to give his daughter any
'fortune, and the defendant replied that he did not desire
money, and that he had ph my to support his wife, and
that all he desired was to be united to his daughter.
From this period the defendant was received as
the acknowledged suitor of the young lady, and he pro-
ceeded to purchase new furniture, and to make altera-
tions in his house, in anticipation t f the marriage, aid
at leeg h the wadding was appointed to take place on
the 16th Deoemh, r, at the church of St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields, and a short time before the day in question the
defendant, who intended to have the mem ,ge solem•
sized under a special licence, went to London in ordereto
comply with the necessary form of residing a certain
period within the district where the ceremony was to be
perkirined. Ile had stated that Miss Adams was en-
titled t ) a small amount of property at the death of her
mother, and it became necessary that certain deeds
should be execute] before the marriage took place, and
the defendant, who was informed of the whole of the
circumstances, consented to be a party, and it was ar-
ranged that he should be present at the office of the
solicitor, iu Maidstone, when the deeds were executed,
and Thursday, the 14th of December, was appointed fur
that purpose. The plaintiff and her father, and the other
persons interested, accordingly assembled, but the defen-
dant never made his appearance, and nothing more was
heard of him from the month of December, 1848, till
October, 1849, when he again made his appearance in
London. Of course great alarm was felt by his friends,
and also by the plaintiff's family at his absence. It was
imagined that some accident must have befallen him, and
the police were applied to to make inquiries respecting
him, but for a long time no information whatever could
be obtained respecting him. It was at length ascer-
tained that on the day when he was to have attended to
see the deeds executed at Maidstone, he had gone as far
as Reigate by the South-Eastern Railway, and that he
left the train at that station, and proceeded to make his
way to Liverpool, to which place some notes, which he
had received for stock he had sold, were traced, and

it was supposed that he had gone to America; but,
however, nothing was heard of him, neither was any
letter or communications in any state received
by his own family or that of the plaintiff, and
nothing value known respecting him, until the month
of October, 1849, wben it appeared that he was disco-
vered in London. The jury might very well conceive
that this proceeding occasioned the most dreadful alarm
and anxiety to the plaintiff, and for some time it was
found that her mind was affected, and that she would
never recover the shock she had sustained. Owing,
however, to the constant attention of her brother, who
was in the medical profession, and the kindness she bad
received, not only from her own relations, but also from
the family of the defendant, that fear did not now
exist, but her constitution and health were impaired,
and she still suffered most deeply from the conduct of
the defendant. The defendant had never condescended
to give any explanation of his proceeding!, and he was
really at a loss to imagine what answer was to be
attempted on the present occasion. With regard
to the pleas that had been put upon the record,
several of them were merely of a personal character, but
as to the last two pleas, he must say that he looked upon
them as an aggravation of the defendant's misconduct,
end but that he did not believe they emanated frum him,
but were merely placed there by his attorneys, he should
have no hesitation in saying that it was most disgraceful
to attempt to make such a def-nee. The Learned Coun-
sel then proceeded to state that it appeared to him thut
these pleas were most odious and distressing. The de-
fendant by one of these pleas did not deny that he had
made the promise to marry the plaintiff, but be asserted
that she was suffering under a deadly disease,
and on
that account she had no right to ask him to fulfil it.
What were the circumstances under which the defendant
had dared to place such a plea upon the record as au
excuse for his own misconduct? He should show
that he had been on intimate terms with the ramily—
that be was constantly visiting at their house,
and if there was any foundation for the as-
sertion with regard to the state of health of the plain-
tiff, I e must have been aware of it, or at all events,
ought to have been, before he took upon himself to
make her an offer of marriage. He was instructed,
however, that there was no pretence to the allegation,
and he defied his Learned Friend to produce any testi-
mony to confirm that which was stated in the plea, viz.,
that the plaintiff was suffering under consumption, and
if he did not do se, he thought the jury would agree
with him that the placing such a plea upon the record
was an additional insult to the young lady, whom he had
already so deeply injured. The Learned Counsel then
made some observations upon the other plea,
stating that
it was equally incapable of proof, and be concluded by
asking the jury whether, it he should make out these
facts to their satisfaction, they would not consider that
the amount of damages claimed in the declaration were
only a sufficient compensation for the injury the plaintiff
had sustained.
Witnesses were then examined in proof of the state-
ment of counsel.
Sergeant SHEE then addressed the jury
for the de-
fendant. He commenced by observing, that the de•
fendant never intended in any way to cast the slightest
slur upon the virtue, reputatien, or conduct of the plain.
tiff or her family, and he was now instructed publicly
to make the admission, and at the same time also to
state, that there was nothing whatever in the circum-
stances or conduct of the father of the plaintiff, which
cast the slightest discredit upon him, and that he would
have been proud to ally himself with the family, but for
the reason stated in that plea with regard to the state of
health of the plaintiff, and which was the real and sub-
stantial defence he was instructed to make upon the pre-
sent occasion. There was a very great difference in the
circumstances of cases of this description. If it ap-
peared that a man under the plea of affection and the
promise of marriage had seduced an innocent girl, and
then cast her off an object of scorn to the world, or
that he deserted the pretended object of his affection
for another who was more
beau-
tiful, such wealthy or more
cases juries very properly gave large
damages ; but he would confidently ask the jury
whether the present was not a case of a very different
description. The defence he bad to urge upon the jury
was, that the defendant was not actuated by any im-
proper motive, but that he really loved this young wo-
man, and had the intention to make her his wife, until
he had reason to believe that the state of her health was
such as to render it almost certain that their union would
be a most unhappy one, and that the offspring which
would be the result of it would in all probability be
doomed to a premature grave. The Learned Counsel
then remarked upon the dreadful extent to which the
disease of consumption prevailed in this country, and
he asked the jury whether, if the defendant really be-
lieved that the woman to whom he was about to be al
lied was tainted with that disorder, and reflected upon
the melancholy consequences that were likely to ensue,
whether he was not morally justified, and whether be
did more than pc. farm his duty in refusing to effect
such an union. It was clear from the evidence
that the promise in question was hastily made, and
that only a week before no idea was entertained
of it being the intention of the defendant to
make an offer of marriage to the young lady, and he
should submit to the jury that up t> this period the de-
fendant had not had the opportunity of ascertaining the
condition of health of his intended wife. He would, in
the first instance, ask them whether, upon the evidence
that had been laid before them, they entertained any
doubt that the young lady was in reality labouring under
this dreadful disease. They had heard that two of her
sisters, one aged 20 and the other 22, had been snatched
away by it; that her brother had been sent to India in
the hope that it would preserve his life from also falling
a sacrifice to the disorder; and, although one medical

gentleman had been called, who had attended the plaintiff
some time before, and who expressed an opinion that she
was not suffering frame the disease, yet, when they heard
that Dr. Joy, and Messrs. Williams, Watson, and Taylor,
all men of eminence, and souse of whom had con-
stantly attended upon the plaintiff, were in court.
and were not called as witnesses, he asked them
whether they could entertain any reasonable doult
of the fact? If this were so, the question for
them to decide was, wletner, under such circum-
stances, the defendant was ne,t jestified in breaking his
proaise. It was evident that his intention was to marry
the plaintiff up to the very last moment; but when he
became aware of the dreadful truth, he did not know
how to act. It was said that he ought to have made a
communication either to the plaintiff or to her friends,
and have stated the reasons which induced him to de-
cline to perform the promise he had made; but he asked
the jury to place tl-iernselves for one moment in his posi-
tion, and see haw it was possible he could have done so.
Was it possible for a man to go to the woman whom he
loved, and who was in expectation of being united to
him, and say that their union could net take place be-
cause it was more proper that she should put on funeral
habiliments than those of rejoicing; and that the time
was fast approaching when she must be placed in the
same turf where her sisters were reposing? Was it
possible that such a thing could be said? He was
sure they would agree with him that it was not;
and the defendant, at length driven to desperation by his
position, and not having the fortitude to meet the diffi-
culty in which he was placed, had adopted the only ex-
pedient that remained to him of flying from his friends
and exiling himself from his country. 'The Learned
Segeant then pri,ceeled to state that it appeared to him
that the plaintiff hal been fate 1 from a great deal of
anguish and misery by the course that had been pursued
by the defendant, and chat she had been spared the agony
or seeing her offspring go prematurely to the grave, and
upon all the facts he urged upon the jury that she had
not sustained any real damage by the defendant failing
to fulfil his promise. He concluded by stating that, it
they should, in the result, be of opinion that the plaintiff
was entitled to a verdict, he reminded them that there
was no evidence to show that the defendant was in a
condition to enable him to pay excessive damages, and
he trusted they would consider that a very moderate sum
would amply satisfy the justice of the case.
Chief Justice WILDE very briefly summed up ; the
jury retired, and after a short deliberation they gave a
verdict far the plaintiff—Damages 800/.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Common ./

,
THURSDAY, MARCH 21.
TRANSFER OF LANDED PROPERTY.
Motion made, and Question proposed, " That, considering
the complaints which in many parts cf the Kingdom have
proceeded from the owners and occupiers of land, and con-
sidering also the benefits which have arisen to all other
classes from recent legislation promoting free trade; it is
expedient now to adopt measures for dminishing the exist-
ing restrictions on the free transfer of landed property, and
for distributing such property, in cases of ir:testacy, accord-
ing to the same rules as prevail in respect of personal pro-
perty." The House divided:
MINORITY—AYES, 52.
Alcock, Thomas Headlam, Thomas Homily, Colonel
Bass, M. T. Heathcoat, John Salwey, Colonel
Bouvuric, E. P. Henry, Alexander Smith, John B.
Bright, John Heywood, James Stanton, W. H.
Brockman, E. D. Heyworth, L. Thompson, Colonel
Brotherton, J. Kershaw, James Thornely, Thomas
Brown, W. Lacy, H. C. Tollemache, F. J.
Cilflord, H. M. Lushington, Charles Wyse, R. H. ;
.:;olebrooke, Sir T. Meagher, Thomas Villiers, Charles
Duncan, George Mangles, IL I). Wahnsley, Sir J.
Ellis, John Melgund, Viscount Wawn, J. T.
E wart, William Milnes, IL M. Williams, John
Fergus, John Nugent, Lord Willyams, H.
Gibson, T. M. O'Brien, Sir Timothy Wilson, Matthew
Greene, John Pechell, Sir G.
Hall, Sir B. Pilkington, James
Ilardcastle, J. A. Pinney, William
Harris, Richard Power, Nicholas
Haste, Alexander Robartes, T. J. A.

TELLIES.
flume, Joseph
King, P. J.

MAJORITY—NOES, 110.
Abdy, Sir Thomas Goddard, A. L. Milner, W. M.
Arbutbkott, Hugh Goulburn, Henry Mostyn, E. 31. L.
Armstrong, Sir A. Grace, , )„ 1). Mulgrave, Earl
Bankes, George Greene Thomas Newry, Viscount
Baring, Sir F. T. G: ey, R. W. Owen, Sir John
Barnard, E. G. Gwyn, Howel I'acke, C. W.
Bellew, ii. M. Hamner, Sir John Paget,;Lord A.
Beresford, William Harris, Captain Paget, Lord,George
Blackall, S. W. Mitchell, John Pakington, Sir J.
Boldero, 11. G. lieneage, G. 11. Palmer, Roundell
Brisco, M. Henley, J. W. Parker, John
Banbury, E. H. Herbert, H. A. Pigott, Francis
Busfeild, W. Hildyard, T. B. T. Plowden, W. 11.
Carew, W. P. Hobhousu, Sir J. Plumpire, J. P.
Charter.s, Francis Hodgson, W. N. Portal, Melville
Chatterton, Colonel Hogg, Sir J. W. Richards. Richard
Childers, .1. W. llornby, John Russell, F. C.
Christopher, R. Hotham, Lord . Seynter, H. K.
Coke, E. K. Howard, Lord E. Seymour, Lord
Cole, li. A. Howard, P. H. Sheridan, R. B.
Coles, it. R. Hudson, George Smyth, J. G.
Compton, H. C. Johnstone, Sir J. Somerville, Sir W.
Craig, Sir W. G. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Spooner, Richard
Deedes, W. Law, C. E. Stanley, B. H.
Denison, J. E. Lennard, T. B. Townshend, Capt.
Divett, E. Lennox, Lord A. Tufnell. H.
Dodd, G. Lewis, G. C. Tyrell, Sir J.
Duncombe, A. Lindsay, Colonel Vane, Lord H.
Dundas, Sir David Littleton, E. R. Verner, Sir W.
Dunne, Colonel Lockhart ,:A. E. Vesey, Thomas
Ebrington, Viscount Lockhart, W. Watkins, Colonel
Edwards, 11. Lopes, Sir Ralph Willoughby, Sir 11.
Elliot, John Lowther, Colonel Wilson, James
Emlyn, Viscount Lygon, General Wood, Sir Charles
Farrer, James Mackie, John
Forbes, Wm. Maule, Fox TELLERS.
Fuller, A. E. Maxwell, J. P. . Hill, Lord Marcus
Gaskell, J. 31. Miles, William Newdegate, C. N.

GORHAM v. THE BISHOP of EXETER.
The subscribers to the enclosed resolutions present
their compliments to the Editor of The Swig, and will be
obliged by his publishing them as soon as possible.

LUndon, Ala-rch 19.
RESOLUTIONS.

1. That whatever at the present time be the force of
the sentence delivered on appeal in the case of " Gorham
v. the Bishop of Exeter," the Church of England will
eventually be bound by the said sentence, unless it shall
openly and expressly reject the erroneous doctrine sanc-
tioned thereby.
2. That the remission of original sin to all infants in,
and by the grace of, baptissa is an essential part of the
article, " Oue baptism for the remission of sins."
3. That—to omit other questions raised by the said
sentence—such sentence, while it does not deny the
liberty of holding that article in the sense heretofore
received, does equally sanction the assertion that original
sin is a bar to the right reception of baptism, and is not
remitted except when God bestows regeneration before-
hand by an act of prevenient grace (whereof Holy Scrip-
ture and the Church are wholly silent), thereby render-
ing the benefits of holy baptism altogether uncertain and
precarious.
4. That to admit the lawfulness of holding an exposi-
tion of an at ticle of the creed contradictory of the essen-
tial meaning of that article is, in truth and in fact, to
abandon that article.
5. That, inasmuch as the faith is one, and rests upon
one principle of authority, the conscious, deliberate, and
wilful abandonment of the essential meaning of au arti-
cle of the creed destroys the divine foundation upon
which alone the entire faith is propounded by the
Church.
6. Teat any portion of the Church which does so
abandon the essential meaning of an article of the creed
forfeits not only the Catholic doctrine in that article, but
also the office and authority to witness aed teach as a
member of the universal Church.
7. That by sech conscious, wilful, and deliberate act
such portion of the Church becomes tormally separated
from the Catholic body, and can no longer assure to its
members the grace of the sacraments and the remission
of sins.
8. That all measures consistent with the present legal
position of the Church ought to be taken without delay
to obtain an authoritative declaration by the Church of
the doctrine of holy baptism impugned by the recent
sentence; as, for instance, by praying license for the
Church in Convocation to declare that doctrine, or by
obtaining a'i Act of Parliament to give legal effect to
the decisions of the collective Episcopate on this and all
other matters purely spiritual.
9. That, failing such measures, all efforts must be
made to obtain from the said Episcopate, acting only its
spiritual character, a reaffirmation of the doctrine of
holy baptism impugned by the said sentence.
H. E. MastraNsa, M.A., Archdeacon of Chi-
chester.
ROBERT J. WELBERFORCE, M.A, Archdeacon
of the East Riding.
THOMAS THORP, 8.D., Archdeacon of Bristol.
W. H. MILL, D.D., Regius Professor of Hebrew,
Cambridge.
E. B. PUSEY, D.D., Regius Professor of He-
brew, Oxford.
JOHN KEBLE, MA., Vicar of Huraley.
W. DODSWORTIL M.A., Perpetual Curate of
Christ Church, St. Pancras.
WILLIAM J. E. BENNETT, M.A., Perpetual
Curate of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge.
HENRY WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, M.A., Vicar
of East Farleigh.
RICHARD CAVENDISH, M.A.
EDWARD BADELEY, M.A., Barrister-at-Law.
JAMES R. HOPE, D.C.L., Barrister-at-Law.

The Bishop of Exeter has returned the following an-
swer to an address presented to him by a large number
of the most influential clergymen and laymen in the dio-
cese of London:—
"My dear Dr. Spry,—The address which you and
other eminent clergymen and laymen of the Church
have had the goodness to present to me fills me with
feelings of a very mixed character. I cannot but be
supported and strengthened by the sympathy of such
mee, but I am far more humbled by the terms of eulogy
in which that sympathy is expressed. May He who is
sight to the blind, and strength to the weakest, grant to
me, and to all that we may, in this our day of trial, act
with faithfulness, with firmness, with singleness of heart,
seeking only to serve Him, and to guard the sacred de-
posit of truth which he has entrusted to us!
" It seems but too likely that we are as yet only irt
the commencement of the fight of faith appointed to UF.
Let us strive, by prayer, and in humble reliance on the
grace of God, to attain to a right judgment in all things
connected with our several duties in all that may befall
us. Let us be sober, vigilant, and more especially let us
use our utmost endeavours to stay the impetuous spirit
of those who may be tempted in this new need to de-
sert the Church in which they were in baptism made
members of Christ, and in which that Holy Spirit of
whom we were then born still dwells, and we cannot
doubt will continue to dwell so long as that Church shall
not by some act of her own, which, thanks be to God,
hath not yet happened, only a torpid indifference more
fatal and more hopeless than any act, accept the unhal-
lowed judgment of men, be they who they may, in con-
tradiction to God's truth, and so cut herselt off from
that Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which she
is still a pure and sound, however wounded, member.
" In conclusion, accept my hearty congratulation on
the Christian firmness of your own bishop.
,
1 I am, my dear Dr. Spry, with the warmest thankful-
DM to yourself and so she churchmen who have acted