The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-30 00:00:00

EVENING, JULY 00, 1857

that port was actually in Russian military occupa-
tion.

With regard t 3 the former plea—as the Russian
right to the said port is based on the Treaty of Ad-
rianople, and as the British Government ha=, accor-
ding to Lyra J. Ru,seli's explanation, repudiated
the Russian claim so based, it must to held totally
invalid, and the seizure of the Vixen be held con-
sequently totally unwarranted, even without refer-
' ence either to the illegality of bllekiding a coast
without any proclamation to that effect, or efficient
force to maintain the blockade, or to the absurdity
of the Russian Government making Custom-house
regulations for a coast which to this day she hasnot
succeeded in conquering. And, with regard to the
second, I beg it mly Le remarked that, although at
the time the evidence of the captain, the crew, and
of one of the owners of the Vixen, as to the al:solute
falsehood of the allegations of the Russian ministry
regarding the Russian military occupation of the
port of Sudjuk7Kaleh, was addueed and carrobo-
rated by the written statement of Captain Edmund.
Spencer (or rather it was tendered and not ac-
cepted), evidence to the same effect can still 113 bad
from Mr. F. W. Knight, M.P., and from Mr. J.
A. L mgworh, our consul at Monastir, b ,th of
whom, with myself, were resident for a consider-
able time on the shores of the said port, a year (I
occasionally, for neatly three years) after the cap-
ture of the Vixen there, and can thus attest that
even then the Russian government had not Elle-
ceeded in effecting its military occupation.
Under all these circumstances, I trust that your
lordship will admit that a claim of indemnity from'
the Russian government has been fully made out,
and that your lordship will take such measures for
making it effectual as may appear to your lordship
most appropriate.—l have the honour to be, &C.
(Signed) JAS. STANISLAUS BELL.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND COURT.-DERBY, July 27.

her statement in writing. I gave her Is. 63. after
finding paper and other things. At plain iff's re-
quest also I went to Ellen Wieson. I have not
been to any oth r witueee I was to inquire of
Elan Winsou if Lady Harrinvon had sail arty-
thing re3peefinet Vie plaintiff to her. I sad. to
Catherine Smitt7, "Speak the truth, never mind
how black it is." I don't remember anything ab fur,
a contest for a neighb outing incumbency. I heard
nothing about Mr. Hi'limoro's pupils. I have
tried to find Ellen IVinsen, litv, she is not to he
found. I gave Catherine Jane Smith the is. 6d.
fer the paper which she gave me ; but I told her I
wished her to node' stand that I slid no,`, give it as
a bribe.
Rev. F. N. Highmore—l became vicar of Elvas-
ton in 1841, on the preseutation of the late Earl.
I was before head master of the grammar-school at
Burnley. I have resided on my living from 1841,
except three years when • I was absent from ill-
health. t•was on intimate terms with the late Lord
Harrington, I never spoke to Lady Harrington
in my life.
Cross-examined—After my illness I returned
into residence July, 1854. It was notorious in the
parish that 1 had bean seriously ill. Mr. Collins
was my curate for about 8 or 9 months. 1 received
one complaint of his drunkenness, and I instantly
wrote to the rural dean. Some pecuniary claims
were made after h's departute. Mr. James was
soon appointed curate. He officiated once. I was
in the habit of visiting at the Castle during the late
lord's lifetime. I took pupils until I was ill. I 'was
a c in.didate for the neighbouring incumbency. The
Duke of Leins'er's nephew, one of my pupils, was
complained of for having fired a gun with wadding
in it, which hit a servant of the successful candi-
date. No money was paid to the infirmary on ac-
count of that complaint.
The learned judge here interposed and said that
he could not see the relevancy of the examination.
Mr. Mellor said that the circumstauces into
which he *as inquiring were important, as explain-
ing the meaning of some expressions used by Lady
Harrington.
Mr. Justice Cresswell said that if Mr. Mellor, as
a gentleman of experience, would pledge himself
that the evidence was material for that purpose the
examination might proceed.
Mr. Highmore, in. answer to other questions,
added—l found on inquiry that two of my pupils
were out shooting, ond that the Duke of Leinster's
nephew, who was near-sighted, was allowed to dis-
charge a gun once, which had only wad ling in it,
and by accident'a man was hit, but not hurt. The
money collected for the repairs of the church I
placed at the disposal of the architect, Mr. Stevens,
in 1853. I kept an account of the sacrament-money
which was open to the inspection of every one. I
am not aware th it it is the practice for the church-
warden to take it. The rubric does not require
that. I was never asked about it, except once by
Mr. Jones, who asked me how I disposed- of it. If
I was asked by arty one I always told. I have
been so seriously ill that I was told for some time
I had better not take wine, and for three years I
think I did not take three glasses.
Re examined.—The Duke of Leinster was look-
ing at the church, and noticed the bad state of the
west-end. He said as he had two children buried
there he would leave 101. with me to start the
subscription. I preached a sermon for the same
object, and collected about 6/., and made it up to
The archdeacon came afterwards and ordered
an alteration in the tower and bells which prevented
me from collecting more for the oth-r repairs at
that time. The Dowager Lady Harrington had
a painted window put into the west end of the
church. Then I had the repairs done, and the
money was paid over to Mr. S ephens. I `did not
pocket it in any ether sense than I have explained.
I always give poor people things from my own
locroe. I prefer purchasing them myself. More
than two-thirds of the actual sacrament money
were actually given in money.
Mr. Mellor then addressed the jury for the dee
fendants, and stated that Lady Harrington was
anxious to be examined as a witness, to give her
own account of what had actually taken pl ice at
the interviews of which Mr. Jones ha I spoken :
and he bad no doubt that the jury would be satis-
fied that she bad been very much misunderstood
and misreprt sent ed.
The Countess of Harrington waa then examined,
and said—l remember Mr. Jones coming to offi-
ciate at Elvaston. It was the beginning of Feb-
ruary or end of 'January. He used to come very
often to lunch. It was with reference to my taking
the sacrament that I asked him Who was to ad-
minister it. He told use he did not knew. I said
I should not take it from Mr. Highlmire. I
said I had several reasons. I thought Mr. High-
more was not a good man. I said I took
it at London, and Gatsworth. I sail he had not
accounted for the sacrament money. I never said he
had appropri .ted the sacramen t money. Mr. Thacker
was my informant. He is churchwarden. 1 said Mr.
White had always iicccunted to Mr. Thpcicf-r. A
few days afar lie t)1(.1 me Mr. Highmore, 4e be-
lieved, wouldt.dmini,ter it. I said I should not
take it. He then began to argue with me on the
subject. I forget what his arguments were, bst
said, "My opinion remains unchanged, and we
will not discuss this matter further." I. never use 1
the word • "pocketed," my words were that he did
not account for the sacrament money. I did not
say "He keeps the sacrament money." I never
said anything except that ne account was ren-
dered. I said the Duke of Leinster had given 201.,
and the farmers soeeihing---I think it was 201.—t0
throw open the tower of the church. I said he had
not done what the money was subscribed fur for
• eight years. My husband, not liking to see the
-tower used as a coalho!e, had offered to give the
balance to have ssaits put there for the school chil-
dren. It was then done during Mr. Higbmore's
absence. I said that there had been a great deal
of card-paying and gambling at the Castle in the
late Lord's lifetime, and there was a great deal of
card-playing in the village. I have se :u little chil-
dren playing at cards in the village. I never used
the word • " debauchery." I ssid I had heard ru-
mours of csrd-playing in his Louie ; but of that I
could not judge, as I never was there. I did not
say that he encouraged card-playing in the village.
I said a bad example had been set in the village,
but I was alluding to the curates. I said there had
beau two drunken curates. I rnentis ned Mr.
James. I saw in the newspaper that he was ap-
pointed curate. He officiated, I believe, only
once or twice. I did not say that. Mr. Highmore
and his wife bad been rolling drunk on the
floor. I said Mr. Collins bad been rolling' drunk
on the floor. Treat was proved in the presence
of Mr. Whittaker, the rural dean, and another
gentleman. I recollect Mr. Jones saying that he
had found the gates lock, d, but I don't think he
said that he had lunched at Mr. Highmore's. I
never said anything about laying himself under
an obligation to those Highmores. I said the
house had been very disorderly. In that I alluded
to the pupils shooting at a man named Barton,
and tearing his coat with the wadding. I did not
enter into details, but 1 said to Mr. Jones that the
pupils bad been disorderly. I told him he had
been precede 1 by drunken curates, and that he
must therefore be very careful about his character.
I said; Sir Francis Stanhope had told me that. he
had seen Mrs. Foot drunk on the floor ; but I never
used the words "all three" drunk on the floor.
And Sir Francis toll me that there had formerly
been a great deal of drinking at the Castle ; but it
could not apply to the late lord, who was the
soberest of men. In using the expression " rolling
on the floor" I alluded i.) Mr. Collins. All the
conversations occurred k etween me and Mr. Jones
when we wore alone in the drawing-room before
luncheon. When we went to London in April
Mr. Jones and I parted the best friends. He told
me that Mr. Highmore had given bread and 2s. in
money to one poor woman. He gave no other ex-
planation about the sacrament money.
Cross-examined--I had only known Mr. -Jones
since he came to Elvaston. Mr. Collins left its
18James offic'ated about two or three
years ago. Mr.
There is a school which we built and
which we support. I go there whenever I can,
We have forbidden the schoolmaster and school-
mistress to have anything to do with Mr. High-
more. It is written up as one of the rules, "No
clerical interference allowed." Ransom (the
schoolmaster)•and his wife had been in the habit of
going to Mr. Highmore's. I told the schoolmis-
tress, iu the school, on one Occasion, that I would
not allow her to go near the Highmore's. I was
obliged to speak loud, because the woman was a
Virago, and would not allow me to speak quietly.
I did not say that Mr. Highmore was a low fellow
or a drunken fellow, or a ruffian or a villain. . I did
not say that be was in the habit of getting drunk
with Ransom. I was not aware that Ransom
drank. I did not say that he got drunk with
Chambers,' the saddler. I may have sad t e Mr.
Jones that ho was an ac'or and a rider at Astley's ;

but tha, is not in the declaration. (Laughter.) 1
did not say that to Mrs. Ransom. I have said that
there had been rumours of his drinking before I

came to Elvaiton, but that his state of health was
such that be could not think now. I did not say to

Ellen Winson, " You are a bad, wicked g'rl ; kr.
Highmora keeps you." I emphatically deny. that.
I know Harlett. He is a discharged gamektener.
I believe he is now in the Derby police ; but I don't

know whether Lord Hari ington gave him a charac-
ter. I have not said to him that Ellen Willson goes
to Highmore's house and Highmore to her hone
for bad purposes. I did say to Cat!ierine Smith
that Mrs. Highmore kept Ellen Wins n In a cottage
as a spy upon us. I had a boy (a page) who was
constantly going there, and I thought he might get
into bad company. I did not seriously mean what
I said to Catherine Smith ; she is a poor girl who