The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-08 00:00:00

CALUMNY REFUTED.

The following letter has been addressed by the late
President of the Court of Session to the Editor of
Blackwood's Magazine. The story to which it re-
fers is familiar with most of our readers, and probably
was swallowed by some of them, from a belief that
Sir Walter Scott would not give currency to such an
atrocious accusation except on the best authority. It
now appears he had no authority -whatever for the
wicked charge:—

TO THE EDITOR OF BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.

Edinburgh. Oct. 25, 1844.

Sir,—l did not read Mr. Locithart's " Life of Sir
W. Scott," and therefore it was only lately, and by
mere accident, I heard that he has inserted an anec-
dote of Lord Braxfield, which, if ,it had been true,
must for ever load his memory with indelible in-
famy. The story, in substance, understand to be
this—That Lord Braxfield once tried a man for for-
gery at the circuit at Dumfries, who was not
merely an acquaintance but an intimate friend of his
Lordship, with whom he used to play at chess ;
that he did this as coolly as if he had been a
perfect stranger; that the man was found guilty;
that he pronounced sentence of death upon him, and
then added, " Now John, I think I have checkmated
you now." More 'nnfeeling andyutal conduct it is
hardly possible 16 iMagine. The moment I heard the
story I contradicted it; as from my personal know-
ledge of Lord Braxfield, I was certain that it could
not be true. Lord Braxfield certainly was not a
polished man in his, manners ..and,, mow-a-days espe-
cially, would be thought a coarsemnan. But he was
a kind-hearted man,-and a wiern Ad steady friend—
intimately acquainted with all myfamily, and much
esteemed by them all. I was undei great obligations
to him for the countenance he showed me when I
came to the bar, just sixty years ago, and therefore I
was resolved to probe the matter to the bottom.
For that purpose I directed the record of the south
circuit to he carefully searched, and the result is,
that Lord Braxtield never tried any man for forgery
at Dumfries. But I was not satisfied with this, as it
might have been said that Sir Walter had only mis-
taken the town, and that the thing might have hap-
pened at some of the other circuit towns. Therefore
I then directed a search to be made of the records of
all the other circuits of Scotland, during the whole
time that Lord Braxfield sat on the'Justiciary Bench;
and the result is, that his Lordship never tried any
man for forgery at any of the circuits, except once at
Stirling; and then the culprit, instead of being a
friend, or even a common acquaintance of Lord Brax-
field's, was a miserable shopkeeper in the town of
Falkirls, whose very name it is hardly possible he
could have heard till he heard it read in the indict-
ment. Therefore I think I have effectually cleared
his character from the ineffable infamy of such
brutality.
I understand that Mr. Lockhart became completely
satisfied that this story did not apply to Lord Brax-
field; and therefore has set it down, in his second edi-
tion, to the credit, or rather to the discredit, not of
Lord Braxfield, but of a " certain Judge." But this
does not sufficiently clear Lord Braxfield of it, Be-
cause thousands may never see his second edition, or,
if they did, might think that the,•story still related
to Lord Braxfield, but that Mr. Lockhart had sup-
pressed his name out of delicacy to his family ;
and, therefore, as your excellent Magazine
has a more extensive circulation in Scotland
than the Quarterly, I beg of you to give this
letter an early place. I understand one circumstance
which satisfied Mr. Lockhart that the story did not
apply to Lord Braxfield is, that the family had assured
him that he never played at chess,a fact of which
could also have assured Mr. Lockhart. But the
search of the records of Justiciary which I directed
to be made, is the most satisfactory refutation of the
infamous calumny ; and I cannot 'imagine how Sir
Walter could have believed it fol. a. moment. Cer.,
tainly he would not, if he had known Lord Brax-
field as intimately as I did. I owe a debt of grati-
tude to his memory, and am happy to have an oppor-
tunity of repaying it.—l am, Sir, your most obedient
servant, ' C. HOPE. ,

VAUXHALL-BRIDGE COMPANY. - Yesterday the
half yearly meeting of this Company took place at the
George. and Vulture Tavern, Cornhill, Mr. Barron in the
chair. The secretary read the report, from which it air
peared that the Company held 2,5001. in Exchequer
bills, 200 shares in the bridge, and an 'amount in un-
claimed dividends of 1,363/. The Lambeth Suspension-
bridge, after passing through a committee had been
withdrawn. The Equitable Gas-light Company had
applied for privilege to lay down their main, and had
been allowed on payment of 1001. to the Company. The
steam-boat pier had not yet been complet, d, owing to
circumstanc, s. The toll had increased during the last
six months by 3761.; the amount received for toll dur:ng
the half-year was 5,8631. 9s. Scl. In conclusion, aIP
committee recommended a dividend at 'the rate of 16;. Per
,hare. Aft r a short discussion, the report was adopted,
and thanks were voted to the chairman, when the busi-
ness terminated.

There is, we understand, a ward untenanted in our
gaol, which has ever before boasted a regular supply and
succession of inhabitants. The last of the old race c'
debtors was discharged on WednesdaY by an order of
Judge Williams under Lord Brougham's Bill. We be-
lieve the debtors' ward was only once before empty since
the erection of the gaol, now upwards of forty-four
years ; it then remained vacant only a fortnight. /"'9.r
nearly three months its sole occupant has been the pri-
soner liberated last week, and the new law will probably
prevent the introduction of an early successor.—Bill
Herald.

BIRTHS.
On the 31st of August, at Poonah, the lady of Captain
Paget W. Clarke, of the 2d Grenadier Regiment of the Boor
bay Native Infantry, of a son.
On the Ist inst., at Staple Fitzpaine, the lady of the R4'l'
F. B. Portman, of a daughter.
On the 3d inst., at Hampton, the lady of Thomas H. I°l°
berton, Esq., of a daughter.
On the 3d inst., at Flintham Hall, Nottinghamshire, the
lady of T. B. I'. Hildyard, Esq., of a son.
On the 4th inst., at Hastings, the lady of John Snyelf'
Esq., of a daughter.
On the sth inst., at the Vicarage, Old Windsor, the lady
of the Rev. E. H. Hopper, of a daughter, still-born.
On the sth inst., at Dyrham-park, the Hon. Mrs. TN"
of a daughter.
On the 6th inst., at Upper Clapton, Mrs. Calvert Toulloill'
of a son.

MARRIED.
On the sth inst., at St. Nicholas Church, Brighton,,_.e
Rev. J. L. Roberts, M.A., of New Inn Hall, Oxford, to API
' Augusta youngest daughter of the Rev. George Pro
D.D., of Kemp-town. cvg.
On the sth inst., at St. Giles's Church, Norwich, Ty pr.
Miller, Esq., M.A., Professor of Mineralogy in the IlLucbe
sity of Cambridge, to Harriet Susan, second daughter of
late R. V. Minty, Esq., of the Ordnance Civil Services

DIED.
At Hong-Kong, on the ;25th of July, Lieutenant genii
Dallas, 98th Regiment, aged 2L
On the 29th ult., in the parish of St. Mary, Novi
14°13'
Surrey, William Wallis, aged 87. rthstrliS
On the 19th of August, near the Neilgherry Hills,
Whitmore,
On Esq ,of the B ,ngal Civil Sevice.
he 25th of August, at Almoran,r India, E. N. Broom'
of the Benal Native Infantry
On the22d g 31st ult., at Edenbridge,. Kent, Mrs. B. Cole/ widow
of tbe late Mr. John Cole.
On the 3d inst., in Montagu-square, Charles Grant Udnl'
Esq., Bengal Civil Seratvice. ,kg.
On the sth inst., Claptons House, Wooburn, 1311—
J. Frtunow, Esq.
On the 6th inst., at Farnham, the Rev. Joseph J0hn.,9310i:
On the 6th inst., at Market Drayton, Sarah, the wile
Captain Horner, late of her Majesty's 55th Regiment.
sq, her
On the 6th inst., in Portland-place, Iltid
Majesty's Procurator-General. Hereford'
On the 6th inst., at the Rectory, Bishopstooe,
shire, Uvedale Price, Esq.
On the 6th inst., at Nutfield, Surrey, Mrs. Harrison.
On the 7th inst., Henry, second son of T. B. Fleming,
Champion-park, Camberwell.

_ -
Luubon: rrnited and rublished by Blls.ttuU 112,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sup Office, No 4. a
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the COANT
Iliddleaes, FridayaToyember ii, 1844.

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