The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-28 00:00:00

THE MATRIMONIAL HOAX AT

UXBRIDGE.

Seventeen young men were on Tuesday charged before
the Uxbridge magistrates with assaulting a person named
Stone, under circumstances which were detailed in a re-
cent number of this journal. It will be remembered that
Stone had inserted an advertisement in the Maidstone
Gazette for a wife, and that advertisement had been an-
swered by a shopkeeper's apprentice of Uxbridge, in the
name of "Frances Gower,' and enticed Stone to Ux-
bridge, where the defendants and others pushed him into
a pond and pelted him with mud. The magistrates
fined the ringleaders twenty shillings and let the others
off. The wife-hunter's appearance is thus described by
our casual reporter :
He was of gentlemanly appearance, rather above the
middle stature, remarkably staid countenance, dark
brown hair, considerably bald on the top, dark brown
bushy whiskers, dark hazel eyes, and apparently nearly
fifty years of age. He deposed that he lived at Camber-
well, and was out of business. He described himself as
now "living independent." Had had charge of an old
gentleman, but he had died nine months since. Before
that he was an attorney's clerk. Lived at No. 4, Albany-
road, Camberwell.
In his cross-examination he admitted that once before
he had advertised in the Sunday Times.

Mr. Sleep (fur the defendants) produced one of the
complainant's letters. He said the paper on which it
was written was of a most appropriate colour—green as
the writer of it—green tipped with gold. (Mr. Sleep here
turned the letter, which was on bright green satin paper'
with gold edges, over and over amidst the laughter of the
Court, in which the bench could not resist joiuing,) The
letter was as follows :

" Madam—ln answer to your kind letter of the 12th
instant, I beg to say that I will do myself tho pleasure
of meeting you on Sunday next, according to your ar •
rangement. But at the same time I wish to inform you
that, having received a letter previous to yours that has
not proved serious, I beg to request the favour of an
answer to know that you are really serious in your in-
tentions, and likewise to inform me by what convey-
ance I can reach Uxbridge, and at what hour of the day
will suit you.--I am, Madam, yours sincerely,
" Miss Frances Gower." " J. STONE.
The other letters had very little of romance in them.
They ran thus :

" Uxbridge, Nov. 12.
" Sir,—Seeing an advertisement in the Maidstone
paper of your wishing to form an alliance with a young
lady of property, I beg to open a correspondence with
you on that subject. My age is 35. I have been keep-
ing my father's house fur the last ten years, and a little
difference between my father and myself renders my
home not one of the happiest. Aly father will be at
Maidst•ne on Sunday next. I shall be glad if you will
come and spend the day with me, and I will then explain
to you what property I have.

" Remaining, &c., yours affectionately,

" FRANCES COWER."

" Uxbridge, Nov. 15.
" Dear Sir,—ln answer to your letter of this morning,
I can assure you that my intentions are serious, and
should our meeting be attended with success, you will
find in me a faithful and confiding partner. You will be
so good as to come by Mr. Hughes's coach, which will
leave the Old Bell Inn, Holborn, at ten o'clock, and
arrive at Uxbridge at half-past twelve o'clock, and I
will be there to receive you. I shall wear a Leghorn
bonnet, trimmed with blue ribbon, and shall wear a
mantilla cape. You have in your coat a flower, and in
your hand a book, so that we shall know each other, and
do not let the weather prevent your coming.
" Remaining, dear Sir, yours affectionately,
" Mr. J. Stone." " FRANCES GOWER."

IRELAND.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

DUBLIN, Nov. 25.—The elections took place in the
various wards of this city to-day, to fill the vacancies
caused by the going out of a certain portion of the
town-council, including the aldermen of the wards on
the northern side of the city.
Yesterday a preparatory meeting was held in the
Post-office ward, where a formidable contest has occurred
between Alderman Purcell and the repeal candidate,
Mr. Staunton, proprietor of the Weekly Register. Dr.
Gray, one of the proprietors of th• Freeinan's Journal,
and one of the late State prisoners, is also the can-
didate in this ward, for the vacant town-councillorship.
The meeting was numerously attended by the supporters
of Mr. Staunton.

Mr• O'Connell, who was present, addressed the
meeting in the most energetic terms, in faYour of
Mr. Staunton.

The result of the contest in the Post-office ward is
the return of Mr. Staunton as the alderman, and of Dr.
Gray as town-councillor.
The only other election that excited general interest
here was the Linen-hall ward, where the Lord Mayor
has been roturned as alderman by a large majority, in
place of the late alderman, Mr. Grace.
The elections caused a general stir amongst the bur-
gesses, but all went off in the most peaceable manner.
DUBLIN SOCIETY.—ADDRESS TO THE LORD