The Sun.
London, England, 1828-02-18 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

1-10,SE OF LORDS, FEB. 15.
STRACHAN, &C. V. PATON, &C.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opened this case on
Friday last. It was an action for the repair of a
vessel, and was instituted by the appellants, who are
shipbuilders in Leith, against the respondents, who
are partners of a whale fishing company at Montrose.
The suit commenced in 1809, and having been in
dependence ever since, was now (as the Learned
Gentleman expressed it) very nearly of age. No
less than 16 interlocutors were appealed from. This
action was met by an allegation on the part of
the respondents, that the repairs in question
were not executed on terms of the agreement and
understanding of the parties ; and, in point of fact,
were so imperfect as to occasion serious damage to
the respondents. Under these circumstances their
Lordships of the Court of Session thought proper to
resort to very extraordinary assistance, for they
" remitted the case to the Master Shipwright of his
Majesty's Dock-yard at Deptford, requesting that he
would consider the same." And this gentleman
being consulted in these general terms, he
thought it his duty to make up his mind on
the law as well as the facts of the case, on
both of which he reported his opinion ; and their
Lordships pronounced a judgment, adopting his sug-
gestions, and decerning on the merits against the
claim of the appellants. This therefore was ludi-
crously described as an appeal from the joint de-
cision of the Court of Session, and his Majesty's
Shipwright at Deptford. The Solicitor General
contended that the Court below had been misled by
the. Report of. the Shipwright, and that the vessel
was so old and crazy as to be incapable of
repair. This ancient ship had been mended and
patched so often, that the Learned Gentleman said
there would be as much difficulty in identifying her
with the original structure, as there was in the case
of the excellent knife which had twice had the
benefit of two .new handles and two new blades.
LORD CIIAN'CELLOR—Or in the case of Sir John
Cutler's silk stockings, which had been darned so
often with worsted, that it was a question whether
the stockings were worsted or silk.
Dr. LUSIIINGTON was heard in reply ; and main-
tained that the appellants were bound to have ren-
dered the ship seaworthy, whereas it had been proved
that in returning from the dock-yard, at Leith, where
she had undergone the repair, to Montrose, a dis-
tance of a few miles, in perfectly calm weather, she
sprung a leak ; and had it not been for the unusual
exertions at the pump, all hands must have taken to
the boats. The Learned Gentleman commented at
great length on the evidence which bad been pro-
duced, and judgment is to he given on Tuesday.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEB. 16,
IRFLANI) PAREEROTHER, ESQ., ANT) OTHERS..

This was an action against the late sheriffs of
Middlesex, and two of their officers, to recover com-
pensation for alleged false imprisonment.
The plaintiff, a gentleman residing at Brighton,
being arrested for debt at the suit of a creditor, ten-•
tiered as his bail two persons of the names of Morley
and Frost ; the one being a tailor in the Strand; and
the other, a jeweller in the vicinity of Soho-square;
and both being fully competent to enter into the
necessary bend. The officers, however, refuSed to
accept them, until inquiries had been made as to
their responsibility. A delay of several days took
place in consequence, during which time the plaintiff
was detained in custody. The bail were ultimately
accepted, and the plaintiff, conceiving that the ob-
jections to them in the first instance had been made
vexatiously, and that he had been unnecessarily de-
tained in prison, brought the present action against
the sheriffs and their officers.—The Jtriy imme-
diately found for the defendants.

STEWART V. EDMONDS.

This was
.an action of trover, to recover the value
of certain articles of silver-plate.
The plaintiff, Captain Stewart, was the admini-
strator of the late Major Wood, who was indebted
to the defendant, a respectable silversmith, in a sum
of 500/. In February, 1826, the plate in question
(which vvas of the value of about 250/.) was depo-
sited with the defendant by the major, who died
shortly after, without having assets sufficient for the
payment of his debts. The defendant, claiming to
be entitled to retain the plate in part satisfaction of
his demand on Major Wood's estate, refused to give
it up to the plaintiff, his administrator, who, in con-
sequence, brought the present action to recover its
value.—The Jury found a verdict for the defendant.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, FEB. 16.

EDWARDS V. COOPER.

This was an action by an attorney, to recover
100/. 165., the amount of his bill of costs for profes-
sional services. The defendant, who is a coach-
builder, some time since entered into a contract with
a lady of fashion, residing in this town, Lady Ram-
sey, to build a landau. The landau was built, but
some dispute arising about the payment, it was
agreed that the matter should be referred to the deci-
sion of a gentleman of the bar, the Hon. Mr. Law,
who made an award, which was, however, subse-
quently set aside by the Court of King's Bench.
The plaintiff was the attorney employed by the de-
fendant to conduct this reference, and it was for his
services performed on that occasion that the present
demand
the plaintiff. Damages,
was made.—The returned a verdict
for
1001.

SHATTLE V.O RESLEY.

This was an action against Lady Gresley by a
stable-keeper, to recover the amount of his account
for hay and corn delivered, and for the hire of horses.
The Jury retrned a verdict for the plaintiff. Da-
mages, 34/.

On Saturday last the SeYenth Anniversary of this
excellent Institution was celebrated at the London
Tavern; his Royal Highness the Lord High Ad- •
iniral in the Chair. Ili•z• Royal Highness wa,, sup-
ported
obuo n
by Lord Manners
his lefr. on his right, and Lord
It is a remarkable feature in this Institution, and
one which cannot be too much dwelt upon, viz., that
seamen of all nations of the world are admitted into
the Hospital, without being obliged to go through
any preliminary form, or being required to produce
any certificate. They have only to present them-
selves, and their appearing to require medical aid at
once entitles them to admission.
The Duke of CLARENCE—You will, no doubt,
have anticipated the toast which I am about io pro-
pose ; . and, as an introduction to it, I have only to
mention, that ever since the formation ci this Insti-
tution, in 1821, his Majesty has annually given his
donation of lOQI. (Applause.) " The health of
his Majesty—God bless him," with four times four.
Lord ELLF,Noottoucti—l propose to drink the
health of our Illustrious Chairman, not merely as
being the first Prince of the Blood, nor as having
performed the duties of the high situation to which
he has been called by his Majesty with exemplary
zeal and ability (loud applause) ; but as an honest
British Seaman, and an accomplished English Gen-
tleman.

" The Health of the Duke of Clarence, Lord High Ad-
miral," with three times three."

It is unnecessary to add, that this toast was re-
ceived with the most marked applause.
The Duke of CLARENCE returned thank::, and
adverted to the essential connection between the
naval and mercantile set vice of the country. There
were two expressions used by the Noble Lord,
which touched him nearly, and gratified him ex-
tremely; he meant those in which he was designated as
a British seaman and an English gentleman. Nothing
could be thought or said of him that he valued so
highly, and if ever any man had to look back with
peculiar gratitude to the obligations conferred upon
him by a father, he was that person. His father had
placed him in the Navy before he was fourteen years
of age, to make his own fortune and his own observa-
tions, and that was an obligation which, us low, as he
lived, he would remember with gratitude. (Applause.)
After the healths of " The Royal Family," and " Pro-
sperity to the Army and Navy" had been drunk,
The Duke of CLARENCE again rose. This was
the first time he bad had the honour and advantage
of presiding here, but he trusted it would by no
means be the last.—(Applause.)—This charity h'd
peculiar claims on tke public, since, on the proqerity
and power of the marine service depended, in a great
measure, our defence at home and our influence
abroad. The mercantile marine and the navy were
essentially connected together, and the one would not
flourish without the other. The Navy must go hand
in hand with the mercantile marine, for the mercan-
tile marine was the nurse of seamen ; and good
seamen could not otherwise be formed. His Royal
Highness then mentioned, in illustration, as we un-
derstood it, of the skill of the mercantile seamen,
and their knowledge of the most dangerous parts of
the coast, that he had observed, on one occasion,
when four hundred sail of merchantmen were passing
through Yarmouth Roads, that there was not one
man or boy in the chains, and a distinguished seaman
at table had made the same remark. He concluded
by proposing " Success to the Seamen's Hospital."
—(Applause.)
His ROYAL HIGHNESS then proposed the " Health
of Lord Melville, the President of the Society,"
who was prevented •by the pressure of official busi-
ness from attending, but had sent his usual donation
of 201.—(An individual exclaimed " it ought to have
been 100/. ;" and insisted on his right of hissing, while
the rest of the assembly were applauding.)
The healths of the other executive officers of the
Society were drunk in their turn. The Lord Mayor
was unable to attend, but sent a donation of 10/.
Among the list of liberal donations the most distin-
guished was one of .500/. by the Corporation of the
Trinity House.

SIIIPPINei INTELLIGENCE.