The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-05 00:00:00

SPIRIT of . the PUBLIC. JOURNALS.
FRGIS THE EVENING PAPERS OP YESTERDAY.
GLOBE. The Repeal of the Union agitation spread
through three out of the four provinces of Ireland. The
population of these provinces is, almost wholly, of the
Roman Catholic communion ; and those who look only
on the surface of things, settled, in their own minds, the
cause of this agitation,- they attributed it to the priests
whose hostility to the Protestant religion and its Church
was thus gratified. ' The fourth province is now the
theatre ofagitation; Presbyterian Ulster is proclaiming
its grievances ; and charges upon the English Protestant
Establishment, and the claims of its" clergy to the exclu-
sive ssession of those powers which confer validity on
Mf I otiS ordinances, the injury which has been inflicted
to
on t e Presbyterians of Ireland. The occasion of this new
' commotion will be at once brought to the recollection of
our readers. A man was charged at one of the Irish
Assiees,..held about two years since, with bigamy. That
• haled contracted two marriages was placed beyond a
doubt by the evidence ;rand he was found guilty. His
• counsel moved an arrest of judgment, on the ground
that one of the marriages had been celebrated by a
Presbyterian clergyman, and that one of the parties to
the marriage being an Episcopalian, the ceremony was in-
' valid. The question was referred to the Irish judges,
who disagreed; but a majority held the objection taken
' to be valid. It was then sent to the House of Lords,
where the opinions of the English judges was required;
and a majority of these also affirmed the objection.
The judgment of the Peers on the appeal was post-
poned—partly to give their Lordships time for conside-
ration; but principally to afford time for the preparation
of a Bill to legalise all marriages previously celebrated
under such circumstances, and to pass such Bill
through Parliament with all possible rapidity. This
course was imperatively necessary. Until this Declara-
tory. Act was announced, the consternation and fears
of the families who had contracted such marriages in
conformity with a custom, the legality of which had
never been questioned, was extreme. To say nothing
of the personal feedings of delicacy and propriety which
this new state of things had alarmed, the succession
to property, and other results, which the bastardizing
of offspringwould occasion, produced an uneasiness
scarcely eamitting of description. The ex post facto
law stayed this ferment. The decision of the House of
'Lords was hung up for a time. A few days since
''the question was argued by the Law Lords in the
House of Peers ; and the balance of opinions pro and
con. on this important civil and ecclesiastial question
indicates not merely the difficulties which surround
the subject, but the impolicy of legislating upon any
great question—involving, as this question certainly
does, civil rights and religious freedom—on partial views,
and with relation to only one part of the United Empire.
Had the law which confers on the different denominations
of religionists in this country the power of celebrating
- marriages in their own places of worship, according to
their own forms, and by their own ministers, been ex-
tended to Ireland; this new source a vexation would
.have been avoided. A- striking difference of opinion
was avowed by the great law luminaries in the Peers.
Lords Campbell, Brougham, and Denman, delivered
their opinions in, favour of the validity of the impugned
marriage—Lord Abinger against its validity. Lords
Lyndhurst and Cottenham subsequently delivered
their judgment, at considerable length, against the
legality of such marriages. Lords Campbell and
Brougham requested time for perusing the opinions
and considering the arguments of Lords Lyndhurst
and Cottenham ; and thus the whole question remains
still in suspense. This , postponement is, we appre-
hend, the precursor of concurrence in the views of the
latter Peers. The marriage on which the question was
raised will, we have no doubt, be pronounced null.
This result is, we perceive, anticipated by the Irish
Presbyterians ; who aro indignant at the position in
which their ministers are placed. They are preparing
to get up an agitation of their own ; which, considering
the vested interests in the celebration of marriage pos-
sessed by the clergy of the Irish Establishment, is
likely to involve the. Government in a new difficulty.'
The heavy expenses of the appeal are reported to have
been paid by a fund, to which one of the Irish prelates and
several of the higher orders of clergy were contributors.
STAN DARD.—Thela.te division in the French Cham-
ber is a great triumph; but of all who have a right to
share in that triumph, the part of England—if she have
any part—is surely the smallest. Much as the name
of this country was mixed up in the debate, we have
really had nothing whatever to do in the affair that
led to it; and this, indeed, is our only claim to
praise—the only ground upon which we can
pretend to any part in the so signal victory won by the
French Government. had the British Government or
the British officers on the spot, taken any part, we can
easily see what use would have been made of such
actual interference by the arts resorted to to raise
a constructive interposition on the part of the
Government of this country. The triumph is,
however, a glorious and salutary triumph, it is
'the triumph of peace and of justice—one in which
all Europe will rejoice, and of which France may well
be proud, and of which another generation of French-
men will be proud, if all do not now exult in it as
much as they ought. The injustice of the deposition
of Queen Pomare seems to be disputed by no one ;
and from this • acknowledgment it follows that
Admiral Dupetit Thouars had violated the duty of
an honest man, a man of honour, and a gentleman, as
it was certain that he had transgressed his orders as
an officer of France. But, say the Opposition faction,
the proceeding must be supported, in order not to dis-
courage our brave marine. What is this but saying
that the French flag is henceforth to be the flag of
pirates ; that, no matter what injustice or out-
rages may be committed under it by officers
who spurn the authority of their instructions, the
injustice or outrage mast be defended and maintained,
the contumacious officers applauded and rewarded, in
order not to discourage future perpetrators of wrong.
Again, say they, nothing but English influence, or the
fear of England, could suggest the correction of an in-
jnstice committed inadvertently or perversely by a
French officer ;—a high compliment, no doubt,
to England, which is thus raised to the station
Of lthe universal protector of the oppressed, but a com-
plitnent to which, in the particular case, England has no
claim, and which we reject with scorn, from the foul
libel upon the gallant and high-spirited people of France
involved in it. For the plain inference from this asser-
tion of English influence in the affair is, that France is
incapable of acting with generosity or justice except com-
pelled. The French Government has shown that it needs
no prompter to be generous and to be just ; and we re-
joice to'see that a considerable majority of the Chamber
tone= ia feeling with' the Governnient. 'The matter is
in appearance a small one, we may say without a figure
that prima facie
Pugna est de paupere regno,"
but the principle involved in the debate is of immense
importance, for it comes to this—are nations to be ,
pre-
cluded by fears of misconstruction and of jealousies from
acts of spontaneous justice ? The French Government,
, and the majority of the French Chamber, have demon-
strated--that no taunts, no suspicions shall cause them
to persevere in a manifest wrong; and have thus, if we
may .so speak, thrown' another fortress around
the shrine of public law. It is thus that the
Nam historian of France will present this bright
page in her amnals. We rejoice that no act or word on
tit • part of England has disturbed the honourable self-
.vinflication of our neighbours ; and, as members of the
great European commonwealth, we rejoice also in the
assertion of a 'high principle of justice, by a people so
powerful and so, sensitive, and hence-so likely to be imi
tated, where it sets an example of calmness and modera-
tion, as the people of France.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT..
• - • - - OLD COURT.
..
PAGET V. HOLT. • ,
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of Yesterday.)
Lord Williarn Paget examined ' by Mr. DoArat —l' am the
second son of the Marquis of Anglesea, and have been mar-
ried to Lady Paget 17 years. I have a family of three sons.
The oldestt, is now 15 years of age. In August last, from
some communication made to me, I suspected the fidelity of
my wife, and on the 7th of that month I gave certain direc-
tions to my valet and a person named Winter. Up to within
three or four days of this time I was living with Lady Paget.
Upon this day I received a communication from, my valet
Thomas and Winter. ,
Mr.Wonmswontu here interfered, and said he apprehended
they were not tolry the case of Paget v. Cardigan, again. He
auggested-that the particulars of the communication ought
not $0 Vbe gone into. *• • • • •
Examination continued—l had a communication made to
me, and.Limmetliately went home.
Mr. Worloswonnt said the case might be shortened by
simply askinl ..ord William Paget whether, in point of fact,
. as the libel. Imaged, he did get up a plan to entrap Lord Car-
digan and to obtain money from him.
Examination continued—l had an interview with Lady
Paget, and afterwards sent a military friend, Major Close, to
Lord Cardigan,. and subsequently gave instructions to my at-
torney, to commence an action.
give you a meeting ?
Mr. Doarfp—Did Lord Cardigan
Lord-W. Pagect-rHe, did.not. .
Mr. EloaxE--Now, my: Lord, I ask you, did you believe
the repreSentation made to you by the parties referred to ?
Lord:W. Paget—Odmy oath I did ; and I do still believe
every syllable. •
Mr. DoA-NE--L.Forgive me, my Lord, for asking you i but
• had you the remotest idea of Obtaining money from, Lord
Cardigan? Sir W. Paget—Before God I deelare I had not.
I had not seen the witness till five minutes before the time in
questiou, for twelve months.
Mr. Doss-Iliad you any, intention of making a " plant"
upon Lord Cardigan and your wife ? Lord W. Paget—On
my oath, before Almighty God, no.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wonnswourip—l never had any
intention of obtaining money .from Lord Cardigan. '
Mr. WORDSWORTH—Was Winter laced under the sofa by
your direction. ? Lord W. Paget—He was. ,He was placed
there on two distinct days.
Cress-examination continued—My action against Lord
Cardigan was tried last week in the Common Pleas, and there
was a verdict for the defendant. I read in the newspapers
that the jury returned their verdict without having the sum-
ming-up of the Judge. The man Winter, was examined, and
alsomy valet. I knew a gentleman named Hay. ' He was not
a constant' visitor at my house at Portsmouth in 1842. I was
on intimate terms with him,-because we had sailed together.
He never dined once at my house. I do not reec/lect his being
in the library with Lady Paget and witness on any occasion.
I dent recollect having any altel•cation with Lady Paget in
Mr. Illy's presence. I cannot speak positively upon the sub-
, ject, but .I do not recollect havingmade use of an angry word
'to Lady Paget. I never said to Mr. Hay that I was not easy
in my mind, and proposed to Mr. Hay that we should take, a
yacht, and live engarcon. I remember being at the Cavendish
Hotel last September, and )Ir. Hay and a Mr. Fisk were
frequently there, but on my oath I never said that a se-
tion tecanLadyPlget-would-be beneficial to me. I haveno
para ,
recollection:of ever saying anything to those gentleman about
LordVardigan:: I have. no recollection of saying that it would
I-WS II ' '',4 'ti; to quarrel with Loid Cardigan, for I would get 50/
• :'. : 'il . but 'of him at any time. I never said to Mr. Hay
~,,
~:.--.--.. e,',.., , too btiAiness was planned- with my valet* and Wintr,
e,Yr..... - . •-. Ait:-il'- 'tell. him all the circumstances, and that I had put
--' , ~.:"Ariii- 'der the sofa. I was waiting in a cab in Berkeley-
,l.-7(?:.. loquarey! 'n I. received the information, and it was ripen
-,.. ;132y go %home that I struck Lady Paget, I know fir.
i
r-,
_.7 113 4.llAni e attorney. Winter was his, clerk. I also knew
, -- il-.lVilktl4, y and Miss 'Bellew, I was one of the party who
'---sette aided hiss Bellew to Paris,., and I understood there
IN/ a S' ---. • ' _ • ' -