The Sun.
London, England, 1826-11-01 00:00:00

ant from her husbandislumei Ott tht,Slit of July, 1143, that
her husband had objected to Mr: Wellesley's visits. Mr.
Wellesley's conduct was then of such a character, that it 6
man could have allowed a continuance of them, without being held
hiniself an accessary to the guilt his wife had contracted, or was
about tb contract. Urin.this elopement taking place, she threw
herself upon the protection aMr. NVelleslpy ;
,ehe *as, seen that
very evening on his arm, as her ads:l3er; end tu!,(Nr. S.
would be able to show from the letters and ctifinnitnications that
had passed, that Mr. Vt'elle,sley having taken Mrs. Bligh triAer Iris
immediate protection, ultimately prevailed on Mrs. W. to receive
Mrs. B. into their liut:e at' part of their own family, and for the
purpose of his carrying on the adiaierc:is intercourse, which
did continue there for many months. Mr. W. wa& fa tarts
time living in apparent harmony with his wife. At length,
however, the British Minister there, who was bound to take care
that no person was admitted into the Court where he
was representing our Molted', Was under the necessity of desir-
ing that the liberty that had been given her to vieit there, should
be withdrawn, and that if the visits were attempted to be made
any more, lie intimated that he should apply force to taclude her
from the Palace, because her character, frdm her connection with
the defendant, had rendered her no longer fit to visit or reside
with decent society. The Learned Counsel would, therefore,
leave the Jury to form an opinion of the man, who could from
the intimacy and influence he had acquired Over the mind of his
most unfortunate but most amiable wife, make heir consider
that this was a gross calumny on the character of Mrs.
Bligh, in which his own honour iusplicated; and there-
fore call upon her to assert his honoiii, the innocence of
this woman, and thereby, be the instrument of her own clamour !
This would be shown to have been done in the hand-writing of
Mr. Wellesley himself! It would also be proved, that (after the
elopement, she resided a short time in an hotel in Naples ; that af-
terwards he took private lodgings for her, Where he continually
visited her, and that she was ultimately, taken into Mr. 'W.'s own
house in Naples, before they left' it, under Mrs. W.'s perfect per-
suasion at that time, that there was no foundation for the most
prevalent report, so prevalent, that every body in Naples was
shocked at the way in which the parties were carrying it on. This
continued till the sth of October, 1823, when Mr. and Mrs. W.,
and Mrs. 13. set out for the purpose of prosecuting their Paris route.
They got to Florence, and there the proceedings were of a cha..
racter and description the most extrrordinary : Mrs. B. continued
at the same hotel, forming a part of the family of Mrs. W. front
the moment of their arrival on the 15th of October, till the 31st
of December, when Mrs. Wellesley's eyes unfortunately, or rather
fortunately, became open to the true state of things, and therefore
thought it was no longer consistent with the honour of any of
the parties, that Mrs. B. should continue an inmate of that part of
the hotel: under a strong recommendation, consequently,
to Mrs. Bligh that she should pursue her journey to England,
with this calumny on her head, Mrs. W. took leave of her. For
sometime Mrs. W. heard no more of her, but at the end of three
months discovered that she had, during the whole of that time,
continued actually to reside in another part of the very same hotel,
namely till the 11th of April, 1924. For what purpose had Mr.
W. prevailed on her to remain there, but that he might indulge
in the connection that had been alluded to. At this period Mr.
W. was about to proceed southward; he did leave Florence on
the 19th ; Mrs. Bligh left it on the 11th ; and it would be pro.
ved that there bad been an actual promise made by Mr. Wellesley,
that if Mrs. Bligh would consent to go to England, (for by this
time it was not improbable that the defendant had become a little
satiated with the luscious banquet he had enjoyed so long; his
passion might have cooled, and his desire to have the lady con-
tinue under his immediate protection be no longer ardent),
the separation should not be permanent, as be would in
the course of a very short time follow her. A correspond-
ence would be produced, 'hewing that Mrs. Bligh re.
buked and reproached Mr. W. for the non-fulfilment of his pro-
mises, in delaying his journey after her to Paris. To Paris they
would be traced, keeping up the improper intercourse, Mrs. W.
being told that it was that Mr. W. might the better procure lodg-
ings, &c. for her, that he preceded her. At Paris Mrs. B. lived
under the feigned name of Mrs. Smith, and Mr. Wellesley's adul-
tery with her was so much indulged in there, that it be-
came absolutely necessary
.for the unfortunate lady, who was
this man's wife, to desire the interference of friends to
effect their separation. The father of Mr. W. went to Paris
for the very purpose of thus separating husband and wife,
as Mrs. W. could no longer live with him. This separation took
place; she came to England with Lord Maryborough, and he re-
mained at Paris. The adulterous intercourse was again conti-
nued ; and a most extraoitlinary letter was written about this time
which should be submitted to the jury, written by Mr. W. to
Mrs. W. and which the Learned Counsel would neither call a
justificatory, nor an excusatory letter. The letter stated what
his conduct had been towards Mrs. B. from the moment of their
arrival at Florence, till the time at which the letter was written ;
that he had endeavoured to persuade Mrs. B. to seek an asylum
in her father's house ; that he had caused abberrations
of her mind ; that she bad takes] poison .to. destroy herself, but
that antidote. hid been administered which lead relieved her from
the effects of it ; that medical men bad assured him of her in-
sanity, and recommended him to conduct hinielf smoothly to..
wards her ; that lie had tried to get her put into a mad-
house in France, but found from some French lawyer,
that he had neither the Power of doing that, nor of
taking any means of separating
_himself from her ; and ay.:,
he had written to her father to meet them at Paris, to take
charge of his daughter, but that he had not done so. The
Learned Counsel would take this letter as containing facts either
false or true. Granting that they were true, `did it mitigate
the guilt at all of the defendant for him, after he had seduced
Mrs. Bligh, after her mini had become insane, and after
he had satisfied his appetite, to do his utmost to get her put
into a mad-house, or to cast her off in any way that he could ?
In short, the guilty intercourse had gone on down to the present
moment; and Mr. Hiude, the medical man in France, who
had been called in, would be produced to-day to state, that
Mr. Wellesley did avow to him that he was living in a
Sate of the greatest profligacy with this woman, and that lie
could not be prevailed upon to give up the connection. The
letter alluded to, in Mr. Wellesley's own hand-writing, addressed to
Mrs. Wellesley, concluded with this sentence---" Do not imagine
that in sending this statement I have any particular object in view;
I have none but the fair legitimate one of your possessing the facts
possibly of a transaction which will terminate in one of the most
melancholy tragedies which real life has for a long time witnessed."
When that passage (the Learned Counsel continued) was written,
the writer had written it in the spirit of prophecy; that prophecy
had been fulfilled ; and though it might not have fallen
in the quarter where he anticipated, it had fallen in a quarter
snore to be lamented. lse did not wish to harrow up the feelings of
the Jury by recllecotions of the past, but what opinion could they
form of a man who had done all this, merely for the sake of gra.
tifying a brutal passion, and then to use every exertion that he
might make Mrs.B. appear to be a At object for a Lunatic Asylum,
In consequence of the ill state of Mrs. Bligh's health ; before the
elopement took place, he and Mrs. Bligh slept in separate apart-
ments ; this was known to Mr. Wellesley, who availed him-
self of this opportunity of getting access to her ; so that
no one could doubt that the adulterous intercourse was going
on at that time; nor could any one prove that such a
course of conduct would have been pursued, from the course
taken to lull the suspicions of every one. It might have been
supposed that the claim which Mrs. W. had upon the defendant,
would have prevented this conduct. That most amiable lady had
brought an immense fortune...a princely fortune, to him; together
with a splendid mansion • that mansion was now reduced to the
ground, in consequence Of her marriage with him.
Mr. Scant Ere wished to know what this had to do with the
subject of the present action.
sergeant
with
of Mr. Wellesley's conduct,
and the apparent good terms on which he was living with his wife
elt
otherV Au
G nithought:stan
tice a great deal, when taken in
cuunec
on the continent.

.... ..... ........----
The Lord- Ciller Jusrice observed, that the pulling down of
the mansion took place afterwards.
Mr. Sergeant Vanniii..N merely mentioned it as adding to the
misconduct of Mr. W. with regard to his wife. The Learned
Counsel would prove that Mr. and Mrs. B. continued to reside
afterwards at Dieppe, Pawr and at Seymour-place, near to the
New-road. Mrs. 13. was introduced to Mrs. Parker, of Sey-
mour-place, under the name of Mrs. Rondesy, and to Mrs.
Parker's surprise Monsieur Bowles), was also introduced, and
out of,the house, or it we*
who was afterwards found to be the defendant ; Mr. W. Mon-
sieurt Rondesy actually
v utd ye lived and cohabited at Mrs.
Parker's,and Madame
beore e Rithe°rndesiof bera
ascertained that Monsieur was Mr. Wellesley. On the
evening of the '7th, he went to a house, where his presence
was neither expected nor wished, and WU traced by Bow-street
officers. The effeet produced by that visit the Learned
Counsel would not allude to. A. t Seymour-place, Mrs. Bligh
had been delivered of a male child which was now alive, and
which, undoubtedly, was the son of Mr. W. ; but yet, unless
bastardized by Parliamentary authority, would grasp the titles that
might yet descend to the issue. of Mr. B. ; proceedings would have
to be taken not only to obtain a divorce, but proceedings taken
in the Court of Chancery to perpetuate testimony, on
which to proceed with suits that could only be conducted
after the child attained 21 years of age. The expence of this
would be enormous ; and it was to be remembered, that during
all these proceedings Mr. B. was bound eo allow his wife alt-.!
want. Though Mr, 11, 'VU of noble birth, and bad bright

expectations, yet at prestrit his means ivert &tellingly
limited ; and for the learned counsel's own prt, he can.
didPred the amount of damages laid' in the declaration,
influitel4l tod anion. ,It would be in proof that Mr. Bligh
had ever cherished the warmest affection fit' hie wife
until the seduction took place; and that there WO every
reason to suppose that that harmony wadi' have been continued;
had it nut been for the unfortunate introduction' of the defendant
into his family. Lord Darnley would be here, and other per-
!Qll9 of , high respectabilitl to support the plaintiff's case, which
it made out, as he was confident it would be made out,
pecuniary dainageA, evert to the greatest amount, would be almost
absurd to he considered a compensation for the injury done by the
defendant. Upon the whole, the Learried Counsel sat down per-
fectly satisfied that the amount of damages would be to no trifling
extent.

Thomas Rose, examined by Serjeant am a surgeon,
"eliding in the West end of the town. I know theplaintitt who
was married in 1815. I became acquainted witu him and his
wife shortly after the marriage,. I attended them professionally at
their lodgings in Duke-street, Manchester-square. They went to
the Continent in 1816, and returned in 1821. 1 visited at Col.
Pattison's, where the plaintiff and Ida wife resided after the mar-
riage ; they lived on the most affectionate terms. Mr. Bligh was
delicate in his health, and Mrs. }High used to tell him to be very
tender about his person, and manifested the greatest anxiety about
him.
Cross-examined by Mr. SCAR LiTT—The family of Col. Patti-
son consisted of himself and wife, another lady, and Captain and
Mrs. Bligh. I did not live in the house, but 1 went to evening
parties there. Mr. Bligh and wife lived with the Colonel for a
Ott bf the year 1815, and a part of 1816. Ido not know the
reason bf their quitting the Colonel's family. After they took
lodgings I visited them professionally, and advised them to have
separate beds ; whether they ever slept together after or not I
cannot tell. I cannot say whether she was some time in Eng-
land, while he was in Cainbray ; i don't know that he returned
and left her in Paris.

Re-examined by Sergeant WILDE-..The illness tut account o
whit') I recommended a separate bed reflected no Qcredit on
Captain
The Earl of Darnley munitred by Mr. Joues-.1 am uncle to
the plaintiff; I do not remember the exact period of the first mar-
riage of the plaintiff, because it took place unknown to me. I
was an intermediator between his father and himself, as I felt arm.
ions about his happiness. I effected a negociation between him.
self and his father.,---The plaintiff was very anxious to make a
provision fur his wife—The plaintiff manifested the greatest degree
of anxiety to have hie wife introduced into the family. After
sonic time, Lady Darnley and I perceiving her to be properly con-
ducted, invited her to Cobham Hallo where her conduct towards
her husband was most affectionate.
Cross-examined by Mr. SkaaLtrr.s.This visit took place in
1819, after their return from Cambay ; they stopped at Cobham
Hall about a week, I also visited them at their lodgings ; per-
sonal intercourse with them was for several years ; I never called
on them at Colonel Pattieon'y ; their lodgings were at Duke-street,
Manchester-square; my visits at their lodgings took place at the
time I was endeavouring to effect a reconciliation with the plain-
tiff's father ; I beg to say that I never effected a reconciliation, fur
though his father made a settlement, lie was never reconciled to
the marriage ; though I have heard of a second marriage, I do
not know it personally ; luever was present at any personal
communication of the plaintiff with his father, who is yet alive ;
I do not know Colonel Pattisou any more than having seen him
once on business ; I do not think that I' have seen Mrs. Bligh
since she left Cobham Hall.
Re-examined by Mr. JoNesami continued to visit them at their
lodgings at Duke-street, Manchester-square, while they remain-
ed there.
Mrs. Collins examined by Sergeant Vationalt-1 lived at No.
41, Duke-street, Manchester, and Mr. and Mrs. Bligh took
lodgings from ine, about February, 1820, and continued for a
year ; Capt. Bligh was in an infirm state of health ; Mrs. Bligh 's
conduct towards him was that of great propriety. I never saw
any thing unharmonious between them. Mrs. Bligh was very
anxious to make him comfortable; I never saw Mrs. Bligh after
she left me in 1821, until last February, when I saw her in 50
or M, York-street, Portman-square ; when I visited her, there
was a child about two or three months old, in the room ; there
was a Mrs. Parker, and a gentleman with me.
Cross-examined by Sergeant SPA NKR—They remained twelve
months in my house ; I saw Mrs. Bligh and Mr. Pattison more
frequently than Captain Bligh; he was not out for nights and
week. together ; he was hardly ever out, except when he went to
visit Lord Darnley and his brother. I cannot say that they used
separate beds in Any house, but there were separate beds provided.
Colonel Pattison and many others used to visit.
Re-examined by Sergeant VAUGHAN—Mr. Bligh had an affec-
tion on the lungs, and could not bear cold. Hu was iu general
confined on account of his illness.
John Whitcombe examined by Mr. Sergeant VA was
at Naples in June 1823, as valet to the lion. Keppel Craven ), I
often saw Mr. Wellesley and Mrs. Bligh walking together, as "I
rode 'out ; the window of Mr. Bligh's house was close to the road
I saw Mr. WeUeskty on one occasion, alight from his carriage and
go up stairs, where was Mrs. Bligh, sitting at a window with a
book in her hand ; on his arrival be put his arms towards her
shoulders; she appeared surprised, rose up, and fell into his arms;
on the Slat of July I met Mr. Wellesley and Mrs. Bligh walk-
ing together in the gardens, where music was playing ; this was
about a fortnight after I had seen him go up stairs; when I
met them in the gardens they appeared not to wish to be ob-
served.

Cross-examined by Sergeant SPAM:IF—The place where I met
them was a place of general resort, where every person who wished
to walk went ; the windows in Mr. Bligler house were small ;
the place was most exposed, so that every person passing by might
see into the house.
Mrs. Maxwell, examined by Sergeant Wiumr.ssel am the
sister of Mr. Hamilton, the minister from this Court to the
Court of Naples. lam acquainted with Mrs. Bligh ; she was
under my charge in the early part of her age ; I was abroad at
the time of her marriage; I saw her in 1817, having met her at
Naples, where I visited her ; I recollect her quitting Mr. Bligh's
house previously to that period ; they visited in the highest cir-
cles; I never saw any thing objectionable in their conduct towards
each other before that time; I was present when Mr. Wellesley's
family became acquainted with Mr. Bligh's family; it took
place in the British Minister's house; I saw Mr.
Wellesley going up to Mrs. Bligh, and introducing himself
to her as an old acquaintance; I do not know that they
had been previously acquainted ; they continued visiting each
other up to the time of the separation ; Mr. Wellesley's attentions
towards Mrs. Bligh were very particular, so as to attract my no-
tice ; Mrs. Blight quitted her husband's house on the 31st of July,
I saw her the next morning after she had quitted, when she told
me as a reason for her quitting that she could not stop any longer
in a house where any of her friends were refused admittance ; and
at the same time said that Mr. Bligh had threatened to exclude
Mr. Wellesley who was her best and oldest friend. I often had
occasion to speak to Mr. Bligh about Mr. Wellesley's attentions.
Mrs. Thigh was in the habit of going abroad with Mr. Wellesley's
family ; she was never visited after the 31st of Jtily by the re-
spectable families of that place; I often saw Mr. Wellesley and
Mrs. Bligh sitting together in an unbecoming manner : I was
present when Mr. Bligh was informed of his wife having quitted
his house; he was very much distressed at it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Baum:mast—ln two days after, Mr.
Bligh gave public warning for no person to give credit to his wife.
I had frequently seen them after the marriage, and never saw any
thing objectionable in their conduct; I was not aware until two
months ago that there had been a second marriage ; before the
month of July there was souse tritliug disagreemeut between them;
but I thought she was until she told me to the contrary at Naples;
I cannot say that Mrs. Bligh north happy as. the wife of Mr. Thigh,
I saw them once about six weeks after the marriage ; 1 did not
see them again until 12 months after, wizen I met them in emu-
pany ; I next saw her at Cambray, where she had a house of her own
England on account of his health) ; she
he'ringfamily there; she was alone for two months;
' B
Ih(CadkaninCitwo.nßetiliotgafltt being
they afterwards went to Paris, and that Captain
Bligh left Mrs • ligh there for two months ; I do not know
that she was left in the care of Lady Aldborough. Mrs. Thigh
made a communication to me respecting the conduct of Captain
Bligh towards her, at the Nixie Royale ; I said to her, I could
not believe it possible fora man to treat his wife in such a manner.
lightsTlll.
gh t that
ready shefor
When Mrs. Thigh was quitting Captain Bligh she said she would
not remain another hour in a house where her friends were not
admitted. Previous to that time she complained of some little
differences, but she never said she had been unhappy. I therefore
I made a prop-
thought she was happy ; I am not aware that she felt uncomfort-
able whilst living with Mr. and Mrs. Edward Blight ; she never
complained of being uncomfortable until she became acquainted
with Mr. Wellesley.
Sergeant Wan but site
with
Mr.
quitted the hilloeduse,bythAelsrervSteinrgtsearte'mtnaliVnzeLdnitu—p
Bligh in 1822; I Ev:•esnit 4,broad_,
examined ed
Ede. by
ohietriornecteoptihoeiii.,
(by,
adlfiroefctiAoinr.ofßilkigliri.
the
eligdlaLy
following,
vorn--I
declinedu,n
Deborahin t
theo aseseterrevv(ilecenetsooefixt
with her to Naples in 1823 • the family consisted
Mr. E. Thigh, Captain and Bl' I arrived at that t. 171
411; at Naples In ay
1823, and left the July following • I Wel''
) saw a gentleman flour:-
►leaky at their house ; after the first
week his Was there fre4lol4;