The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-12 00:00:00

THE LATE ELOPEMENT.

The fact of the marriage of the Lady Adela Villiers with
Captain C. P. Ibbetson, at Gretna Hall, on Thursday Mat,
was announced in the Morning Post of Monday.
Our detailed notice of the fugitive pair broke off with their
arrivarat the York station of the Nbrth Midland Rail Way.
We no* 'append such other interesting facts in connexion
with " the affair" as have since reached us.

After breakfasting in the refreshment room at York, where
the elegant appearance and manner of Lady Adela was par-
ticularly remarked by several persons present, the lovers
again took their places in the mail train.
Throughout the run from York to Newcastle thQ parties
do not appear to have been observed, but traces of them were
discovered on the line to Carlisle, which led the pursuers to
Gretna- green.
The fugitives reached Carlisle shortly after one o'clock on
Thursday, having thus run a distance cf upwards of four
hundred-miles between that hour and six o'clock on the pre-
vious evening Here they entered the Gallant Captain's car-
riage, and post-horses having been furnished by that inde-
fatigable aider and abettor of the god Hymen, in the palmy
days of Gretna—the good host of the "Bush"—in a very few
moments, the party dashed through the fine old city en route
for " the Border."

The post-boys on the road between Carlisle and Gretna
were considered the best in the kingdom in the days when
posting formed the almost exclusive means of locomotion.
Probably their superiority may have arisen from the inkling
all must have had of the importance of their trust in many
cases. Be this as it may, the race of "Carlisle boys" is not
yet extinct, and by dint of whip and spur, the expectant
pair of whom we treat alighted at the "Gretna Hall"
Tavern before half- past two o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
To unlearned " Southrons" it may be interesting to know
that "mine host of the Hall" unites the somewhat irrecon-
cileable characters of Boniface and priest in his own person.
At the moment of the arrival of the fugitives he was pre-
siding at a dinner, the guests at which consisted chiefly of a
staff of engineers, who are just now pursuing their avocation
in this hitherto peaceful neighbourhood. A very short inter-
val occurred, however, before a person entered the room, who
delivered what appeared to the guests to be a sort of myste-
rious message to the chairman, but which in reality was sim-
ply a summons to attend " a lady and gentleman who had
just arrived from London, and were waiting his presence in
'the saloon' up stairs." With a promptitude which says
much tor the business habits of mine host, he immediately
vacated his post at the head of the table, and forthwith pro-
ceeded to grant the desired interview.

The first introduction over, the Gallant Captain, in the
presence of his fair companion, inquired of the worthy host
whether it was true that he himself " performed the cere-
mony of marriage when requested so to do ?"
Mine host replied with great alacrity that be had done so
for some years past, and should continue to act in a similar
capacity unless prevented by Lord Brougham, who, he be-
lieved, had attempted some interference with his prerogative
last year.
Boniface, requesting permission to retire for a few moments,
speedily returned attired in full canonicals.
The first procedure was to obtain the names of both
parties, with a proper description of their respective resi-
dences. Here for an instant a difficulty was apprehended.
Lady Adele confessed that at the moment she could only re-
collect three of her Christian names, though she believed she
had more. Our host soon calmed her Ladyship's misgivings,
by declaring that all the names were not necessary, in-
stancing a case where the same omission bad been declared
valid—that of the Prince de Capua, who, possessing a string
of something like sixteen names, when asked to state them at
Gretna, could only recollect about one half the number.
The names obtained, next came the question of witnesses.
It was highly desirable that no party in the house should be
requested to attest the marriage, who might by possibility
have a knowledge of the principal actors. This was im-
pressed upon mine host, who promptly remarked that the
Carlisle" postilions generally considered it their privilege to
act as witnesses on similar occasions, adding, that if the
Gallant Captain had no objection, one of them would be a
perfectly competent witness, while his own " better half"
might be the second.
The proposition was at once entertained, And the parties
alluded to were summoned to attend.
The clerical character was now altogether assumed by
mine host, and the ceremony commenced by a declaration
on the part of both her Ladyship and the Gallant Officer,
to the effect that they were single persons, and that they
had come to Gretna freely and willingly, of their own ac-
cord, and without force.

The priest (for the time being) addressing the Gallant
Officer, next said, •" Will you take this woman to be your
lawful wife?"

The Gallant Officer, without waiting to hear the remainder
of the sentence, cheerfully replied, "I will."
The officiating officer continued--" To live after God's or-
dinance, in the holy state of matrimony. Will you love her
and comfort her, and cherish her in sickness and in health,
and forsaking all others, remain faithful unto her so long as
ye both shall live?"

The Gallant Captain again plighted his troth to her Lady.
ship with great apparent sincerity.
Similar questions were then addressed to Lady Adela, who
duly responded, maintaining her self-possession throughout
in the most remarkable manner, and notwithstanding the
excessive fatigue she had undergone, appearing in high spirits.
The Gallant Captain next took the left hand of his fair
companian, and having placed the ring thereon, mine host
joined their hands together, and declared the parties min
and wife in the following terms :—" Forasmuch as this man
and this woman have consented together before God and
this people to be man and wife, by receiving this ring, I
hereby declare them to be such in the presence of God and
these witnesses."

The marriage was then recorded in the usual manner upon
a printed form prepared for the purpose. As a good deal of
curiosity may be supposed to prevail on the subject at this
moment, we append a copy of the document, together with
the signatures, exactly as they appear in the original:—
" Kingdom of Scotland, •
" County of Dumfries,
" Parisi; of Gretna.
" These are to certify to all to whom these presents may
come, that Charles Parke Ibbetson, of the parish of St.
Pancras, London, in the county of Middlesex, and Adela
Corisanda. Villiers, of the parish of St. George, London. in
the county of Middlesex, being now here present, and having
declared themselves single persons, were this day married,
after the manner of the laws of the Church of England, and
agreeably to the laws of Scotland.

-" As ;-itness our hands at Gretna Hall,' this sixth day
of November, 1845.

" C. P. IBBETSON.
" ADELA VILLIERS."
J. LINTON."
'JANE LINTON.
(*ROBERT COPLEY."
The signatures were not particularised by anything
..ya-
markable. That of the Captain was written in a fine, bold
hand, while Lady Adela's might have been written with a
" crowquill small and new," were one to judge from its deli-
cacy and finish.

" Solemnised by

" Witnesses

The ceremony concluded, the newly-wedded pair stoleis
few moments to refresh themselves, preparatory to proceeding
further northward. The afternoon was now waning fast, and
Gretna having served its turn, the fugitives were naturally
anxious to leave the " Hall " some distance behind them.
At four o'clock, the best horses the stable afforded were put
to the carriage, and the Captain having, with a bounteous
hand, satisfied all claims upon his purse, handed his youths
ful bride to her seat, and springing into the carriage him-
self, the happy pair drove off together in the direction of
Edinburgh.
Despite the inconvenience of amateur postboys, and not
very first-rate cattle, the party reached Langholm, a distance
of sixteen miles, and the first stage upon the old road to
Edinburgh, before six o'clock. Relays of horses were hers
provided at the Crown Inn, and our travellers again pro-
ceeded onwards, arriving about eight o'clock at Moss Paul, a
lone hostelrie, the property of the Duke of Buccleuch, situate
about midway between Gretna and Hawick.
. .

At this pla'ee they rested for the night, intending to pro-
ceed early the next morning on their way to Edinburgh.—.
Post.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
SHELL PRACTICE ON BOARD THE SCOURGE
STEAM-SLOOP, AT PORTSMOUTH.
The Scourge steam-sloop, of 1,124 tons burthen, went out
of Portsmouth harbour yesterday morning, under the direc-
tion of Captain Chads, of the Excellent, gunnery ship, having
with him several officers of that ship. Captain Stevens, of
the Royal Marine Artillery, and a gang of seamen, gunners,
and marine artillerymen, likewise from the Excellent. The
day was unpropitious; a constant mizzling rain, with thick
weather, prevailed, which almost made it dangerous to fire;
but Captain Chads having taken up a position to the east-
ward of the Wight, fired the shells in the direction of the
shores off Hayling island, in which no vessel or boat could
be moving,
The result of the practice has been most satisfactory, and
we should say, very conclusive in establishing the capability
of steamers to carry mortars without detriment to the ves-
sels, or the machinery of the engines. Thirteen 13-inch
shells were fired with the following charges of powder:--
Two with a charge of five pounds of powder, two of seven
pounds, two of ten pounds, one of fifteen, and six of.,n
charge of twenty pounds of powder. The shells were not
filled with powder, but with sand equal to the weight of the
powder of loaded shells. The mortar stands above the
weather deck, abaft the mainmast, and it was expected that
the explosion would have the effect of submerging her shaft,
but the discharge was scarcely felt, and the shock sustained
by the vessel was trifling. Eleven shells were fired rigkt
aft, and the two last were fired directly abeam. Those lest
discharged affected the vessel most, but even these caused
comparatively slight shocks. The engineers in the engine-
room scarcely felt it, and not the smallest derangement took
timberfill steam.w o k
place, although the Scourge, during the last six discharges of
the N
eitwentythert ph oe übne
dd s
of
ff
the powderm or
mortar
anrogre ,
theu'a s
heavy
yr
on which it rests, has been in the slightest degree disturbed.
Some of the thin deal hammock berthing, and some of thie
slight plank berthing of the bulwark have been splintered, •
and a few panes of glass broken, which is all the damage
sustained; and the trial has most fully established the fact,
that these vessels can carry such an armament with perfect
safety. Mr. Fincham, the master shipwright, and Mr. Watts,
the assistant, went on board the Scourge after she returned,
and miniitely inspected her, but could not find the least
symptom of any derangement on board her.
Capt. Chads will go out in the Scourge again to-day, when
the long 10-feet gun of 87 cwt. will be likewise tried.
NAVAL RETIREMENT OF COMMANDERS.—The seniors-if
this meritorious class of officers, who were promoted at the
conclusion of the war, and in whose glorious achievement
they have all participated with honour and distinction, have
met at Portsmouth and Plymouth, and formed themselves
into committees, for the purpose of memorialising the Board
of Admiralty, to confer upon their long and arduous war
services, the same boon of retirement which has been ex-
tended to those of the Post Captains.
The President, 90, Capt. Stanley, with the flag of Admiral
Dacres, is quite ready for sea, but is waiting for the "nivel
of the Dee steam transport, with six nine-pounder field
pieces, which the President takes out as far all the 04pe
of
Good Hope, but which are to go on to the Maurifuni.
The Fisgard, 42, Captain Duntze, left Lima ou the 30th
of August, for Valparaiso.
The Juno, 26, Captain P. Blake, sailed on Monday from
Spithead, but the weather proving bad she returned, and
sailed again yesterday morning with a fair wind for Rio,
thence to join the squadron.
The Wasp, 18, Commander S. T. Ussher, left St. Helena
on the 16th of September, for Spithead, to be paid off.
The Frolic, 18, Commander Cospatrick B. .Hamilton ar-
rived at Lima, from Africa, on the 24th of August, and left
on the 29th, it is said, with " sealed orders " to join Rear,
Admiral Sir G. Seymour, the Commander-in-Chief.
The Spider, 6, schooner packet, Lieutenant-Commander
Pyrn, arrived at Buenos Ayres, on the 18th of August, from.Monte Video.

The Penelope, 22, steam-frigate, Commodore Jon" left
St. Helena, for Evando, on the 19th of September* '
The Cormorant steam-sloop, Commander George T. G.
odnont,haerrBitrhedofaAt from Panama, in eight days and half,

The Earl and Countess of Liebg :ta
•
ful Ladies Harriet and Guendols- "--- and the youth.
wit:4g at Graffenberg, ti, - -ate Anson are expected tA,
bis intention if vio.'" Noble Earl having relinquished
..‘ing Naples this year.