The Sun.
London, England, 1818-12-22 00:00:00

a right to apprehend a horse-stealer. It was then
agreed that the parties --should meet again at -the
same public hone on the Monday following, and
that the plaintiff should pay the compeniation
required, make an apology, and stinu/ a beef-
s'teak dinner ; hut not keeping his appointment,
he was afterwards summoned before a Magistrate,
when be agteed to pay the money ; but not hav-
ing 'done co, Mr. Eller commissioned his Attor-
ney, Mr:Harmer, to write and acquaint him, that
it' the money was not eimmertiately paid, an
Action wont(' be brought against him. In the mean
tune the plaintiff brought the prisent action.
Counsel being beard on both side., the case
went to the Jury, nutter the Learned Judge's di-
rfction, upon all the circumstances, when 9 ver-
dict was found for the plaintiff—Damages, 40s.
The trial of this case lasted upwards of three
bows.

here was no other case tried of public in-
terest.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, DEC. 21.

GRIM. CON.

VAUGHAN V. SMITE(.

Mr. PH ILLIPS opened this case. The declara-
tion stated, that the defendant made an assault
upon the wife of the plaintiff, and debauched her,
thereby depriving the plaintiff of the comtort of
her society. The damages were laid 'at 10;0001.

Mr. Serjeaut COPl:EYstated' the circumstances
of the case' to the Jury. The plaintiff, Mr;
Waughau, he said, brought this action for the pur-
pose of recovering reparation in damages, asjar
an damages could go in repairing such an injury,
fur the sedaction of his wife by the defendant.—
Cases of this nature had been cif such frequent oc-
currence, and had sty oft en been subjects of con-
sideration in Courts of Justice, that he tl'sught
it unnecessary to make any general observations
on their character, convinced as he was that the
feelings and understandings of the Jury would sug-
gest every thing which tie could urge in introducing
such a case to their notice. He thought he should
best discharge his ditty to his client, by confining
himself to a plain and simple statement of the
case, laying before them the situation otthe par-
' ties, and the ciecnntsrances under which the
offence imitated to the defendant was committed.
He was quite sure that the facts which he should
lay before them in evidence would he conclusive.
The Learned .Serjeatit then proceeded to stat,e
that the plaintiff, Mr. Vaughan, was a Gentleman
very well known in the musical . world, and of
considerable talenti. So far back us the year
1805, he was introduced, for the first time, to re
young Lady of the name of Tennant. She was.
then seventeen .years of age, of great personal
beauty and accomplishments ; added to which,
she was possessed, in an eminent degree, of the
same description of talent for which Mr. Vaughan
had been so eminently distinguished. At the latter
cud of 1805,a marriage took place. From that pe-
riod down to the time when their happiness was
broken in upon by the present defendant, they
lived together in the greatest possinle degree of
harmony and affection. Mrs. Vaughan assisted
her husband in the discharge of his, professional
engagements ; and thus they mutually contributed
to the support of their common offspring. They
had had several children, of whom six were now
alive ; the eldest not ten years of lige. The de-
fendant was the son of a Doctor Smith, residing
at Richmond, and held sonic office under the
Governmenc of the country. The , two fa-
that of Mi. Vangbart and praetor Smith,
were upon the most intimate terms. Mrs.
Vaughan had two children at school at Rich-
mond, and when she went (lowa to see .hem
she trequently stopped a day or two at Doctor
Smith's. like manner, when the Miss Smiths
came to town, they remained at the house of
Mr. Vaughan, and, together with every branch of
their family, were received with the greatest hos-
pitality and kindness. In this situation things
remained, until at last the defendant succeeded in
seducing the wife of his friend ; and finally in-
duced her to elope from him. It was here neces-
sary to state, that when Mrs. Vaughan was deli-
vered of her last child, of which her husband was
parent, at least, about 2 years ago, she suffered so
much in consequence of an internal complaint, that
her medical advisers deemed it necessary to recom-
mend that in future her husband anti she should
sleep_in separate beds. Mr. Vaughan loved his
wife with the utmost affection and regard ; but
finding it expedient, for her sake, that this course_
should-be adopted, he disregarded his own grati-
fication, and yielded to the suggestion. Front
that time until the elopement they slept in sepa-
rate beds, in rooms adjoining each other. At.
what time the defendant succeeded in effecting his
dishonourable purpose it had not been clearly
ascertained ; but that a criminal intercourse had
taken place upwards of a year back was manifest,'
from the birth of a child, of which, no doubt, the
defendant was the father. This fact was corro-
borated by several letters from the defendant to
Mrs. Vaugkan, from the tone and maimer of
which, the intimacy which had subsisted between
them was too evident. • These letters were not
addressed to Mts. Vaughan, but front their. hit.
arort, and the way in which they were found, they:
were clearly conveyed to her. Here Mr. Serjeant,
Copley read several passages from tilde ters ro which
lie alluded, which were signed by the defendant,
and in which be addressed Mre. Vaughan as his
". Dearest, dearest Bess„ his very- lite ! his own
valued—cherished—moatheldved wife." In these
letters he makes allusicn to the situation in which
Mrs. Vaughan was, from the intercourse which
had passed between them—speaks of -the pledge
of their mutual regard which lay beneath her.
bosom, and entreats her to quit her husband's.
house before he discovers her pregnancy. Ars.
Vaughan finally deserted her husband and her
children, and after a short residence of a month
in London, penceeded to Lyme, in •Dorsetahire.,
where she was delivered of a boy, the fruit of her
unhappy intrigue with the defendant. litrving
thus stated the outlines of the case which ie,..liad
to prove, the. Learned Counsel •adverted ao the
amount of damages to whidh•the plaintiff was. en.;
titled. He commented on the loss •.ot -domestic
happiness which the defendant had sustained, and
upon the aggravated conduct of the, defendant in
betraying that confidence which Mr. Vaughan.
had, considering him .a friend, reposed iu Lieu