Star.
London, England, 1808-03-05 00:00:00

siivricAL frirnmozgcic.

HELSINGBURG, , • •
FrenCh privateer, Of 16 'guns, is aziited it 'Sta.
after having captured the Andalusia ; the
etbrry, Castle, --, and the Edmund and Miry,
as English brig has also been carried into Norway
by a Danish privateer.
FALMOUTH, MARCH 2.
moved this evening the Princess Charlotte packet,
captain Naafi, with mails from the Leeward Islands,
si days passage from thence—the brings an account
idle capture of the Duke of Montrose packet, Cap-
tain Dostv, by the French privateer la Confiance,
gans,.and 90 men, after an action of two hours and
shay, to which the privateer had nine men killed,
,„a two wounded. Captain DYNELY, his mate, and
for seamen fell in the action. The Duke of Mont.
sese arrived at Barbadoes on the 23d December, and
found there His Majesty's ships Acasta, Cerberus,
part, and Camilla—on the 27th December, His Ma.
Ittr's ships Diamond and NimrOd arrived there with
3 frerich privateer.—Sailed the True Briton privateer
oa a cruize.
PLYMOUTH, MARCH 3.
came in the Atlantic, (American ship) Captain
Guava, from Charente, bound to Tenerife with
brandy, detained by the Growler gun brig. It ap-
pears that the embargo on the American ships in the
ports of Fiance, has been taken off. Letters have
been receint this day from Gibraltar, by which it
appears, that the Rochefort squadron past the Gut
27th January last, having eluded the vigilance of
or cruizing squadron, and are supposed to have
re for Toulon. On the 12th ult. there were in Gi-
bolus. Bly nine sail of the line. Rear Admiral Sir
ISTRACHAN is said to be gone into the Mediterra.
aps in Vest of the escaped squadron. Sailed the
lister, of 18 guns, on a cruize.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 4.
rived the following vessels from the Downs,
,sia, the proselyte, for Barbadocs ; John, CRABTREE,
the Brazils ; and the Comet, M'DoNALD, for Ja-
maica ; also the Hearty gun-brig, from a cruize.—
Oiled his Majestft ship Pilot, on a cruize. Dropt
down to St. Helen's his Majesty's ship Lion, to con-
vey the fleet for the East Inches, which will sail the
first fair wind..—Wind S.

DOVER. MARCH 4.
Altved off bore last night, the American brig
Eunice, Captain HUNTER, from Lisbon, in twenty-
tight days. General FRAZER, and family, landed
from her, having procured passports from JrNoT to
We Portugal. The French colours were flying on
the forts, and on board all the Portuguese ships in
the Tagus. Thirty thousand troops were in Lisbon
under the French General ; they were chiefly corn.
raid of Germans, and a great number of them very
young. The inhabitants were much distressed for
bread, and no chance of getting any supplies. All
the English who could be found, were confined in
prisons. The Russian ships remained in much the
same state as they have been for some time past. The
different accounts that have been circulated respecting
the insurrection in Lisbon, are very much exagge.
rated, as but few lives have been lost.
Six P. M—A boat is this instant come on shore
from
.an American vessel, but her name the boatmen
did not enquire, she being under quarantine. The
Captain of her reports that he fell in with another
American vessel off Cape St. Vincent, that had been
detained three days by the Rochefort squadron, which
be said had actually gone into Cadiz, and that he
give this information to Admiral Dvcxwortrx, whom
he fell in with on the following day. The boatmen
did not enquire the time when this happened. Passed
by a convoy from the Downs, bound to the west.
ward.—Wind N. E. blows strong, with a thick fog.

DEAL, MekitCH 4.
Sailed this Morning his Majesty's ship Beagle'
with the outward-bound, &c. under tonvoy for Ports-
mouth, Arrived the Pidgeon schooner, from the
Northward, and remains in the Downs with the rest
of the ships as per last.—Wind N. W. foggy,

YARMOUTH, MARCH 4.
This morning arrived the Sappho sloop of war, and
has brought in with her a Danish privateer, with two
decks, which she captured off Scarbro' Castle, on
Wednesday, after an engagement of an hour and a
quarter: she canied 30 guns and* about 120 men,
well-found in stores and provision; she is called the
Admiral Railleur, and has 12 eighteen-long pounders
on her lower deck, and 16 sixes, with two long swivels,
on carriages, on her upper deck. The second Cap-
tain and another man was killed, and 10 men wound-
ed,on board the privateer—she has suffered very much
in her stern and rigging, as the Sappho raked her
several times. The Sappho had only three men
;rounded, which was by the upsetting of one of her
own carriages, in which the pilot had his leg broken,
and is brought on shore to the Hospital. The priva-
teer, during her cruize, had taken five sail of mer-
ntmen—had on board when taken between SO and
90 men, who belonged to the Danish navy. The
Sappho chased her from 11 o'clock till half-past one.
. Remain the ships of war as per last.
•
FROM LLOYD'S UST.

Ca aCtuNn, Miaow 4.—Passeci by the Anna, Sly, from Wa-
terford ; Hector, Griffiths, from Dublin ; Newry, Reily ; and the
Vine, 'Waite!, from Newry ; Eliza, Grocet A•,-xonoria, Martin;
and the 'row Eugenia, irotrog, from St. Michaels ;
Gordon, from Virginia ; Albion, Gammon, from ;
I)ra, ri:v•inulions, from Belfast ; Three Brothers, Morton ; In-
14,istry, hiker Diamond, Sumner ; and the Continent, Gabriel,
Omit%) rrizes'• from Plymouth.

k;ik

• .
COM M 07 kink 's 137Nbt, itALCII i.
CRIM. COIL. ~ r_
-• suss GREW*, ES*. ID. ettoatite Trrowni-
The curiosity excited in the City by the unfortunate
circuinstances which gave rise to this cause occasioned
all the avenues to the Court to be crowded at a very
early hour. It was an action brought by the Plain-
tiff (of the firm of Gregson and Dixon, Solicitors in
Angel Court, Throgmorton-Street) against his own
coachman, for criminal conversation with his wlle.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL, after the pleadings had
been opened by Mr. GAsit.za, said, that.this was one
of the most distressing cases which bad ever been sub-
mitted to a Jury. The Plaintiff, by his diligence and
integrity, had acquired great eminence, and with it
.an ample fortune in the profession of the law. Early
in 1791, living at the house of a friend in the north of '
England, he became acquainted with die lady whom
he had now the misfortune to call his wife. His propo-
sals were approved by her parents, the ceremonies
were performed, and he brought her home. They con-
tinued for a great number of years to live together in i
the most perfect harmony ; she latterly residing at his
country house, at Leyton, in Essex, and he, during
the day, occupied in his multifarious concerns in town,
but always returning at night with transports to his
loved wife. She had been educated in the path of ho-
nour and virtue, and belonged to' a respectable fa-
mily ; she had every prospect of permanent happiness.
The Jury would expect that he should state some par-
ticulars of the evidence, to shew how these fair pros-
pects were obscured, and how this lady could conde-
scend to the klegradation to which she submitted with
her own coachman. The Learned Counsel here
stated some of the facts, which we shall not notice here,
as they will be disclosed by the depositions of the
'witnesses. He then concluded in these words : " I
desire not, Gentlemen, to inflame your passions ; I de-
sire nothing for the Plaintiff but that to which he is
entitled for the injury he has sustained ; and I desire
you to take into the account, his eminent situation, his
purity of character, and his irreproachable conduct as
a husband."
The Rev. Thomas Hamilton produced the regis-
ter of the marriage, on the 12th of March, 1792, be-
tween the Plaintiff and Grace Close. The ceremony
was performed by himself, at Guiseley, in the diocese
of York.
Mr. Close, the brother of the Lady, and Mr. Cooke,
'of the Chancery bar, proved the attentive and affec-
tionate conduct of the husband. The latter being
asked, on his cross-examination, whether they had any
children ? said they had no family at this time, but
that Mrs. Gregson had had a child, which live.! only
a few days.
Mrs. Meade was next called, and being in a state
of great infirmity, she was brought in, with difficulty,
through a crowded Court, in a chair ; and having
been placed on the table, after a short pause, she de-
posed.that she was the wife of Mr. Meade, who lived
in a cottage in Mark-hall-lane, leading to Waltham-
stow. She remembered seeing a carriage drive by her
door, with a Lady upon the box with the coachman.
She saw the coachman stop, and then kiss her. After-
wards, he helped her down from the box, and touched
her leg in an indecent manner. It was at mid-day,
last summer. It was the carriage and coachman of
Mr. Gregson, and Mrs. Gregson was the lady so situ-
ated. Her brother, Thomas Raine, in some of the
particulars, confirmed the last witness.
Elizabeth Downer said, that her husband was por-
ter at the office of Messrs. Gregson and Dixon, next
door to Mr. Gregson's town-house. She took care
of the town-house, the family living in the country.
On the Ist of January, 1807, she put up her bed, and
slept there that night. Mrs. Gregson, between ten
and eleven next morning, came in the carriage with
Master Frank Clementson, a young Gentleman,
about twelve years of age. She was driven by the
Defendant. She came into the kitchen, where she
remained for ten or eleven minutes, until the coach.
man returned from the stable. She before desired
the witness to have lamb or mutton chops prepared
for his lunch. She went into the dining-room, and
returning to the kitchen soon afterwards, said, " Thu-
' mas, will you go up stairs, and see the house ?" They
went up, and the child after them, when the witness
heard the Lady tell the boy to go down and see my
little infant. The child replied, that he had seen the
baby, and wished to look at the house. They went
to the top of the house, and while they were there, a
sharp ring was given at the door. The Lady came
down, and desired the witness to go to the door, ob-
serving, that she dared to say it was Mr. Gregson. It
was Mr. Clementson, the father of the boy, whose
stay Mrs. Gregson endeavoured to shorten. While
this Gentleman was there, the coachman and Master l,
' Clementson came down. The coachman said to the
husband of the witness, that if he was Mrs. Gregson,
he would be d—d if he would put up with the child's i
following them up stairs as he did. When Mr. Cle-11
mentson was gone, she asked the witness if there
were any house-flannels; and being told there were
done, she sent the boy to his father's, in Basinghall-
street, for half-a-dozen yards of flannel. She then
again called the toachman to her, and went up with
him again to the garrets, where the bed of the witness
was placed. The witness had made her bed in the
morning. The coachman and his mistress continued
up-stairs about a quarter-of-an-hour. Afterwards,
during the whole morning, they continued backwards
and forwards together in the dining-room and kitchen.
Between two and three, the witness went into the
garret, and e!sserved that the bed had been pressed,
as if persons had been lying down upon it. Some
attempt had been made to raise the bed-clothes, but
not so as to impose upon the witness. She remarked
to her husband what had passed, and said to him that
it had a vefy odd appearance.
At another time, her mistress went to dine at Mr.
Dixon's, next door, when she told the witness she
would not go there till the last moment. She had
been with the coachman in the course of the day.'
Mrc. Close, her mother, was in the house, but went
out early. Mrs. Gregson said to the witness, before'
she left the house, " The coachman is gone to Mrs.
Tate's ; when he returns, come for me." When the
man came back, he desired her to go and tell his
mistress that he wanted her. The witness replied,
that it was not a proper message, and she would not
carry it. Thomas was impatient, and desired the
-witness to gay, that Mrs.. Tate did not understandsthe
note sent. The witness then delivered the message,
when the lady asked her if the coachman was in the

-~--:

•
honie, Sand desired her to tell him that hitirdstrcli
' was coming. The lady came in immediately. I
was a quarter past seven in the evening. 'When she
went into the 'parlour, ?he• witness was leaving a can-
dle, and said that she would leave it until she brought
the parlour candles. The lady replied, that she dui
not want any candles,. and following the witness into
the kitchen, enquired, if her Mamma's room was
ready, as her mamma would sleep in town that night?
The dining:room shutters were shut, where the Lady
was in the dark, and the witness presently afterwards
heard her call Thomas in a very low tone of voice.
The witness was, by the desire of her mistress, pre-
paring Mrs. Close's bed, bat, suspecting something,
she went down, and listened ten stairs from the door,
without a light. The door was not quite shut, not a
word was spoken. A sofa was in the room, two feet
from the door. The witness, her mistress, and the
coachman, were the only persons in the house. The
Witness had no doubt but there was a criminal con-
nection between Mrs. Gregson and the defendant at
that time. Afterwards she Went 'up stairs, and there
was a ring at the door. She ran down quickly, think-
ing to catch them coming out of the dining-room, and
she did so. The room was still in darkness. Mrs.
G. came running out, the coachman following her.
She desired the witness to go up :mks, for she dare
to say it was her mimma. She said to the witness,
" Should my mamma ask you how long I have been
in, tell her, that I have been in a very short time, and
that I have been with you all the while." Mrs.
Gregson's dress was very much disordered.
At another time, in November last, the husband of
the witness came into the kitchen in the evening.—
The witness had left the coachman and her mistr,:ss
in the dining-room, and had gone up stairs. She ob-
served her husband listening at the dining-room door,
or looking over the bannisters • when she 'hard her
fist at him, and told him not to listen, for if her mistress
should come out and surprise him, the house would
not hold her. There were then two car.dles in the
dining-room, the window-shatters were closed, they
both afterwards joined to listen, and had no doubt
but that there was a criminal intercourse at that time.
Lord ELLENBOROI:GII" I suppose there is not a
human being who can have any doubt. Any one of
the instances would have been of itself sufficient."
The witness, on her cross-examination, said, that
Mrs. Gregson was very much addicted to liquor. Se-
veral Gentlemen used to visit her ; but the witness
had seen no instances of improper familiarity, excep-
ting with one Gentleman. He came, she thought,
one day in February, drew down the window-blind,
and then joined his chair close to the lady's. This ob-
servation induced her to listen, and she had no doubt
hut that there was a criminal connection between
them at that time. The Gentleman was frequent in
his visits. On her re-examination, she added, that he
was a near neighbour, and she understood that he was
a widower with a family. He was an intimate friend
of Mr. Gregson. The coachman was about 26 years
of age.
Mr. TOPPING being now called upon for his defence,
he complained, that there was such a prodigious press
in Court, that his attorney could get no access to him.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH remarked to the Sheriff, that
on such occasions a sufficient attendance of officers
should be procured.
After a passage had been opened, and the Attorney
admitted with great difficulty,
Mr. TOPPING said, that it was his painful duty to
appear as Counsel for the Defendant on this extraor-
dinary occasion. He heartily joined with his Learned
Friend in the encomiums he had passed on the charac-
ter and conduct of the Plaintiff ; but the question was,
not what was due to his character, but what was due
to him for the loss of the society and comfort of his
wife ? There was not a tittle of evidence to spew that
the Defendant had by any arts triumphed over the
virtue of this woman ; and it was somewhat singular,
that although the Plaintiff had a house and. establish-
ment in the country, where the Lady entirely resided,
not one of the servants there had been called to de-
pose to this criminal intercourse. The fact of the
adultery he should not dispute. After the coach-box
scene, was it to be said that the Plaintiff was deprived
of the society of a decent, respectable, and virtuous
woman? The defendant was not the only man with
whom this profligate wife was in the habit of crimi-
nally connecting herself. There 'was a Gentleman
frequent in his visits, whose name his own delicacy,
and that of his brethren at the bar, had suppressed;
and it was proved, that he had had the same iniquitous
intercourse. It was likewise to be recollected, that
this Lady was addicted to drinking, and that, from
every view of her character, she was wholly unfit to
be the companion of the Plaintiff, who, instead of
sustaining any loss, by being deprived of her society,
was in fact indebted to this menial' in his service, for
being the instrument of their separation. There
must be a verdict for the Plaintiff; but the smallest
damages, which must carry costs, would consign
the Defendant to a gaol, as he could as easily pay the
national debt, as the expences incurred in this action.
Lord Exxxsistmoomi, after stating the nature of the cction,
observed, that the fact of the adultery of Mrs. Gregson with the
Defendant was admitted; indeed, what was proved to have passed
on the coach-box, and the gross familiarity in descending from it,
was sufficient to argue conclusively further intercourse. Under
the circumstances, the Defendant could not properly be considered
u the seducer; the principal blame rested with the woman, who
was net now the object of punishment ; but the servant who had
lent himself to the licentious overtures of a profligate mistress,
must be deemed to be highly culpable. He also appeared to be
the first person who had a connection with her, as the Gentleman
who was in the circumstances stated, was at the house in Feb...l-
- ; and it was to be lamented, that committing this outrage on
the honour of his wife, he was the intimate friend of the husband.
The Learned Counsel, from ntotives of reserve, avoided Men-
tioning the name of this person; but it was an exercise of deli-
cacy not jusified by the fact ; for he, as the neighbour and friend
of the Plantiff, in every moral oint of view, was infinitely
more disgraced than the Defendant. Although this priority, in
point of crime, appeared on the evidence with the Defendant, yet
there was probably a prior connection with the gentleman, for
there was no courtship between him and the lady, the blind was
pulled down, and the intercourse seemed to commence with the
usual ceremonies of a brothel. But, with whomsoever she com-
mitted the first offence, certain it was that she was a mos* aban-
doned woman. She appeared to have been guided by the mere
impulse of lust ; and in the indulgence of her gross appetites, she
must be supposed to have laid all delicacy prostrate before her.—
For the purpose of assigning damages, the Gentlemen of the Jury
would consider the extent of the loss the Plaintiff had sustained.
If the Defendant had been the means of destroying the purity of
this lady, his Lordship would not have advised the Jury to abridge
one farthing of the usual damages,
.rin account of his menial situ-
ation ; and they would recollect that persons in such a condition
of life, who surround a family, arcs not to be permitted to bask
the peace of families with impunity.
After a short deliberation, the Jury, without quit-
tin the box, delivered a—Fin/idler the Plirs0:0001.

• -1,
HBla"PiR11) CIRCUIT, MATCH 4.

Mr Justice HEALT* irrived yeiterday making, and
•
read the King's Commission for holding the Assize:.
Muitnia AT, tiontiesoom--Thonsas Simmons was in-
dicted, for that he, at Broxboorn, in this county, on
the 20th of October last, did mike an assault on Sarah
Humnterstone, and wilfully gave her a mortal wound
in the neck with a knife, of which she •nstantly died.
This is the case of the inhuman wretch who muse
dered the two unfortunate women at Hoddesdon, and
the Court was crowded at an early hour in the mor-
ning to hear the trial. It did not last long, as the facts
lay in a very narrow compass.
Mr. POOLE?, as Counsel for the prosecution, stated
to the Jury, that it was not possible but they must
have heard of the case. He intreated them to dismiss
from their minds all they had heard elsewhere, and
attend only to the evidence which would be laid before
them. He then stated the facts as below detailed,
and called the following witnesses :
Samuel James, a Surgeon at Hoddesdon, deposed,
that on the 20th of October, he went to the house of
Mr. Boreham, at Hoddesdon. On gring to the house,
he saw Mrs. Hummerstone leaning against the paling
near the door ; she was then alive, but died in three
minutes after, of a wound in the neck, near the spine.
Sarah Harris, servant of Mr. Boreham, said she
had lived four years with him ; Simmons, the priso-
ner, had lived there three years, and quitted it last
Michaelmas : the prisoner wished to marry her, but
her mistress disapproved of it : they had quarrelled
before he quitted the service, on Which occasion he
beat her; and when he had done, he said he did not
care if he had killed her. He has often said he would
make away with her, because she would not marry
him. About half past eight in the evening of the 20th
of October, he came to the house : she was in the kit-
chen, and heard him coming along the yard ; he was
swearing violently. He came up to the window, and
struck at her through the lattice, and swore he would
do for them all. She desired him not to make a noise,
as they had company : he said he did not care for the
company, he would do for them all. Mrs. Huminer
stone, hearing the noise, opened the room-door, and
came to the yard. She told him to go away. He gave
her a blow on the head, which knocked off her bonnet
—she ran into the house, and he immediately follow-
ed her. The witness immediately heard the shrieks
of murder, but did not know from whom. All the
family were in the room, viz. the three young ladies,
Mr. Borcham's daughter, Mrs. Warner, the married
daughter, Mr. Boreham and his wife, and Mrs. Hum-
merstone. In a very short time, the prisoner came to
the wash-house to her : she shut the door, and cried
out murder. The witness ran into the sitting-room.
She there saw some one lying under the window—
she ran from thence down a passage, the prisoner fol-
lowed her. She there met her master with the poker
in his hand ; in running hastily, her master, who is a
very old and feeble man, was knocked down. The
prisoner caught her, and threw her down, and drew a
knife on her. He threw her across Mrs. Warner, who
was lying dead, as she believed.r. He drew the knife
across her throat, but she guarded it with her hand,
which was cut. He made a second blow, when she
wrested the knife out of his hand. He immediately
ran away, and she saw no more of him.
Sarah Cakebury said, she lived near Mr. Boreham,
and heard the cry of murder. She passed Mrs. Hum-
merstone, and went into the house ; she saw Mrs.
Warner lying dead under the window.
George Britton said, on the evening of the 20th
October, he went to Mr. Boreham's, at Hoddesdon :
finding what had been done, he went in search of the
murderer; in the cow-house, he found Tom Simmons's
hat; he went in further search, but the prisoner was
found by another party.
Thomas Copperwheat went in search of the mur-
derer. He discovered Simmons concealed under some
straw in a crib in the farm-yard ; he had on him a
smock frock, very bloody ; the place where he was'
found was about 100 yards from the house.
BENJAMIN ROOK, the Coroner, said, when the evi-
dence of Harris was read to the prisoner, he said it
was very true, he had murdered them, and no one
else. He added, that he did not intend to have mur-
dered Mrs. Hummerstone, but he went with the inten-
tion of murdering Mrs. Boreham, Mrs. Warner, and
Harris, the maid-servant.
The constable who carried him to prison deposed to
the same effect. The prisoner also told him, that
when he had got Betsy down, he heard something
fluttering over his shoulders, which made him get up
and run away.
The Prisoner being called upon to know if he had
any thing to say, answered; in a careless tone—No!
Mr. Justice HEATH told the Jury, the case was so
very clear, that it must be unnecessary for him to ad-
dress any observations to them ; the Prisoner, as they
had heard, had more than once voluntarily confessed
his guilt—The Jury found him Guilty; and the Learned
Judge- immediately pronounced the sento_nce of the law
—that he should be hanged on Monday next, and his
body anatomised.—He heard the sentence of death
with great indifference, and walked very coolly front
the bar.—The young girl, whom he attempted to
murder, was in great agitation, and was obliged to be
supported while she was in Court.
Simmon: was convicted through the exertions of Mr.
W. White, Mr. B. Fairfax, of the Bull inn, Hoddesdon,
and Mr. J.Brown, the church-warden of that place, the
Quakers refusing to come forward as prosecutors.

Next Tuesday (the First day of drawing) is of
great importance to every one who is desirous cf
sharing, in the State Lottery, a Capital Prize.—
HORNSBY and Co. hope their Friends wal not lose
o favourable an opportunity, and buy their Ticket
or Share before the Drawing begins. Orders, by.
post or carrier, executed on . the same terms as if pre-
sent. 26, Cornhill, 52, Charing Cross, and St. Mar-
garet's Hill, Eoraugh.
Next Tuesday the State Lottery begins Drawing ;
.and as there are no Capital Prizes fixed for any dis-
tant days, those who purchase before the drawing be-
gins, have an evident advantage over those who buy
after, as all the Capitals may be drawn the first day.
T. Emu, therefore, advises the public to purchase as
early as possible at his old established Offices, No. 4,
Cornhill, and 9, Charing Cross, where 38 Capital
Prizes were Shared and Sold in the last year, including
two Prizes of 30,0001.—Prizes paid on demand.

MARRIED—At Lochmalony, Fifeskire, on tae•l9ttt wttmo,
Major Boyd Horsbrugh, of Pittladdo, to bliss Scott, daughter
ttf Major Thomas Scott, of Lochmilony.