The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-05 00:00:00

LON, *SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1842

young lady, and that in the meantime this witness's evi- •
dence would do defendant no good,
Alexander. Hall sworn—Knows Mr. Van Zandt and
Sophia Murdoch. In- the autumn of 1840 resided with
the. defendant. Knew Thaddeus, who resided with his
uncle. Bas observed intimacy between Sophia and
Thaddeus, and wiled he saw them-. together they were
always using. familiarities. Saw him with his arms
round her kissing her. Saw nothing further but his arm
around her.
Cross-examined—Is brother-in-law to the defendant.
To the best of his recollection, it was in the month of
May or June. Was at one of the levees, on Thursday
evening, at defendant's house. Two rooms were full of
people. Were about thirty persons present, chiefly la-
dies. When he saw the familiarity witness was present.
Cannot say how many others were there. Was in the hall.
Mrs. Van Zandt, mother of defendant, sworn—ls the.
mother of the • reverend defendant. Thaddeus was the
child of her son, who resides in the city of New York.
Has seen l'haddens .and Mary Murdock come out of a
bedroom together.
John Marden sworn—Lived in St. Paul-street. Lived
next house •to plaintiff. Houses on a line, and not dis-
tant more than 25 feet. Knows Sophia and Thaddeus
Van Zandt. Has seen him at plaintiff's house six or
seven hours a day. Seen him with both sisters. The
table at which he worked faced the window. He is a
glover. Has seen improper familiarities between Sophia
and Thaddeus. Has seen him put his hand under her
dress. On another occasion he saw him put his hand
around her waist, and fall down together in the wood-
shed. Saw no further, but saw them get up again. On
another occasion lie saw them playing in the garden.
Had seen him kiss Mary but not Sophia. Does not re-
member having said, within these last few days,, in Mr.
John Hay's store, that he •saw Thaddeus more than a
dOzen of times have connection with Sophia. Does not
remember having said to Mr. Benjamin, a dealer in hats,
that he knew nothing, nor had ever seen Thaddeus and
Sophia.
Charles 11. Briggs—Knows Marden. Has had a con-
versation with him in the store. Said he was acquainted
with the girl Sophia, and knew no hurt of her, that she
was a fine little girl. Always heard him speak in her
favour. Never heard him Say anything about Thaddeus
Van Zandt and Sophia.
Mary F. Gray, stir orn.—Knows Marden, and was pre-
sent at the conversation related. He came in to get some
work done, anclsaid he had a job to do which he dreaded.
Mentioned something about their playing in the garden,
but does not remember any thing more. Was not pay-
ing much attention.
George -13. , Benjamin sworn—Knows Marden. Has
had conversation with him in his store. One evening
that he was there alone, asked him if he did not think
that report was too bad. He said he lived near them,
and that she was a fine little girl, and they were all a fine
family. This conversation took place within four weeks.
Mr. Sibley summed up the evidence for the defence ;
said he could see nothing in this cause on which it was
pleasant to dwell, either on the one side or the other.
lie (Mr. Sibley) was not here to defend the- holy order
of the priesthood. Let them stand or fall by their con-
duct. But he would appeal to the discerning public,
when, in this neighbourhood, this county, this region,
has a similar offence been charged on a member of the
clerical profession ? No such case has occurred in man's
memory. The records of courts of justice furnish, it is
true, some instances ehere clergyinen have been found
guilty of offences of this kind, but the counsel for the
prosecution forgot to state that in a far larger number
of instances, such charges are found to be false—
conspiracies,- attempts to extort money. Mr. Sibley
here alluded to the case of the Rev. Dr. Phelps of
New York, who had been' condemned to infamy and
disgrace by the public mind, willing to pay a sum of
money to stop a prosecution against him, proved to
have been in situations in which circumstances
might have occurred, and, by the confesSion of the
female herself, afterwards admitted to be innocent. He
is now pursuing there a career of public usefulness. The
plaintiff here charges that the defendant, in 1340, se-
duced his daughter. This is an action for seduction—it
means anything but force—it means that her lusts have
been invoked, or her affections captivated. This is the
charge, and it is denied. A charge like the present was
easily made and hard to be disproved. If the female
could not be a witness in a case like this, there would be
a wrong without a remedy, but the law directs that if
her story is improbable, and if it be not corroborated, but
contradicted in an essential point, it shall not be credited
—the law looks equally
.to the rights and liberties of
both defendant and plaintiff. He would now introduce
the principal_ and only witness to prove this case, the
daughter of the plaintiff. It is not enough that she may
have been proved to be with the defendant on the day
stated, on the oath of others—she must be sustained by
the 'testimony of credible witnesses in some essential
particulars in support of the. accusation of guilt.
That she was virtuously brought up as far as the
instruction of her mother would admit, he would
freely admit—she had been intelligently and worthily
reared —and his client had been a pains-taking agent
in enlightening the mind of this young female, and
in improving her intellect. The Learned Counsel dwelt
long upon what he considered the improbability of
Sophia's statement, as to what took place upon the stoop
at her mother's door. He considered that the kissing
her was no evidence of lust—that men kiss the little
daughters of their neighbours, as innocently as they kiss
their own ; a good kind man will be kissed by the chil-
dren, whether he is willing or not—kisses, in cases such
as had been described, was innocence itself. if a man
tell him that he cannot kiss a couple of very playful
girls, for fear of a fall, lie (Mr. Sibley) would say that
man stands upon a very insecure foundation. The
Learned Gentleman next referred to Sophia's statement
Of the occasion when Mr. Van Zandt asked her and her
sister to go over to his hoMe, he being alone ; alleged
that if Mr. Van Zandt had a vicious purpose of de-
bauching Sophia, he would not have also asked Mary to
accompany her, seeing she could be an evidence of his
guilt, which, if exposed, would to him, the father of a
• family, the husband of a lovely wife, the pastor of a
Christian church, be utter ruin. Who can believe such
a story ? And yet you must believe it all or none ; there
is no half way in this case. You can't take part of her
(Sophia's) testimony, and reject the rest ; it must be
the whole or none.

--A.journed till half-past two.
When we ,entered the Court, Mr. Sibley was giving
the Jury the view he took of Sophia's statement of the
occurrences in Mr. Van Zandt's study, on the afternoon
of the 16th of October, 1840. Unpleasant and
disgusting as the circumstances in this case are,
they would have to talk and think about them. The
Counsel argued as to the probability that it was not
defendant, but his nephew Thaddeus, now in China, who
was the father of Sophia's child. The Counsel took
much pains to show that the Jury must not take
into account anything that might have, been stated by
witnesses, as to indecent liberties taken .by the Reverend
Gentleman with Sophia's sister and other females. He
apologised for Mr. Van Zandt's assertion that the
Misses Murdock were strumpets, made secretly to his
vestry. Mentioned the many stories that were afloat
about them—commended his goodness of heart, his
charity, in giving Sophia, her mother and sister, all
dresses alike. Asserted that the defendant's benevolence
and charity had extended far and wide. Insinuated that
as Sophia allowed Thaddeus Van Zandt to
.put his arms
round her neck and kiss her, it might be inferred that
greater liberties were allowed him. Gave some weight
to Marden, the glover's statement, but admitted it
had been successfully impeached, and that he wss
shown to be a garrulous, intemperate man—if his testi-
mony could not be believed, let it be cast out. If the de-
fendant is guilty of this outrage, he, Mr. S., was not
here to plead 'in mitigation of damages. No, in that
case take ample damages—take all he has and give to
the family he has wronged ; abate nothing, he will not
mourn over it. The Jury could not say' the plaintiff was
guilty ; they could not find a verdict on evidence which
they had reason to believe to be untrue. Mr. V. Z.
values not money ; but he desires to leave no stain on
his family to descend to his children; had he desired to
settle this with money, ample time and opportunity were
given him to do so, but knowing his own innocence he
comes before the country and confidently expects an ac-
quittal.
Mr. Sibley concluded a really able, interesting, shrewd,
and eloquent speech of nine hours, at a quarter to nine
o'clock.—Verdict for plaintiff—Damages 3,000 dollars.
The following are the remarks of the Editor of the New
York Herald on this singular trial
The late trial of the Reverend Mr. Van Zandt, for
the seduction of Miss Sophia Murdock, has been re-
markable in every point of view. The plaintiff and de-
fendant were remarkable persons--the circumstances of
the seduction were remarkable—the birth of the child
and its crooked finger were remarkable, and the verdict
of the Jury was remarkable, and their subsequent conduct
still more remarkable. In addition to the 3,000 dollars,
the Jury have unanimously agreed to present Miss So-
phia Murdock with the full amount of their pay, in to-
ken, as they say, "of their sympathy for her misfor-
tunes, and of respect for her conduct as a witness."
This case, it has been said, is without a parallel. We
sincerely hope it is, and that it will ever be so. Indeed
what an alarming state of things would be presented were
the contrary the case. Here is a reverend clergyman—
the head of a large and wealthy, and beautiful floek_a
leading member of the Episcopal Church—going about
seducing young single 'ladies of his . flock and kissing
many of the most beautiful married women therein—or
taking various other liberties with them ; at least so it is
stated. And if this be true, all that can be said about it
is that he has had the run of a very beautiful kitchen.
But, is it not our duty and the duty of every one to in-
quire seriously into these matters? Is the case of the Rev.
Mr. Van Zandt, an isolated one ? (which we hope and trust
it i s) or is it but a sample of the conduct of the clergymen of
that or any ether denomination? This is a matter that every
father, brother, and parent, should think seriously of,
and see settled to his own satisfaction without loss of
time. If other clergymen do such things, . where is
t v
the mischief to stop, and who is to be trusted ? Here
we all freely allow our wives, our daughters, to go to
places of worship every Sabbath, and several week days,
when we are unable to accompany and protect them,
trusting
peaceful confidence
act thus, what, under Heaven,onfidence in: the honour of the
clergyman,
ithApieldac, if
are we io do ? Our churches are filled with lovely wo-
men. It is true that it may be replied to this, that such
things could not be without some one suspecting it ;
hilt who ever suspected the Rev. Van Zandt, until the
situation of his unforto4te victim was seen ? Again,
we say, we hope for the best ; but wo also say again, that
all parents should seriously inquire into this matter.

It has been recently asce:ltaki:eldeotih,eafotratnheimmamnueinasce.
PlRally of excellent peat exists in the marshes of Oyannax
Cio4rliensOf th.,,,Teligdtrt4,v3.enrdY,VoyYeer4l, Mr the !Om -fors of the 4ura,
ft' 14 peat ig free frond sulphur, end will
tmhaultseligdopri dr:: .him,
clergyman iii this
county, a few days since, muting 4 boy whose face he knewf
but of 8:1:losPe nSalm4ePhLelCwiarsTig?-4
" Wat's your name?" " Rgn."—" How old are you 7,,_..4. I
wor Sit min *when/xi'? toted l"—Chelmsibrcl Chronicle.

DUKE of CAMBRIDGE'S BANQUET
On Wednesday evening their Royal Highnesses the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave a state dinner to
his Majesty at Cambridge House.
The band of the Coldstream Guards attended in the
entrance hall, and received the King on his arrival with
" God save the Queen." Their Royal Highnesses' foot-
men, in State liveries, lined the entrance hall, and the
pages wore their state uniforms. ,
The King arrived at five . minutes past seven o'clock,
attended by his suite. His Majesty wore the ensigns of
the Most. Noble Order of the Garter. The party pre-
sent on the okasion consisted of her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Inverness,
the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, Count Stolberg,
Gen. Natzrnar, Gen. Neumann, Baron Meyerinck, M.
de Brauchitsch, Baron Von Humboldt, M. de Conseillvr
.Muller, Chevalier Bunsen, the Earl of Hardwicke, Earl
and Countess of Jersey, Earl and Countess Delawarr,
Earl and Countess Westmorland, Earl of Liverpool,
Earl of Aberdeen, and Captain Meynell.
The King remained at Cambridge House until twenty
minutes before ten o'clock, when his Majesty, attended
by his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, Baron de
Humboldt, the Earl of Hardwicke, Capt. Meynell, and
the gentlemen of his suite, went to Covent Garden
Theatre. _ _ _

A very numerous party had been invited in the even-
ing to Cambridge House, to have the honour of meet-
ing his Majesty, and the entire suite of state rooms, on
the first floor, were thrown open, and brilliantly illu-
minated with a profusion of chandeliers and candelabra.
At the top of the grand staircase, the Coldstream band
performed a number of choice pieces in the course of the
evening, introducing " A March composed by Frederick
the Great," and the "Landes Vater.'
_ __ _ .

His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar
arrived at half-past ten o'clock.
The noblemen and gentlemen, who had attended the
official dinners appeared, most of them, in their respec-
tive costumes.

The 'King of Prussia and suite returned to Cambridge
liouse, from the theatre.

Among the company present, were—
The French Ambassador, the Austrian (special),
Greek, Wirtemberg, Sardinian, Belgian, Hanoverian,
and Saxon Ministers ; the Bavarian Minister and Ba-
ronness de Cetto, the Russian Minister and Baronness
Brunow ; Madame Bunsen, Lady of the Prussian Mi-
nister ; the Swedish Charge d'Affaires and Baronness
Rebausen, the Prussian Charge d'Affaires, Baron Lel>
zeltern, Baron Bertouch, Count Revel, Baron Charles de
Canitz, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. How-
ley, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Blomfield, Duke
of Wellington, Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Duke
and Duchess of Beaufort, Marquis and Marchioness
of Exeter, Marquis of Normanby, Marquis of Anglesey
and Lady A. Paget, Marquis and Marchioness of Douro,
Marquis of Clanricarde, Marquis of Worcester, Earl and
Countess Dowager Clare and the Ladies Fitzgibbon,
Earl of Uxbridge and the Ladies Eleanora and Con-
stance Paget, Countesa of Tankerville, Earl and Coun-
tess of Surrey and Lady Mary Howard, Lady Clemen-
tina Villiers, Earl of Ripon, the Ladies Campbell and
Lord Evelyn, Earl and Countess Cadogan and Lady
H. Cadogan, Earl of Beverley and Lady Louisa Lou-
vaine, Earl of Haddington, Earl Brownlow, Earl of
Denbigh and Lady Mary Fielding, Countess Euston
and Lady Fitzroy, Mr. Fitzroy, Countess of Hadding-
ton, Earl and Countess Wilton, Earl and Lady K.
Jermyn, Earl of Lincoln, Countess de Clifford and
Lady Augusta Onslow, Countess of Glengall, Countess
of Charleville, Earl and Countess of Claren-
don, Earl of March and Lady Caroline. G. Lennox,
Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Lady Wharncliffe, Lord
and Lady Blooinfield, Lord Forester, Lord and Lady
Mahon, Lord and Lady Granville Somerset, Lady
Keith, Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci, Lord Redesdale and
the Hon. Miss Mitford, Lord and Lady Jemima Elliot,
Lady Fitzroy Somerset and MisS Somerset, Dowager
Lady Clinton, Lord and Lady Hawarden, Lady and the
Hon. Miss Willoughby, Lady Lyndhurst and the
Hon. Miss Cogley, Lord and Lady Marcus Hill, Lord
Foley, Lady Stuart de Rothsay and Hon. •Miss Stuart,
Lord Villiers, Lord Claude Hamilton, 'Lord Wiltshire,
Lord and Lady de Roos, Lord F. Egerton, Right Hon.
Col. Dawson Darner, Right Hon. Sir John Beckett, Right
Hon. Sir Rob:. Adair, Right Hon. W. and Mrs. Glad-
stone, Hon. Miss Elphinstone deFlahault, Hon. W. Cow-
per, Hon. Cecil Forester, Hon. Sidney Herbert, Hon.
.Stuart Wortley, Lady Gordon, Sir John Macdonald,
Mr. Norman Macdonald, Sir Edmund and Lady Antro-
bus, Sir James and Lady Reynett, Lady Shelley, Sir
George and Lady Clerk, Baron and Baroness Lionel de
Rothschild, General Sir Henry Bailly, Colonel Shawe,
• Colonel Grant, Colonel Scott, Colonel and Mrs. Come-
wall, *Colonel Bentinck, Captain Macdonald, Captain
Glunder, Captain and Lady Emily Seymour, Captain
Frederick Villiers, Mr. Mellish, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor,
Mr. G. W. and the. Hon. Mrs. Hope, Mr. George Banks,
Mr. T. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. Totnline, Mr. Vincent,
Mr. E. Drummond, Miss • Burdett Coutts, Mr. Mac-
donald, Mr. Culling Smith, Mr. Talbot, and MrS. de
Rothschild.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.

LONDON 4.—Wind this day at noon N. E.
FEB..

DEAL, FEE. 3.—Wind easterly, light.--Arrd. Princess Royal,
India. Arrd. from the River, Sealeby Castle, for Bombay ;
Careb, for Demerara.
LIVERPOOL, FEB. .3.—Wind variable and moderate.—Arrd.
Hampden, Spooner, New Orleans; Samarang, Savannah.
Sld. Pursuit, New Orleans; Verginian, New York; Jenny
Jones, Constantinople.
PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 3.—Arrd. Toronto, London, New York.
OFF DARTMOUTH, JAN. 2.—John Romilly, Kendall, Bahia.
BRISTOL, FEB. 3.—Arrd. Spec, Malta; Aristides, New-
foundland.

DUBLIN, FEB. 1. —Sid. Garonne, Antigua ; Carlton
Savannah.

BERWICK, FEB. 2.—The Zealous, M'Kenzie, from Wemyss
to Perth, sunk off Coldingham Bay on the 30th ult., crew
saved. Some of the stores have been saved ; her foretopmast
is seen at low water.

GLOUCESTER, FEE. 3.—Arrd. Mersey, Green, Leghorn.
Sid. Alexandrina, Messina.

SHIELDS, FEB. 2.—The Ocean, of Hartlepool, bound to
London, on the rocks near Tynemouth, has been sold with her
cargo. _ _

VESSELS SPOKEN WlTH.—Ellen, bound to Trinidad,
sth ult., lat. 18, lon. 40 ; Sophia and Elizabeth, bound to
La Quayra, same day ; Highbury, London to St. Vin-
cent, 7th, lat. 22, lon. 41, by the John, Romilly, arrived
off Dartmouth. Rayo, Hamburgh to Havanna., 19th
Dec., lat. 36 N., lon. 33 W., by the Correo de Cadiz,
No. 1, arrived at Cadiz. Cleostratus, Clyde to Charles-
tonAl9th ult., lat. 36, lon. 34, by the Princess Royal, ar-
rived in the Downs. China, Liverpool to Charleston, 22d
ult., with loss of sails, boat, &c., by the St. Lucia, ar-
rived off Portland.

EAST INDIA SHIPPING.
Arrivals—Beulah, James, from China, off Brighton, sailed
Aug. 28, St. Helena, Dec. 15 ; Princess Royal, Newby, from
Bengal, off Dover, sailed Oct. 11, St. Helena, Dec. 22 ;
Candahar, Keir, from China, at Liverpool, sailed Sept. 15,
St. Helena, Dec. 13; 141edora, May, from Mauritius, in the
Downs, sailed Oct. 24 ; South Stockton, Coreken, frum New
Zealand, in the Downs.

Arrivals in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope—Dawson, Price,
Dec. 7, from Lond,n ; Indian, English, 9th, from London.
Arrivals in Algoa Bay—Hero, Nor. 28, from Table Bay ;
Adelaide, Wharton, from Mauritius, and sailed Dec. 2, to
Table Bay; Couch, Dec, 3, from Table Bay; Rainbow,
Winn, from Mauritius.

Arrivals at St. Helena—Mary Hartley, Webb, Dec. 17,
from Calcutta and Cape, and sailed 22d to Demerat a ; Mar-
tha, Rogers, 19th, from Mauritius, and sailed 22d to Cork ;
Tregarthen, 20th, from Mauritius, and sailed 21st
to London ; Patriot Queen, Hoodless, 21st, from Calcutta, and
sailed 22d to Liverpool; Simon Taylor, Brown, 22d, from
China ; Eleanor, 141‘Pherson, 22d, from Bombay.
Departures from St. Helena---Singapore, Hamilton, and
Janet Boyd, Topping, Dec. 14, to London ; Fairfield, Dec.l7,
to Liverpool.
Arrivals at Valparaiso—Anna Sophia, Tudor, Oct. 12, from
Port Nicholson, and sailed for Huasco ; Malcolm, Malcolm,
19th, from Sydney ; Earl Durham, Cabell, 26th, from Talca-
huano, and sailed 28th to Sydney. Departure from—Earl of
Lonsdale, Peire, 17th, to Callao.