The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-19 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Feb. 18.

IN RR JOHN CHARLES NORTH.
The insolvent in this case applied on his petition to be dis-
charged. He was supported by Mr. Cooke, and opposed by
Mr. Nicholls.

it appeared that he had been for many years acquainted with
a young lady, named Greenstead, to whom he paid his addresses
up to 1839, and in that year had the banns of marriage pub-
lished in Old Lambeth Church. He was Surveyor of Highways
in the parish of Newington, and possessed an income from his
father, besides which he carried on business as a stone and
marble merchant. Several letters passed between the parties,
professing the most ardent attachment ; and although the
parents on both sides were averse to their being married at
first, yet they eventually consented to the match ; but the in-
solvent alleged some excuse for delaying the ceremony - and
in February, 1840, Miss Greenstead was delivered Of an
illegitimate child, of which he was the reputed father. Soon
afterwards he married another lady, and an action for breach of
promise of marriage and seduction being instituted by Miss
Greenstead's next of kin, the Jury returned a verdict for the
plaintiff, with damages of 250/.
Mr. Nicuom.s, on behalf of the opposing creditor, applied to
have the insolvent's petition dismissed; that he be ordered to
readvertise before he could be again before the Court for hearing,
on the grounds of having improperly described his name in his
schedule. He was the illegitimate son of a gentleman, named
Newman, and by the registry of his baptism at the church of
St. Saviour's, Southwark, it appeared that he was baptised by
the name of John Charles Newman, and three years subsequently
when the father was about to marry another person, he executed
a bond conveying a certain annuity to the insolvent in which deed
he was described as John Charles Newman. He (the Learned
Counsel) submitted that under these circumstances the Court
was bound to dismiss the petition, as it had been held an
es!ablished rule that a misnomer, where even a Christian
name was concerned, would be fatal to the legal validity of the
petition. He then cited several cases in support of his views,
and was about to call the insolvent s mother, when—
Mr. COOKE interfered, and said, that although that person
was in Court, yet she was in such a bad state of health, that
he hoped the Court would not, under the painful circumstances
of the case, deem it necessary to place her in the witness box.
The Learned Counsel then contended that the insolvent, being
illegitimate, had no right to any name but that which he chose
to assume himself.
The Learned CHIEF COMMISSIONER said he coincided with
the view of the case taken by Mr. Nicholls, as far as his (the
Chief Commissioner's) judgment was concerned, he should or-
der the petition to be discharged. However, if Mr. C9oke
wished, he should reserve judgment until such time as a full
Court should be sitting.
Mr.Cooxe having requested that such might be the case,
the judgment was then adjourned.
The Rev. Frederick Sturmer, who was curate of Hayes,
where he kept a boarding establishment (at which the melan-
choly occurrence which led to the trial of Mr. Medhurst took
place), appeared before the Court for judgment. The case
was before the Court on a former day, when the insolvent was
opposed on the part of two creditors named Ratcliffe, a butcher.
and Gurney, a cheesemongsr. A long investigation occurred
respecting the sale of furniture, Ike., at Hayes, and the dis-,
posal of the money. It was then held that the opposing cre-
ditors had cause of complaint, and that the insolvent would be
remanded. Yesterday the Rev. Gentleman again appeared,
and evidence by affidavit was supplied.
The CHIEF COMMISSIONER pronounced an imprisonment
of five months from the vesting order.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 18.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved that certain names
be added to the Library Committee.—Ordered.
Lord STRAFFORD presented a petition from a place
in Ireland relative to Presbyterian marriages.
CORN-LAWS.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
ministers and congregation of a Protestant Dissenting
chapel in Eagle-street, -Red-lion-square, praying for a
total repeal of the Corn-laws. The Noblc, Lord also pre-

;entetl petitions from Omagh, Donegal, and other places
n Ireland, to the same effect.

Lord KINNAIRD presented several petitions from
the county of Perth. The Noble Lord said that in the

of the last session of Parliament, he had called
the attention of her blajesty's Government to the dis-
tress existing in the country; aithoughParliament had be4.-n
sitCng nearly three weeks, yet nothing had been done to
ascertain whether means could he takni for relieving that
distress. In Paisley 19,000 persons were supported by
charitable contributions. The funds in the hands of
the treasurer were not sufficient to support for more than
three weeks longer these persons, while not the slightest
prospect was visible of any improvement in trade. Their
Lordships were aware that the Paisley manufacturers
were in a great measure confined to articles of luxury,
such as shawls and handkerchiefs, and there was not the
slightest prospect of a revival of their trade. He (Lord
Kinnaird) had seen a manufacturer of Paisley,
who had told him that he was selling articles, which
were forMerly disposed of at a shilling., for three-
pence. He (Lord Kinnaird) asked if he could make it
pay at that price, and he answered, " No, but it is
better to sell at that price than to • close the mills."
and that in exporting large quantities be would sell at
twopence. It was a horrible thing to think that there
were people in this country who were actually in a
state of starvation. They cared for nothing, they
were reduced to despair, and their energies were gone.
He (Lord Kinnaird) knew a gentleman who had visited
a poor family, and had stated to him that he -had found
the head of that family dying from actual starvation.
The heads of families cared not what became of their
children, or of themselves. He (Lord Kinnaird) thought
something ought to be done, otherwise the consequences
would be most serious. The Noble Lord concluded by
presenting a great number of petitions praying for a total
repeal of the Corn-laws from the Corporation of Perth;
from several trades corporations' of Perth, and from a
great number of places in the counties of Perth and Forfar.
Lord CAMPBELL gave notice that on Monday week
he should introduce a certain Bill for the improvement of
the admistration of justice in the House, in the Privy
Council, and in the Court of Chancery.
Lord BROUGHAM moved for returns of the num-
ber of cases standing for hearing before the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council, the Consistorial Court,
and the Manor Court, together with the number ofjudg-
ments given, up to the present day.--Ordered.
The House then adjourned till Monday next.

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