Star.
London, England, 1830-05-14 00:00:00

HAMERTON'S DIVORCE BILL.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 12.
The examination of witnesses in this bill was resumed
yesterday.
Mr. HA artisow observed, that on the last occasion of
the examination of witnesses in this case, Lord Wynford
directed that Mrs. Mathews should be ordered to attend
to-day to give evidence. As she had been examined in
the Ecclesiastical Court by the adverse party, and as the
counsel for Mr. Hamerton had no opportunity of knowing
her evidence until it had been printed, he (Mr. Harrison)
wished to cross-examine her now on that evidence, and to
be allowed to produce evidence to contradict her if he
should deem it expedient.
The LORD CHANCELLOR asked if Mrs. Mathews was
directed to attend by the house or by counsel in support
of the bill.

Mr. HARRISON replied, that the order was given by
the house. He did not want her testimony, which related
only to the meeting of Mr. Bushe and Mrs. Hamerton at
Mrs. Mathew's house, at Cheltenham. As the evidence
given relating to those meetings did not appear to satisfy
some of their lordships of the act of adultery having been
committed, he (Mr. Harrison) had procured the attend-
ance of evidence from France, who would prove the com-1
mission of that act beyond dispute. Consequently, the
evidence of Mrs. Mathews and her two maid-servants was
not now of such importance as it had been in the com-
mencement.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, that as Mrs. Ma-
thews bad been ordered to attend, Mr. Harrison might
examine her, having regard to the evidence which she
gave in the Ecclesiastical Court.
Mrs. Mathews was then called, and being examined
by Mr. Harrison, she deposed that she had been ac-
quainted with Major and Mrs. Hamerton and Mr. Bushe.
Major and Mrs. Hamerton were in the habit of coming
to her house at Cheltenham in 1826 and 1827. Mr.
Bushe was an occasional visitor of her's, but by no means
a frequent visitor. He occasionally met Mrs. Hamerton
at witness's house. She was not aware that Major Ha-
merton had disapproved of the visits of Mr. Bushe to his
wife. The Major never informed her of his disapproba-
tion of Mr. Bushe's meeting Mrs. Hamerton at witness's
house. She recollected the Major calling on one occa-
sion at her house when Mr. Bushe and Mrs. Hamerton
were there, but she had no recollection of Mr. Bushe's
going up stairs on that occasion to avoid being seen by
Major Hamerton. She remembered Mrs. Hamerton
dining with her one day, and after they had sat down to
dinner Mr. Bushe called, and, contrary to orders which
witness had given to her servant-maid, she let in Mr.
Bushe, and showed him up to the drawing-room. Wit-
ness not being then dressed, could not see Mr. Bushe,
and Mrs. Hamerton, out of politeness, went up, and re-
mained with Mr. Bushe in the drawing-room, while wit-
ness was dressing. Witness went into the drawing-room
after she had dressed, and bad not the most distant idea of
any impropriety on the part of Mr. Bushe and Mrs. H.
They had not time to commit any criminal act before
witness had joined them. Mrs. Hamerton and witness
were in the habit of driving out in an open hired carriage,
and Mr. Bushe frequently met them accidentally, and
spoke to them, but there was nothing particular in his
talking to them more than any other acquaintance doing
the same. She recollected going with Mrs. Ha-
mertou in a carriage to Pitfield, where Mr. Bushe met
them, and asked them to walk out of the carnage to see
the new building. Witness declined, as bung unwell,
but Mrs. Hamerton accompanied Ur. Bushe, and passed
through the building. Mrs. Hamerton was lot then out
of witness's sight longer than five minutes. 'Vitness had
written notes to Mr. Bushe, but she never enclosed a
letter of Mrs. Hamerton's to him : of this she would take
a thousand oaths. She never gave a letter tc- any of her
servants for Mr. Bushe. Mr. Bushe was only a casual
acquaintance, whom she first met at Major ilamerton's
and she could not suspect that a person who vas received
in respectable families, and was a particukr friend of
Major Hamerton, was capable of conducting himself with

such impropriety as he was accused of. Mr. Bushe and
Mrs. Hamerton never had an opportunity of committing
a criminal act in witness's house.
Mr. HA Rumor,' observed that he had no more ques-
tions to ask.
Mrs. Matthews observed that the reasons of her having
been placed in so disagreeable a situation, in being called
on to give testimony in the Ecclesiastical Court, was be-
cause Major Hamerton had brought Mrs. Hamerton in a
chair to witness's house after he had discovered her im-
proper conduct, and left her there in a most ungentle-
manly manner, without telling witness why he left her,
or without leaving her any money. Witness, out of com-
passion, kept Mrs. Hamerton for some time, not wishing
to turn her out in a state of destitution. It was for
this reason witness had been cited to the Ecclesiastical
Court.
The witness then withdrew.

Maria Suitens examined, through an interpreter—
Worked as a milliner for Mrs. Hamerton, in Paris, about
two years ago. Knew Mr. Bushe, who used to come
every day to visit Mrs. Hamerton. No other person but
Mr. Bushe visited her. She saw Mrs. Hamerton in her
bed-room very often when Mr. Bushe called. There was
a room, having a sofa, annexed to the bed-room, in which
Mr. Bushe and Mrs. Hamerton used to be together. She
saw Mr. Bushe in the bed-room with Mrs. Hamerton.—
The question which elicited this answer was repeated by
Lord Teynham, when witness denied having seen Mr.
Bushe and Mrs. Hamerton in the bed-room together.—
Recollected the key of the bed-room having been changed
from the outside to the inside on one occasion, when Mr.
Busbe had been there, and both Mr. Bushe and Mrs.
Hamerton continued about two hours in the room toge-
ther. One of the windows of the bed-room looked into
the garden, and witness, in passing through the garden
on one occasion, saw Mr. Bushe and Mrs. Hamerton to-
gether in bed.
Lord TEYN II A M—Tbat's sufficient; there is no occa-
sion to ask her any more questions.
Mr. HARRISON complied, and
The LORD CHANCELLOR ordered that the evidence
should be printed, and the ease adjourned sine die.