Star.
London, England, 1814-07-08 00:00:00

1,4!y INTELLIGENCE.

ARCHES COURT, nocroßs' COMMOte.
POTTEK, falsely called STRONG, V. STROM&
This was a proceeding for nullity of marriage, by
reason of minority, and a want of a legal consent, at
the instance of Miss liarriot Potter, gf Great Yar-
mouth, Norfolk, against Lieutenant Strong, R. N.
of Portsea, Hants.
It appeared that Lieutenant Strong was the son of
Mr. Wm. Strong, a carpenter in the Navy : he was
burn at Portsea, on the 24th of November, 1788, and
baptized at Bishops Waltham on the 24th of Decem-
ber following. The marriage in question took place
at Deal, on the 21th of January, 1809, by licence,
obtained by Lieutenant Strong, upon a representa-
tion that both parties were of age, which he was not
by some months. From the circumstances detailed
in evidence, it appeared that Lieutenant Strong, some
time prior to his marriage, was appointed to his Ma-
jesty's ship Trompeuse, Captain Dolling, and by that
means first became acquainted with Miss Potter, who
was living on board, with Captain Dolling, and had
;d a child by him. In the course of thb cruize, this
acquaintance ripened into such an attachment, on the
141
part of Lieutenant Strong, as to induce him, though
fully acquainted with the particulars of her character
and conduct, to form the resolution of marrying her,
and accordingly, on the arrival of the ship in the
Downs, he went on shore and procured a licence, and
they were the next day married at Deal, in the pre-
sence of Mr. M'Lagan, and his wife, the Master of
the Trompeuse. The transaction was unknown both
to the father and mother of Lieutenant Strong, until
they beard of it by report some time afterwards, and
they had never seen Miss Potter. Mr. Wm. Strong
was absent abroad with his ship during the whole of
the time his son was in the Trompeuse ; but while
he was at Cadiz, in the Caledonia, which then bore
the Admiral's flag, his son came on board on duty,
and he then mentioned to him the rumour there was
of his marriage; (which he had just been apprised of
by a letter from his wife), and enquired whether it
e.y.s true ? to which he replied that it was not, and
endeavoured to turn the matter off with a laugh ;
bit upon Mr. Wm. Strong's arrival in England, the
report of the marriage was confirmed, to him by a
certificate procured by his ,wife. So far, however,
was he from having consented to it, that the intelli-
gence occasioned him so much uneasiness as to make
him ill for some time, for, as he expressed himself,
“ exclusive of what he felt on finding that his son had
married a woman of light character, he was afraid
that his prospects in life would be much issjured by it."
The Counsel for Lieutenant Strong admitted, that
it was impossible to offer any observations which
could resist the effect of this evidence.

Sir JOHN Ntcflocz., therefore, shortly recapitulated
it, and being of opinion that it placed the necessary
facts of the marriage, minority, and non.consent of
the father, beyond the possibility of a doubt, pro.
flounced the marriage null and void under the statute

PREROGATIVE COURT, DOCTORS' COMMONS.
TANNER AND OTHERS V. CHAMPION.

This was a proceeding relative to the validity of
the will of Mr. Samuel Champion, a farmer, resident
at West Ham, in Essex, which was propounded on
the part of Messrs. Charles Tanner, Charles Maddi-
son, and John Woodcock, the executors, and opposed
by Mr. Samuel Champion, as son of the deceased.
The deceased died on she 31st of October, 1812, at
the ege of 76, possessed of property to the amount of
about 810,000, and the will in question was made
the day he died. He bad, some years since, made his
will, disposing of his property amongst his children ;
but one of them and his executors having since died,
and he having formed a connection with a Mrs.
Sarah Angier, who passed as his wife, and had a child
by her, he had often expressed his intention of altering
his will so as to include a provision for them. On the
28th of October, 1812, he was seized with his last
illness, and Mr. Maddison, by his desire, went for his
attorney, Mr. Argill, to make the proposed new will.
Mr. Argill accordingly attended, and took his instruc.
tions, directing his executors to invest £lOOO in the
funds. and pay the interest to Mrs. Sarah Aught-
during her life, and the pi incipal, at her death, to her
son, and giving the rest of his property equally
amongst them, and his children, in a similar manner
to the bequests in the former will. This will was
then delivered to Mr. Argill, who from it, in addition
to these instructions, drew up the new will, which was
immediately duly executed by the testator, in the
presence of Mr. Argill, and two other witnetses, and''
the former will destroyed.
It was suggested in opposition to the will, that the
instructions for it to Mr. Argill came from Mr. Mad-
dison alone, unknown to the deceased, whose illness
had brought on such strong convulsions, as to deprive
him of the use of his senses, and he was in this state
when the will was executed;—that, on that day,
Messrs. Maddison and Woodcock. two of the execu-
tors, were in company with Argill. the attorney, at
several places, where they all declared that 6, they
were but just in time ; had they been five minutes
later, the will could not have been signed, as the de-
ceased was in strong convulsions, and very weak, and
the bed shook under him ;" with many declarations
of a similar tendency, and that Tanner and Maddi-
son, twe of the executors, were largely indebted to
the estate.

It appeared, however, from the evidence, that the
attorney was fetched by the deceased's desire, and re•
ceived his instructions, which were given in a very
collected manner, ;end lie was in a state of perfect
mental capacity during the whole transaction, though
weak from the effect of his illness ; that the expressions
alluded to were not to the extent suggested, but re-
lated merely to his bodily infirmities, in allusion to
which, and his death the same day, they hadexpres-
sed themselves u that it was fortunate the will was
signed as it was, or it could not have been signed at
all." It likewise appeared, that Mr. Maddison only
was indebted to the estate ; the other executors claim.
ing a balance to be due to them; and that Mr. Chain-
pion, the opposer of the will, bad at first acquiesced
in it, and at the funeral publicly thanked the execu-
tors for their attention and trouble in the steps they
had taken, expressing at the same time his satisfac-
tion with the contents of the will, and his readiness to
assist the executors in the settlement of affairs, which
he did in a few days afterwards, by inspecting the ac-
counts with them, and making out a list of debts dee,
&c. The other next of kin had executed a written
consent to a probate of the will passing, the executors.
Mr. Cluunpion's Counsel admitted lisp their case

•
was not borne out in evidence, but that the will is
question was fully established, and they therefore de-
clined going into argument, and acquiesced on the
part of Mr. Champion, in the consent given by the
other neat of kin.
Sir JOHN NICIFOLL recapitulated the evidence, and
observed, there could be no doubt upon those facts of
the case by which the transaction of the will was sup-
ported, confirmed as they were' by the conduct of the
person now questioning its validity. Under all the
circumstances, the Court was satisfied that no argu-
ment of counsel could alter the impression which•the
result of the evidence could not fail to make. The
opposer of the will had, therefore, acted wisely in
*hewing, that he was no longer actuated by the spirit
of litigation he had at first manifested, as he had
thereby saved himself from being condemned in costs,.
which was the only point upon which the Cora enter-
tained a doubt. He, therefore, pronounced, for the
validity of the will, but without costs.

Besides the advancement of 32 Post Captains to
the rank of Flag Officers last month, 72 Commanders
were promoted to the rank of PostCaptain,* 118 Lieu-
tenants to the rank of Commander, and. 24 Midship.
men to the rank of Lieutenant.
FIRES—A fire broke cut at the brewery of Messrs.
Starkey and Co. in Pulteney-street, yesterday morn-
ing. Ti.e flames were first discovered in the centre of
the brewery ; and the malt-loft, containing a quantity
of that .grain, was first destroyed ; but by a prompt
arrival, of engines, and a plentiful supply of water, it
was got under at three o'clock, after destroying half
the building.
Another fire broke out on Tuesday night at the
villa of M. French, Esq. at Stapleton Heath, surrey,
occasioned by some linen taking tire in the laundry.
The flames were so rapid, that the house and contr.
guous buildings were destroyed in two hours, and the
family with difficulty effected their retreat.
SINGULAR FACT.—A few days ago, at Sent rill, in
Ithe neighbour's )od of Carlisle, a hen, forsaking the
humble earth, contrived, by fluttering from one branch
Ito another, to reach the nest of a magpye, which was
situated in the branches of a fir-tree, and, after a se-
vere action, having compelled her to yield the prize
of victory, she took the nest, which she statedly visited.
The curiosity of the neighbours being excited, one of
them, by means of a long ladder, ascended the spot,
and was not a little surprised to find in the nest a
brood of fifteen chickens that had been hatched by the
erpiring bird.—Of the truth of this singular tircum-
stance in the annals of ornithology, we are assured
on the most respectable authority.
A private letter from Antwerp, dated June '27, says
ig The great, the good Alexander, left us this morn-
ing at six, on his route to the Hague. He arrived
here yesterday, about four in the evening, from Ghent,
with a very small suite. He was received onlis land-
ing, having crossed the Scheldt, by General Cook, tl:e
other officers, and priraipal people of the town, and
all the garrison, who lined the streets from the edge
of the water to the place of his temporary residence.
This was a magnificent building, purchased by Bona.
parte, for his occasional palace, who little dreamed of
its ulterior destination. In about half an hour the
Emperor Alexander came out in the Place Mere,
which is a fine broad street, and stood with his accus-
tomed affability, whilst all the troops in garrison
marched past in quick time, by which he waived the
ceremony of saluting. he was unquestionably the
plainest dressed officer on parade. The town was
illuminated in the evening."
Among the various patriotic celebrations of the re-
turn of peace, we have the pleasure of recording the
elegant rural Fete at Oldcomb, near Yeovil,Somerset,
on the 30th ult. The delightful eminence on which
the village church is situated, commanding extensive
views of a highly cultivated and fertile country, stud-
ded with villas and rural residences, is well calcula-
ted to give effect and interest to a numerous assem-
blage of happy and grateful people. In a lawn ad.
joining the church were erected several long tables
for the parishioners, and two booths tastefully orna-
mented with laurel and flowers, for the visitors. At
au early hour the height was covered with the joyful
peasantry, and the festivities commenced with a full
band of music and a solemn procession to the church,
where the worthy Rector, the Rev. P. S. FRF.NCH,
alter prayers and thanksgiving, " to Hiss to whom we
owe all temporal as well as spiritual blessings," deli.
vered a short but highly appropriate address, ear-
nestly enjoining his numerous hearers to preserve de-
corum and sobriety in all their rejoicings. On retur-
ning from church nearly all the inhabitants of the pa-
rishes of Odcomii and Brimton, were plentifully re-
galed with a roasted ox, plum-pudding, and excellent
cyder, the favourite beverage of the country. The
booths were filled with the neighbouring Ladies and
Gentlemen ; and the beauty, dress, and accomplish.'
ments of the former, happily contrasted with the
simple and rustic appearance of the native peasantry.
The Rector was conducted to the chair, and evinced
that urbanity and courtesy of deportment which form
so becoming a feature in the character of the Chris-
tian pastor. At the extremity of the tables a band
of music was placed, to perform during the repast ;
after which several patriotic toasts were drank, ac-
companied by discharges of artillery, and appropriate
national airs and songs were given in full chorus.—
The day being particularly fine, every thing comiiined
to make the scene at once lively, happy, and highly
affecting. Opposite the booths was a large olive tree
bearing the word " Peace ;" and the passage from
the lawn to the church exhibited two splendid trium•
phal arches. The arrangements of the Stewards and
the accommodation of the company were so ably su-
perintended by the Rev. J. BAILEY, that all persons
found themselves perfectly at ease. The Rev. 3. W.
MIDDLICTON addressed the assembly in a very neat and
eloquent speech, in which he took an able view of t!,e
stupendous events which led to the present happy
occasion, and concluded by giving the health of the
worthy Rector in the• Chair, who returned thanks
with feeling and propriety. The evening's entertain.
ment terminated with a rural dance on the lawn be-
hind the parsonage, and the whole company seemed
sensible of tke kind endeavours to augment their
social comforts and pleasures. Much is due to the
laudable efforts of the Rector's amiable Lady and her
young iericrie a
friend, who
w hoet as to several other
reeyeransious>fbeing useful to
Ladies, who
liberally assisted in this salutation of peace.
ov isions ate daily brought from France to Dover,
where French yeah (thong* not Yee), soot") is sold at
sd. per pound, and butter at sd. • '