Star.
London, England, 1825-04-04 00:00:00

Mr. WILLIAMS spoke in mitigation, contending thpt
plaintiff was the seducer, from her age and experience;
and that defendant was unable, from poverty, to meet
heavy damage,.
Mr. Justice BVRIIMIGH said, if a beggar made bia:o
self amenable to the laws, he must pay- for it either in
his purse or his person. Immoderate damages should
be avoided, but they should always cover the injury
sustained. The verdict has not reached us.

GLOUCESTER, APRIL 2.
GOODRICH 14 lICICIIIIL
Mr. Caoss stated, that this was an action by Mary
Goodrich against Samuel Ricketts, for a breach of pro.
mise of marriage.
Mr. Roassiz stated the case on behalf of the plain-
tiff. He should best discharge his duty by giving a
plain sketch of the wrongs of which *she complained;
for a tale of perfidy on the one hand, and of suffering
on the oiler, would not find its way less surely to the
heart because it was simply told. Miss Goodrich was
about 27 years of age, one of seven children who had
lost their mother, and whose father had seen better
days, and now, on the verge of 80, was incapable of
supporting or protecting his children. The plaintiff
had honourably and virtuously exerted herself to con-
tribute to the support of her aged father and her sisters.
The defendant was a man 88 years of ay, who filled
for several years a respectable situation in the family
of a Gentleman at Braintree, near Bristol, to whom he
was steward, bailiff, and butler. The parties were un-
doubtedly of no very elevated condition; but the
letters which would be read, would show that they
were quite able to form a strong attachment, and to-un-
derstand and feel the miseries attendant on its dissolu-
tion. Miss Goodrich often visited her aunt, who lived near
Braintree, and thus the defendant had an opportunity of
becoming acquainted with her merits and her charms.
He admired her; as well he might, for she was worthy
to excite admiration in any mind; and in April,
1823, avowed his regard. He began his addresses as
a poet, and sent her a copy of verses which, whether
they were mitten by him or only selected by him, did
honour to his feelings and taste.—(Here the Learned
Counsel read a very decent sonnet, which we think we
have seen in one of the Magazines, and which certainly
was not original). The verses were favourably received,
and he was encouraged to address her in prose. On the
11th of May, he addressed a letter containing a formal
offer of his hand, and expressed in language which bore
the stamp of sincerity, and exhibited no common feli-
city of expression.—(The Learned Counsel read the let-
ter, a hich luny justified the character which he gave to
it. The writer assured the object of his affections, that
the tame which had now burst forth had not arisen in
a day, a month, cr a year, but had gradually increased
from the first day he had the happiness to see her. He
expressed his hope that she would not suffer any pre-
judice at king from his situation to influence her, as he in-
tended to resign it as soon as possible; and stated, that he
found himself possessed of 5341. which he had saved in
the set vice). This proposal, expressed in terms calculated
to win and subdue the female heart, was accepted; and a
correspondence took place, which lasted above a year.
Mr. Ricketts applied to the brother of the plaintiff, in
consequence of the infirmities of the father, and received
his entire approbation-of his views. In one of his let-
ters, he assured her that he had never any view to her
fortune—he tt ought himself is happy in possessing so
great a prize—and declared,tbather modesty,herbeauty,
and her virtue, were a dowry far beyond his merits or
hopes The Counsel for the defendant might say, and
ptobably would say, that these letters were ill-spelled;
they %ere so ; but essentially they were letters of which
no man need be ashamed, and furnished an example of
the truth, 'hat when any man feels deeply and sincerely,
he will grow eloquent in his theme. In June, 1824,
the poor father of the plaintiff, having become bound
for one of his sons, was plunged yet deeper in misfor-
tune; and won after a marked difference appeared in
the conduct of the defendant. The letters of Miss Good-
rich remained unanswered ; and in her suspense and
sorrow, she begged her brother to se.k an explanation
with her lover. He saw the defendant ; who disclaimed
any change of sentiment, attributed his coldness to some
harsh expression of Miss Goodrich ; and said that if she
would write again all would be well. When a woman
loved, she was willing to do and to suffer much.; and.
Miss Goodrich did write in the most affectionate terms.
—ln reply, the defendant sent her 'his last letter,
dated Novensb:r 2, 1824, in which he dissolved the
connexion. He complained that she would not now,
write as once she would have written—though for four
months she did not receive an answer—a very pretty
notion for a lover to begin his matrimonial course with !
and declared that she was changed; that he was sorry
for her; but that it was now absurd to think of mar.
riage. Astonished and distressed at this letter, she
begged her brother again to see the defendant, who
coldly-told him, while he bore testimony to the purity
of his iister's character, that he could not marry her, as
h was advised by his friends to retain the lucrative si-
t tion which he filled. Thus were the fair hopes of
1a
plaintit utterly blasted. A *ember of a large
fairoly;• she had no hope of obtaining a settlement in
marts Ise ; she had no affections to bestow ; but having
warted them on the defendant, was left by him to the
pity and the worn of the world. To assail her chr,sac.
ter was impossible—to palliate, the conduct of the de-
fendant on the score of youth or rashness, was out of
the question; and as he bad acquired money she would
have abated, and had deserted her in order to wain his

situation, the Jury would, no doubt, feel that he ought
now, out of those profits which he had preferred to her
repose' to give her such compensation as money could
• afford for such au iuiury.

One or two witnemesitning been examined for

prosecutirs, several letters were put in, and read.
The spelling was singularly bad, but the matter re-
markably sensible, and the diction uncommonly good
for the station of the writer. All except the last were
expressive of the most ardent yet honourable and re.
spectful attachment to the plaintiff ; and throughout the
whole, there were very few sentences which could jus-
tify a smile.
Mr. LUDLOW shortly addressed the Jury in mitigation
of damages, and urged the situation of the parties—not,
as. a reason why the plaintiff shiuld not have full and
ample justice, but as indicating Am no very severe iuf-
feting had been endured, nor any lasting wrong inflicted.
sta. Nem Guise, left the we le the Midi a the Jeer
lllie Airy attuned a yield,* be the plaisdf--Deatages, 751.
YORK. APRIL 1.
• Ptts P., MairwmarLe V. VARDILL. •
Nc. *petty to the amount
. 4 rts tried before a Spe-
ciel
ftsimarfutitihe ikidirs 'else. This was

. •