Star.
London, England, 1824-02-07 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY 6.

NI% MERRYWEATIIER applied for a rule, calling upon
the Mayon• and Corporation of Portsmouth, to shew
cause why a Mandamus should not issue, commanding
the Officers of the said Corporation to .call a meeting,
for the purpose of considering whether, in the absence
of several non-resident Aldermen, they ought not to
proceed to the election of others in their stead ? The
Learned Counsel made the motion upon affidavits,
stating that the non-residence of these Aldermen was a
serious inconvenience to the Corporation.
The COURT considered this application unprece-
dented, and refused a Rule.

THE KING U. THE REAL JOHN BULL.
Mr. SCARLETT obtained a Rule to shew cause why a
criminal information should not be filed against the
editor and Publisher of the Real John • Bull news-
paper, for a libel on the Bishop of Exeter?
The COMMON SERJEANT this day addressed the Court
for the defendants. His intention was not to shew
cause against the rule, but to throw his clients upon
the mercy of the Court, and the Right Reverend Pre-
late. He had affidavits which their Lordships would
consider worthy of some attention, inasmuch as they
made an offer to reprint a statement, denying all that.
had before appeared, and was not true.
The LORO CIIIEF JUSTICE.—Who is to judge what is
true or not ?
The COMMON SERJEANT said the defendants did not
mean to say any part was true, and they were ready to
make a liberal apology. They would publish a counter
statement, and assist the Bishop's attorney in discovering
the real author of the libel. There was no doubt, he
said,• the real author was the Clergyman against whom
the prosecution was commenced in the Ecclesiastical
Court at Exezer. The writer was a person named
Brown, who w rote the whole from the dictation of the!
Clergyman. Mr. Brown had since absconded, leaving
a profitable situation of four guineas per week. The de-
fendants were ready to make the fullest reparation.
tUr. SenntErr said, it was a most offensive libel, and
it did not signify to the Bishop of Exeter who wrote it.
The Commos SERJEANT admitted, that he had no-
thing to offer which could induce the Court to di-.-
charge the Rule; he merely appealed to the humanity
of the Bishop.
Mr. t!zcauLETT said, "the Clergyman whose name had
been mentioned might have w 'twit the libel, irritated
by the prosecution aeainst him, and he was more en-
tided to letity than the man who had published it for
his own interest.

The Courr were of opinion the Rule must be made
alrolute, v.hatever might be done after wards.—Rule
made absolute.
CONSISTORY COURT, FEBRUARY S.
WILDLY V. WILDLY.

Sir C. Roamos; gave judgment in this cause. It
was a suit instituted by Captain Wildey against his
wife, for divorce, by reason of adultery. The parties
were married on the 2.7 th of September, 1814, the Lady
being then only seventeen years of age. They resided
together until October, IS2I, when Captain Wildey's
regiment went to Ireland, and he was compelled to leave
his wife to proceed with it. S,.iveral of the particulars
pleaded by the husband regarding the Lady and her
family had been struck out, as being of too strong a
:runic to he admitted. Captain Wildey remained in
Ireland until May, 1822, when he returned home, and
lived with his wife; but in consequence of a quarrel no
conjugal intercourse took place. and in September,
1b22, he met his friend, Mr. Hallett, an army agent,
who congratulated him on the probable accession to
his family. Captain Wildey seemed much surprised
at such intelligence, denied that it was likely to be the
ease; but Mr. Hallett added that he had seer, Mrs.
Wildey, who was in an advanced state of preg-
nancy. Captain Wildey then, and not before, as-
certained that his wife was pregnant, and accordingly
proceeded to his Solicitor, since when he exerted him-
self in gaining all the intelligence he possibly could of
his wife s conduct during his absence. Shortly after this
discovery she eloped from her husband's house, and,
from the evidence produced, it appeared that she was
delivered of a full-grown child at her mother's house.
Now the evidence strewed that no conjugal intercourse
had taken place for the period of about forty-six weeks,
and on the husband's arrival at home, it did appear that
he was mit so sagacious in perceiving his wife's preg-
nancy so soon as other people ; but as soon as he did
know it, he took that course which e' cry person would
sel4O was desirous of shielding his own honour. It did
not appear that Captain Wildey had communicated his
wife's• infidelity; quite the contrary ; nor did it seem
probable, from his long absence, that the child could
have been his; and from some circumstance that Mrs.
W:ldey's servant heard between her and her sister, it
slid appear that adultery had been committed. So far
from any connivance by Captain Wildey at his wife's si-
tuation, it was distinctly proved by several Gentlemen
of great respectability, that as soon as he knew it he ex-
hibited all those symptoms of agitation and distress that
aperson could be presumed to do who had been so much
iriured. After her elopement she wrote a letter to her
husband, expressing a desire that they should live sepa-
rate, and the whole contents seemed to spew that she
intended placing herself under the protection of her pa-
ramour; she did not reproach him with any miscon-
duct; so that no fair presumption could be made to af-
fect. Captaitt Wildey. There had been a great deal
clandestinely practised by the Lady And her family, so

as to preclude the possibility of Captain Wildey's ob-
taining better evidence as to her paramour ; therefore
the Court would presume circumstances favourable to
Captain Wildey from such conduct; and under all the
circumstances, the Court was of opinion, that a decree
might issue for the divorce.—The divorce was accord-
ingly adjudged.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, FEBRUARY 6.

John Wilson was opposed by Mr. HEATH, en behalf
of Mary Wilson, his wife. Mr. Pommcic was Counsel
for tke insolvent.

Mr. HEATH stated, that the insolvent had been dis-
charged under the Act in 1821, at which time he owed
his wife a considerable sum for alimony, and after his
discharge made an application to Doctors Commons to
have the allowance for alimony decreed by the Court
reduced, which application was refused, and he now
came, with only one other debt of 151. in his schedule,
to be agent discharged from the claim his wife had for
a maintenance under the decree of the proper Court: it
would be for the insolvent's Counsel to chew, that this
second application for relief within five years was caused
by inevitable misfottune.
The insolvent was examined by Mr. POLLOCK, and
stated, that when he was discharged in 1821 there
were two quarters alimony due to his wife and no more;
he ha,l previously paid it for twelve years, at the rate
of 601. a-year ; he owes but 151. besides the alimony ;
there are debts to the amount of 841. due to him, about
half of which are mood.
Cross-examined by Mr. HEATH.--The alimony now
due amounts, with the costs, to 302/. he keeps a house,
and pays every one but his wife. Rebecca Walter lives
with her mother at Hampstead; he sleeps there four or
five times a week ; after his wife ran away from him he
formed a connection with Rebecca, which still subsiLts ;

he generally visited her in a one hone chaise, which he
hued from her mother ; he had a bad leg and could not
walk to her; he also used the chaise to go about lie-
becca's business, her mothet's, and his own.
The COURT said that it did not appear that the in-
'solvent was bronght before them by nii4ortune; there
was but one debt in the schevinle beside, the alimony,
and that had very much the appearance or being con-
tracted for the purpose of being arrested and discharged
from the alimony; had he been in custody at his wire's
suit the case would have a different appearance.
Air. PoLLoox submitted, that the Court would not
inquire into the insolvent's conduct in any other way than
as it respected the receipt and payment of money, and
contracting of debt ; it might he very immoral, but there
was nothing to shew that he had spent any money at
Hampstead, or in any way disabled himself ft oin the
payment of the alimony, and that being the case his
inability to pay was certainly a misfortune,
The COURT said, the case of misfortune was by no
means made out to their satisfaction, and dismissed
the insolvent's Petition.

SHERIFFS COURT, FEBRtARY 5.
LEARNING V. BELDING.

This was an inquiry before the She, iff of Middlescx
and a common Jury, to as,ess the damages, which were
laid in the declaration at 591. 19,. 9d.

It appeared the plaintiff had been in the habit of serv-
ing the defendant wi,h wine to the amount of the hill
in question, which, after repeated application, not
paid, the present action was resorted to, and the defend-
ant suffered judgment to go by default.
Joseph Frost, cellarman to the plaintiff, deposed that
he lrad delivered the wine in question, and acopy of the
bill produced.
The SHERIFF did not consider this sufficient testimony
to warrant the Jury in returning a verdict. The value
of the trines had not been proved, and for superior old
Port 51. might as well be charged as 5/. nor was there.
any admission on the part of the plaintiff.
The plaintiff's attoi ney said, the Learned Sheriff's ob-
jection was unfounded, for, by the judgment, the
amount was admitted, and had there been any defence
such as that set up, it should have been pleaded specially.
The SHERIFF was astonished how an attorney could
speak so very nonsensically ; the proper place for making
these objections was before him. The judgment only
admitted that something was due, perhaps ls. and his
silence at the question was no rule that the wine was of
the superior quality mentioned, or that the prices put
-upon them were reasonable.
The attorney still contended the fact sheuld have
been specially pleaded, if he had an objection.
The witness was here asked how he formed his judg-
ment upon the value of wines? He answered, he did
not know; he never bought or sold any, and therefore
was liable to_error.

The SuEnhrr.—Sir, your case is without proof ; had
you been trying it in one of the Courts above what
would you have done? Why, you must have fallen
from your owu negligence. At present I leave the case
to the Jury ; they must act both as witnesses and Jurors ;
if any man among them is a competent judge they will
..:ay by their verdict what they think of the charges; there
is certainly no evidence to lead them to a conclusion,
only that by the default in judgment something is due.
The case went to the Jury, who, after great hesita-
tion, assessed the full amount of damages. The defend-
ant did not appear.
The death of

_..e , _ Bir JOHN SIMEON has caused a second
vacancy in the office of Master in Chancery. The first was Occa-
sioned by the promotion of Mr. (now Sir Wicixam) ALEXANDER. to
the Chief Barony of the Exchequer.
There is now in the garc.en of James E. West, Esq. at
Tunbridge, a standard apple tree in full bearing, the fruit
on which remains as sound and perfect as in the autumn.
BRIDGEWATER, FEB. 3.—A highly teTectable meet-
ing of the subscribers to the intended improvements in
this town took place on the 20th ult. when it was finally
resolved to carry into immediate execution the designs
submitted to them by Mr. Carver, the architect, viz.
the erection of a superb Mansion-house, for the accom-
modation of the Judges at the Assizes—a commodious
hotel, and elegant assembly and card rooms.
Thursday the Tread-mill in the County Prison of Kent,
which has been just completed under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Cubitt, the original inventor of this species
of prison discipline, at an expense of nearly 3,0001. was
first put in motion. There are eight distinct shafts, all
communicating with the grand wheel, of the following
dimensions: two 2.5 feet, two 20 feet, and four 16 feet
in length, making together 154 feet ; which, allowing
18 inches to every man while at work, are capable of
containing about 100 persons at the same time. A
spacious mill has been built to grind and dress the corn
capable for the working of three pair of stones, which
will grind twelve bushels an hour, or eighteen quarters
of wheat every day. Only two pair of stones are at
present completed. The mill, together with the whole
of the machinery attached to it, is considered to be the
most perfect and complete building of the kind in the
0, whole kingdom.

• ST. JAMES'S PALACE. •
In addition to what has already been described of the
alterations and improvements so long in progress at this
venerable Palace of our Kings, we have lately observed
that a new Gothic archway is opening from the Ambas-
sadors quadrangle.
The old Ball-room, built in the reign of WILLIAM
and MARY, and which has been graced by the chaste
Court of our late honoured SOVEREIGN, and his virtuous
Consort, has been cleared of its cumbrous galleries and
pews, for verily it was like a chapel, and is now pre-
paring for a supper room.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.

THE MURDER. or Alas. Dosarry.—A Morning Paper of yester-
day had a long statement, front which it would appear that disclo-
sures had lately been made of such a nature, as to render it pro-
bable that the murderers, evert at this distance of time, would be
brought to justice. This, however, like many other stories upon
the same subject, has, upon investigation, fallen to the ground. The
old woman who has made these pretended disclosures, came to this
Office yesterday, to complain of the conduct of Ellis, one of the
principal officers, whom she accused of having neglected to follow
up the clue which she had given him,and which, but for his remiss-
ness, she said, must have led to the conviction of the murderers.
Sir It. Mame immediately sent for Ellis, who gave this explana-
tion of the matter :—This woman and another applied about three
weeks ago, to a police officer in another jurisdiction, and communi-
cated her story. He at first refused to have anything to do with
it; but the old woman pestered bins, until he consented to cake
her before the Magistrate under whom he serves. The Magistrate
ordered her statement to be taken down, and transmitted to Mr.
Taylor, the Vestry Clerk of St. Andrew's, Holborn, which was
done, and by that Gentleman laid before Mr. +falls, of this office,
who directed Ellis to make diligent inquiry, and to use his utmost
vigilance in endeavouring to elicit the truth. Ile did so, and after
several days' labour, and the most minute investigation, he was
convinced, that there was no foundation whatever for the accusa-
tior. Her story was, in many of its parts, totally at variance with
prub..bility, and sonic parts of it even with possibility. The conclu-
sion he had drawn from her whole conduct was, that she was in-
s.o.l. Mr. Halls was perfectly satis!iLd with the result of his inquiry,
-v-
and with the whole of his conduct.

Sir It. LintNu: said he was also perfectly satisfied, and was con-
iducett that the whole story was a lubrication.
;11;ts. Cotwm s.—ln consequence of the publicity given by the
Newspapers uf the distresses of this unfortunate woman, whose
husband is in the 'Marsha'sea (and who when married had a fortune
4 le,OOCl. wi:h his wife) we feel pleasure in stating that she has
air,ady rtctivt.d .501. which has amply supplied the existing wants
01 herself and bar husband. Among other annnyinutu; iontribu-
tor, was a tientleman who not only left ltd. at this office, but
went to the Al arshalsea, and offered to discharge the debt fur which
Mr. Colwell was confined. Mr. Colwell however declined this
!benevolent offer, on the ground of the great extent of the other
'demands against him

John Jordon, a ptivate box-keeper at Drury-Line Theatre, was
brought up, charged with defrauding his employer, 31r. H. W. 0-
lists's', of 21. Ss.

On Friday night last, a Gentleman of the name of Turner went
with a party of Ladies to Drury-lane Theatre, and applied on the
King's side for a private box, but was informed that there was not
one tat that side, except in the second tier. Uhl tens advised to try
• on the Prince's side, and was let through the Douse to save the
trouble of going round. He there saw the prisoner, who said he
could put him into the Duke of (iloucester's box. Mr. Turner
thought this would be more expensive than any other, and asked
' what he sloadii have to pay ? but the answer was, " Anything you
please, Sir." The prisoner requested him not to bring the part
through the house—he had a reason for it, lie said—but take them
round to the ,lour in Virirgar-yard. This was done, and in a few
moments the party found themselves snugly seated in the Duke of
Gloucester's box. Air. Turner gave the prisoner two guineas. In
the hook tie following morning there was ibis entry—" I)uke of
Uloucester's box, four persons ;" but no niocey was accounted for,
and Mr. Elliston thought that the party had come in with his Royal
(Ugliness's ticket. It happened, however, that Mr. Turner, upon
reflection the next day, thought there was something wrong in the
martia; and he wrote to Mr. Kinston, when el course the fraud
was discovered.

Mr. Melon stated, that by the terms of his agreement with the
Duke of Gloucester, the box teetotigca to hti Royal Highness one
week, and to himself the ether. It happened that the last week was
the Duke's ssi eek, and it would therefore he a question whether the
prisoner had defrauded hint (Mr. Elliston).
Sir It. Brame had nu doubt upon the subject. The parties went•
with the intention of paying Mr. Elliston for the use of a private
box, and by the trick of the prisoner that money was kept out of
the coffers of the Theatre.—The prisoner was remanded.
A decent looking young man, who gave his name „hrntes Tartlet,
was hi-cumin before Mr. floats, in the afternoon, charged with de-
frauding and attempting to defraud several persons, by demanding
money for the carriage, porterage, Sac. of sham coach parcels.
Yesterday morning, he took a parcel to the Coach and horses
booking office, in the Strand, pretending he bad brought it from the
Spread Eagle coach office, in Gracechurch street, and demanding
four shillings and fourpence for the carriage and porterage " paid on."
The parcel was directed thus :—" 31r. Knight, Saliesitcr, High-street,
Kensington--By Mail from I Tolland, with speed." The landlord
of the Coach and Horses, however, had suffered too much to be
had by such a clumsy direction as this. Ile took the liberty of
opening the parcel, and finding nothing inside but a few pieces of
brown paper, he gave the mock porter in charge to a constable.
A person from the York-hire Grey booking-hou•a, in Piccadilly,
produced an exactly similar parcel, upon which he had paid the
prisoner five shillings and sixpence, a few days ago.
In his defence he said the parcels were given to him to deliver
by a titan whom he did not know, but who told him he would wait
at the corner of the street for the money.
The Magistrate committed him far further examination, it being
supposed that he bas been doing considerable business in this way.