Star.
London, England, 1824-07-12 00:00:00

SHERIFFS' COURT, JULY 10.

CRIM. •BARING, ESQ. M.P.". CAPTAIN WEBSTER.
This was an inquisition to assess damages for the se-
duction of the plaintiff's wife, the defendant having suf-
fered judgnient to go by default. The damages were
laid at £lO,OOO.
Mr. BROUGHAM, in stating the plaintiff's case, said,
the. name of Baring stood high, both in the political
and commercial world. Mr. H. Baring, the present
plaintiff, was third brother of that family. He was pos-
sessed of an extensive fortune, which he had greatly
improved by asesidenee in China. On his return from
thence, aged about twenty-five, he found his eldest bro-
ther just returned from America, who brought with him
a wife, daughter of one of the first families in Pennsyl-
vania, and also a younger sister of the. Lady, to whom
the plaintiff paid his addresses, and, after a time, not-
withstanding some opposition from the fathers of each,
they were married, and lived in a state of uninterrupted
bliss for 20 years, in the course of which they had five
children, the eldest a daughter, recently married ; another
thirteen years of age; a son about twenty; another,
fifteen; and an infant two years old. Captain W. du:-
ing the last year, became a visitor in the family. He
was the brother of Sir Godfrey Webster, and held a
situation on the Staff of the present Viceroy of Ireland.
He was five or six years younger than the Lady, but
notwithstanding her advance in life, her attractions were
great; and the Captain, in violation of the ties of friend.
ship for the husband, in violation of the rights of hospi-
tality, and of every sacred duty, had weaned her affec-
tions from her husband, had deprived her offspring of
her maternal care and protection, and left her to become
an outcast of that society of which she had formerly
been a pride and an ornament. They would hear, much
better than he could describe it, from the witnesses,
what were the terms of affection in which Mr. and Mrs.
H. Baring had lived. Better, far better, even than the
most eloquent speech, was the plain and simple evidence
of the witnesses of truth, describing the domestic facts
which fell under their constant observation. They
would, from this evidence, estimate what must have
been the acts of the seducer; they would remember the
home which he had made desolate, .the children he had
deprived of a mother, and the friend from whom he
had torn a wife. They would shew, by their verdict,
the sense they entertained of such conduct, and the pro-
tection bey were prepared to shed around the sanctuary
of domestic life. He concluded, by entreating the Jury
to award such a compensation in damages, which,
`thongh no pecuniary redress could assuage the feelings,
or mitigate the sense of loss to which the plaintiff was
doomed, would nevertheless shew the defendant that he
could not escape with impunity, and set an example
which might deter others from pursuing the same arts
and accomplishing, the same ruin.
The first witness, Mrs. Wall, stated, that she wai the eldest sister
of air. Barigag she had constant opportunities of witnessing the
conjugal affection of the family, and always observed the greaten
tenderness on both sides between Mr. and Mrs. Baring ; she had
passed weeks together at their house, and never saw between them
the slightest altercation ; there might have been differences of mere
opinion, but they must occur everywhere. The eldest daughter of
Mr. H. Baring was lately married; the eldest son is at Oxford; the
second son in the Navy; the younger children are at home.
Mrs. lienspt, another sister of Mr. Baring, gave precisely similar
testimony of the affectionate intercourse which she always saw sub.
silting between Mr. and Mrs. Baring; she did not know defendant.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pang.—Her general residence was a
day's journey from Mr. Barbig's house. Last autumn twelvemonths
she spent three weeks at his house in the country, and saw them
repeatedly in London after. She never heard from Mr. Baring of
any former marriage of his wife's.
This Lady's husband merely confirmed the evidence of his wife.
Mrs. Dent, sister-in-law, had only to repeat that she had uni-
formly witnessed the same affectionate conduct on the part of Mr.
and Mrs. H. Baring towards each other.
Mr. Blagden attended Mrs. Baring on the 12th August, 1822, at
her accouchement. It was in London, and Mr. H. Baring evinced
at the time the most tender solicitude.

Some of the Ladies who were already examined, were recalled,
merely to prove that Mrs. H. Baring was at Brighton, with a French
female attendant, last November.
Four letters were then put in in evidence, from Captain Webster
to Mrs. Baring. The one was dated Dublin Castle, the others
Brighton ; all breathed the warmest love, and indicated an intimacy
between the parties of the doiest nature.
This was the ease on behalf of the plaintiff.
Mr. DINMAN then said, it became his duty to address
the Jury on behalf of Captain Webster ; he could not
hip remarking, that it never was supposed that so lit-
OE information would have been produced to the Jury,
as a foundation for those heavy daniages which his
Learned Friend had anticipated. It was true that some
respectable Ladies had given evidence, but so very im-
material, as to lead one to suppose that they had been
produced for no other reason than to give ornament and
dignity to the cause ; for it was quite impossible that they,
from their connection with the parties, could have been
qualified to speak as to her conduct and principles. They
are the sisters of the husband—unquestionably, the sister
of the wife could not have been brought forward, but
were there not many others that might? There was a
grown-up daughter; had she no governess? Why was not
the French waiting-maid called, who had consented to act
on some occasions as the,, Go Between?" She might, per-
haps, have told the Jury something of the uninterrupted
happiness, as it was called, of the husband, but which the
Jury must have seen had arrived at its conclusion long
before Capt. W. had become acquainted with this Lady.
The Lady's cbarms,which had won her husband's affec-
tions twenty years before, had vanished, and misery
and distress and alienation had been planted in their
place. How fallacious was all the evidence—how little
upon which the Jury could rely i The respectable La-
dies who had been called all stated that even in autumn
last the appearances of Mrs. Baring to her husband were
the same as usual ; all was tranquillity and happiness
and love, and yet she permitted a gross assignation
with the defendant a Month before. What right then
has any. man to infer that his client was the seducer?
The Lady was married in 1802; she was then at least
marriage, nor any of those circumstances to point out
the extent of the loss which the plaintiff had sustained;
The last persons in the world likely to hear what
was going forward, were the sisters of the injured
husband ; and yet' they were the only persons called

4

IS years of age; she is now on the verge of 40. The
Gentleman was considerably under 30, and was his guilt
so great, or did the circumstances of the case warrant
that he should be subjected to heavy damages, which
would place his personal liberty for life at the mercy
of a man whom he was supposed to have injured? He
was anxious to find out what were the feelings of the
husband; how he spent his evenings; whether his strong
affection had lasted up to the period of the seduction ;
whether his attachment had not been abated by former
seducers ; or whether, in fact, when 11:: had been released
from the embraces of his wife, he had lost anything
more than the name? No opportunity had been afforded
of any examination as to the situation of the Lady before
to describe the domestic happiness of the parties, which
is now said to have been destroyed by Capt. Webster.
No proof whatever had been adduced as to the period
when the alienation of affections had taken place. What
evidence was there to shew when Mr. Webster had be-
come acquainted with the Lady? None whatever: even
the French maid was not called to prove it: all was left
to surmise and conjecture. The letters unquestionably
" denote a foregone conclusion" that the parties must
have frequently met; but, under all the circumstances
of the case, he would ask who was the seducer ? All
evidence had beet}, most judiciously kept back, except
those who were merely able to speak to the superficial
appearances of the drawing-room; not one word as to
the d, secrets of the levee,' or the " mysteries of the
boudoir," or what was going forward oa those evenings
when the husband had absented himself from home. Was
this, then, a case from which a Jury could say that con-
siderable damages should arise? His Learned Friend had
spoken of Capt. Webster not merely as if he had wished
to denounce him as the first seducer of Mrs. Baring, but
as the first transgressor of this sort in England; and he
called upon the Jury with an energy as if they were as-
sembled to avenge the first inroad upon national morals.
But, let the Jury ask themselves this question—Was it
probable that a young man, introduced into a family of
the very highest respectability, would have dared to
[nuke advances to the head of that respectable family,
if he had not received some encouragement ? Had he
been content with stating it was this young man's duty
to have resisted any advances that could have affected
the honour of the wife of his friend, and the mother of
his friend's children, that would indeed have been the
strong ground to have rested the charge upon. These
were considerations which the criminal ambition of any
man could not have overcome. Who ever dares to
commit such an outrage on society ? such attempts are
out of the reach of youth and passion itself, unless the
wife and the mother forgets the husband and the chil-
dren, and makes overtures. It was true she was the mo-
ther of five children, but were not those subjects for her
reflection? ought she not to have remembered that she
had a zrown up daughter, who has since been married,
and who is now herself, perhaps, the mother of 'cliil-
dren—that she had a son of an age himself to be made
the subject of a charge of this nature? These are
things which must have been all forgotten by the
wife before any man would dare to enter the sanctuary
of domestic happiness. He would tell the Jury fairly,
Captain Webster was not in a situation to pay heavy
damages ; and if it 'was merely the object of Mr.
Baring to render his character clear and spotless,
nothing should be left to surmise or conjecture.—
It had been stated that the injury was greater, because
it was the breaking up of an old friendship ; he was
ready to admit, that if his client had seduced the Lady
from the arms of a long confiding husband, the case
would have been worse, as regards the husband, not
better as regards the wife; but the circumstances of the
case clearly demonstrated that the.whole loss the hus-
band sustained was, being deprived of the appearances
of love by which he had been deceived. His Learned
Friend had said, it was the duty of the Jury to give a
lesson to others ; that they kept a school for the purpose
of teaching parties how to conduct themselves. But let
it be remembered, that it was not merely theschoOl for
wives and lovers, but for husbands also ; and when they
come before a Jury, they should be prepared to give a
full a statement of their own conduct, and not rest their
case upon the eloquence of their Counsel, howeverpow-
erful it might be. Under all the circumstances, he could
not help thinking but that very moderate damages
would amply satisfy the justice of the case. •
The UNDID,SHIMITIP tpld the Jury, that they had heard the evi-
dence, and it would be for them to say, under all the circumstances,
what amount of damages justice required.
The Jury deliberated fur about half an hour, and returned a ver-
dict for the plaintiff—Damages One Thousand Pounds.

The DIAMOND, a large new frigate, just finished at
Chatham, will sail to-morrow, or Wednesday, for South America.
Lust week some disturbances occurred between the
soldiers and the people of Winchester; one of the soldiers of the
97th has been severely wounded.
A beautiful tire balloon was let off on Saturday even-
ing from the heights near White Conduit House. The ascent was
brilliant ; it went over to the south of London, and attained a great
elevation.

CORN-EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, JULY 19.
There was an uncommon large supply of nearly all sorts of grain
last week, except Barley. This morning, however, the supply iS:l3Ot
followed up by any material quantities fresh 16, still there is ablest-
dance in the market, chiefly the remains of former sales. The late
fine weather and good supplies have rendeced the Wheat trade ex-
cessively dull, and although the primest parcels are held at last
week's prices, still all other sorts are Is. to Xs. per quarter cheaper
Barley is in limited demand, but the quantity is ►o small that last
quotations are fully supported. Beans sell very heavily, and the
prices of this article are further reduced is. to 2s. per quarter.
Boiling and Grey Peas sell on much the same terms as last quoted.
The great quantity of Oats that has lately come in, has almost
stagnated the trade for this article, and although the prices are re-
ported is. to Ys. per quarter lower than this day set:night, still
there is very little progress to be made in sales even at this teduc-
don. The Flour trade remains very dull.

IPRICRIB ON wasp SHIP.
Wheat, Red (new), 50s. 60s. Rye, new, 355. 40s.
old, 60s. 70s. - old, 00s. 00s.
White new, 525. to 621. Beans, Small, new, 405. 415.
- old, 625. 765. - old, 425. 451. •
Barley, New, 551. 40s. Tick, new, 523. 575.
Old, 00s. 005. -- old, 58s. 425. •
Peas, Grey, New, 335. 3SI. Oats, Feed, new, 20s. 245.
- Old, 355. Sas.' - old, Os. Os:
Maple, new, 375.: 401. Poland, new, 21s. 975.
old, 00s. 00s. -.-- old, Os. Os.
White, new, 355. 385. Potatoe, new, 245. 31s.
- old, 40s. 425. -......-. old, Os. Os.
Boilers, new, 403. 445. -.--.. Scotch, 31s. 325.
- old, 00s. 00s. Flour, per Sack, 50s. 11016
issatifats war wont.
Beans
Peas
Irish Oats
Enzlish Flour, sacks

Wheat, English, qrs.
Barley
Malt
Oats -

8201
588
4,413 I
25,552

1888

250
3,570
8,446

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SMITHFIELD MARKET, JULY 1%
There was but a moderate supply of Oxen at market this mom.
ing, and those of good quality obtained a high prier. In Lamb and
Mutton the numbers were as usual. The trade did not seem brisk
owing to the warm weather, but the prices of all descriptions of
Cattle, may be quoted somewhat lower.
Beef, per stone of Sibs. 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. Mutton ss. 4d. 0
41. 4d. Lamb Ss. to Ss. 6d Veal 4s. 6d. to Ss. 61
Hay, per load, 41. 10s. to Si. 101. Clover, St. to 61. Straw,
to Si. 10a. .

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