Star.
London, England, 1823-01-25 00:00:00

THE WINTER IN PARIS.

PARIS, JAN. 17.—The wratlus at Paris continues to be ex...
trentely cold. On the 14th, the mercury experienced at Paris a
greater depression than at any period within the memory of the
oldest person now living in France. It fell 5-4ths of adegree
below the minimum marked on the thermometers as the point
to which it descended in the memorable frost of 1741--eleven
and a quarter degrees (of Reatimor) under Zero ! Unaccui.
corned as the English are to such an extreme of cold, those of
your countrymen now resident in Path; bear it much better
than their Gallic neighbours—so much so, that you would be in-
dined to say they had exchanged characters. On the Basin de
la Vilette, near the Barricre St. Martin, where there was much
skaiting, the English were left undisputed masters of the field.
Many of the latter went through a number Of beautiful emits?
dons upon the ice, in a Style which proved pretty clearly to tan
that the performers bad graduated on the Serpentine. One party
executed with admirable precision several quadrilles, without
making a single Asa pas in the intricate chain Angisia—otbete
engraved their own initials, or G. R. upon the frozen tablet,
while the more aspiring and dexterous essayed and succeeded is
the spread eagle. Deterred equally by the cold and the rivalry
of John Bull, not a single Po/ineur Francais appeared upon she
Basin or the Canal d'Ourcq. In Parts the English were not idle.
The Marquis of Woicirsvgai in a superb sledge, headed a line
of at least a dozen simi ar. machines; several French were
amongst his followers, one of whom (the Due de Gatcurt) you
will recollect to have seen in London. Flying past the Moine-
ries, up the Rue Rivoli, across the Place Louis Qulnze, ascend-
ing the Champs Elysees, back again, up the Rue de la Pail, and
along the Boulevards, this cortege had a picturesque and fuse
effect. From the centre of each cat tote a species of siest, which
was surmouned by a gaudy and nodding plume of feathers; the
trappings of the horses by which they weredraWn, studded with
innumerable glittering bells, while (the pun is irresistible) the
Bolles inside each vehicle vied with-each-other in the profusion
and costliness of the furs in uthich,they were.envetoped. This
scene has been daily repeater) 'ince, and as there is no prospect
of a thaw, bids fair to enliven the lgorth of Paris for some
Itime to come.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, JANUARY 24.

WILLIAMS V. A LTENBORGUOH, IN THE MATTER OF
BA DDI NGTON COLLIERY.-JUDGMENT.
The pleadings in this case had been in progress
during the two previous days. It was an application
on the part of the Ttustees for the discharge of an
order of the Vice.Chancelloi, which 4/ent to open the
biddings by which the colliery in their trust had been
disposed of, and to refer to the Master to approve of
another purchaser.
His Lordship, in giving judgment, observed that
there was n,,thing in this, case to chew that a Mr.!
Bourne was not the bona fide best bidder at the sale ;
and considering, therefore, that he became the actual
purchaser of the colliery, this petition must be dis-
missed ; but in so dismissing the petition, he did not
think he could give costs.
CONSISTORY COURT, DOCTORS' COMMONS,
JANUARY 24.

Yesterday, Sir .lout Nicitot. sat and gave judg-
ment in the case of Hawkins v. Mackie, falsely call-
ing herself Hawkins; which is a suit for nullity of
marriage, promoted by Mr. Hawkins against Anne
Xlizabeth Fife, on the ground of a former and sub-
sisting marriage.
The COURT said, they had looked, as they were
bound to do, with great jealousy to the evidence in
proof of the identity of the party, and were satisfied,
that Anne Elizabeth Fife was married in 1809, at
Wilitechapel Church, to William Mackie, by banns,
legally ; that, after having separated from her .first
husband, William Mackie, and having lived with the
plaintiff for some time, she married him on the 21St
of October, 1820, her former husband being still
living, the mart iage with him not having been dis-
solved by process of law ; the Court, therefore, di-
rected
.the relief prayed for, and decreed a disuse and
nullity of the latter marriage.
No other case-of importance came on for hearing.
CONtiSTORY COURT OF ROCHESTER, JAN. '23.
BEST V. BEST.

This long protracted cause came on for hearing
10-day, but was not disposed of.
Dr. Pittu.rmotte, on behalf of Mrs. Best, and in
the absence of the King's Advocate, opened the case.
.This was a .suit which was brought by Elizabeth
Best against her husband, James .Best, Esq. of Chat•
'ham, in Kent, for separation and divorce, by reason
prcruelty. The cohabitation of these parties, it would
appear, had continued down to the 3d of August,
1819. The Learned Counsel then observed, that the
mass of evidence adduced in the original libel, re-
'Cited and charged a variety of acts of the most cruel
kind to have been exercised by Mr. Best against his
wife. It was stated, that on the 4th of March,.lBlB,
he struck her a violent blow over thehead with a
porsewhip ; and- that next nioming he put a lighted;
candle onder her bed,..and swore he would burn. her
:alive;. but on her threatening to go before a Magi*.
trite, to swear the peace against him, he conducted
• himself with more temper for some time. He at
length relapsed, into the same outrageous ccul-sesl
and declaring that 'he would not keep
_the peace for
any Mi2istrate in England, would drag her out 'of
bed, or pull her by the hair off a sofa: These facts
.0.-. curred in 1819; and the .parties being in Maddot.
*greet, Ilanover-square, London, Mr. Best caught his
wife by the. neek, graved her so hardly, and other-
arise so ill died her, that had nut a servant come to
-her assistance; she Must have been killed. Among
other charges 'retorted in the course of these pro-
ceedings.upon Mrs. Best, it was on her part denied
that she had ever thrown upon Mr. Best, as he was
(olloiving her up stairs, the contents of a mug full of
hot water. :The. 14th .article further pleaded., that
since the B‘.l August, 3819, she had not cohabited
with her husband. On the 2.1 October, 1821, the
Proctor for Mr. Best confessed the marriage, but
-otherwise contested .the suit negatively. In May,
.1821, alimony at the rate of £620 per annum, pend-
. :lag the suit, was allotted to Mrs. Best; and in the
same month, an allegation with twenty•one articles,
with eleven exhibits annexed, was brought in on the
-part of Mr. Best. This allegation propounded va-
rious
recriminatory charges, particularly that of
-adultery, against Mrs. Best. It stated, that soon after
the marriage, Mrs. Best endeavoured to extort money
`and a settlement from him, saying that she only
married him fot.hi- that - one occasion she

married him lothis money ; that on one occasion she
.ii
left her husband's house against his desire, and went
'to Dpver, where she remained for a week ; that she
ii,ed frequently to leave his house, and continue ab-
.
• sent.for several days together. Mr. Best always
•
treated her with the greatest indulgence, but she be-
• 'hayed to him with great disrespect, and would en-
courage the servants to do Ore same; she used to get
i drunk, and in that state tried very obscene language.
.Sitiv would get intoxicated in the company of her sis-
ier, Mary Halliday. It was further alleged, that Mrs.
•BeSt; with• the assistance of her brother and sister,
'..'•
. ,
. ;took. away several jewels of great value, which she
• - would not return to Mr. Best, who repeatedly soli-
) •
cited her to do so. Mr. Best was at length compelled
1 :to call the patties before a Magistrate, who commit-
.l
4.,
.
,ted.Edward.Halliday, the brother, to prison, for pre-
- vatication, and detained Mary Halliday._ Next day,
however, Mrs. Best appeared before the ;Magistrate
(the Rev. Mr. Biown) wearing the jewels in question,
of the value of 1:1375 ; and having refused to deliver
4
the same to Mr. Best, a constable, by the Magistrate's
directjons, took them from her person-and gave them
Vci up. It was stated that Mrs. Best would look out at
,-ft the window,. or,over the garden wall, and use fami-
4.
*4.0 : liar and indecent gestures to the passers by. On the
t: ) lad of May, 1818, he informed her that he would not
:f r;' .allow, her this use of.his carriage, which was the cause
••
Lit 1. .of several abuiive words between- them. In June,
:.1818, she was, charged to have formed an adulterous
Ifl' ' intercourse with a farmer of the name of Kennett
"I Powth Mean, residents= Chilham, Kent, to whom
i.i i. 'she sent a ntestage.or appointment by one Johnson,
4
- . Ong •Ytitsh ; and ,in consequence met him at the
it in Cielltr-rbulT, at a, house of ill fame. The seventh
Article-pleaded that an action had.been brought in the
A . KingqBench against Mears, who suffered judgment
41 ,I
i. A • , to gO.,•Againlt hi.m by default.
it Pr. FIIILLIbtORE then observed, that after the evi-
•
i t . desofk..should have been read, he should rely upon the
'' ' eeidwit* of Ann Yoing, Mary Inglis, Mary Brooks,
and Bbritlti ill of them servants, to chew that
mr.Beitba, fretn the very first day of his marriage,
petneyeted is a mum of croaky and peisecuuon
•
. .