Star.
London, England, 1818-12-14 00:00:00

•
soothe her aalictions. under such circumstances he
formed a fatal attachment, which, it would appear
from the evidence, had been countenanced and the-'
rished by the husband, for the purpose of "arecting
his object. Undoubtedly (the Learned Counsel said)
it was not for him to defend the conduct of Mr. El-
liott, but he was prepared to slew that he was not a
voluntary seducer in the transaction, and that, in all
events, the evidence of his guilt was such as the Jury
could not believe.
The Learned Counsel having concluded, called the
following witnesses:
George Westall, Esq. examined by Mr.Wmtrams.
Witness .became acquainted with Mr. Aston about
three years ago, at Paris. He had known Mrs. As-
ton some years before. "He visited them frequently,
and always thought their manner of living together
the reverse of domestic or happy. Mr Aston was
generally absent ; indeed, he seldom dined at home.
It was not till the year 1816, however, on his second
visit to Paris, that he hearcdany particular complaints.
About that time Mr. Aston had said to him that he
had cause to suspect his wife's fidelity and upon
one occasion he said he could have proved her infi-
delity curing the time he was in London attending
his mother. He mentioned to witness the name of
the gentleman whom he suspected his wife to have
beeq improperly acquainted with. It was not
Eiliott. A few weeks after, he said he believed heal
perfectly innocent ; he was desirous that a reconci-
liation should take place, and wished. that Sir George
Cockburn would interfere, and bring it about. Wit-
ness had no opportunity of observing how Mr. Aston
spent his evenings. Mrs. Aston visited the Duke if
Wellington, the Ambassadors, and indeed the first
company in Paris. He had frequently dined. with
them at Passy, particularly in October, 1816, and
then Mr. Elliott was present also, together with Mr.',
Aston. Mr. Elliott and iir. Aston appeared to be
on the best terms, though witness understood at the
time that Mr. Aston had given orders to his servarts
to nrevent Mr. Elliott from entering the house. It
was principally in the mornings that Mr. Elliott used,
to call at Passy. Mr. Aston seemed on friendlyl
terms with him. Ile used to call him "
Elliott "
It was " Aston" and " Elliott" between them. Wit-
ness left Paris in the N-'vcmber following. At that
time Mrs. Aston spoke English perfectly. •
This witness was not cross-examined.

Richard Ryan was a dealer in lace, had known
Mrs. Aston for about three years. She called on him
about or near three years back, in company with
another lady ; and in consequence of some communi-
cation which she then made to bini respeciing her
husband, (witness was hot allowed.to state the nature
of this communication). .he, witness, agreedto watch
1 his,obserratioas for about

his conduct. He continued
a fortnight. During that time be .frequently SAW
Mr..Asten in the day-time, walking in different parts
of the town with mean-looking women ; he believed
them :o be women of the town. Saw him with them
in the Strand, in the Haymarket, and other places.
On one occasion he saw him enter a house of bad
character, in °tendon-street, in -company with a
woman.

Cross-examined by Mr. Goat:ay.—Witness resides
at No. 5, Shepherd-street, Osford-street ; had lived
there upwards of five years, and he was also in part-
nership with his nephew in the tailoring line.
John Robert Hume, Esq. examined by Mr. SCAR-
Lgrr..-,Niitnets was with the British Army of Occu-
patioa in France; he was attaled to the Medical
Staff at.head.quarters; he was at Paris in 1815 and
1816, end was often in the society of Mr. and Mrs.
Aston; he knew Mrs. Aston in the latter end of 1815,
or the beginning of the following year He had met
with Mrs. Aston frequently at the Duke of Welling-
ton's, and other houses of the highest rank ; and he
likewise visited them at home. I.n August, 1816, he
was desired by Lady Sydney Smith to visit Mrs. As-
ton its his professional capacity; he did so, and found
her labouring under a most unpleasant indisposition,
and suffering dreadfully from the effects of strong
medicines, which appeared to have been given her to
excess. She was then at Paris, and Mr. Aston was
at Passy ; and witness visited him also, when he ad-
mitted having been the unfortunate cause of her ma
lady; but at the same time he expressed the most
poignant regret at the circumstance, and said that it
would not have occurred, but his physicians had as-
sured him that all symptoms of indisposition on his
part had entirely subsided. This was from the 7th
to the 10th of August, and Mrs. Aston appeared to
have been ill about two months. 'Often saw Mr. As.
ton in public with Mrs. Aston, but sometimes she
used to go alone. Dr. Hyde was attending them both.
Cross-examined by Mr. GURNRY.—Mr. Aston ex-
pressed the utmost anxiety to be reconcitedmrshis wife;
but she was extremely indignant at his conduct.
Sir George Cockburn, examined by Mr. Sc Armen.
—Was at Paris in 1816. Did not know much of Mr.
Aston, but had known the lady ever since the siege,
of Cadiz; she was the daughter of a Spanish mer.'
chant, and a most interesting woman. On his arri-
val at Paris he renewed his acquaintance with Mrs.
A. ton. He, of course, saw Mr. Aston, but was not
on terms of intimate acquaintance with him. Had
heard of some differences between Mr. and Mrs.
Aston. They had become matters of conversation
among the triends ef the parties. The day he wis
leaving Paris, and after the horses had been put to his
carriage, he received a note from Mr. Aston, request-
ing to have five.minutes' conversation with him.
When he came he expressed great uneasiness at the
unfortunate state of affairs between himself and Mrs.
Aston, and requested that he would interfere and
endeavour to bring about a reconciliation between
them. He, (Sir G. Cockburn}, said, that it was a
matter of great delicacy to interfere on such occa-
sions, but said that he would do what i‘e could. At
the same time he asked, in as delicate a manner as
possible, whether Mr. Aston was prepared to give up
associating with a particular description of company
which report stated him to have kept : and whether
he was determined, to forsake them in future? Mr.
Aston replied, that he was. perfectly precared and
determined to do so. He admitted that his con.
duct had been bad, in the respect to which witness
had alluded ; but there had been faults on both
sides: thaf his wife, instead of attempting to reclaim
him by kindness; had been very violent towards him.
Inimediatel after this, witness ordered the horses
from his carriage, anj postponed his departure for
Ithat day hr order to effect the reconciliation. Ile
then wrote a note to Mr:. As!on, to Fassy, =Woe- i