Star.
London, England, 1818-04-25 00:00:00

=ions to conceal? He knew Mrs. Taylor, than
whom there was not a person in the country pos-
sessed of more delicacy and honour. She had learned
the agreement to the marriage, and was it to be ex-
pected she was to take no measure for stcuring
her niece's comfort—to do nothing whatever in the
cause till the Master had reported, and the marriage
had taken place? Much had been said respecting
the favour of the Prince Regent, which Lord Stewart
enjoyed; but without in the slightest degree mean-
ing any thing disrespectful to his Lordship, he would
only observe, that it often happened that a man
might be followed from place to place by the shouts
of an admiring multitude—might rank high in the
opinion of the country, enjoy the most flattering
marks of Royal favour amidst the envy of surround-
ing courtiers—and yet, in his retirement would be
found discord instead of tranquillity, mistrust and
jealousy, instead of mutual affection and concord.—
He disclaimed the slightest intention of considering,
the Royal favour an objection to his Lordship ; but
Royal favour was not an essential requisite to conju-
gal felicity. That felicity depended not on the nutn--
bur of honours, or the glittering shew of military de-
corations. The precipitancy with which this measure
was hurried on, led to the stronest belief of its being
die effect of a plan. But he would ask, was the
Court of Chancery, so proverbial in general for its
delays, tote so precipitate in this instance? Was
the Court to act in that manner because,• to use a
vulgar phrase, the parties had chosen to -strike the
irpn when it was hot? It became his Lordship to
judge whether such precipitation was at all necessary
under the existing circumstances of the case. It was
monstrous to argue that the Court should at once de-
cide this case, lest worse consequences should follow.
That was a principle on which he had the firmest
confidence his Lordship would never act. But in this
case there were strong circumstances which he could
not pass over. It was very singular to see his Lcird-
ship at the drawing-room, particulirly distinguishing
her awing other females, paying her thdse atten-
tions which she ought more properly to receive from
Mr. MiDonnell, the husband of Lady Antrim—
meeting her at public places—Arranging every thing
for a marriage—giving the public every reason by
'Lis conduct to believe she was intended to be his
wife, while one of the guardians was kept completely
in the dark. She was, according to Mrs. Taylor's
affidavit, introduced to him a few days before the
sirawing-room,—he said, °feta days, because this was
loot denied by the other side, but only met with the
vague expression of" some time." Yet the mother
was willingly blind to all that was going on, and
had her reasons, no doubt, for not seeing what every
ether person in the fashionable world saw ; for she
made no communication whatever to Mrs. Taylor,
but, on the contrary, invited her daughter to a din-
ner party at which the Prince Regent and Lord Stew-
art were to be present. That Lady of high rank,
alluded to in the former hearing of the case, made
the cornnemication to Ms. Taylor or. the 12th' of
March, the day preceding this dinner, and though
Lady Antrim was informed by Mn. Taylor of what
this Lady told her, she on that very day recommended
Lord Stewart as a person fit in every respect to be'
her husband, the very day when the Prince and Lord
Stewart were to dine there. With respect to what
had been said iii)out suitors coming to his Lordship
for permission to make their addresies to Wards of
[the-Court, he had never for one moment held such
an opinion, and, indeed, he was astonished to hear it
bravely brought forward. But in the present case,
Lord Stewart. had first taken care to secure the af-
fections of the Lady before he applied to one of the
guardians or to the Court. The Counsel on the other
side had complained of hii reading the letter written
by Mr. Whitten to his Lordship in the name of the
young Lady ; but, in answer, he would say, that the
letter was to be considered as the language of Mr.
Whitten, not of the young Lady ; and he believed
there was not an attorney in that or the Court of
King's Bench who could write with more delicacy
and coolness than that Gentleman could do on suehl

a subject.
The LOAD CHANCELLOR wished to see a copy of
that curious letter, as he had mislaid the original.
Sir SAMUEL proceeded. Certainly Lord Stewart
had acted on mistaken principles, in going so far be-
fore he consulted the guardian, and also in wishing
to accelerate the marriage on so short an acquain-
tance, especially after the letter from Mrs. Taylor, in
which she told him, that with all due deference for
himself and Lord Castlereagh, she declined consent-
ing to his union with her niece, and that she would
instantly apply to the Lord Chancellor to restrain
any further intercourse. That blame was justly at-
-tached to the mother, he had no doubt, especially
when'her former conduct was calmly considered.—
He was aware, that, in Courts of Criminal Law, it
was net proper, nor, indeed, would be allowed by a
Judge, to refer to a prisoner's past conduct as a proof
of his present guilt ; but here the case was widely
different. The mother planned a marriage for this
girl when she was only sixteen years of age, and had
a Nobleman of equally high rank and respectability
engaged, with whom the girl had interviews at a
watering-place. The marriage was going on, though
the girl had never been introduced into public life,'
till it was fortunately stopt by the exertions of Mrs.
Taylor. Here he could not help thinking, that the
advice given by Mr. Hart to Lady A. to pass this
former transaction over in silence, without ansikering
it, was very wrong ; and he would ask, were such
facts to be. got rid of by the mere denial of Lady A. ?
If she could not deny the former facts, was her denial
of what now took place to be deemed stlEcient in a
Court of Equity ?
The LORD CHANCELLOR wished to have the papers
in that first case, as he had some distant recollection
of having granted an order to Mrs. Taylor.
Sir S. proceeded. If the marriage with Lord S. at
any future time might Peconsidered proper, it cer-
tainly could not be so now. The young lady had had
no opportunity of becoming acquainted with the
world, and certainly she ought to have time for con-
sideration. Probably being dazzled with the sploa-,
dour of Lord Stewart's high situation, her reason
might have yielded in an unguarded moment, but
certainly that was only a stronger ground for giving
her more time to reflect. He again decidedly-ex-
pressed his approbation of the manner in which Mrs.
Taylor had acted, and stated, that her delay in
bringing the case sooner before hisCordship arose
from a delicacy on her part ; but admitting that she
had Wet pesligeat, was that a rano:* for laer not

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