Star.
London, England, 1820-09-06 00:00:00

FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS.

The Marchioness of Lansdown, and the junior part of the
family, at Lansdown House, Berkeley-square, from their seat,
Bowood Park, Wilts.
Lord Melbourne, from the Earl Cowper's seat, Pansanger,
Herts.
At Thomas's-Hotel, Berkeley-square :—Lord Rivers, from
his seat, Stratheekleay, I Tants.
DEPARTURES
Lord and Lady G. 11. Cavendish and family, foe their seat,
Compton-place, Sussex.
The Right Hon. T. Grenville, on a visit to the Earl and
Countess Spencer, at their seat, Althorp. Northamptonshire.
From Grillon's Hotel, Albenurie-street:—Lady and Miss
Stewart, on a tour.
From Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square:--Lady Emily
James, on a tour.
FIRE AT THORNLET HATCH LODGE, OxoN.--An
alarming fire broke out at this spacious mansion, oc-
cupied by B. BURT, Esq. cn Monday night. The
flames were first discovered in the kitchen, where
the flue had been left in to dry some clothes, and the
groom, who slept in a room over it, first alarmed the
family, who escaped in safety, the kitchen being de-
tachei from the house, and joined to it by a passage.
The eastern wing was consumed, with the valuable
furniture, but a strong wall preserved the other part
of the house. The groom, in endeavouring to get a
clock Mit of the house, was severely burnt, and his
life is despaired of.
. . .
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SOMERSET ASSIZES.

A LADY'S WEDDING EQUIPMENT.DOD Es TOLSON*

This cause, which was tried at the Sometset As-
sizes, excited considerable interest. It was brought
by plaintiff, in behalf of his wife, an eminentonilliner
and dress-maker, at Taunton, 'who had been. em-
ployed, in May, 1819, by Miss Tolson, a beautiful
daughter of defendant, aged about twenty, to make
her wedding-dresses, with Instructions that they should
be of the richest goods in her power. These instruc-
tions were followed, and a tolerably long bill was
the result—no less than three hundred and fifty-
eight pounds; but if Mrs. Dod had not checked the
young Lady, it would have amounted to much more.
On one occasion she was shewn a fifty guinea dress;
she said she should like it much, but must consult
4fer father, who, she afterwards said, would not con-
sent to her having it. When the plaintiff submitted
her bill to the defendant, some time after the mar-
riage of Miss Tolson to Mr. Symonds, he (defendant)
ielused to pay, and, about five months from the mar-
riage, employed two Ladies, eminent in the millinery
tine at Sidmouth and Lyme, to value the articles fur-
nished for his daughter. The estimate, however,
given by these Ladies, amounted to nearly the sum
charged by plaintiff. Still the Major was dissatis-
fied, and refused payment of the bill. The action
being brought, he pays 1:200 into Court, under the
advice of his Counsel, Mr. WILLIAMS; who, after
the above facts had been brought forward in evidence,
addressed the Jury in a long, energetic, and ingeni-
ous speech, appealing to them as fitters of families,
not to encourage by their verdict such extravagance
as this young Lady had thought proper to indulge in.
Her father, though highly respectable, was far from
being affluent; his whole income was little more
than £2OO per annum ; and yet Mrs. Dod had suf-
fered his daughter to order thirty-five dresses for her
weddingft-out! These dresses too were but mere
shells as he may call them—for there were but two
pair of stockings in the whole bill. What the full
amount of the young lady's equipment was, he must
leave to the ideas of the Jury. Mrs. Dod never once
applied to the father, to know if this great expense
was incurred with his consent, and at his responsi-
bility; which she ought to have done, as he was
lodging at a very short distance from her house.—
The young lady had got into this nest of milliners,
and unguardedly given the extravagant orders. The
Learned Gentleman went over the principal items in
the bill, which caused considerable merriment.—
" Mull Mulls—Jaconets—Brocade Lutestrings—two
four
Bodies Handkerchiefs , One guinea each,- 4c."
and concluded by earnestly intreating the Jury to
chew by their verdict, that these dress-makers ought
to apply to parents or guardians for authority, be-
fore they suffered such extravagance to be incurred,
as appeared in the present case. The Learned Judge,
however, was decidedly of opinion, that the Major
was wholly responsible, and that his daughter was a
mere agent in the case. He knew she was having
her dresses made—he knew of whom—and it was his
duty to have called on Mrs. Dod, and limited the ex-
pense.—The Jury, after a minute's consultation, gave
a verdict for the plaintiff, to the full amount.

The abundance of the crop of wheat of the present
year, may be estimated from the fact, that, in Kent,
a quantity which had been calculated to produce
thirteen quarters was found, on threshing, to yield
seventeen quarters and one bushel.

The Earl of LONSUALE entertained the Ambas-
sador of the Netherlands and a distinguished party, on
Monday, at his house, Charles-street, Berkeley-squares

Lord and Lady GRANVILLE entertained a party of
friends yesterday, at their house in Bruton-street,
Berkeley-square.

The Earl of HARROWBY entertained a large party
of distinguished personages yesterday, at his house in
Grosvenor-square.

The DEAN of WINDSOR gave an elegant ball on
Friday evening last, at the Deanery House. The
ball-room was brilliantly illuminated, the floor taste-
fully chalked, and the refreshments of the choicest
description. Amongst the company present were
Lord and Lady LONGFORD, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs.
FREIDIANTLE, the Misses DESEROWE and SULLIVAN.
and the Officers of the Blues and Guards quartered
in that place.
The venerable old church of Carfax, at Oxford,
is now pulling down, and upon its sate an elegant
new one is to be erected, after the design of an emi-
nent architect.
The late Vice-Admiral PRWDER, who died a few
days ago, in the 73d year of his age, had been 60
years in the Royal Navy, and was the last remaining
man of the crew who circumnavigated the globe
with Captain WALLACE.
A melancholy circumstance occurred lately at
Brussels :—A man was taken ill in the night, and his
wife rose to procure assistance, but before she re-
turned he had expired. When she perceived that,
she exclaimed—" Oh, Mother of Gott! grant that I
may not survive him!" and' in an hour after, she was
herself a corpse.
Another considerable fall or slip of about 2000
loads of earth took place at Boughton-hill, on Tues-
day afternoon, which stopped the passage for car-
riages at the foot of the old hill : the heavy showers
which have fallen of late, have, it is conjectured, ac-
celerated the removal of this great body of earth.
GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE.-If the weather should

prove favourable to-morrow, the admirers of the
beautiful science of astronomy will be gratified with
one of the most sublime exhibitions that the celestial
sphere can present to view. At twenty-four minutes
after twelve at noon, an eclipse of the Sun will com-
mence, and continue increasing one hour and a half,
when at 53 minutes past one more than five-sixths of
the Sun's illumined face (disc) will be obscured
(10 27i digits), and that brilliant orb appear as a thin
crescent, or hornbd, like the Moon early in her first
quarter, with the point to the right a little elevated.
The obscuration from beginning to end will occupy
two hours and fifty-two minutes, and be the largest
eclipse of the Sun seen in these parts of the earth
since April, 1764.
MAGISTERIAL A rrOINTMENT&-Mr. MISSIIALL,
of Lambeth-street, is appointed to succeed Mr. HICKS,
of Bow-street, deceased ; Mr. Wyart, of Shadwell,
succeeds Mr. MINSHALL, at Lambeth-street; and
Mr. Host rNs, of New-square, Lincoln's Inn. is ap-
po;nted to succeed Mr. WIA77 at Shadwell Office.

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