The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-03-20 00:00:00

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bonwie. venemenmemenwm...—
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'toe held in his own hands. He always anted and talked
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Mkt a reasonable man. He came to witness the eight
'before his death and talked " a 'vast Rule" *beet his
sisti•r's illness. Witness went to Mr. H
after his death, and before the body
where he found two papers, one add 1 .
and the other to Messrs. Atkinson and On
his erom-examination, witnesa stated that 5a141,-
when Mr. Hassell sometimes bonght cattle too dear, be
most have been oat of his mind. He might have said
that his master was mad. Recollected his planting essieJ
hazes, and lint dipping the ends is soot.

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The two letters wore put in and read, esti from
their affecting character they prodassed a coosideralke
sensation in Court. The lest, adtirsoood to therillst
witness, stated that the unfortunate gentleman felt
that his reason was none, and his nerves shaken.
His sister's illness preyed so spelt his mind that he
was weary of life; and before that letter was received
he should be no more. He had written to Mews
Atkinsoa and Parkinson to come down : hoped that
Heywood would take care of every thing till they ar-
rived ; and desired that lie would out let the man who
called himself his brother come into the house. The
other letter to Messrs. Atkinson and Parkinson was
of the same character ; stated that he had left them
his property; gave some minute directions far the
repairs of the house of Cholesbnry ; and added, than(
his body was mot found before their arrival, it would
he diScovered in the paced facing the home. The
I imentable catastrophe was acmstuplielied in this
manner.

The cue for the defendant. being closed, Mr. Set-
grant B‘ossirr stated the case for the plaintiff. He
contended that the letters last produced were sufficient
to establish the insanity of the testate*. They were
of the same character as the will ; the hand writing of
each ins of Ilse sate tremulous and feeble hied, indi-
cating the same nervous feelings. He conteeded that
abilities were trot inconsistent with madness; and .4'
sicced souse examples of the readiness with while%
madmen pursue their habitual employments, although
under the influence of powerful delusions. in the
case of this unfortunate gentleman, the predisposing
cause of his malady was the Illness of his sister; he
made Lis will under this powerful excitement, and in
the same state of mind be destroyed himself. The
learned gentleman concluded a very able speech by
contending that the will was not properly stiestcd.
Mr. Box, a proctor of Doctors Commons, deposed,
that Honeyman, one of the witnesses to the will, bad
declared to him he had no recollectlen of signing it
in the presence of Wen and Bachelor, the other
sees,wit-
Mr. H. Longlands, Solicitor to the West India
Dock Company, knew Mr. Hassell from 1803 to his
decease. Witness was Deputy Ai.eot-Deoeral of Vo-
-1 Interns. He considered Mr. Hassell of entirely weak
nand, aml freak nerves g he could not venture to pro-
nonnce him insane, but he has seen him ieconslstent in
his conduct, and incoherent in his ideas. The wit
ness then related an &termini of Mr. Hassell, on the oc-
casion of Sir V. Burdett being sent to the Tower, pat-
tint• on the dress of a Deputy Lieutenant, and riding
r•nad London to inspect all the Volunteer corps. An
increased responsibility being thrown on the Agent
U I in 18 it, Mr. Hassell became frightened, and
resigned his office. 1

Mr. Colcinhoon, joint assistant with Ur. Longlands,
stated that Mr. Hassell was occasionally subject to fits
of ,lejection, and was at other times in high spirits. His
recces were very much shattered. Its transacted bu-
siness with him frequently.

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el r. John 514mrr, w►o lives **sr Berichigesisag,
katw air. Hassell 14 or 15 years; thought him
weak man, sod at times eighty ; and an such occasions
wunhd not hare witnessed his will.

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Ilse Rev. Mr. Owen stated, that Honeyman had de-
clared to him that he was Dot present when Mr. Owen
signed the will ; he was astonished to find his own
n ,me there, and had no recollection of it.
Mr. Richard Sutton knew Mr. Hassell 14 or 15
years; witness was a stockbroker. Mr. Hassell was
subject to great agitations. He would not have wit-
nessed his will:under those circumst . On his cross-
examination, witness stated, that he has transacted bo-
aioeas fur Mr. Hassell in the stocks—not in his low
momente. lie never hesitated to execute an order
for him. He always transacted business when col-

Sir Brent Spencer knew Mr. Hassell in 1815.—Has
seen him frequently in a dejected state, and has tried
sooth him. Mr. Ilssorll frequently Eased his sister's
ill health as being the cause of his low spirits.
.;enrge Bachelor was gamekeeper to Mr. Hassell 11
years. Witness thinks he was not right at times.--
Four yeses ago ordered witness to pump a pond oat to
mike a re., rvoir : be said " he'd make the frogs stare;
old Joiner never made them Mare so." His name
was " tiad Hassell" all over the nelghbonrhood.
Benjamin Puddi ford worked as under-bailiff for Mr.
Hassell. lle aged eery comical expressions at times.
He once ordered witness to sow some barley amongst
some clover that hrd been sown with the barley of the
year before.

Hicbartl Cox deposed to the root of the frogs, and
recollected making hay at midnight.
William Osborne, hairdresser, of Ailathery, de-
posed that Mr. Hassell has frequently come to his shop,
and that having, gone up stairs to sharer himself, lie
has come down with the lather on his face, saying if
he remained longer he should cut his throat.
.Mr. W. Hassell, brother of the plaintiff and the de-
ceased. ttated that no quarrel existed between the two
brothers. He never v ' d at Choleibery, but be-
lie►etl his eldsr brother did.

Mr. F. Hassell, son of the plaintiff, visite' the de-
ceased al times and Chulesbury, and was treated
rev vectfully and kindly.
Air. SCAaLETT replied, in a speech of the greatest
ingenuity. He contended that the will was legally
published and subscribed ; its validity rested, not upon
the frail memory of the witnesses, but upon their hand.
writing, which they were compelled to acknowledge.
The Learned Counsel then proceeded to comment upon
all the evidence for the Plaintiff with great force and
bowear, and concluded by imploring t►e jury to deal
justly with the dead.
Toe LORD CHM, BARON summed op ; and the jury,
after consulting a short time, returned a verdict fur the
Defendant,.

His Majesty's ship Iphigenis. Captain Sir Robert
Mends. arrived at st. Mary's. Africa, on the 2J ult.
from Portomatb, and caked intaterliately for Sierra
Leine.

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