The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-12-12 00:00:00

-
liftr OP UHANCEKV.--(Tors Dar.)
'efts PORTSMOUTH HAUSS.—SUISHMEMT.
The Court was this day crowded, at an early hair; WI
elegies,
ewer, to hear the decision of his Lot.libip is this 4E1.1
pottant cause. On taking his seat, the LORD Clatta
eet.t.ort said, the case cause before him on a petition
praying for a Commission to inquire into the state of
Lord Portsmouth's mind. la was highly necessary
to be understood that the issuing of a Commission did
not of itself decide on the sanity or insanity of the in-
dividnal. The fact was, that this cause could not be
treated uin Chancery. If the individual who had, in
his Lordship's situation, the duty of detiding on the
merits of the case, should think lit to direct an in.
spiry, stilt there was nothing decis'vely of the state.
of mind of the party nor soul., it be taken
as conclusive that they, him <a her, were not of gourd
mind. His Lordship /proceeded to quote the opinions of
Lord Ilardwleke with respect to his view of the cases de-
rided by hire, sad which were is some measure similar to
the present. The steps of that Learned Judge, he should
now follow* and-tie prejudice the opinion of the Jury by
expressing any opinion es toto the continence or inconti•
nonce of Lady Portemouth t—whether Lord Portsmouth was
or oot of sound mind t—whether adultery had or had not
been committed, nor In fact would he now go farther than
to say, that looking as be was bound to do, at the evidence
of the medical gentlemen, end at the same time taking his
own opinion as well, that a strong preponderating
mass of evidence had been offered for farther enquiry.
The case as it now came before him was very different
from what it was in 1813 or 1814. Then the application
was made by Mr. Nen ton Fellowes, who, in one sense
was entitled to be te rated as heir apparent to the pro.
party. Circumstances were then mentioned, such as the
marriage of Lord Portsmouth to Mias Orace Norton,
and subrequently, to bliss Hanson. Certain acts of his
Lordship were also alluded to. a hich he the Lord Chan.
cellor, without knowing any thing of the real situation
of the party thought very odd, and in fact very out of the
way. At that time, however, still the evidence was in
favour of the soundness of mind of Lord Portsmouth...—
The question, however, now was, was he (Lord P.) of
sound mind or was he sot? Here certainly in his
Lordship's opinion, was strong ground for inquiry now
nude out. He had read over the whole of the affidavits,
bat should not give any opinion upon them. lie would
sot, as ha had before stated, say whether adultery, era-
'city or Incontinence had been proved, and he begged
this to be perfectly understood, that he did not in the
leastlnow infer that any thing of the kind had been
roved. The only thing his Lordship had now to tir-
ade was whether or not enough had been shown to
induce him to direct farther inquiry. Here he should
stop. The evidence of the medical men preponderated
most prodigiously in favour of enqnli; and, exercising
his own opinion, be must say that the Commission ought
to issue.
The ATTORNF.T.GENER•L snbmittrd that to save ex•
prose, the commission should be worked in Middlesex.
The Lou° CHANCELLOR thought It %wild be better to
save expence ; and the order was directed to be worded
accordingly. His Lordship also expressed an intention
of naming gentlemen on whose veracity no possible
doubt could arise, and for which purpose Le should re-
terve that part of the ease. However be should hand
down their names in the coarse of the present week.
THR MARQUESS AND MARCHIONESS 01? WESTEERATH
rrarlitTOßT COURT. FRILIAT. DALC. 6 —Mangreasri
swath v. Ms Mareltioneso of WestmostA.--
irswosathorlty to state, that legal proosodiespre wi44-fro-
instituted as speedily as the form of the Court will at.
mit, against the Editor of a Morning paper and otherib
if any, for the false and Scandalous libel against the
Mireitionesti, in the report of the above cause. wherein
it is stated that the " salt was promoted by the Mar-
qness agalost the Marchioness for a separation. on the
ground of infidelity," whereas the snit is instituted by
the Marquees agaitiat the Marchionetia for a restitution
of conjugal rights.—(.l/orris; Post.)

SNARLING LAWYERS.

From a report of a proceedings at the Westminster
Sessions, in the case of an unfortunate gentleman, who
appears to have fallen amongst Jews, without any good
Samaritan to sacconr him, Mr. ApoLenus was on the
one side, and Mr. ALLEY on the other. The word cow-
ardice happened to escape front Mr. Anoteuves lips;
■nd, in an instant, the other became all fire and tow!
Having a sincere regard for the profession, we, of course,
cannot avoid feeling great pain at these little seeming
departures from decorum, in the conduct of the Learned
Brothers; and we fervently recommend to them the
amiable example of two worthy predecessors, whose for-
giving disposition is recorded by the comic poet, and
who seeing, doubtless, the bad consequences likely to
arise from their mutual enmity, suddenly dropped it,
seized each other by the hand, and exclaiming " brother,
, " brother, we are both in the wrong!"