The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-02-24 00:00:00

'AistiMM A fil.

MIL
as to render it improper for hint to have the uncon-
tronled goterftrest of himself and the management of
the estate. Ihe web the eldest son of Thomas Hib-
beet, Bag. who died in 1806,. possessed of large West
India estates, and considerable personal property,
leaving issue the young gentleman in question* two
other sons and a daughter. by Mrs. Hibbert4 now
living, formerly a Miss Mansfield. By the will of
the testator, in which ample provision was made for
all the children, be declared that they should not be-
come possessed of the properly bequeathed until
they bad respectively attained the age of twenty-
five years. When the eldest son arrived at that
age, he would have been entitled to an estate of up-
wards of 20,0001. per annum. In his earliest in-
fancy be evinced unusual proficiency in rudi-
mental knowledge, and gave great promise of
a vigorous and enlarged understanding. Possessing a
' memory ofextraordinary retention, he made astonishing
progress in the knowledge of classical literature t but
as he advanced in years, though he hail acquired the
stature of manhood, he retained the mental imbecility of
infantine childishness, and as was stated by the gentle-
men who bad successively had the care of his education,
he was totally devoid of the powers of abstraction and
ratiocination, was utterly incapable of comprehending
the first Problem of Euclid's Elements, and was even
dull of understanding to the common rules of arithme-
tic. The great body of evidence was directed to the de-
velopment of his life from the age of 17 to 23, which
last he attained in August last, and a succession of facts
was adduced to support the allegation of that childish
imbecility on which the Commission was founded. Ig-
norance of the value of money, heedless extravagance,
and an ungovernably passionate temper, were, amongst
other features of his conduct, advanced as characteristic
of his mental incapacity; but, on all hands, he was ad-
mitted to be free from the usual vices of youth. Several
medical gentlemen of the first eminence were examined,
the result of whose opinion was, that though
the experiments they had made to ascertain
the sanity of his mind would- nut justify them in
signing a certificate of lunacy, vet that they could
not be warranted in pronouncing him to be a person
of sane intellect, to whom the management of his
affairs might be safely entrusted. On the other hand
a great number of witnesses (principally collateral
branches of his father's family) was adduced, who,
i though they admitted that he was a young man of ex-
tremely weak mind, arising front an infirmity of physi-
cal constitution vet that he was as capable, in the ordi-
nary affairs of lite, of managing his concerns as nine
young men in ten who were brought np under the expec-
tation of inheriting large fortunes. Time medical gentle-
men examined were also of opinion, that though hr
was a young man of infirm intellect, vet the infirmity
was net such as would justify them in declaring that be
was unfit to be entrusted with the assuagement of his
own affairs.

The Cuter Jurrtce bad in part slimmed up the case,
when the Jury interposed, and expressed themselves
satisfied: but his Lordship said, it would perhaps he
more satisfactory if they were to hear the ease through,
more particularly as the result of the inquiry would be
certified into Chancery ; and, accordingly, his Lordship
proceeded to reeepiturate the prominent features of the
case, leaving the question for their consideration in the
terms of the issue on the record.
Thela retired for about a quarter of an hoer, and
returned a verdict for the Crown, thereby affirming the
inquisition found by the Jury below, establishing the in.
rapacity of the defendant to manage his person or his
estate.

Yesterday, was tried in the Court of Common Pleas,
Guildhall, the cause Svonosnv P. THORP and VALE.
This was an action brought by the Plaintiff, Dr. Stoll-
dart, one of the principal proprietors of The New /Uses,
against the defendants, one of them the present Lord
Myer of the Cite of Londenvend the other the Deputy
of the Ward of Farriugdon Without, to recover the
amount -.l' a loss sustained by him in the damage of his
office in Fleet-street, on the I Ith of November. After
Mr. Serjeant Vaughan had stated the case, and called
his witnesses, Mr. Serjeant Pell replied, and said it was
fur Doctor Steddart to select any two inhabitants, and
he has chosen the Lord Mayor. For what object he
would not say, but the verdict must pass against him.
There never was a man in his high office, who at all
times conducted himself with more earnest attention to
his duty. On the occasion adverted to, be was on the
spot, nay. lie was there twice; and no less than six or
MO officers were placed about the streets to preserve the
public peace. Mr. Justice Park observed in his charge
to the Jury that there was nothing invidious in putting
forward the Lord Mayor. Ile had no doubt discharged
his duty; but where a man's property was not protected,
he had right of action for any damage sustained by
tumultuous assemblies. Verdict for the Plaintiff to the
amount of damage proved, Ninety-seven Pounds.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, EDINBURGH.

--.14.11•....

On Monday the Court proceeded to the trial of
Mary King or Dot,Aral, accused of uttering a 5/.
note of the Paisley Bank, knowing the same to be
forged, by delivering the same to Auld, shoe-
maker, in the Llwn ►Market, in payment of a pair of
hoots and a pair of shoes, and receiving back the ba-
lance. To this charge the panel pleaded Nut gnilty.
After a trial of considerable length, the Jury found
her Guilty, and the Court sentenced her to be tran-
sported beyond seas for 1 l years. Donald Nicalion
stood indicted for a similar offence, but on account
of certain circumstances in his cute, the Advocate
Depute moved the Court to desert the diet against
him aimpliciter, which was done accordingly, and he
was dismissed from the bar. .

New INSOLVENT DESTORS' COURT.—In ronsc•
quence of the increase of the business of this Court,
and the frequent interruptions that have taken place
heretofore to its Sittings, where it is now held in the
(Jeildhall of Westminster, it has been resolved to erect
a new Coact, to be exclusively appropriated for tran-
sacting the business. For that purpose, the mansion
formerly is the occupation of Mr. Justice Park, on
the South side of Lincoln's-Inn-fields, has been per-
chased, and will be taken down immediately, together
with the stables and other out-buildings, extending
over a large plot of ground into Portugal-row ; on
this site will be erected a New Court, with offices for
the agentet messengers, Ike.; and for the better faci-
litating thebtminess„ it suitable residence will also be
built fur one of the Commissioners, in order more ef-

feetually to fulfil the intentions of the new Act, which
has rendered it compulsory fur more of the business
to take I.lJce in the presence of a Commissioner than
was required by the ehl Act. It is calculated that
the beiidinK will be reedy is fire months, as tboope-
ratios.; for that purpose are to caroms°, farrPeitis.

DIED.
On Tepidity, the 20th lest, Anse. wife of Mr. John Fox
fliatos. eapihma-rise.
ea Ifikaudai. the WI &mat, et her hem" Sfserhy-'face.
Booth Laplig*. alter $ laps ?ad Ktiffel Maya, 111 q.
Cite). gently regraded by a:? taw Tries*.

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