The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-05
'LAW REPORTS.
COURT OF KINGS BFNCH, Dec. 6.
DUBosr .. BEREsFoRD.
n Picture. a Libel
n Pieture, a Lii6ei.


DUBosr .. BEREsFoRD.
II Picture, Libel.
Mr.. .1ekyL, for the plaintiff, regretted that he
stances OF the case. He had to represent il as
not merely violent and outrageous violation,
but a total demolition OF property and for this
he came to ask damages The plaintiff WAS q
frenchman. and during the period which he
spent IN his native country, possessed high re-
putstion in his art. Though we are at war with
France, We mus, not Geny that the arts were
justly appreciated, and highly patronised there.
The art of which MIR. Dubost was professor,
the art OF painting, was eminenty regarded in
france, and to have attained celebrity there re-
CURED peculiar powers. The plaintiff came O.
Yer few Years since with n painting Of his,
which had been highly admired in Paris. Merit
must find its way-the painting was seen here;
and purchased BY agentleman Of known taste
1t was impossible to look round the court and
not see the interest which the cause Of the fine
arts excited in this country. After residence
OF some length here, the plsiniH formed an Ex-
hbition in Pail. MALI Among other pictures
was ons from the old Arabian tale of Beauty and
the Beast. When it was said that this was from
MI. Dubosts pencil, probably enough was said
of its merits. 1t was scarcely to be supposed
that any one should have wished to destroy su CHI
- picture. 1t WAS, however, DESTROYED, and by
the defendant, the Rev. Mr. Beresford, son of
the 2oth Of June, came to the exhibition there
w'as some delay among the persons at the door
about changing the money which he gave, and in
a momen; alter there was cry that I" the gentle
man was cutting the picture to pieces" The
picture OF Beauty and the Beast was actually cut
to pieces. II was not easy TO conceive the mo.
tive which could have induced this reverend
sandal to destroy such work, unless he had
brought with him some peculiar tasie of the kind
from his own country. Mr.. Beresford then
turned round, with the knife in his hand, upon
the people who were coming in, as If to strike a.
,'yperson who ventured near him. He centinu.
ed his work ofdestruction for at least half an
1iour. The plaintiff said, If there was any thing
wrong IN tho picture, it might have been pun
i.hed by law. COnstables were sent for to MARI
borough street, but before their coming MIR
Eerssford had gone away----The plaintiff val
ued this at 1000 guiueas. The price might
seem high, but the jury knew the sums that
were oiten given for paintings. In late exhi-
bition, water-color drawing was sold for 800
Euineas. The jury would form their estimate
from this The plaintiff claimed, not only for
the loss OF his picture, but for the profits of his
exhibition--W While the Beauty and The Beast
was shown, the profits amounted to ten euineas
a day, and Mr.. Dubost might count on making =
little fortune by it. When the picture was des
stroyed, the profits suRk TO two pounds a day-
The jury would consider all the circumstance
~ foreigner seeking the protection of British
laws for violent injury; aloss to the arts and
on the other side, conduct unsuitable to anY
man, but peculiarly to the defendant, whose func.
tions should have taught hm other things. sCan-
rss lac ahms colestbus irT!
Three persons OF the names of Basky Hewitt
and Stanley, receivers al the door, or connectrd
whit exhibition, were called TO prove the ex.
istence of the picture in its perfect state. and
It's subsequent INJURY. Basky said that Mr.. Beres
ford, when gong into the room, passed him
lik+ flash of lightning whereas his Grace The
Prince OF Wales and the other ROYAL Dukes We .
ry deliberately enqdircd their way
C10TicS .Sonae' ar, eanldined by Mr.. Mayyvntt.
49, Was in the out room when Mr. Beresford
went in. Soon after he heard cry of, 'the gem
tleman is destroying the PICTURE He ran in
and saw the defendant with knife in one hand
aud stick in the other. The knife was held
-out towards him he thought he was going to
be murdered, and ran AWAY; first to the Palace.
for the body guard, and next to the officer for the
constabes. He was away about an hour, when
he came back, the pictur was lying in pieces or,
the floor. Before he went for the constabies. the
picture was merely thrown On the floor; when
be returned, 1t was all in pieces.
Gyess examined 81 SIC attorney Iiene,di--
There was but little money got at the exhibition
in the beginning, but it afterwards increased
Witness used to give any explanation ofthe pic
tures that was wanted The picture of Beauty
and the Beast was beautiful He could not tell
whether there was likeness OF Mr. Hone in the
picture. He knew that Mrs. Hopes likeness in
the picture not like her This answer
which was extorted by the Attorney gen produc-
ed considerable laughing in COURT The people
who came to the exhibition said Mr. Homes
likeness was excellent, but Mrs Homes NOT
good. There was portrait of Mrs Hone
drawn by the plaintiff, for which sie was Maid
four hundred guineas. He heard that Mr. Hope
had room called the star. chamber, from the
ceiling being painted with stars. That room
was represented in the picture. He did not
think the beast was borrid, hideous, offensive
monster; he thought it rather pretty or at least.
very good natnred. 1t WAS hairy Ike a bear
1t had no clothing but hair. 1t might be hand
somor than q bear, for beasts had different kinds
of beauties. Every one had his taste but the
beast III the r. cture YEAS very good .humored
beast. lthsd long hanging ears. 1t was not so
pretty as the female figure called the Beauty =
There was chest full Of jewels before the
beast. He had bis paw on the chest, and was
Offering the Jewels to Beauty. She was wiring.
Ing her hands, and IN great distress, at being ex-
posed to the beast. All this was but a NURSERY
tale. l. was tie subject of an opera called Ze
,Inire and Asor. Did not know why Mrs Homes
dress in her portrait was put upon beauty
Thought IT rather an ancient kind of Dress
Saw Mr. Hope but once in the street A book
Tor subscriptions TO print from the picture law
open on the table some people desired witness
10 set down their names Sir Harry EBglefeid's
name which the Attorney General pronounc ed to
be (aforgery) was not set down by witaess for
two copies OF the engraving"
Mr.. Mdfrydft~-"I understand the story
oftlie picture was the subject of an operaticai
performance"