Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
PHILLIPS's SPEECH.

| Greenock, containing il, to re-publish
| one of the most entertaining and brilliant
specimens of genuine wit, and forcible
defamation, that ever was exhibited i'll 4
court of justice. The occasion was as
singular as the talents called forth AN
action fora breach of promise, brought
by young officerin the British navy, a.
gainst a superannuated widow of an OIL
Ger in the old French war, 90 years of
age, whom he and his family had entrap-
ped into written contract to marry him.
The overwhelming torrent of merited in
dignation and cutting sarcasm, that al
ternately mark and abound in this elo-
quent speech, from its commencement to
lis close, may challenge the world for lis
parallel. New- York Eceni,g Post.
From the Glaseow Herald, april IL.
Mr.. PHILLIP.Ss SIP EECR.
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRI-
AGE.
Bake v. Wilkins.
This cause, which had excited uniyer-
sal interest, came on to be tried on Tues
day week, at Galway, before the Hon.
Baron Smith, and Special Jury. Eve
ry avenue to the courthouse was crowd
ed at an early hour and long before the
trial it was impossible to procure seat.
The plaintiff is lieutenant in the navy,
not above so years of age the defend
ant is at least 65, and is the widow of the
staff physician, In whose arms general
Wolfe died at the seige OfQuebec. The
plaintiffs case having gone through, MIR.
Phillips addressed the jury on the part of
Mrs. Wilkins, in pretty near the following
terms
May it please your lordship The
-. Ill II
most Unexpectedly, that they have closed
this case, and 1t becomes my duty TO
state TO you that of the defendant. The
nature of this action you have already
heard. 1t is one, which, in nv mind,
ought to bevery seldom brought, and be
very sparingly encouraged. IT is found
ed on circumstances of the most extreme
de1icacy, and II is intended to visit with
penal consequences the non-observance
ofan engagement which is ofthe most
paramount importance 10 society, and
which, OF all others, perhaps, ought to
be the most unbiassed-an engagement
which, if it be voluntary, judicious, and
disinterested, generally produces the hap
piest effects; but which, if ii be either
unsuitable or compulsory, eugenders not
only individual misery, but conseauen.
ees universally pernicious. There are
few contracts between human beings
which should be more deliberate than
that ofmaniage. l admit it should be
very cautiously promised but, even
when promised, | am far from conced-
ing that it should be invariably perform
ed thousand circumstances NAV form
an impeachment; change of fortune NAV
render II lmprudent; change of affection
may make 1T culpable. The very party
In no law
complaint, has perhaps the most reason
to be grateful gratefultha its happiness
has not been surrendered to caprice
grateful thatreligion has not consfrainecr
an unwilling acquiescence, or made an
unavoidable detection doubiy criminal
grateful that an offspring has not been
sacrihced to an indicate and ungene-
rous enforcement grateful that an inno-
cent secret Discrimination did not too late
evlnce itself In an irresistible and IRENE
diablc disgust. You will agree with me,
however, that If there exists anv excuse
for such an action, it is on tile side of the
female, because every iemale object be-
ing more exclusively domestic, such dis
appointment is more severe i'm its vista
ton; because the very circumstance con
centratmg their feelings, renders them
naturally more sensitive of a wound he.
cause their best treasure, their reputa-
ton, may have suffered from the inter.
course; because their chances of reputa-
ton are less, and their habituaI secIusion
makes them feel it more because there
Is something i'll the desertion of their helm
lessness which almost merges the ilIeea
lity III the unmanliness of The abandon
ment. However, ifa man seeks TO EN-
force tins engagement, every one feels
that indelIcacy attached TO the requisite
on. do not enquire into the compatible
business oil the reasoning but, does not
every one ieel That there appears some
meanness IN forcing female into an al
lance { Is it not almost saving. .sI
will expose to public shame the credulitv
on which practlsed, oryou must Dav tn
me IN monies numbered, the profits Of
that heartless speculation. have gam.
boiled with your affections, | have secn-
red your bond. will extort the peualtv
either from your purse or your replIta.
ton y lput case toyou, where the cir.
cumstances are reciprocal where are
fortune, situation, are the same; where
there IS no disparity of years to make the
supposlilon ludicrous where there is no
disparity OF brtune toTender it suspici
Gus. Letus see whether the present ac-
ton can be so palllated, or whether il
does not exhibta picture Of fraud and a.
varice, and meanncss and hypocrisy SO
laughable, that it is almost impossible ,o
crltlcise IT ; and vet so debasing. that bu-
man pride almost forbids IFS ridicule.
II has been left TO me TO defend nv nm
fortunate old client from the double bat
terry oflovc q oflaw, which at the ace Of
sixty five has so unexpectedly opened on
her! oh /! Gentlemen How vaiu-plo-
rious is The boast of beauty How mis-
apprehended have been the charms of
youth. III ycarsafd wrinkle .,,,, it, a ~