Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-06
DOMEsTICAFF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
From the London Globe I

i
A trial at the Guildford Assizes on Friday
brings out a strange passage of clerical biOg-
raphy. II was an action to recover a certain
sum to defray the expenses of the board and
lodging OF Mrs. Vansittart, brought by friend
who had supplied the necessaries against the
Rev. Charles Vansittart, nephew of Lord Bex-
ley, and late of White Wsltham, Berks, who
had deprived his wife not only of her home,
but OF maintenance. The legal question Of
the husband g liability is of minor interest in
this case.
Mr.. Vansittart married in 1S45 Rosalie, the
daughter Of London merchant. lie was him
self at that time in the enjoyment Of the valu-
able living of White Waltham, the gift of his
uncle. Two days after his marriage he wrote
t. inform his wife's brother that he was " the
happlest OF mortals, and with prophetic accu-
racy that "angel" he had married was " too
goo II for such a man as himself But the fe-
Iici y Of this unfortunate couple did not long
oon inue. Certain sums of money were settled
up IN the lady by her husband and father, and
the lady describes it as constantly recurring
object Of the reverend gentleman to induce his
wife to place the sums In his name. On these
occasions she describes Charles as using un.
manly violence, selecting especially q period
when roughness and brutality are sure to pro-
duce Ill effects. In 1S49 he had long ceased to
be the happiest of men. In the August of that
year he again quarreled with his wife on old
scores. His wife, writing to her brother, says :
He kept on shaking me, and at last began
kicking me with all might and did not leave
me until he had given me one such blow on my
side with his foot that only stopped him by
saying that be would be answerable for an
other life beside mine if he did not desist His
object, too, fear, is pretty evident, as he al
ways chooses the times when L am in a similar
condition for his most violent behavior; but I
must say he never before went to such lengths
as he has to-day"
The brother of Mrs. Vansittart interfered
and armed with horsewhip, met the reverend
gentleman on Waterloo Bridge At first his
manner was confident. According to the evil
dence OF tho brother, given in Court, Mr.. Van
sittart said he wished his wife were dead, and
then ''she would have no more children, which
he detested." But an intimation that the
Bishops attention would be called to the case
brought him down from the high horse to more
humble attitude, and made him supplicate for
mercy. He entreated his wife to forgive him,
and she did 30. Matters seemed in q more
peaceful state, but appearances were deceptive
In 1853 Mr.. Vansittart was again in disgrace,
flirting" he called it, with the daughter of
one of his parishioners. The Bishop was now
invoked and the sinner was again brought to
account. He prayed his wife to pardon him,
and she did. He besought his father -in-law to
receive back ga penitent son." and he prom
ised to "foreswear card-playing, flirting, and
other unclerical amusements." But in 1856
the reverend gentleman avowed, such was his
''hatred and aversion" towards his wife, that
he could live with her no longer; and the hero
of this curious tale stated, on the authority of
his physician, that it was absolutely necessary
for his health that he should be kept as quiet
as possible. Tenderhearted fellow, how full of
pity and kindness towards-himselfl sepa-
ration was agreed upon, and a certain sum was
specified as the wife's allowance, but it was
not paid. He departed with his two sons, his
living was sold for his advantage, and the off,
GERS Of the law had long chase up and down
the Continent. What was the defence for these
social enormities and sins? That his wife had
been converted to Roman Catholicism soon
after the marriage Such defence, of course,
availed nothing, and the jury found for the
plsintif.