The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-02-04

English society has been busy with the piece
Of scandal lately alluded to, the like OF which
has not been enjoyed by the present generation
of English gossip-lovers. lie is reported that an
Irish clergyman named O'kane is about to bring
suit for a divorce from his wife on the plea that
she has held improper relations to Lord Palmer
ston, and a suit for damages against the Prime
Minister of Great Britain Will form part of
the proceedings by which the husband endeavors
to repair his injured feelings. All London has
been talking of nothing but this for some weeks,
and the affair at last got into the newspapers.
A report in circulation that Lord Palmerston
had compromised the affair by the payment OF
&c, 900, is denied by the Z. solicitor for the petit
tioner,'' or prosecutor Lord Paimerston was
born in 1884, and is, consequently, now in his
eightieth year.
The PALMERSToN FAMILYr.-The grave charges
brought against Lord Palmerston, largely occupy
the attention of the English press, and occasion
"reminiscences that prove he Is not the first Prime
Minister who incurred the heavy breath of scan
dal. Lord Melbourne, the father-in-law of Lord
Palmerston, was charged by the Hon. MIR. Nor
ton with a criminal intimacy with his wife, who
is the celebrated poetess of that name, and was
acquitted after a trial that is still memorable.
Mrs. Norton was a daughter of Sheridan, the
renowned author and orator, and was equally
celebrated for her genius and beauty. Lord Mel
bourne's own wife, the celebrated Lady Caroline
Lamb, also furnished occasion for busy tongues
by her romantic attachment Tor LORD Byron, but
it is believed her passion never overstepped the
bounds of discreet sentimentality. Lord Pal
merston is married to Il daughter OF Lord Mel
bourne, and is childless, his title expiring with
him. Lady Palmerston has long been in England
what the Empress Eugene is In France-the
acknowledged leader and bright particular star
and exemplar of fashion. She is a lady OF
great beauty and taste, and her personal In
fiuence and winning manners have contributed
largely to her husbands Advancement. Queen
Victoria never had much taste or influence IN
matters relating to dress or fashion, while the
influence of Lady Palmerston was supreme, and
she reigned without a rival in the very highest
circles of British aristocraey, and even within
the domain of royalty itself.
THE O'KANE-PALMERsToN DIVORCE CAsE.-Cor-
respondence dated London, 10th November, of
Saunders's Dublin) Macs Letter, says:
The scandal with which the name of Lord
Palmerston has lately been connected turns out
to be totally unfounded. and is, as limited to you
in my letter of the 9th, nothing more than an
9 artful scheme, planned solely with a view to
eXtortion through fear of publicity" The basis,
if indeed it can be called one, of this monstrous
impudence, is, in quarters likely to know, under
person who has ventured to file the petition
obtained two audiences of the Premier, with a
view of obtaining some Slferior employment for
her husband, with wToInyh she was then living.
At the second interyiS-I out of charity, and to
get rid of her, his lordship gave her five pounds.
Now that the husband and wife have quarrelled,
the former Institutes this outrageous calumny,
on no frmer foundation whatever than the one
l have stated. | have just learned that at the
Lord Mayors dinner this evening the yociferous
reception accorded his lOrdship was such as has
seldom been heard within those walls, accustomed
as they are TO confirm popularity in no measured
sounds. The loud and prolonged cheers which
welcomed him were, evidently intended to mark
the public sense and censure of the insulting in
justice that had been done him, and amounted to
u veritable ovation.