The Sun. — 1868-06-23 (London, England)

THE PRINCESS OLIVE CASE.  The case of Lavinia Janetta Horton Ryves against the Attorney-General and William Henry Ryves, was yesterday before the House of Lords. It was an appeal from the the Court of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes. The plaintiff (a lady between seventy and eighty years of age, who conducted her own case) claims to be the lawful heir to the Crown of England, a lineal descendant of the Duke of Cumberland, the son of George the Second, and by her petition of appeal complains of that part of the decree of the Court below which declares that Olive Sorrewas not the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Cumbers land, and that there was no valid marriage between the Duke and Olive Wilmot. It 1861 a decree of the Divorce court was obtained. establishing the marriage of John Thomas De Serres and Olive his wife (the appellant's parents), and that she was the legitimate issue of such marriage. Olive Serres, it appears, shortly after the death of George the Third, and being, as she then believed, the legitimato daughter of the youngest brother of his Majesty, assumed the honour, title, and dignity of a Princess of the blood Royal, styling herself " Her Royal Highness Olive, Princess of Cumberland," adopting the Royal arms, &e. The Princess was honourably acknowledged, it is consented by William IV. when Duke of Clarence, and by the Dukes of Kent and Sussex, though at the time the Duke Df Cambridge did not acknowledge her, but subsequently his Royal Highness, it appears, was perfectly satisfied. The appellant states that in 1820 and 1821 the late Duke of Sussex paid the Princess a visit at her residence, and after inspecting certain documents, in the appellant's presence, expressed himself satisfied as to the genuineness of the sign manual of the king, his father, as well as that ei his brother, the Duke of Kent. in September, 1820, King George the Fourth, in Council, issued his command that the certificate which proved the marriage of the Duke of Cumberland and Olive his wife and the certificate of the Princess Olive's birth should be authenticated. The proofs required were accordingly without loss of time obtained and authenticated. The appellant further says that on ono occasion, when all were assembled for dinner, at the residence of the Princess in Alfred-place, Mr. Bell drove up, and on coming into the drawing-room, said ho was glad the Princess had not dined, as ho meant to claim a knife and fork, particularly for the good news he had to communicate, which was that the King (Goo. IV.) had been graciously pleased to acknowledge her Highness in Privy Council that day as Princess of Cumberland, only legitimate daughter of hislateuncle, Hon Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, and that he had received orders to find a suitable residence for her until a permanent ono could bo fixed upon. Also that pecuniary moans would be at once placed at her command, and as much expedition made in such arrangements as the dull forms of office would admit of. Mr. Bell had the household of the Princess formed on the same plan as the rest of the Royal family, and which had been written under the instruction of Lord Sidmouth. The next day the appellant and a Mr. Dickenson applied to different housekeepers for cards of houses adapted for the put pose required, and several were submitted to the Princess. Instead, however, of being enabled to decide upon any plans as had been arranged, Mr. Bell withdrew from the scene altogether, and totally disappeared from Alfred-place. It was not until many years afterwards that Mr. Dell's widow (then Mrs. Johnson), informed her medical attendant (Mr. Ifooper) that she had papers of the utmost importance to restore relating to this matter. The appellant accordingly, with Mr. Hooper and his wife waited on Mrs. Johnson, who informed them that the reason why Mr. Bell stopped so suddenly was his having been handsomely remunerated for his services, but he did not live long to enjoy the same. It was the Duke of York, said the dying lady, who had been the cause of personally afraid of the princess's coming forward with ge the proposed arraun:lents not being carried out, being other papers touching himself and family, and therefore was determined to prevent any assistance being shown by his brother, the king, or the ministry. The princess was subsequently arrested upon a promissory note, put in bail, and pleaded to the action that—as a member of tho Royal family —she was privileged from arrest. Various legal proceedings followed, when, in the year 1822, the . appellant's mother, being in the rules of the Fleet, was released as Princess of Cumberland from the rules of the King's Bench by writ from the Crown Office. •  The appellant was assisted by Dr. J. W. Smith ; the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General appeared on behalf of the Crown.  Their lordships dismissed the appeal, without entering into the merits of the case, on a preliminary objection -made by the Crown, deciding that no application having been originally made for a new trial, and no bill of exceptions been handed in to the ruling of the judge in the court below, an appeal under these circumstances did not lie to their lordships.  A man named Mason has been discovered quite dead on the rails some distance from Cheltenham, having, it is supposed, committed suicide. His right leg was severed front his body, and there was en extensive wound in his neck.  The racehorse Blair Athol, which arrived from llockhampton last A.londay morning by the steamer James Paterson, is now the property of Mr. T. Ivory, having been disposed of by Mr. Ross for 800 guineas.—Sydney Horning Herald. The Law Times states that it is now determined ;tat the general election shall take place in the last week of October or the first week of November. The registers are to be completed by October 20. A week at least must be allowed for printing them.  What is described as " another Speke case" comes from Gloucester. A young man, named Osborne, reported to have lost heavily on the Derby, loft his homo a few days since, so arranging matters as to lead to the belief that ho was drowned. Ho has since, however, been recognised at Stroud, on his way to London. A young man was drowned in the Wiagerwortb Pool, near Sheffield, on Sunday. Deceased, with three others, took bold of each other's hands and sprang into the water together. Deceased lost his hold, and when picked up was dead. He was only 22 years of age, and was married on Easter Sunday.