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educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., in 1836, and M.A. in 1839. He was called to the Bar by the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn in 1840, and attained great eminence as an equity lawyer. He be came a Q.C., and a bencher of Lincoln's Inn in 1856. He was M.P. for Cambridge University from 1859 to 1868, and held the office of Commissary of that University since 1855. He was appointed Solicitor-General in August, 1867, on which occasion he was knighted, and was made Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery and sworn of the Privy Council in 1868. Sir Charles

married, in 1856, Hester, daughter of H. G. Ravenshaw, Esq., of Richmond, Surrey, which lady died in 1868. Lord Justice Giffard thus alluded to his deceased colleague on the first day of Michaelmas term:-" It is impossible that this Court can resume its sittings without referring to that which on this day is doubtless present to the minds of all in both branches of the profession-namely, the loss we have all sustained by the death of the late Lord Justice Selwyn. Called to the Bar in 1840 he became a Queen's Counsel in 1856, and afterwards attained the office of Solicitor-General, and was raised to the Bench, having had in these Courts a practice extending over twenty-seven years, successful from the commencement of his career, and not, on the whole, inferior to that of any of his contemporaries. It was therefore to be expected that he would administer the law, of which he had so much experience, with ability and with decision, nor was that expectation in any respect disappointed. It was my lot, and, I may add, my happiness, to be associated with the late Lord Justice as his junior on the Bench, and though that was for a few, a very few months only, I may be permitted to say how certain I am that no man could have brought to the discharge of his duties a more complete and ready knowledge, a more manly judgment, a more anxious desire that in every case truth and justice and right should be done. His memory is also dear to all of us as that of a personal friend in all truth and sincerity."

VISCOUNT STRANGFORD.

The Right Hon. Percy Ellen Algernon Frederick William Sydney Smythe,eighth

Viscount Strangford, of Strangford, in the county of Down, in the Peerage of Ireland, and Baron Penshurst, of Penshurst, in the county of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, a Grandee of Portugal, who died on the 9th of January, at his town house, 58, Great Cumberland-place, Hyde Park, was the youngest son of Percy Clinton Sydney, sixth Viscount Strangford, by his wife, Ellen, youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Burke, the first Baronet, of Marble Hill, in the County of Galway, and widow of Nicholas Brown, Esq., of Mount Hazel, in the county of Galway. He was born November 26, 1825, and was educated at Harrow, and at Merton College, Oxford. He was appointed an Attaché to the Embassy at Constantinople in May, 1845, and ultimately became Oriental Secretary in July, 1857, which post he vacated in October, 1858. He was an eminently accomplished linguist, and was a member of several literary and scientific societies. "The linguistic and philological attainments of Lord Strangford," says the Saturday Review, "were something simply amazing. It was wonderful to talk to a man to whom all the languages of Europe and civilized Asia seemed equally familiar. But this was not all. He was a scientific and historical philologer of a high order. He not only knew a vast number of languages, but he knew all about the languages which he knew.

It is really sad to think how small is likely to be the permanent fruit of powers which were so diligently exercised, and of a mind which was so richly stored. We know of no published writings of Lord Strangford's, save some contributions to various periodicals, and the chapters which he added to Lady Strangford's book on "The Eastern Shores of the Adriatic." Lord Strangford succeeded his brother, George Augustus Frederick Percy Sydney, seventh Viscount Strangford, a promising and distinguished politician, November 23, 1857. He married, February 6, 1862, Emily Anne, youngest daughter of Admiral Sir F. Beaufort, K.C.B., by whom, who survived him, he had no issue. Lord Strangford's father, Percy Clinton Sydney, sixth Viscount, an eminent diplomatist and a graceful poet, the translator of Camöens, the Portuguese bard, was created, January 26, 1825, Baron Penshurst, of Penshurst, in the county of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

REMARKABLE TRIALS.

I.

SAURIN v. STAR.

THE CONVENT CASE.

THIS was a very extraordinary case, and excited an unusual degree of public interest. The action was brought by a late inmate of a convent at Hull against the Superioress, Mrs. Star, and Mrs. Kennedy, another member of the Order; and the charge was that the defendants wrongfully and maliciously conspired together to compel the plaintiff to cease to be a member, and to procure her expulsion by subjecting her to various indignities, persecutions, and annoyances, by depriving her of the food and clothing to which she was lawfully entitled, by imprisoning her, by preventing her from attending the services of the convent chapel, and by preferring false charges of disobedience, contempt of authority, neglect of duty, and other misconduct. There was a charge for appropriating a watch, wearing apparel, books and papers, and also one for libel, in respect of allegations made against the plaintiff to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Beverley. The damages were laid at 50007. The defendants pleaded "Not guilty," that the plaintiff was not a member of the Order nor entitled to the privileges and advantages of the institution, and that after the accruing of the matters of complaint and cause of action, the same and all matters of difference were referred to the Bishop, whose award was unfavourable to the plaintiff.

The Solicitor-General (Sir J. Coleridge, Q.C.), Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., and Mr. A. Wills were counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., Mr. Mellish, Q.C., and Mr. Charles Russell for the defendants.

The case was tried before the Lord Chief Justice of England, and occupied the Queen's Bench for three weeks. A large number of witnesses were called, and the most trifling details of convent discipline gone into with extraordinary minuteness. The Solicitor-General stated the plaintiff's case to the jury, and

Miss Susanna Mary Saurin, the plaintiff, who was attired in deep mourning, was the first witness. She said, I am the daughter of Mr. Michael Saurin, of Garballaugh, near Drogheda. In or about the year 1850 I was desirous of entering a religious house. My parents were opposed at first to my taking such a step, but they ultimately consented. The Convent of Mercy in Baggot-street, Dublin, was selected as the convent which I should enter, I became a postulant

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on the 21st of November, 1850, and remained there as a postulant till the 5th of August, 1851, when I became a novice. On the 3rd of October, 1853, I made my profession as a regular sister of the Order, taking the name, in religion, of Sister Mary Scholastica Joseph. The defendant, Mrs. Star, entered Baggotstreet Convent as a postulant a few months before I did, and also made her act of profession a few months before I made mine. She took the name of Sister Mary Joseph. Mrs. Kennedy, who was professed shortly after me, assumed the name of Sister Mary Magdalene. I became very much attached to both of them, and we were associated together in the work of education. In 1857 Mrs. Star left Baggot street on going to be Superioress of a new foundation at Clifford, near Tadcaster, in Yorkshire. I followed her to Clifford on the 16th or 17th of May, 1858. Mrs. Kennedy was at Clifford when I arrived there. I went over with Mrs. Delany, a choir-sister, Mrs. M'Owne, and a lay-sister. Mrs. M'Owne was called Sister Mary Agnes. My father and mother offered great opposition to my going to Clifford, though they ultimately gave their assent. In the course of 1858 there was a convent founded at Hull, and Mrs. Star went there. I afterwards joined her at Hull, but after remaining there a few months I returned to Clifford. From that time to 1864 I was sometimes at Hull, but more frequently at Clifford. During the greater part of that time Mrs. Star was chiefly at Hull, but sometimes she was at Clifford. She was the Superior of both houses. Mrs. Kennedy passed most of her time at Hull, being at one period Mother-Assistant. There was a local Superior appointed by Mrs. Star for Clifford. Mrs. Delany filled that office part of the time, and Mrs. M'Owne the remainder of the time. During the earlier period of my stay at Clifford Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy paid a visit to Ireland. On her return, Mrs. Star told me they had seen my mother. She said she had explained the circumstances in which the convent was placed, and told me my mother was reconciled to my remaining. My mother, she said, expressed a wish that I would write to her once a month. At Clifford I discharged the duties of infirmarian, and was also employed in the housekeeping and in the visitation of the sick. I, with several others, were engaged in the school in the morning and afternoon. These duties necessarily brought me into contact with people in the outer world. At this time I was on the most friendly terms with Mrs. Star and Mrs. M'Owne. Prior to the year 1860 my life was passed very happily. Some time in that year Mrs. Star asked me to tell her what had passed between myself and the priest at confession. I refused to do so, as I doubted it would be contrary to honour and every regulation. I said I did not remember all the priest had said to me. She told me to go away and try to remember and then come back and tell her. I persisted, however, in my refusal to tell her my confession. She asked me several times the same day, and remarked that no member of the community, with the exception of myself, would refuse. I said I thought it would be a breach of honour on my part to repeat any thing that had been said to me in confession. She said I showed great want of confidence in her. Up to then we all had free communication with one another during recreation hours, but after this occurrence Mrs. Star used to go away every day in company with the senior sister, Mrs. M'Owne, while I was left with the novices and postulants. Mrs. Star assigned no reason for wanting to know my confession. Some sisters from Baggot-street afterwards came on a visit to Hull, and on that occasion the Mother-Assistant from Dublin found me alone with the novices and postulants. We had some conversation, and afterwards Mrs. Star told me she had sharply reproved the Mother-Assistant. In

1858 or 1859 there was a branch house established in Anlaby-road, Hull. I had much to do with the arrangements for removal, and that necessarily brought me into frequent contact with externs. I was not found fault with at the time for that communication with them. At this period Mrs. Star was rather distant in her manner towards me, but there was nothing remarkable in the manner of Mrs. Kennedy. About twelve months after the ladies came over from Dublin there was a project entertained, though never carried out, for giving up the establishment at Clifford, in consequence of the attendance at the schools there having greatly fallen off. Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy asked me to go to Clifford to get the schools up, as I was a favourite with the girls. I accordingly went back to Clifford and devoted myself to this task. That brought me a good deal into contact with the parents of the children and with Mr. and Mrs. Grimstone, the principal supporters of the convent and schools. In the course of a few months I succeeded in bringing up the schools to their former state. Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy afterwards came over to Clifford to meet the Bishop, when it was arranged that the establishment should be continued. Mrs. Star came to Clifford about May, 1861, and stayed there till the following August "Retreat." The August "Retreat" lasts ten days, and at that time the observances are stricter than usual. While Mrs. Star was at Clifford Mrs. Kennedy was at Hull. During this period of 1861 Mrs. Star treated me on every occasion very unkindly. She was dissatisfied with and disapproved almost every thing I did. There was some work brought from Hull which she told me to prepare and cut out on Sundays. I had never known such a thing as a nun working on Sundays. We usually rose at half-past five, and went to bed at ten, but I was required to get up at three o'clock on several mornings in order to finish this work. In August Mrs. Star went to Hull for the "Retreat," and took me with her, I remained at Hull after the "Retreat" had closed. After returning to Clifford in September, I received a visit from my uncle, the Rev. Mr. Mathews, the parish priest of Drogheda. I felt that Mrs. Star's manner was very different towards me to what it had been. Mrs. M'Owne was the Mother-Assistant at Clifford. She appeared to treat me with some reserve. I received very few letters from my friends at that time. When I did receive them I was obliged to return them to Mrs. M'Owne. I never knew that to be done in any other instance. Mrs. M'Owne told me it was done by Mrs. Star's orders. I became anxious to go back to the establishment at Dublin. Accordingly I wrote a letter in March, 1862, to my uncle, Mr. Mathews. I left that letter in my cell. Mrs. Kidd, one of the sisters, found it there and sent it to the Superioress at Hull. (The letter was put in and read.) Some days after this I received a letter from Mrs. Star in reference to what I had done. In that letter, which Mrs. Star subsequently took away with her, she said she supposed I was aware that my letter had been sent to her, and she said it was a breach of rule and vow to write as I had done. She also wished to know whether I desired to return to Baggot-street, and, if so, whether she or I should write to my uncle on the subject. In my reply to her letter I said I did wish, if possible, to return to Baggot-street that night. I don't remember receiving any reply to that letter. I wrote a second letter to my uncle without leave. Soon afterwards I was visited by my mother and my brother, when Mrs. M'Owne came into the school-room and ordered me to go into my cell, saying that she could not allow me to see my mother and brother, as Mrs. Star had given her directions to that effect. I was afterwards allowed to see my mother, who clasped me in her arms and said, "My child, are they going to make a prisoner of you?”

Mrs. M'Owne tried to excuse her conduct, saying she had been obliged by Mrs. Star to refuse her permission to see me. My mother and brother stayed an hour or two with me. My mother told me Mrs. Star complained of the impertinent note which I had written to her. She said she thought if such were the case that I ought to apologize. Accordingly, I wrote a long letter of apology to Mrs. Star. Before sending it I showed it to Mrs. M'Owne, who approved it. After this there was a very great change in Mrs. M'Owne's deportment towards me. She took all writing materials away from me, and she appeared to be a great deal more reserved at recreation. On one occasion she said she would rather speak before a lay postulant than before me on any matter she was particular about. The other sister, Mrs. King, appeared to be with me wherever I went. Mrs. M'Owne suddenly came into my cell at nights. I was asked as to whether I had written letters to my relatives when at the Hull "Retreat," and I acknowledged it. The Lord Chief Justice.-Is it contrary to the rules to send letters without the Superior seeing them?

Plaintiff.-It was contrary to the custom.

It was explained by counsel that there were two books-the book of rules or constitutions, and the book of customs.

The plaintiff's examination was continued. Mrs. Star, she said, wanted her to give a written acknowledgment of her fault, and also resolutions for the future. She gave the written acknowledgment accordingly :-"I acknowledge to have written two notes to my uncle, the Rev. Thomas Mathews, of Drogheda, and sent them without the knowledge of my Superior." Mrs. Star, however, desired her to sign another acknowledgment drawn up by herself:-" I acknowledge to have written two letters to my uncle to obtain his assistance in obtaining admission into another community, and I sent them without the knowledge of my Superior." Witness said she did not write "letters," but only "notes." Mrs. Star said it made no difference. She asked Mrs. Star if she should acknowledge her fault openly before the "chapter." Mrs. Star said no-that it might disedify the community. (The resolutions were here called for, but not produced, and were stated to have been destroyed.) She had never been charged with any other misconduct than writing the letters; she had never been charged with habitual disregard of rules, with unauthorized intercourse with "externs" (i. e. strangers), with disregard of the rule as to silence, or with want of truth. She was not aware that at this time a council or chapter was being held as to her conduct. Neither had she any idea that at this time Mrs. Star was proposing to the Bishop that she should be released from her vows. Mrs. Star told her that her father had written to her and wanted her to leave, but that she had no notion of letting her go. Mrs. Star did not tell her that her father was dangerously ill. She was not allowed to go to see her family, although it was usual for the sisters to be allowed to go and see their friends upon request. Mrs. Star said once a year was enough. Mrs. Star said she had letters from her family, but did not give them to her. Going to a drawer one day she saw letters from her brother in it-her brother the Jesuit. After all this she went back to Clifford, where Mrs. M'Owne was Superioress. This was after August, 1862. She was then subject to restrictions. Upon her return to Clifford Mrs. Star gave her a "distribution of time," which she never had before, and was not usual among the "community sisters." It prescribed the employment of every hour through the day. Mrs. Star told her she was to consider herself the lowest member of the community, and to obey the orders of a novice. She was treated as a junior lay

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