The' people of the United States have been deeply shocked
by a charge of immorality brought against the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher by Mr. Theodore Tilton, and the discussion of the scandal in all its bearings fills the American newspapers. Mr. Beecher's high and hitherto stainless character has, as yet, in part protected him from the worst consequences of the ordeal he is undergoing, of the unfairness and hurtfulness of which we have spoken elsewhere. Mr. Tilton's reputation, on the other hand, is not such as to induce implicit faith in his statements, and if the charge, which is that Mr. Beecher used his influence as a religious teacher and an old family friend to seduce Mrs: Tilton, were only supported by Mr. Tilton's assertion, the denial of the accused persons—and both Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton have indignantly and emphatically given their denial—would be quite sufficient to end the matter. But Mr. Tilton produces letters and extracts of letters from Mr. Beecher, in which the latter asks pardon of the former in vehemently repentant language, and the explanation given by Mr. Beecher that these letters referred merely to the unhappiness which he found his kindly-meant interference in the affairs of the Tilton household had caused, has not satisfied the public. A committee of the governing members of Plymouth Church has undertaken to investigate the charge, and some over-zealous and unauthorised partisan of Mr. Beecher procured the arrest of the accused last week on a charge of libel, which was withdrawn. Meanwhile, Mr. Moulton, a common friend of both parties, who had promoted a reconciliation between them some time ago, refuses to give evidence, on the ground that he obtained his knowledge of the real state of the case in confidence. Mr. Beecher has promised a full explanation of his letters and their origin, but it has not yet appeared.
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