In the Court of Exchequer, on Wednesday, a verdict with
400/. damages was given against the Reverend Mr. Luxmore, Rector of Barnstaple, for a breach of promise of marriage to a Miss Irwin of Barnstaple. It appeared that the courtship or engagement between the parties continued for twelve years, when Mr. Luxmore married a young lady : Miss Irwin being then forty-three, and his own age forty-six.
On the same day, a verdict with 40s. damages, was the result of a trial in which a Mr. Gibbs was plaintiff and Lord A. Beauclerk de-
fendant. Lord A. Beattelerk had committed adultery with Mrs. Gibbs, not being aware that she was married ; and under these circumstances, the husband was content with nominal damages.
The session of the Central Criminal Court commenced on Monday. The Recorder, in addressing the Grand Jury, said— Ile regretted to state that the calendar contained the names of upwards of 250 prisoners, and that the number would in all probability-he increased to 300
before the end of the week. Many of the charges were of the most serious and alarming description. There were two charges of wilful murder, three of violation, and several of cutting and wounding with intent to do griev- ous bodily harm. He had no remarks to offer on the cases of cutting and wounding, except to observe that they were unhappily greatly; on the increase in the country. He alluded to the charges of wilful murder, to remove the erroneous impression generally exist-
ing respecting the term "malice aforethought." The law applied. to that term a more extensive meaning than the narrow and contracted one usually given to it. Any person occasioning the death of another was considered by the law as guilty of murder, unless be could show that there were circum- stances of necessity and alleviation, or unless those circumstances appeared in the evidence.
On Monday, a Coroner's Jury assembled at East Tilbury, levied a deodand of ZiON, on the Castor steam-boat, which ran down the Grati- tude, a cutter in the Thames, early on the morning of the 16th of May ; by which accident, Marcus Bock, a Dutchman, was killed. The Ces- tor carried no lights.
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