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 A Legal Romance.

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may veto proceedings. If he allows them to Thus the secular element is retained. But go on, and the clergyman attacked consents, there are highly important limitations. the bishop may, with the consent of the Each judge is to be an Anglican. If reasons for a decision are given at all, each member complainant, dispose of the case. Other wise it goes before the consistory court, of the court is to deliver a separate judg in which the bishop will henceforth be the ment. The judges may, and, on the demand real judge, with two assessors, one legal of any member must, consult the episcopate on ecclesiastical issues arising before them. (usually the chancellor), the other theo Only the actual decree in each case is to be logical. From the consistory court, an ap peal lies to the court of the archbishop, who binding. The reasoning and the law on which it is founded may, in any subsequent may be assisted by five theological assess ors. The ultimate appeal is to a court of proceedings, be impugned. A. W. R. lay members appointed by the crown.

A LEGAL ROMANCE. THERE is ample material for a sensa tional novel in the old suit of the Countess of Strathmore v. Bowes, reported in 2 "Brown's Chancery" 345, again in rehear ing in 2 "Cox's Chancery" 28, and eleven years later in Brown's " Parliamentary Cases" 427. The facts of this remarkable case are as follows : The Earl of Strathmore, one of the grandees of England, died in 1776. His widow then became seised in her own right of lands, castles, and many a fair manor. She soon wearied of walking the path of widowhood, and became engaged to marry one Mr. Grey, a plain esquire. There was a Mr. Stoney, a lieutenant in a regiment of foot, eking out a rather scant existence on half pay, who set about winning the fair widow and her fairer fortune. He saw no chance in the course of honorable courtship and resorted to stratagem, on the principle of the adage, " All is fair in love and war." To attract the attention of the lady, he caused a newspaper publication to be made shamefully aspersing her good name. He then came forward as her champion to call out her traducer. Then a pretended duel was reported in which the lieutenant

shammed the part of suffering a wound. He was brought home from this f1ctitious field of honor to his lodging, apparently a dying man. Information was conveyed to the countess that the young soldier had fought the duel to vindicate her fair fame, had fallen, and lay dying. The countess was of a romantic turn herself and flew to his bedside to express her gratitude and her interest. He talked to her in the low voice of one in the agonies. He told her of his love, that his death was sure to come in a few hours. Emboldened by her manner and the apparent effect of his ruse upon her susceptible mind, he said that he could die happy if she would only condescend to marry him. His life would then go out in joy and peace. The romantic lady was completely taken in. She could not deny this request to one who lay dying for her sake. A clergyman was summoned, and the marriage took place at once lest death should be the first bride. Then the wounded man recovered rapidly. Never medicine operated before like the healing balm of that matrimony. He at once began to look around for her