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Cabinet, and the Ministry of a moment found themselves again in the ranks of the opposition; an opposition notoriously in possession of the sympathy of the Court. In the letters lately published by Mr Norton, he has himself branded the conduct of the case got up against the unwelcome Whig Minister, by revealing the minutes of his own lawyer's consultation with Sir William Follett. By these minutes it is shown, that Sir W. F. considered the character of the witnesses so bad, that he doubted the probability of a verdict being obtained; but that, nevertheless, they thought it worth while to proceed at all hazards, for the sake of the exposure. It is made perfectly clear that some of those concerned in this business, were careless what might be the result, so long as there was an overwhelming public scandal; and as to Mr Norton himself, his conduct was infinitely less rash and unreasonable than the event would make it appear; since he has over and over again admitted, that he had a secret reliance the case would not be defended at all. He,—who alone knew how miserable my home had been,—how often I had threatened to leave him,—how but a very few months before, I had put that threat into execution by withdrawing to my sister's house, and had only been lured home again, by his exaggerated protestations of repentance and despair,—he believed, that I would not unwillingly renounce that bitter union, and existence of perpetual struggle, to become the wife of Lord Melbourne. He thought he saw a golden path out of all his difficulties; freedom from the marriage tie; pecuniary damages from the Prime Minister; and the power of avenging, by ray disgrace, the scorn formerly shewn him by my family. Those who had instigated him, came to the trial doubtful of the result, but confident of the scandal; Mr Norton came to it, careless of the scandal, and confident of the result. He miscalculated his chances, only because the trial was defended. The mockery of accusation was gone through; Mr Norton was represented as an amiable, injured, deceived
