17 SEPTEMBER 1853, Page 9

• The Times publishes a letter by Sir John Bayley

on the ease of Mr. and Mrs. Norton. Sir John explains, that he has been prevented from touching upon the case before, by absence and a severe private sorrow ; and he now advances only to defend Mrs. Norton, as "a deeply-injured woman." The ease which Mr. Norton originally submitted to counsel was not only ex-parte, but "a series of invented fables', ; and Sir John only learned the real ease when at Mr. Norton's urgent request, he became the arbitrator between the linsbaed and wife. He then found Mrs. Norton straightforward and tract- able, Mr. Norton shuffling; Mrs. Norton regardless of money, Mr. Norton anxious only about the pecuniary part of the arrangement; Mrs. Norton solicitous for the restoration of her children, Mr. ',Torten making that affection a means of barter and bargain. The stories of Mrs. Norton's ex- travagance proved to be untrue ; but Mr. Norton, who made them, detained even her clothing, with a threat of selling it. 'While Mr. Norton, although expressing his belief in her innocence, abused his wife and her family, Mrs. Norton was anxious only for peace; and was forbearing to her husband, al- though he had been guilty even of personal violence-kicking a door off its hinges, and dragging her out of a room by force, not long before the birth of her youngest son. Sir John Bayley says that he gave an honest opinion as counsel on "the fancy case" submitted to him, and he gave the like advice when the real case became known to him.

Two young gentlemen, Mr. Thicknesse, only son of the Member for Wi- gan, and Mr. Woodcock, son of a Wigan banker, were drowned in the Windermere this week.