ballantine serjeant william 1812 1887 (2 résultats)

Hardcover. Etat : Very Good Plus. First Edition. FIRST EDITION. LONDON : 1882. Hardback. Volume 2 of 2. Original dark-brown pebble-grained cloth; gilt lettered spine. Gilt and blind-stamped decoration to cover (monogram). Original black end-papers. Untrimmed edges as issued. Bright, tight and clean. No owner name or internal markings. Minor wear only. VERY GOOD INDEED. (xiv), 308 pages. Includes bibliographical references. Appendix. Index. 48pp catalogue printed in brown ink dated March 1, 1882. Scarce first printing. Referenced by: OCLC 15745232. SERJEANT WILLIAM BALLANTINE, SL (3 January 1812 ? 9 January 1887) was an English Serjeant-at-law, a legal position defunct since the legal reforms of the 1870s. Ballantine served as Counsel for Sir Charles Mordaunt in the then notorious divorce case against his wife. Lady Mordaunt, who, much younger than her husband, informed him that he was not the father of her child. She admitted to him that she had committed adultery with a number of men, including the Prince of Wales, 'often, and in open day.' It became clear that because of these revelations that the Prince of Wales would have to be summoned to court to give evidence in the case. Although he could be subpoenaed, he could not be forced to give evidence; Queen Victoria, his mother, advised him not to attend the court. However, the Prince agreed to attend the court, and to be questioned. After delicate questioning by Lady Mordaunt's counsel, the Prince denied that 'any improper familiarity or criminal act' had taken place between himself and Lady Mordaunt. It was generally believed that by stating this the Prince had perjured himself. Ballantine, as counsel for Lord Mordaunt, the plaintiff, was entitled to cross-examine the Prince of Wales. Instead, in an attempt to save the Prince from any embarrassment, he declared that he had no questions for His Royal Highness, thus saving the Prince's honour. However, Ballantine lost the case because he had failed to convince the jury that Lady Mordaunt was guilty. Lg. 8vo. **Will be well-packed for posting/shipping**. [ Rosley Books for Antiquarian books, Cumberland, Everyman, Inklings, Literature, Rarities, Theology and History. ].

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. On first leaf of bifolium. Forty-three lines of neat text. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with a few small closed tears. The author ('Sir') is unnamed, but is presumably the 'Editor' referred to in the text. Signed 'Wm Ballantine'. By recipient, at head of first page: 'Letter from Mr Sergeant [sic] Ballantine / United Club -'. Begins: 'I have to acknowledge the receipt of what purports to be a specimen of a new family paper called "The English Resident" & which it is supposed will supply a want existing especially amongs the English sojourners of all descriptions in different French places of resort. & notably at this one of the most favourable watering places of the British people - Those who favoured me with the number in question were aware that for many years of a busy life there has rarely been a year during which upon more than one occasion I have not sought health and recreation uponits shores. I have had abundant opportunities of appreciating its advantages & recognizing its wants and I welcome very heartily the probabl advent of a newspaper which appears to be conducted upon principles likely to render it a very popular addition.' The second half of the letter is in much the same highfallutin tone (see reference to 'the freedom and elasticity of Boulogne air'), with Ballantine feeling that is is 'impertinent on my part to offer hints to an Editor so evidently experienced as the Gentleman who has supplied news in the number that I have had the pleasure of reading'. See Image of second page.