c1785 The Trial of Mrs Harriet Errington, Wife of George Errington Esq. of the Adelphi in the Bishop of London's Court.

Description

Leather Binding, Very Scarce

An incomplete copy of this work, starting at page 9 and ending at page 107. An extremely scarce work. The issue of this work is unknown and is possibly spurious. All copies listed on ESTC and Copac state that there are 86 pages and this incomplete work finishes at page 107. Upon referencing the 86 page edition it would appear all that is missing of this work is the sentencing, title page, brief introduction, and the start of Mary Stevenson's Deposition. The copies on Copac and ESTC are dated 1785. As this work does not have a title page it is difficult to date. However, journals from the House of Lords states that Mr Edward Shore and Mr James Baxter were to give their evidence as witnesses 'upon the second reading of the bill.. 'An Act to Dissolve the Marriage of George Errington Esquire with Harriet Coren his now Wife and to enable him to marry again..'' This entry in the journal is dated February 1788. The contents and depositions of this work are identical to the supposed 1785 editions listed on the ESTC. Given that the final leaf of the work provides the sentencing, one of these dates is possibly incorrect. This work comprises of numerous depositions of various individuals documenting the behaviour and multiple extra-marital affairs of Harriet Errington. The high-profile divorce case captivated interest, possibly due to the repeated affairs of Mrs Errington and the high status of the couple. Mr Errington was a wealthy London barrister. The full title of the work lists the men with whom she had adulterous relations with; 'Augustus Muray Smith, Captain Buckley, Captain Southby, Thomas Walker, and many others.' One of the figures being deposed to this work is Robert Browning, the father of English poet and playwright by the same name. Browning Sr. was a well-paid clerk at the Bank of England and according to his deposition, knew George Errington and Harriot Errington well. A fascinating work on this high profile divorce case. The proceedings were so popular that R Randall even published 'The Memoirs of Mrs Harriot Errington', which are unlikely to have been written by her. Mr Errington remarried and was then murdered by his former mistress Anne Broadrick.