Foreign Department

Abstract

In reply to the above libellous production, I informed the Poor-Law Board, that not only were its contents manifestly untrue, but that they were contrary to what was stated to the Guardians by their own Relieving Officer, Mr. Bown. The Board of Guardians still refused to pay more than ten shillings, although the Poor-Law Board twice recommeinded them to reconsider their decision, and although the meaning of the order is so clear that " he who runs may read." The order is as follows:" Provided that in any special case in which great difficulty may have occurred in the delivery, any district medical officer shall receive the sum of two pounds." The Poor-Law Board having intimated " that it was open to me to take proceedings in the County Court against the Guardians of the Shepton Mallet Union, for the recovery of a fee for my attendance on Mary White," on the 31st of July last, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Clerk of the Union, were summoned to the County Court at Wells. After Mr. Stockwell and myself had given evidence that the case of Mary White was a rare and difficult one, ani abortive attempt was made by the defendants to prove that there was a want of skill on the part of my assistant, great neglect on my side, and also that it was not a difficult case. Their witnesses consisted of a medical man, who knew nothing of the nature of the ease before he entered the Court, and of an old woman, wbo was not even a vWillage midwife, and had never confineda person in her life. Both of these gavo evidence distinctly in my favour. The Judge of the Court, who exhibited on the occasion his usual acumen, concluded the case by saying, -.. " There is no defence whatever to this action. The plaintiff must have his two pounds; and it would have been more creditable to the Board of Guardians if they had consulted Mr. Stockwell about the nature of the eae, instepd of sending for an ignorant old woman, who scarcely knew her right hand from her left, and whose only clear idea is, that she has had a large fiamily without much difficulty or trouble."