ABSTRACT
Charles Philips was an Irish barrister, who practised both in Ireland and England, and was renowned for his sentimental rhetoric. Sometimes criticised for being too emotional in his style, his speeches were nonetheless remarkably popular, being reprinted regularly in the nineteenth century as a model of style. The case of Guthrie v. Sterne was a criminal conversation case tried in Dublin, where John Guthrie sought compensation from William Sterne for eloping with the former’s wife. A criminal conversation case was a civil suit designed to alleviate the suffering experienced by a wronged husband, when his wife was seduced from his company. In this case, Guthrie sought £10,000 in compensation. The speech below was Philip’s opening to the jury on the case, which set out the case and what was at stake; it was followed by the witnesses that supported Guthrie’s case. It was therefore important for Philip’s to create a compelling narrative that engaged the jury and that provided a narrative account of events to help them understand what happened. Like in many other of his speeches, and as was typical of lawyers of the period, he highlighted the significance of the case by arguing for the importance of morality and family life not only for individuals but to the well-being of the nation. The home and family he describes here is depicted within the sentimental imaginary of the era, reinforcing cultural ideals of the household as a domestic and happy haven.
