A very human vignette from the Dublin Magistrates Court of 1837, as reported in the Dublin Morning Register of 13 September of that year:

“A LOVE EPISTLE. — A young girl named Catherine Pierce stepped into the office and expressed her regret that she should be forced to charge a young man named John Rice for breaking open a private letter directed to her.
Miss Pierce stated that a letter was sent to her on the previous evening, and the servant in the house (in Chancery-place) brought it up to Mr. Rice, who opened it, and read the contents; (at this portion of the narrative she became overpowered, and was obliged to apply a bottle to her nose in order to keep her equilibrium).
Mr. Cole. — Was it a love letter you received?
Complainant. — It ——, it was a letter from a sincere friend (another burst of tears).
Defendant — Your worship, I read the letter by mistake; it was handed me by the servant, as you will perceive by the statement of Miss Pierce.
Mr. Cole — But you had no right to read any person’s letters.
Defendant — I plead guilty, your worship.
Mr. Cole — I will dismiss the case. I find nothing in the matter to sanction me in proceeding farther.”

Was Mr Rice a rival admirer of Miss Pierce or was the opening of the letter an innocent mistake and Miss Pierce unduly sensitive about her amatory relations?

Other cases before Mr Cole, the Magistrate, the same morning included a private prosecution of a 12 year old for incessantly banging a drum, and a charge by a shopkeeper against two young oyster sellers for pelting the customers entering her shop with shells from discarded oysters.

Different times, but human nature changes little!

Image of the home of Miss Pierce and Mr Rice, Chancery Place, beside the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, as it is today, above.