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London, March 8.

The most noble the Marquis of Queensberry has in the course of his eccentric career railed against so many persons and causes that society paid little or no attention of late to the fact that he was constantly crying out against Mr Oscar Wilde. We heard a week ago (as I told you in my last) that there was something akin to a scene at the St. James's Theatre premiere, owing to his lordship wishing to salute Oscar with a bouquet of carrots, but most people took this merely for a Queensberrian joke. Great, therefore, became the cackle of gossip and speculation at the clubs when, on Saturday morning last, the Marquis was arrested for criminally libelling the poseur-poet-dramatist, and brought before Mr Newton at Marlborough street.

Mr Humphreys, in opening the case for the prosecution, said that Mr Oscar Wilde was a married man, and lived on most affectionate terms with his wife and children (two sons). He had been the object of a system of the most cruel persecution at the hands of Lord Queensberry, certainly within his (Mr Humphreys's) knowledge for about nine or ten months, and, he was informed, even longer than that. Mr Wilde ten months ago consulted him (Mr Humphreys), and, in consequence of the affairs of the defendant's family, Mr Wilde was most unwilling to take any steps of a criminal nature against Lord Queensberry. But he had been so fearfully persecuted by that nobleman from that time until the present that now it had come to a climax, and he felt bound to take the step he had taken in self-protection and for peace of mind. The last act in this most terrible and most melancholy drama was performed on 18th February last, but only came to the knowledge of Mr Wilde, he believed, on Thursday night. Mr Wilde was a member of the Albemarle Club, which was a club to which both ladies and gentlemen were admitted. Mrs Wilde, too, was a member of the club, and he (Mr Humphreys) Believed she was a member of the committee, or had been a member—in fact, she took an active interest in it. Mr Oscar Wilde, between five and six o'clock on the 28th February, went to the club, where the hall porter, a man named Wright, presented him with an envelope addressed to him. The handwriting on the back of the envelope was that of the hall porter, who informed Mr Wilde that there was a card inside that had been left at the club by the Marquis of Queensberry for him. When the porter saw what was written on the card, he thought it of sufficient importance to place the card in an envelope, and wrote outside the envelope the day and the time at which the card had been left with him. The words the porter wrote on the envelope were, "4.30. 18th Feb. 95." The words written upon the card were read by Mr Humphreys. They are quite unfit for publication. There was one word which was illegible.

The Marquis of Queensbury: The other word is "posing."

Mr Humphreys said that a more frightful, serious, or abominable libel for one man to publish about another he could not conceive. He now only proposed to call as witnesses the hall porter of the club and the officer, Detective-inspector Greet, who executed the warrant. After their evidence he would ask for an adjournment, and the whole matter could be gone into on a future occasion, because he did not propose to rest his case simply upon the question of this libel. He proposed to go into other cases which had occurred before the 18th February, and after they had been investigated he would ask the magistrate to commit the defendant to take his trial.

Sir George Lewis asked that before any evidence was taken the case should be adjourned, so that he might consult with his client and have more time to consider the matter.

Mr Humphreys said he only proposed then to call two witnesses, whose evidence would be very short, and the whole matter could be gone into next week.

Sidney Wright, hall porter at the Albemarle Club, then deposed that on the 18th February last defendant presented himself at the club and spoke to him. He handed him the card produced, and in the witness's presence wrote the words that were on the front of the card with the exception of the letter "A." Lord Queensberry asked him to give the card to Mr Oscar Wilde. He (witness) wrote on the back of the card the date it was given to him. As a precautionary measure he put the card in an envelope in order that it might not be lost. On 28th February Mr Wilde called at the club between five and six o'clock in the evening, and he handed him the envelope containing the card and told him that Lord Queensberry had left it for him.

Mr Newton: Did you fasten the envelope?

The Witness: No.

Sir George Lewis: Lord Queensberry asked you to give the card to Mr Oscar Wilde?

The Witness: Yes.

He led you to distinctly understand that it was for Mr Oscar Wilde?—Yes.

Detective-inspector Thomas Greet, C Division, deposed that he arrested the defendant about nine o'clock that (Saturday) morning at Carter's Hotel, Dover street. He said to him "Are you the Marquis of Queensberry?" and the defendant replied "I am." He then told him that he was a police officer, and that he held a warrant for his arrest. He read the warrant to him, and defendant replied: "I thought in these cases proceedings were generally taken by summons, but I suppose that is all right. What is the date?" Witness told him the 18th February. The Marquis then said: "I have been wanting to find Mr Oscar Wilde for nine or ten days. This thing has been going on for about two years." The witness conveyed him to the Vine street Police Station, and when charged there he made no reply.

Sir George Lewis (to the magistrate): Let me say one word, sir. I venture to say, when the circumstances of this case are more fully known, you will find that Lord Queensberry acted as he did under feelings of great indignation and——

Mr Newton (interrupting): I cannot go into that now.

Sir George Lewis: I don't want the case to be adjourned without its being known that there is nothing against the honor of Lord Queensberry.

Mr Newton: You mean to say you have a perfect answer to the charge.

Sir George Lewis: I ask you, sir, to allow his lordship to be at large on his entering into his own recognisances in £1,000.

Mr Humphreys: I should like to have a surety.

Mr Newton: The case will be adjourned for a week, and the defendant will have to find one surety in the sum of £500, and enter into his own recognisances in the sum of £1,000 to appear.

Mr William Tyser, a merchant of Gloucester square, then stepped into the witness box, tendered the necessary bail, and the Marquis of Queensberry left the court with his friends.

It is the Lord Queensberry's youngest son Arthur who is the casus belli between the Marquis and Wilde, the former disapproving most strongly of the intimate friendship between the pair. For some time Lord Alfred Douglas has been on bad terms with his father, and makes no secret of his dislike for him. I'm told that a very Oscarian poem, addressed "To him whom I hate," or "To him for whose death I hunger," which appeared in the 'Pall Mall Gazette' or 'Budget' some time ago, was by Lord Arthur, and seemed to be levelled at his sire. Nothing that a Douglas could do would ever astonish society much, or this story would be incredible.

By our late files of English papers, we have fuller particulars respecting this extraordinary libel case.

There was a great demand for admission to Marlborough-street Police Court, London, on Saturday, March 9th, it being known that the case between he Marquis of Queensberry and Mr Oscar Wilde would come before the presiding magistrate. The accommodation afforded by the little court is extremely limited. All applications for seats in the court were unheeded, the public being informed that the doors would not be opened till 11.30, and then only to a limited number. The charge against the Marquis of Queensberry, which first came before the Court a week previous, was that of having unlawfully and wilfully published a certain defamatory libel of and concerning one, Oscar Wilde, of Albemarle-street, on the 28th February, 1895, at the parish of St. George's.

Mr Humphreys, solicitor, prosecuted; Mr E. H. Carson, Q.C., M.P., and Mr C. F. Gill (instructed by Mr Charles Russell, of Messrs Day and Russell) appeared for the Marquis of Queensberry. The parties immediately concerned came into the court about half-past eleven. The Marquis of Queensberry on entering the court at once stepped into the dock. On noticing this the magistrate said, "Give Lord Queensberry a chair." A chair was thereupon placed near the solicitor's table, and leaving the dock Lord Queensberry sat down. Mr Oscar Wilde, with Lord Alfred Douglas, the Marquis of Queensberry's son, a young man of delicate appearance, came into court about the same time. Mr Oscar Wilde was provided with a seat, bus as soon as the case was called Lord Alfred Douglas left the court by the direction of the magistrate.

Mr Oscar Wilde was then called. Examined by Mr Humphreys, he said he was a dramatist and author, and took a great interest in matters of art. He was acquainted with defendant and many members of his family. He first became acquainted with defendant in 1893. He remembered on one occasion lunching at the Cafe Royal with Lord Alfred Douglas, Lord Queensberry's son. That was in November, 1892. The defendant came into the room at the time, and was invited up to the table by Lord Alfred Douglas. The defendant shook hands with them both, and took luncheon at the same table. Witness next saw Lord Queensberry in March, 1894, also on an occasion when witness and Lord Alfred Douglas were lunching at the Cafe Royal. They invited Lord Queensberry to join them at lunch. That was just after Lord Alfred had returned from Egypt. Shortly after that Lord Alfred Douglas handed him a letter.

Mr Carson said he hoped the letter would be put in in fairness to Lord Queensberry.

Mr Humphreys.—You don't know the letter contains advice.

Mr. Carson.—Oh! yes I do. I have a copy of it.

Mr Humphreys.—I never intended to read the letter in public. With reference to that particular letter the names of exalted persons are used, and I do not think it would be right for their names to be called into question in matters of this description.

Mr Humphreys said he would adopt the magistrate's suggestion and would not put the letter in.

Witness, continuing, said that on this day, the 28th of last March, about five o'clock in the afternoon, he drove up to the Albemarle Club. He had recently returned from Algiers, and this was his first visit to the club since his return. On entering the club he spoke to the hall porter who handed him an envelope. Witness's name was written on the back of it. In handing him the envelope the hall porter said something to him. What he said was—"Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you come to the club." There was a card inside the envelope. Witness thereupon opened the envelope, and found the card produced. On the back of the card was—"4.30. 13-2-65.' Witness read what was on the card as well as he could, and immepiately communicated with his solicitor, and had an interview with him the following day. On the same day he applied, through his solicitor, for a warrant for Lord Queensberry's apprehension.

Mr Newton (the magistrate).—Mr Humphreys, I would suggest that you and Mr Carson should come into my room and we should have a word together.

The magistrate then retired, and was followed by Mr Carson and Mr Humphreys. There immediately arose a buzz of conversation in the court. Mr Oscar Wilde, remaining in the witness box, lolled back in a chair, at the same time resting his hand upon a silver-headed cane. The Marquis of Queensberry had by this time taken a seat at the back of the court, and faced the witness.

On the magistrate and the legal representatives returning into court in about ten minutes, Mr Humphreys simply said—"I have no further questions to ask Mr Wilde."

Mr Carson was then proceeding to cross-examine Mr Wilde, but was overruled by the magistrate.

Mr Carson said he did not mean to ask any questions on the plea of justification. That was a plea which Lord Queensberry, with full responsibility of its effect, would raise if this matter was sent for trial. He did not propose to ask certain questions to show how Lord Queensberry came to write this card. His object in writing it was connected with his previous letters to Mr Wilde, Lord Queensberry's view being that he was entitled, if he thought it in the interest of the morality of his own son, to do everything in his power to put a stop to the connection of his son with Mr Wilde. He professed to ask the question solely in that view. It would go much beyond the case of the Queen v. Carden.

The magistrate directed that Mr Carson's question was directed to this, that Lord Queensberry was justified in writing this card, he having told his son not to make the acquaintance of Mr Wilde, and that if he did so he must take the consequences. Therefore, he (the magistrate) objected to the question.

The evidence of Mr Oscar Wilde was then read over. He then said that what the porter said to him was that he had been desired to hand "this card' (not letter) to him. With regard to the date when he first met Lord Queensberry it was in 1892, not 1893.

These corrections in the depositions were duly made.

Mr Humphreys (to the magistrate): That is the case, upon which I ask you to commit for trial.

The magistrate: Let defendant stand up.

Lord Queensberry, who had divested himself of his fur-lined coat, then rose at the back of his counsel. The magistrate then asked defendant if he had anything to say, at the same time administering the usual caution.

Lord Queensberry: Your Worship, I simply wish to say this. I wrote the card simply with the intention of bringing matters to a head, having been unable to meet Mr Wilde otherwise, and to save my son, and I abide by what I said.

Lord Queensberry then resumed his seat.

The Magistrate: "Abide by what I said?"

Lod Queensberry: By what I wrote.

The Magistrate: You have no witnesses?

Mr Carson: No.

The Magistrate (to Lord Queensberry): You are committed to take your trial at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court.

Bail was then entered of one surety of £500 and his own recognisance of £1000.

Mr. Wm. Tyser, a merchant of Gloucester-square, London, was accepted as surety, and the Marquis of Queensberry left the court with his friends.

[The case was dismissed in the higher court, and Oscar Wilde was arrested on a criminal charge.—Ed. T.H.]