The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-03-19 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

It is with feelings of deep regret we announce the
demise of this truly excellent lady, which melan-
choly event occurred at Froginere on Saturday last,
at baltpast nine in the morning. Her Royal High-
ness has for several years been saffuring from cancer,
lint no immediate danger was apprehended until last
Friday, when, in consequence of information re-
ceived, her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and other
members of the royal family went down to Frogmore
to see, and be with their illustrious relative. Her
Royal Highness was in her 75th year. She was the
daughter of his Serene Highness, Francis, Duke of
Saxe-Saalfield Coburg, was born on the 17th August,
17s,G, and was married May 29th, ltdS, to the Duke
of Kent, in conformity with the Lutheran rites. The
marriage was re-solemnisoil at Kew the following
July, according to the ceremonies of the Church of
England. This union proved a very happy one,
mutual regard and esteem being shown by both
parties, and their happiness was consummated on
the 24th May, 1%19, by the birth of a daughter, the
future Queen of Great Britain, our most Gracious
Majesty. Unhappily, soon after this event, his
Grace on returning from a walk neglected the pre.
' caution of changing his shoes which were wet, and
in a very short time, Her Majesty was left without
the protection of her paternal relative, and her
esteemed mother had to mourn the loss of a kind
and affectionate hushand. But though deprived of
the wise counsels of her father, Her Majesty was
fortunate in having a mother well qualified, not only
to instruct during the season of youth, but to lead
and caution in riper years, the precious charge com-
mitted to her care; snd forsaking the alluring and
eeductive temptations of court, continued to reside
at Kensington Palace in a private manner, where
she,with her illmitrious consort,lail previously lived.
This continued until the year 15.17, when, upon the
death of her uncle, King William IV., her Majesty
succeeded to the throne. Tno Duchess of Kent re-
sided for sonie time in the north s iug of Buckingham
Palace, with her august 'laughter; but from and
since the marriage of Her Nlajesty, in Is4fi, she occa-
sionally has resided at Kensington and Froguiore,
where, as we stated above, she finished her earthly
career. The late Sir Robert Peel, than whom no
MP was more qualified to express an opinion— bore
strong testimony of the excellence and worth of the
deceased lady, and to the care and attention she
bestowed in the education and moral training of her
illustrious daughter. We feel persuaded that on this .
account, the announcement of the death of this
beloved lady, will call forth from the British nation
the moat heartfelt sorrow.

(Local Sews continued from 4th Faye.)
WEYMOUTH.

ITux YEOIIANRY.--l'ha Queen's Own Dorsetshire
Yeomanry have, we understand, received notice to
assemble at Weytuouth on the If+th of May next fur
; eight day's exeictse in military duty.
NIi:I.ANCIIOI.Y Seictiir..—On Saturday afternoon,
an inquest was held at the Albert Hotel, before H.
Lock, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of a gentle.
man named Wright, who had that morning been
found in hie bedroom with his throat cut. It seems
that the deceased, who was about the middle age,
and in independent cireunistances,had been living in
Jersey with his sister and mother for the last 5 )eara,
during which time be hail been in a desponding state
of mind. On Thursday last he arrived in Weymouth
by the packet, awl took up his residence at the Albert
Hotel. John Jeffrey, proprietor of the Albert
Hotel, said the deceased came to his house on Thurs-
day last at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He went
into the coffee room, and after having had tea, he
retired to bed at a quarter past 10 o'clock. He saw
! him in the coffee room several thee' but ilil net
observe anything unusual in his manner. Us came
down stairs the next morning and had breakfast.
He did not see anything more of him till 10 o'clock
on Friday night, when he asked for a bedroom
candle. Ile heard no noise during the night,
! although he slept in the bedroom next to the
deseased's.—Fanny Mectlaml, housekeeper at the
Albeit llotel, corroborated the eviilmoe of last
I witness, and said that on Friday afternoon when
, she tea some water into his room. the accessed
, appeared very nervous, so much at indeed that he
coiilul'wit unlock his carpet hag. His hand shook
so much as to retailer lulu unable to put the key into
the lock. She asked him whether he would allow
her to unlock it. lie at first refused. but he after-
wards called lie, hack when clue unlocked his bag.
On S.iturday 1111 l ening, finding that lie did not conic
downstairs, she knocked at Ins door three times, I,nt
receiving II.) AIISWer she opened the door, when she
f l the theeaeril lying in bed welteriug in his
blood. She did not think any person haul bete, in
the room. Superintendent [Abney said that on
Saturday mooning, from information he received' he
went into the bedroom in which deceased MU: lying.
He teem' a second door in the room which led into
some other rooms. The door was pushed to, but
not locked. Ile mule a search in the room, and
found on the side of the bed nearest the doer a
razor, which lie now produced. Ile next searched
the pockets of the deceased, 011.1 found a purse Con-
taining seven eovereigus, a 4.1. 'piece, tuopence in
coppris, and a button. In another pocket he found
a card, bearing the following address " William
Wright, Amlier Cottage, Valley des Vaux, Jersey."
Ile also found an envelope containing a prescription,
I tome pockethanilkerchiefs, shirts, and other article..
Some bottleu were also found emita. • g liquids, one
of which wail marked " Poieen," and contained laud-
IMMO. lot.Millel a pistol which hail a capon the nipple,
but was not loaded, a powder Ilaek, and aunts I
bulleta.—Mr. William Flerlier, chief officer on I
board the steamer Cygnus, remembered the ile-
ceased coming on board. Ile remarked that he I
was in a very low state of I. When &eked what
was the matter he replied that lie was very seasick.
Mr. A. Sampson, surgeon, exauu.iuiud the disuresed !
and found him quite cold and his
.museles
There was a large out on the right side ef his neck
extending (nen the angle of the lower raw four or
live iher
side ti:fehteisistoneeamkrd e
was Istitlriaiutralnaerg.
itnlunisitohne
woht
hail cut through the large vessel, 1.11 that side of
the neck, extending down to the rout of the tunguo,
anil which had mcparateil the cartallage %Nola con-
tamed the miracles ef the voice. lie was certain
that the wounds must have been committed in bed,
whilst lie was lying on his back. If the cuts had
been attempted by another person, they weld not
have been made without the deceased struggling
very much. From the general appearance of the
lady, he could arrive at no other coticluai 111 l than
that the deceased committed the deed hinteelf. He
had examind the contents of the several bottles and
also looked at the prescription, and he was of opin-
ion that such a prescnption would not be given to a
man uuless he was suffering from some unusal mental
and physical infirmity.—The jury Tabu:aid a verdict
of' Tompcnry Isosoity."

A electing of the Council was held on Monday
last, prevent, the Mayor, Aldermen Ayling. Han-
cock, Devenish ; Councillors Haggett, Milled"
Thompson, Drew, Thomas, Luce , John Tisard,
Hibbs, and Howard.

Aldermin saisl the Finance Committee
hail it inciting a few days ago, when there were pro.
I noted to them nearly MI bills in number for pep
ment, nmootiting in the Aggregate to upwards of
' £2.111111. ti it strii,k hum that to facilitate the
Liminess before tic ll,arst in relation to these Bills
1 it would lie will ti instruct the Town Clerk to make
out a list of the various items due, and what fond
was liable for the amount, so that any particular
item which any gentleman might wish to have ez•
plainest might be mdled out, and the bill produced.
This would its his opinion, be much better thanter
the whole board to examine the whole of the se-
, counts seriatim. Of the bills produced on the ote
casiou a large number. ainountips to Z 349 8.. lam
, esiewisets aas , which Irad not beer ha'ilhe
hands of the Town before the tweeting wee
held. He thought that the eystem of keeping back
the bills till there was so large • number wasgeestly
to be deprecated. It would be much better to
I of them at once, as soon as the various tradesmen
',bad mot them in.

The Tows CLERK stated that the bills were pro-
duced monthly for 19 years, till now another order of
things bad taken place.
Mr. HARZ wished the Mayor to send for the
surveyor, treasurer, harbour master, and sopsrimi
tendent of police, that they might produce their
bolks. A resolution was pared three or four meet.
togs back to the effect that the books of these parties
should always be produced, but it had not yet been
acted on.

Mr. DIVIKNIAIi called attention to a bill from Mr.
Cubitt of £56 for a design of staging for the Pile
Pier.

Mr. THOMPI4ON moved, Mr. HAIR seconded, and
it was carried unanimously, "That the proprietors
of houses in Waterloo Place be required to repair
the roads on the north and we sides of their pro-
perties in accordsne with the covenants in their
several leases."

On the motion of Mr. Huns, it was resolved that
the Weymouth and Portland Steam Packet Corn.
pony pay the following harbour dues—C6o pee
annum for two boats, being ESfl for each, and £2 10a.
per month for any other boat used in the Portland
traffic, and that the dues be paid monthly in ad-
vance.

Mr. DeEw moved, and Mr. Rouen seconded,
'That this Council having considered the replies
from the several magistrate's clerks, do grant the
county magistrates the use of the guildhall for the
purpose of holding the petty sessions, when not
required by this Council or the borough magistrates,
at a rent of £2O per annum, to commence on the
25th March." Carried unanimously.
Mr. [Mew moved, Mr. HIDED, seconded, and it
was unanimously carried, "That Mr. Groves be re-
quested to purchase for the Council the Deeessary
tests and apparatus for testing the purity, illumina-
tive power, and pressure of the gas supplied to the
town, limiting the expense to Xl2.
That in consequence of the increased facilities of
trade in this port the present assistant meters, W.
Hunt and George Bailey be appointed coal meters,
and that Daniel Roberts, John Court, James Fes-
sand, Christopher Green, and Nicholas Warty be
appointed assistant meters.
The Local Board of Health adjourned the con-
sideration of a number of outstanding bills to the
amount of f 1,700, till the next meeting, in conse-
quence of there being but £350 in hand to pay them
with. Some of the bills were of very longstanding.
The other business of the Board was diaposed
of, and the meeting separated.