The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-03 00:00:00

PAINFUL SUICIDE OF A SHIPS CAPTAIN IN
THE REGENT'S CANAL.

(INQUEST.-THIS DAY.)

This morning Mr. a Reifies Walthew, deputy
coroner, held an inquiry at the Prince of Wales Tavern,
Victoria Park, respecting the death of Captain George
William Harper, aged 44 years, who committed suicide
under very melancholy eironnistatues.
J. Russell, enginedriver, said that last Friday morning he
was walking along the banks of the Regent'. Canal, when he
noticed the deceased tkiatiog on the surface. The body was
got out. When searched the portrait of a young lady wu
found in his pocket. It was a photograph. There wee also
the following letter, the edges of which were burnt

" London

" Martha—Through what I have beau aconaralOirl;ve
been driven to commit the dreadful at. May God have
merc► on my soul, and conduct you in the piths of virtue.
" Adieu from me in this world. My body will be found
near North Woolwich. " G. H."

Witness said that there were also some receipts for
money received found in deceased's lockets, but only 13d. in
money.
Mr. J. J. Brown, 32, Willow-walk, East Bermoadsey,
contractor, said that deceased had been the captain of •
ship trading from London to China. Two or three years
ago he gut a sunstroke in Hoag Bong, which affected
his sight. He came to witness when he returned,
and told him that he had • few hundred pounds
and that be would invest it in a shop. He took •
pawnbroker's shop in Grundy-etnet, Poplar, but it failed.
He called on witness a few days ago, and he said that he
was ruined. His loss of sight and his failure caused hint to
lose his mind. Hassid he would drown himself. He had a
wife and three children, but they left him four months
ago, and went to Passage, in Ireland. Since then he was
accused of forming an improper intimacy with the young
lady whose portrait was found on him. Witness did not
know who that lady waa. The quarrel with his wife did
not arise out of that affair. Deceased had been the captain of
some of the finest ships of the port of London. Witness
did not know, of his own knowledge, the details of the
affair with the young l►dy ; but deceased was said to have
caused her to become enciente.

Mr. E. fdyhill Davey, R.C.S., said that he was sent
for on last Friday morning, nod found the deceased dead on
the bank. He had been in the water apparently about two
hours.

The Coroner then summed up and remarked upon the
deplorable circumstances of the case.
The Jury returned a verdict of " S Acids while of unsound
mind."

DESPATCH OF THS WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC
MAIL&—The Royal Mail Company's steamship La Plata,
Captain Weller, sailed from Southampton yesterday at
2 p.m., with the mails for the British and foreign West
ladies, Mexico, the Pacific, California, Central America, &c.,
together with 81 permeate. The La Plata took out on
freight French specie, 18,162/. ; jewellery, value 13,984/. ;
English gold coin, 29,720/. ; jewellery, value 2,842/.
copper cols, 321. ; 150 bottles quicksilver, value 1,050/. ; and
a full cargo of French and English merchandise.
Tait BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.—The
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Ceylon, Cap-
Mill EMI', with the heavy portion of the above mail,
arrived at Southampton last night. She brings 145 pa-
mangers and 1,046 packages of mercbandiae, including raw
silk, to the value of 60,0001. sterling. The Ceylon left
Gibraltar upon the 28th ult., and experienoed bead winds
and thick weather on her passage. In the Straights of
Gibraltar she spoke the British barque Pearl. The Spanish
papers have published a royal decree aped by the Queeo,
declaring Omar, Meld's, and the Chafarioe Islands free
porta, and authorising the government to adopt the neces-
sary measures for putting the decree in force. At Gibraltar
exchange oa London, 90 days, 501 to 50j ; Paris, U. 30o.;
Madrid, 8 days, Ito premium.

Tna Law or COPYRIOHT.-At a general meet-
ing of the Law Amendment Society, on Monday Let—Lord
Brougham in the chair—a paper was read by Mr. Serjeant
Burke on the present state ot the law of copyright in likera.
tore and the fine arta, with a view to its amen meat. The
learned madam{ criticised the present state of the law of
copyright in the several departmeota of literature. music,
the drama, lectures, painting, photography, and sculpturN
and concluded with some observations on international
copyright. A discussion followed, in which Mr. E. Field,
Mr. flambe* Mr. O. Clark. Mr. Uradardown, Mr. Roberto.
Blaine, sad Mr. T. Webster, took part.
bourn Kawarprorox MoB2oll.—During the week
ending May3o, the visitors have bees al follows :—Os
Toto&y. sad Words, Ifrot days/, open from 10 a.m. till
10 p.m, 12,68% On Wednesday, Thursday, sad Friday
(studente days), open from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 2.715.
Free all the week, being Whitsuntide. Total, 15,404. From
the opening et IN Munum, 4,061,150.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
GLEN V. BUNDEIiti AND COVES.
.• •

This was a testamentary suit relating to the will of James
Philp, late of Westminster, a retired surgical instrument
maker. The plaintiff, the executor, propounded a copy of
the document, and alleged that it had been destroyed by
Mary Ann Philp, a daughter of the deceased, since his death.
The defendants, wbo were the executors of Miss Philp,
alleged that no such will had been made or duly_ executed.
Mr. derjeant Parry, Dr. Swabey, and Mr. 1). T. Evans for
the plaintiff ; Mr. Serjeant Shee, Dr. Deane, Q.C., and Dr.
Wambey for the defendants.
The use had not made much programa when we went to
press.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner (ionlburn.)

IN a: J. a. LAWS. —udeoirrAwr QUIJITION AB TO COSTS Oi