The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-19 00:00:00

not *Moo* street us; and this belief wee founded on the
universal, deep seated—he might almost say instinctive—
reverence which Englishmen entertained for the laws of
their country—a feeling not confined to the opulent, noble,
or enlightened, but extending even to the ignorant and the
lowest In the community. (Hear.) He thanked the company
for the honour done him; but there was this peculiarity about
the judicial office, that its duties were probably beet dis-
charged when pu'ilic attention was the least directed to it.
The toasts of "The Chairman and Deputy-Cbairman of
the East India Company' and "The Sheriffs" followed,
and were respectively acknowledged by Lieut.-Hen. Sir
J. L. Lushington and Mr. Cubitt, M.P., and the proceed-
ings thin terminated.

SUICIDE OF A PRIVATE IN TILE LIFE
GUARDS.

-----
On Saturday Mr. Bedford held an inquiry at the
Cavalry Barracks, Knightsbridge, respecting the death of
H, R. Peareoek, aged 23, a private in the 2nd Life Guards,
who destroyed himself whilst under confinement in the black
hole.—The jury having been sworn, they viewed the body,
which lay in the black hole, a place 'bent 12 feet by 8, aid
so ill-venti'ated as to cell torh remark, from the coroner end
jury as to the possibility of any one existing in such • plaa •
this hot weather for any length of time without being surfs)
cited.—C. Adkins, lance corporal, deposed that at 11 o'clock
on Tueeday night last he posted the deceased on sentry in the
stable-yard, and it was his duty to have remained there two
hours; but at • quarter-pest 11 o'clock it was discovered that
the deceaeed had left his post asd had broken out of barracks,
which he had effected by scaling • wall. At a quarter-past
1 o'clock the following morning the deceased returned to
barracks in a state of intoxication, when, ecting according to
regimental orders, he placed hint under arrest, and confined
him in the black hole, where he remained until six o'clock,
when he was removed to the guard-room, and • sentry
placed over him. At one o'clock the same day deceased
was conveyed before the colonel, who sentenced him to he
confined in the black hole for 168 hours, and to be after-
wards confined in banacks for the space of three wetki.—
i Corporal Tweedy stated that the deceased appeared in good
spirits at five o'clock on Thursday night, when he was
visited by the regimental surgeon. He saw him again at
eight o'clock on Friday morning, when kis breakfast was
taken to him, and he eppe.red quite cheerful. At eleven
o'clock at noon he accompanied the orderly officer to the
black hole. On opening she door, he looked in, and teeing
the deceased lying on the bed, he remarked "All right; he
is asleep," and left. In about five minutes afterwards
r the person who entered with the deceased's dinner ex-
&aimed, " That he had cut his throat." Witness went in
immediately, and saw him in the position he was
seen by his officer. He had s pistol shot wound on his left
breast. Mr. M'Culloch, the assistant surgeon was sent for
irnraedikociy, who on his arrival pronounced him dead. He
mule not account for the way in which the pistol got there,
nor hail he or any of the guard which is en the spot heard
the report of the pistol.— Mr. George M'Crilloch, the assist.
ant-surgeon of the 2nd Life Guards, stated that on entering
the black hole he found the deceased dead, with a pistol shot
wound over the region of the heart. The bullet had entered
between the fifth and ninth ribs, penetrated the heart, an.'
passed out at his back, and was found lodged in the wall.
The edges of the wound, as well as the whole of the front of
his shirt, was burnt with gunpowder. On looking about
he found • regimental pistol, which had been recently
discharged, lying at his feet, and a ah-.rt distance from it a
bullet much flattened. A most minute investigation had
been made by the officer of the regiment, hut no information
could b 3 gathered how the decease el got the pistol or the
ball cartridge. After some further evidence had been
given, but without elucidating any fresh facts, the coroner
summed up the coot., and the jury returned the following
verdict—" That the decea-ed dies from a pistol shot wound,
inflicted by biumell while in a state of temporary insanity."

FuRTHIRDETENTIONOF TIIEWEST INDIA PACKET.
—The suggestion of Mr. Bernd during the diacussion on the
relief proposed by ministers fur the West India colonies on
Friday night. that this packet should ne detained until after
the debate on the subiect had terminated, has been attended
to by the government. On Saturday afternoon the Lords of
the Admiralty sent a communication to Smithampton by
electric telegraph, ordering the packet to he detained until
Wednesday nest. Unless a further detention takes place, the
West India mails will he despatched from the General Post
Office, to be sent from Nine Elm• by the II o'clock morning
train on the 214, and the packet wCI leave at the usual
period,—via, 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
GAOL DIET.—On Saturday a woman named Louisa
Davis was indicted at the Central Criminal Court, for steal
legs watch from the person of Wiliam lleverill. So great
was the alteration for the better in her appearance that the
prosecutor had some s Acuity in identifying her.
FIRE NEAR GUILDUALL.—On Saturday evening a
lire broke out in &piddles. Chambers, in Basinghall-street,
which closely adjoin the ea,tern end of Guildhall, and for
some time placed the ancient structure in denser. The
fl Imes, when discovered, were issuing from the hack
windows of the second Hoer, in the occupation of Messrs.
Firestine and Co., Gorman merchants and importers of fo-
reign clocks. Immediately on the otebreak the hose was
attached to the fire-mains belonging to the Guildhall, and
messengers were despatched to the various engine-stations
of the brigade, Ike.; but although their attendance was
speedy, and the supply of watt r abundant, the ti imes con!i
nued to burn with great fury, until the whale of the upper
part of the premises in which the fire originated was gutted,
and the adjoining buildings on either side damaged by fire
and water. Messrs. Forestine and Co 'a stock is stated to
have been extensive, and their loss is estimated at 6.0001.
The building is insured in the Phoenix Fire Office, but it was
not known last night in what office the stock is in-
sured. The origin of the fire is believed to have been caused
by the flooring of the warerooms being covered with Russia
matting, and a number of foreign gectlemen having been
smoking there in the course of the afti moon.—We have
received accounts rat five other fires which occurred in various
parts of the metropolis during Saturday crating. Each
caused considerable alarm, and no small destruction of pro-
perty, but the only one worthy of particular notice was that
which broke out in the building numbered 75, Wood-street,
Cheariside, oecupie 1 conjointly by Mr. F. Barford straw-
bonnet mercha..t, and M- Scourge and Co., stock-makers.
By this fire the greater portion of the premises were destroyed.