The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-18 00:00:00

SHOCKING DEATH OP A PREACHER.

An inquest was held last night at the Water-
man's Arms, Poplar, by Mr. Richards, deputy-coroner,
relative to the death of Mr. James Sampson, aged 62 years.
The deceased, who had been originally a sawyer, had
amassed some little property upon which he lived,
and he devoted himself to prowling. A few years
ago he spent a good dad of money in printing
pamphlets on the end of the world, and in
travelling over the country to discourse upon
that subject. Latterly he lived in Eshott-cottages, Wes t-
ferry-road, Poplar, and preached in a little Primitive
Methodist chapel close by. The only person that lived
with him was his wife, who has been bedridden for
six months past. On last Thursday evening he
preached in his chapel as usual, and he was not
seen alive after. On Sunday, Mrs. Thnrkettle, living
at 5, Eshott-cottages, and other neighbours becom-
ing apprehensive that something was wrong, broke
open the door of Mr. Sampson's house. Upon entering, a
astly spectacle presented Itself. Mr. Sampson was
Mound dead, the body sitting upright in a chair ; his bed-
ridden wife within a few feet of it, and delirious, and
almost dying from fright and starvation. When asked
when she had last seen her husband alive, she answered
"Two years ago." Dr. Sargent was called in imme-
diately. Ife was of opinion that the body of the
deoeased had been in its then position on the chair
between two and three days. Death resulted from disease
of the heart. Mrs. Sampson was perfectly silly and appa-
rently dying. There was plenty of food about the house,
but she bad been unable either to get it or to raise an
alarm, and hunger and thirst, as well as the horror of
her situation, had upset her sermon. She was immediately
removed to the workhouse, where, under treatment, she
greatly improved, and she has since been taken to live with
her nephew, a potman, who states that she is now
rational.
The jury returned a verdict of " Natural death from
disease of the heart."

The last novelty in the way of locomotion is to
be among the many wonders of the Great Exhibition. It
consists in a mechanical horse, which trots, gallops, or
walks, as may snit the pleasure of the rider. lie even
prances after the most approved style, and neighs when
that sound is agreeable to its Possessor. This new mode
of locomotion cannot be recommended on the score of
cheapness, as it costs above b2,ooofr. to oonsti act.
At the seminary of Osma (Spain) was a cabinet
oontalning an electrical apparatus and a pneumatic appa-
ratus, which formed the subject of the teaching of a lay
professor. On a recent visit of the bishop to this semi-
nary, the prelate expressed astonishment that physical
sciences engaged attention. lie caused all the apparatus
to be removed, and sent away the professor, remarking
that such teaching was " opposed to religious peleiples
and prejudicial to youth."
A German journal states that Mr. Murphy,
consul-general for the United States at Frankfort-on•the.
Main, has just broken his arm by a fall in alighting from
his carriage.
The chamber of commerce of Verona, as a mark
of its joy at the deliverance of Venetia, and as an act of
devotedness to Bing Victor Emmanuel, boa voted • sum of
5,000 fr. to be distributed amongst the wounded soldiersand
families of those killed in the campaign of Itaiti. This sum
will be banded over to the government the day the Italian
army enters Verona.
The people of California have paid assessments on
twelve mines in Nevada and one in Mexico, to the amount
of 4,250,000 dollars.
On the Boston and Worcester Railway, in the

United States, ministers of religion are allowed to travel
at half price.
The Earl of Strathmore (says the Dundee Aldrer.
titer), since his succession to his estates, has won " golden
opinions" in Forfarshire. His lordship has made an ad-
lowance to each tenant on his property equal to one-half
of his lows from cattle plague, which, on account of its
extraordinary devastations in Strathmore, involved a
large sum. As several farms on the estate were let at a
time when agricultural prospects appeared much brighter
than they are now, his lordship has himself voluntarily
offered to reduce the rents on some of the farms.
PROPOSED MONUMENT TO LORD 8Y307.4r.—A
movement is being promoted in Nottingham for raising a
public monument to Lord Byron, if possible, in Poets'
Corner, Westminster Abbey ; but in the event of this
being found not practicable, it is proposed that a bronze
statue of the poet should be placed in Market-street, one
of the principal thoroughfares of Nottingham. A meet-
ing of gentlemen favourable to the movement is shortly to
be held, at which it is expected that moat of the nota-
bilities of she neighbourhood will be present.
MR. DISRAELI AND THE MALT TAX.—Mr.
More, one of the members for South Shropshire, recently
stated at an agricultuial meeting at Shrewsbury that Mr.
Disraeli has intimated that his course with regard to the
malt tax must be guided entirely by the amount of support
he islikely to receive from the eountryparty. The right hon.
gentleman has complained that that party did not give
him the degree of support which he had expected when he
proposed the reduction of the tax in 1852 ; but Mr. More
seems confident " that if he now brought in a bill propos-
ing to repeal the tax on malt, and to put it upon beer,
there were a sufficient number of liberal members in the
House of Commons who would not hesitate to vote with
him, and. if necessary, against their own party, in order to
ensure the poems of such a measure."
GARIBALDI AND THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY OF
Grasnow.—Some months ago the St. Andrew's Society of
Glasgow unanimously voted to General Garibaldi the
honorary membership of their society, with an address,
which was inclosed in a gold-mounted casket, made of
wood of the Wallace oak, kindly presented by Captain
Spears, M.P., of Slderslie. The box arrived at Caprera
after the general had left to take command of the volun-
teer army, and the acknowledgment of its receipt was only
received on Tuesday by the secretary :—" Caprera, sth
October, 1866.—Brothars,—I am very proud to belong to
your society, and beg you to accept my gratitude for the
distinguished title of honorary member of your society.—
To you all, brothers, a salutation from your G. GARP
mum. John Wight, Esq., Hon. Sec., St. Andrew's So-
ciety of Glasgow." The following note was addressed to
Mr. M'Teez :—"Caprees., sth October, 1886.—My dear
M'Tear,—On my return from the continent I found in my
house the precious casket of Wallace's oak, inclosing the
address of the St. Andrew's Society, and also the collection
of seeds, ku. Be so kind as to thank, for me, all those
dear friends and brothers. . &member me also to your
dear wife ; and believe me to be, for life, your grateful
G. GARIBALDI."