The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-20 00:00:00

ITALY.

NAPLES, MAY 11.
My last letter closed with the sad intelligence of
the death of Mr. Blandford, an English gentleman
lately arrived in Naples. under very painful cir-
cumstances. My report of the case has hitherto
been defective from the fact of Mr. Blandford
having been too ill to make any deposition. The
following details, however, from his friend, the
Rev. Mr Bromley Moore, who was with him dur-
ing his illness, may be relied on.
Mr. Blandford had only been in Naples five
days when, on the evening of the 29th ult., he
left his hotel (Les Iles Britaniques), at about a
quarter past 11 o'clock, for a short stroll in the
Riviera di Chiaja. On his arriving just opposite
the Church of S. Giuseppe he was overtaken by a
man who, having passed him, knocked off his own
cap, as if by some preconcerted signal, and then
endeavoured to seize him by the throat. 'Mr. Bland-
ford immediately drew back, and struck the man
severely in the face with a stick, thus compelling
him to retreat ; but almost at the same moment be
received a blow on his head from one or two ruf-
fians who were closely following him, from some
blunt instrument, which prostrated him instantly,
and it is supposed that they either jumped upon
him or kicked him, causing severe internal injuries
in the abdomen. As there was some slight moon-
light, he was able to perceive that there were three
men, and that the one who first attacked him
was a short man, and wore -a jacket and a peaked
cap. In consequence of his cries and struggles the
ruffians were too much alarmed to succeed in their
attempt at robbery, beyond his hat and his cane,
and effected a precipitate retreat. As soon as he
had recovered his consciousness, Mr. Blandford
reeled across the street and reached some men
who were standing at the door of a cafe
not one of whom would come to his assistance.
He then mana,,4el to proceed, with great difficulty,
as far as the house of Mrs. Corby, an English-
woman long resident in Naples, where he was
placed in a carriage, and conveyed to his hotel
Mr. Roskilly was immediately called in, and he,
together with Dr. Bishop and a Neapolitan surgeon,
were in constant attendance. On the third or
fourth day after the atta3k the head was con-
siderably relieved ; but on Sunday, the 3rd, it was
evident that internal inflammation had set in, and
on the following Thursday, a few minutes after
mid-day, he died.
This melancholy event excited the utmost indig-
nation and regret, among not only the English.
but foreigners of all nations, and a great number of
his countrymen, anxious to mark publicly the sense
of the ruffianly act which deprived Mr. Wand ford
of his life, and their grieLathis untimely end, de-
termined on following his remains to the English
cemetery. His body was removed on Friday after-
noon to the ground, where it will remain till sent
off to England for burial. Between twenty and
thirty carriages attended the funeral, and upwards
of forty of his countrymen were assembled on the
melancholy occasion. Mr. Blandford was only
twenty-four years of age, and had been attached
to the medical staff stationed at Malta during
the Crimean war. He was a remarkably
floe young man, and one who, from his
courteous and gentlemanly bearing, had conciliated
universal goodwill. Uf his manly and Christian
fortitude and resignation, or of the affectionate
kindness which he received during his illness, it does

not belong to me to speak : the pen of private friend-
ship will, no doubt, supply his afiLoted friends with
those details. But it does belong to me to record

that no Englishman abroad, as in the case of poor
Mr. Blandford, can ever fall a victim to the bru-
tality of ruffians without awakening the liveliest
sympathy and regret, and commanding every
respectful attention to his memory from his coun-
trymen.
The Journal of Saturday night has a decree
approving the institution of a benefit fund to be
formed of the voluntary offerings of merchants
and others, which voluntary offerings were in
many cases collected from house to house, and
which are to b 9 expended annually in providing
dowries' for poor and honest girls, clothing, food,
and bedding for indigent individuals and families,
and a place of retirement for girls in want of pro
tection. The sums collected are to be invested in
•
the Funds.