The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-19 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE CAM.

On Monday last a piety of ten Gentlemen went from Cross's
boat-house, near this town, upon an aquatic excursion, in ten
separate canoes, as far as Granichester. After having refreshed
themselves they set oW on their return to Cambridge, about half,
past two in the afternoon. Seven of them being more expert than
the rest, rowed away from the others—Mr. Stanton, of Trinity
College; Mr. Tyner, of St. John's ; and Mr. Field, of Trinity,
being those behind. Mr. Tyner sooner tired, and begged of Mr.
Stanton to tow his canoe, which he agreed to do ; Mr. fyner being
cold, got on the bank to walk—lie soon came up with :llr. Field,
and was taken into his canoe. The canoes ate only intended for
one person. They were seen to row stexly h) seine boys, and on a
sudden disappeared. Mr. Stanton bring hehind, on coming nearer
heard a splashing in the water, and gave an alarm. The canoe was
found upset, and a cap floating on the water—both bodies had dis-
appeared. The alarm being given every exertion was made as
speedily as possible to find the bodies, but it wall not till after
about three hours and a half searching and dragging the river that
they were found. An immense crowd of University Gentlemen and
others had now assembled, and Mr. Abbott. the surgeon, had
been long in attendance ; but the length of time the bodies were
under water rendered all hopes of restoring animation by any me.
dical operations useless. The bodies were taken to Mr.. Wise-
man's, in Jesus-lane (at whose house 31r. Field lodged), and Mr.
Chevell, the Coroner, was immediately sent for.
The inquest was held at the Hoop Inn, at half past eight in the
evening, and did not terminate till eleven at night. Several of the
tutors, anti a great number of the students, were present, and the
room was so completely full as almost to obstruct the proceedings,
such intense interest being excited both in the University and the
town for the fate of these unfortunate young Gentlemen.
Several witnesses were examined. They proved that Mr. Tyner
and Mr. Field were in the same canoe. None of them saw it
upset, but it was clear that the catastrophe resulted from such an
accident.
'The Coroner summed up the evidence, and the Jury immedi-
ately returned a verdiet—" Accidentally drowned by the upsetting
of a boat."—Cambridge Piper.

AFFLICTING EVENT.
• I
Early on Wednesday morning last the body of Daniel Reynier,
Esq. a gentleman of considerable opulence, residing opposite the
Terrace in ilighbury-rove. was found fluting in a hone-pond by
the road aide, between the Bald-faced Stag and Finch.ley Church.
at East Finchley. The deceased was well known in the City, and
especially on the Stock Exchange, of which he was for several years
a member, and from which he retired to the enjoyment of the otium
cum dignitate about a year since. Shortly previous to that event
the mind of the deceased sustained a shock, in the unexpected
death of • beloved wife, and from that period it never regained its
former healthful v gour. Ness Reynier had scarcely given birth to
a sixth child when her offspring became motherless, and it is an
afflicting consideration that a family of six children, by the un-
timely death of their father, is made doubly orphans. Of these
the eldest is scacely fifteen, the youngest not two years old. His
establishment at flighbury (front was auth as became his station,
and although oppressed by occasional and indeed frequent aberra-
tion of intellect, the only ex'xeme hitherto consequent upon such a
lamentable state was that of humanity, in liberally bestowing a
portlon of his affluence on the poor and friendless of the neigh-
bourhood. To his servants he was ever a kind and considerate
masts:—to his children a fond and affectionate father. He died at
the age of 39, when the life of man is usually considered in its
prime—at • period when his paternal counsel and countenance
might be considered most essential to his now fatherless children.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
On Thursday evening, at six o'clock, an inquisition was taken
9n the body of deceased before T. Sr sauna, Esq., Coroner for
3lititilutex, at the Five Bells, East Finchley.
The Jury having been sworn proceeded to view the body, upon
which there were not any marks of violence; the countenance of
deceased was perfectly placid. On their return to the jury-room
the following evidence was adduced :
Thomas Brett, servant to Mr. Brewster, farmer and cattle-sales.
man, at East-end, Finebley, was proceeding across the rick-yard
adjoining his master's house, about seven o'clock on Wednesday
morning, when he observed a quantity of clothes by the side of
one of the haystacks; he immediately returned to the house, and
informed his muter and fellow-servants of the circumstance ; Mr.
Brewster was in bed, but got up and accompanied witness and two
other men to the spot ; on seeing the clothes his master observe),
that they were those of a gentleman, and he feared some dreadful
circumstance had occurred. They all left the rick-yard, and cross.
ing an adjoining lane entered a field, by the road side of which was
a horse-pond ; Mr. Brewster shortly afterwards drew their atten.
Lion to the body in the pond, which lay partly concealed by the
overhanging trees of the hedge ; he then went for Thomas } rest,
the constable, and returning with him, the body was conveyed in
one of his master's carts to the house where the inquisition was then
being holden. The pond was very shallow—there was about three
feet deptit of water where the body was found, and there was not
any nut of it more than breast high : he thcught the deceased must
have walked into the pond, and it world seem that he had done so
with his clothes on, in the first instance, as the stockings and lower
part of the trousers weft quite wet. The clothes were given
into the possession of the constable.
John Batchelor and Tarbox, two fellow-labourers of this
witness, corroborated his testimony.
Thomas Frost, the constable, produced the clothes of deceased ;
there was not any money in the pockets; no watch had been found
(although the servants of deceased stated that he usually wore a
gold watch, chain, and seals); the only articles found he now pro.
duced, viz. a pen-knife, comb, and a slip of paper, on which was
written, " Mr. James, near the Turnpike, Stamford-hill ;" it was
on application to Mr. James that the body was ascertained to be
that of deceased.
The Bow-street patrol, stationed between Finchlev Common and
flighbury, overtook deceased in the mad across the Common abou.
a quarter before eleven on Tuesday night ; he spoke to him, but
received no answer ; he then asked him where he was going ; upon
which he (the deceased) without uttering a word, ran away with all
his speed. fie followed at a brisk trot, and at kilt)) overtook
him ; deceased was then lying on his back in the road, having ran
against a bricklayer, by which Cosh were thrown down. Witness
dismounted and assisted deceased to rise. lie then said he lived at
Ilighbury, and asked to be allowed to ride home behind witness.
promising to give him half a sovereign for the trouble he hail
taken ; witness told him he could not do so. Deceased asked if he
could take him to a house where he could have a bed ; witness ob-
served that it was too late, as all thee houses were shut up, but that
he could have a chair by the fire-side at the station watchhouse:
this offer deceased refused. lie confirmed walking by the aide of
witness for a considerable time, conversing rationally, and stating
that he had dined out and drank nailer too much wine. Witness
left deceased about • quarter past twelve o'clock, on the Common.
Several tenants of some new-built cottages in Bull's-lane (lead-
ing from the Norni.road to East Fiochley), donned to having
heard the dogs barking at about one o'clock on the morning in
question ; they infernal that some pens: must they have passed up
the lane.
The horse pond is about 200 yards from the top of Bull's-lane.
Mr. Saddler, an undertaker from London, and the housemaid
and gardener of the deceased, deposed to the circumstance of his
Irving been afflicted for a considerable time past with intermittent
aberration of intellect.
The Coroner, after detailing the evidence given, thought the
Jury could not have any difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory con-
clusion.
The Foreman almost immediately returned as their verdict—
" That the deceased drowned himself when in an insane state of
mind."
On visiting the rick-yard, the female servant of deceased found,
neat the spot whence the clothes of her late muter had been re-
moved, Ins gold pin : neither the watch nor money have, however,
been discovered.
The distance from the rick-yard to the pond is about 20 yards.
A brother anti three sisters were at the Five Bells yesterday to
identity the body. We regret to add, that such was the shock
upon a third brother, sea:dent in London, that lie has been confined
to his bed by serious illness ever since the afflicting communication
was made to hint.
We have been informed, that about nine o'clock on Tuesday
night eleceastd called on the Rev. Mr. Williams, at Hornerton (to
whom he was well known), requesting to be accommodated with a
bed ; this, however, was refused hint, probably under the convic-
tion that lie would therefote return hone, and relieve his family
Trinttnne 'nsittlnlY consequent upon his absence at that late hour.
Deemed, it is said, then proceeded to the house of another friend,
and we believe that it was from bins that he received the written
address of Mr. James, which was found in his pocket. The latter
gentleman was, we understand, the solicitor to Mr. R.
Thursday night, at a late hour, the body of deceased was re-
moved in a hearse to his residence, Highbury-grove.