The National Register.
London, England, 1822-08-18 00:00:00

.I"7Q

medichies, which he was to take early on Saturday in order
that I might know the ellect they bad produced on my arrival.
I 3/41140W that he took these powders on Saturday. I arrived at
North Cray- about seven o'clock on Saturday afternoon. I un-
derstood that his Lordship had not been uut'of bed all day, and
1 immediately proceeded to his bedroom. On catering Isis bed-
room, I observed that his manner of looking at me expressed
suapiciou and Maim. Ile said it was very odd that I should
'come into Isis bedroom first, before going into the dining-room
below. I answered that I had dined in town, and knowing that
the fatuity were at dinner down stairs, I bad come to visit him.
Upon this he made a reply which surprised me exceedingly. It
was to this effect—that .1 seemed particularly grave in my
manner, and that somethiug must have happened amiss. He
'ivern.asked am abruptly whether I had any thing unpleasant to
tell him ? I answered 'No ; that I was surprised at his ques-
tion, and the manner ill which it was proposed.' He then said,
the truth was, that he had reasonmeo be suspicious in ewe
degree, but that be hoped that I would be the Jest penman***
. would engage in any thing that would be injurious to
mituner.uf saying this was so neatest and so disturbed. ae
to satisfy sue that he was at the moment labouring under mead
delusion. I entreated Idle to be very tranquil, and preset/bed
for him some more cooling and aperient medicines, cooked
Ism to biurity water, and allowed bun seeps only. I remained
with Itilamdttring Satulday night and till gee o'clock on Sunday
morning. Theegh his fever.was not eery high .during any part
of this time, yet the incoherence of his speech and the ea-
cuotfortableness of h.s manner continued mothered. During
Seaday I visited him frequently, and continued with him in the
evening.until half past 12 o'clock. I advised him to be as traa-
. jail as possible, and told him that I would endeavour to per-
suade my lady to come to bed. I slept in a room very sear that
~of Ism Lordship. On Monday morning, about seven o'clock,
hlrs...ltubisioo, my Lady Luudonderry's maid, came to say
.LOOll% door, and asked if I area d d, telling me, " my Lordm.
, wished to see we by and by.' I answered, that I was reedy to .
come that moment ; but Mrs. Rubinson said, that sbe did not,
wish me to come thee, her:muse her Ladyship had not left the
bed-room. In about half an hour, she returned, and said, that
~his Lordship wonldm.be glad to see me immediately, as her lady-
ship was putting on her gown, in order to go iuto her own room.
I observed that the door of the latter was open and.eould per-
ceive that his Lordship was not in it. In an instant Mrs.
Rubinson said to me,. His Lordship has gone into his dressing
room.' I stepped into his dressing-room, and I saw Isimin his
dressing gown, standing with Ilis front towards the window,
.which was opposite the door at which I entered. His face was
datected towards the ceiling. Without turning his head, on
the instant he heard my step be esclaimed, " Istimkhead, let me
fall upon your arm—'his all over." As quickly as possible I
ran to him. thiultieg he was fainting and going to fall. caught
him in my arms as he was falling, and I perceived that be had a
knife io his right hand, very firmly clinched, and all over blood.
,1 (lid ant. tee him use it; he must have use,' it before I came
into the room. In falling he reclined upon one side, and the
blood burst frittn him like a torrent from a watering pot. I was
.enable to support him, and he fell nut of my anus. I think thc
mound must have been inflicted asszoon as I, pot my foot on the
threshold of the door, as its nature was such that the extinction
of life must have followed it in the twinkling of an eye. I think
that no less than two quarts of Wood flowed from him in one
minute. lam satisfied that a minute did stot.olapse from time
inausent afsny enterieg the room until he died, sod during that
time he said not a word except that which 1 have already men-
tioned. It was impossible that any human bring could have
inflicted the.neund but himself. H eying Inown hies intimately
for the last 30 years, I have no hesitation in saying that he. as
'perfectly insane when he committed this act. I had noticed
great decline iu the general habit of his health for some weeks
prier to his death ; but I was not aware of the mental deletion
which he was labouring till within three or four days of his
slecease."
After Dr. Baolthead had finished his testimony, mthe Coroner
inquired whether there were any more witnesses who could
%beak to the nature of this transaction. He was informed that
there were several ; hut a doubt being thrown out as to the
necessity. f calling them after the evidence which had already
Aseee.adduced,te said he should consult the jury upon the point,
end in consequence ordered the room to be cleared of all
speclasurs•
After the Coroner and Jary bad been left to themselves for

:kali an hour, notice was given that strangers were again per-
mitted to enter the room in which they were sitting. On resett-
ing it we found the Jury ranged round the Coroner's table, and
giving their assent to a verdict which he read to them. The
,verdict stated, " That on Monday, Ang. 12, and fur some time
previously, the Most noble Hobert, Marquis of Londonderry,
under a grievous disorder did labour and languish, and became
in consequence delirious and of insane mind ; and that, whilst in
that state, with a knife of iron and steel, lie did Whet on him-
self on the left side of his neck, and of the carotid artery, a
wound of oncinch in length, and half an inch in depth, of which
be instantly died ; and that nu other person except himself was
the cause of big death."
To this verdict all the Jurors signed their names.
Stranger. went then ordered to withdraw, and the inquiry
was considered to be at au end, but in a few minutes the Certi-
fier sent a polite message to the gentlemen connected with the
public press, intimating that their presence-then in the inquest
rOOlll would be necessary to the completion of their labours.—
The Jury were then standing round the table, and the Coroner
addressing theta said —" Gentlemen .of the Jury, I have de-
tained you a few moments longer than perhaps seemed neces-
sary after the decision you have come to, but I hope you will
think that my doing se is by no means a work o' supererogation,
whoa I lay .before you a document which I now bold in my
Laud.—Your verdict upon the evidence which you have already
heard, will be, I have no doubt, as satisfactory to your country
es it is, I 'insure, to your own consciences ; bat 1 am sure also
that you will have no objection to listen to the further piece of
documentary testimony which I hold in my band. The noble
Marquis, respecting whose death we are assembled to enquire,
was present before the King in Council on Friday last; and, as
it has been slated that he had previous to that -day exhibited
symptoms of a deranged intellect, it may be deemed doubtful :
it may seem strange that, subsequent to such aberrations of
mind as have been described, lie should be found exercising the
functions of his high office. 1 understand, however, that wit-
prises are in the house who could trace the malady, und.,r
which this unfortusate nobleman appears to have laboured, to •
considerable period antecedent to the act which is the sun;—e
,of this enquiry. This I think you will deem unnecessary, hut
in order to relieve all doubt upon the subject in the public
mind, 1 will read a letter to you, written by one of the highest
personages in the kingdom, the Duke of Wellington, in which
he expresses in free ternishis opinion of the state of the noble
Marquis's mind."
The worthy coroner then read the letter, of which the follow.
hag is a copy :

" Arley House, August 9.
DEAR milled upon you uith the :utentiou of tall.