The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-27 00:00:00

CORONERS.

On Tharsday week an inquest was held at the White Lion
. Into, Berton.upon-klumber, byMartitaiinke Dixon, gentleman,
Cormier of Castor, on the body of Ann Jitlib. widow of that
place, aged 83, who was found dead in her house the preced.
ing 114 y. From the evidence produced, added to the testi-
mony of Mr. Hayes, surgeon, the Jury, without hesitation.
returned their verdict —Died by the visitation of God, of
apoplexy. After the verdict had been recorded, one of the
Jurors entreated the professional advice of the Coroner on
the subject of inquests. Ife Wu:creed.ll very generel opinion
prevailed that it was a palpable absurdity ill sending for the
Coroner on the present occasion, more especially as the de-
ceased was far advanced in years. and it was so decidedly
apparent to her relatives, au.l many of the inhabitants also,
by what mean.: she came to her death. Some oldie assembled
Juicy inestimied the propriety of what had been done, and
the discussien which had taken place thervini subjected
the permit' rink whom the present inquest originated to much
severe animadversion. It was also imagined, nun the sup—
position had been acted on at Barton, that a percroo dying
goldenly in the presence of.f,ieud., associates, or other re-
apeendate witnesses, rendered a curt/tiers imytest eq.• ally
unnecessary.
Mr. Dixon immediately replied as follows : —Gentlemen, I
am glad that this opportnuity is afforded ine to deliver my
sentiments on the subject, because) find mune:ion opithimsa
are entertained concerning inques's,and witlyast my expiaua,
non, might probaWy hereafter produce very unineasaut coo-
sequences. In reference to the present misfortune, the per.
sou who took the trouble Jaf sending for nie,.l am greatly
obliged tu; hu is justly deserving of my thanks, for having
as it appeass„fearlessley taken the respousibility on himself.
In doing so, I beg eliatinctly to state before you, that he has
performed a necessary and imperionselifty. I boldly assert,
without fear of conthadictionond it cannot be too generally
known, that in all cases of sodden death, whether happening
alien Ilse person is alone at the time, or expires before a
hundred witnesses, the Coropeeis to be acqoainted therewith.
that lie may have the -oppoiSulaity of inqiiii lug and aseeetaie.
ing by a jury in the ordinary way, how, when, and by what
means, ands death is occasioned. Placed at a distance, as•l
generally am, front such fatal occurrences, I mast be supposes!
stranger to the particulars relating thereto.; and .I beg to
inform.you, thaeby neglecting to..eumply -this :mediae
regulation of the Act of Parlianienu•shoold, it. come to my
kiauwledge, i possess the orower of demanding the disinte4 -
went. of the corpse and e:" molding an inquest thereon; the
palish is also liable to an indictment and severe penalty.—
Getnlemen, the law is peremptory, and by virtue of my uatle
as coroner, and as a loather of couscienee,lllM bound to do
my duty. You will constantly iindersmed, in reference to
the discs which bare been veil properly stated ,to me, that
all inquest uu all such occasions it indispensable. I !rase
Out glint you garbled exit-acts in tiotherauce of any sluister
views ; the small emolument derived limn my office renders
it no temptation to exercise my pi ivilege at bitrarily, was I
so disposed. I trint,therefore, Gentlenieo, you will be inclined
to obey the explication I have given, and join with me in
adopting the maxi ~,, that the obligations of d;,.ty are, and
ought to be, paramount to every pecuutary cuitsideratioo..--
.Joncurter Gadte.

Private litters have been received from the Diseovrry
nuder Captain Ross, dated theist of August, in lat.
75.48. N. Itnig.,6l. 20. W. They state that the ice was clear-
ing away, and that their prospect of success was improving.
The moss extonstdinary Phenomenon of the varieties' of the
compass had gone on onereasing ; it ;was 88.13. QII the ice z
we say ou the ire, for oseituard ship, owing to supse peculiar
ill/hitt/CC nut yet ascertained, it was much istere..-The former
letters, of which ae have already given extracts, mention that
on board ship 11w variation was at one timeln decrees, that
is. the needle punned instead of tusrlh, to the southward of
west. This dithveuee between the real variation and an ap-
parent variation onboard ship. wasirst observed by Captain
Flinders, but it was supposed to be vn accidental prenliatity
. in his *hip : it is.pow.elear that It belongs to ail ships, and
varies its all, and there would be link doubt that it should be
attributed to the influence of the iron about the veSsel,,rxeept • •
for a curious fact which we suideistand has heels ascertalued ••
—n?.;fsely, that the compasses called insulated compasses,
which are plored in. boxes of irou,sod which are uninflueaced
by external iron, when brought near to Owns, are elected by
the .ship-variation in the same degree as- the common Com-
passes. This, which is now called the deviation, has beets
found to be much greater as the experinients go northward.
'Fulls is accounted for Irons the circumstance of the dip of the .
needle.diminishing what is usually called its polai ity, and al-
lowing it, therefore, to be Wore easily affected by the local
influence of the ship.
The, Duke of Bonrlion is nearly recovered from his late
accident. It is a minus fact, that the ebace of the wild boar
had ouce before nearlyproved fatal tothat Prince, in the same
forest of Chantilly. He was then only 26 years' f age ; and
seeing one of his own huntsmen thrown down defenceless,
rushed to his relief, acid epgaged the tenet's animal with no
other weapon than a dirk. The contest, though perilous in
the extreme, was not long, and before any person of his suite
could conic up, he stretched the wild boar dead at leis feet.
Two boys, convicted .of stealing apples, vete ordered to
be publicly whipped in Hoisiton. The three constables em-
ployed were convicted of dipping their cat.o'..nine tails Into
blood, to deceive the spectators, and so turning the punish-
ment ioto ridicule: they were fined two guineas for the
trick. _ _

Captain Hawkins, of the Everthorpe of Hull, while at the Davis's
Straits fishery, being engaged with a bcrat's Crew in attempting to kill
• bear in the water, it mate a snatch at Captain H. seiaitt hint by ttat
thigh, dragged him oat of the beat, and mule otf with hire; but one
of the crew throwing a mallet hit the boo., andcaused him to let ga
Capt. H. whom the boats crew sum:oiled in recovering.
It is stated that the journeymen carpenters in the city of Bristol
struck foran increaseof Weir wagca on the night of Satarday week.
WINDOW si'A X --A Bata paper says, " The t rof
Taxes for tills Ili/ eict has, we understand, received directions
to make an immediate survey of houses anti windows, and
charge ' all windows constructed with divisions of atone,' as
ato many separate lights. -All windows, known tinder the
Hanle sf yetictiaas, will henceforth be deemed three liglits."l
A carriage, of which the box, the body, the harrier,
and the horses, are white, has excited for some days
the curiosity of the Parisians. The coachman and foot-
men wear white hats, and arc drt.tssed in white liveries.
Inside is a child, aged about 10 years, dressed in white,
as is also a female. servant who accoinpanies him.
Wednesday evening, the liranil Duke Michael ar-
rivei at Stratford Iloilo from Brighton.

~t

Coutt uflio•cetorswaaJd at the East
i when ti e...tidiewing ships were taken t,p
tolitlition to those alrca,lc engagt&for
a•e Company's service, viz.—For Bottil;ay Lind China
—Vansit tart; -Coo. H.'S. atirymple. For St. Helena.
tlencnolen, and I'itt, Cept..G. Graham.
direct—New sill') Executor; of I'. Rollan.l,•
i.:Apt. A. Lindsay 4 Bridgewater, Capt. I'. Hughes :
IHerethrdshire, Capt. J. Money ; Warren Ha:;tins,
7ap..
~111. and Lord Costl,,,,rc•agh, Ceptaiii W.
olurglturbatid. Captain T. Borratlaile. was ,:worn into
the etnnutand of the ship higlis, for Sonibny anl
• J. Kingston, Esq. Co optroller of Stator:, is appo:oce.l
C'munt'.,sixter of am Board, vacant by tha death of
;we have not heard the nay.te. the DCW
CAlllptrni !cr.

NORWICII UNION Finn ani LIFE TNSITR- '
toit:l7.. It a very nitinerous and roo,t regicytalilr :\ !TETI NG of
:41:MbEitS of the NintWICII UNION FIRE mid LIFE IN
SO.' RANCE SOCiii7f I Kti, convened by public advertisements,
a., .1 held at tl:o City of London Tavern. lii-hopsatite-street, for the
pi T.s".,o‘c•or REC ill t'lN el the REPORT of the LOND(IN 01\1-
ite2Ti.r. ai IN V E,STlGA'llo.N,•(appointed at the York Hotel,
Osotimlnt'l ./.11iy 1a..t.)
. '1.110.01 AS RF.NSLEY. Fol. in the Chair :
d4e::-::. art being read to the Meeting by the Setiremry, of the
It esiioaal. .
f al, poeiw, c;• .rslin Pattisen, 17..:q. Aldurnan ofNcr.%l-li, and
••• 1 ... Pi: i'• 4' City one of the Societe,'. TC:i.ii4CS. am: :,e:ontled
~.ehr '• Thorpe. En. Alderman and M. C. and it-solved
'I. Ti-et ele Imp able Report now read he adopted by this mreting,
rd :h-.t it be pri...tal with its appendix for the use of the tramioces of
the Society.
* ti. That it hi highly desirable,ion the one hand, to support an in-
s:drink:l of-cunt extreme utility es the Nerwicii Union; but, en the
Daher donil, to take the most efiletual inottsure for coact:Ling such
Croat Ls at et have crept into it. -
-;: 'rh.ninfeftlierance of this object, thopresent Committee be re-
k4sted mow:num that labours, with power to add tetheir number.
i.stztder -4 coluiler of the test mode of revising the various deeds of
lelfremtiStsind Acts of Parliament, and tike legal advice, and adopt
f•' :ours for calling an early General Meeting, yur.uant -to the re•
tclationenf the Society.
/'. ',earrroposed by Francis Rouble. En.; seconded by S. N.
Barb t, En. ; and resolved unanitnotei.,
•$. That Mr. Alderman Thorp be t:, ..:d to this Committee.
it was proposed by John Hanson, Esti. seconded by John Middle-
ton. -'-n• and reaulvsil unanictously.
ji. That the corthil thanks of the Committee and of this meeting,
lie kkeia to Fmk:telt Arnaud Clarke. Kiii., the Secretary, for his
stitlefinigahle erertions in fcra aiding the labours of the Committee,
peed the benett of the menthes of the Norwich Union Office at
le: ge.
It was moved by John Patterson, Es*, seconled byJ. T. Thorp,
I.sq., arl,l resolved nnanimonsly,
i. That the thanks of the Meeting •he gi,en to the Committee for
V.+ unwearied assiduity in attaining; to the cencerns of the In-
stitution.
It was m0...11)y Tho ras Wilson, r.ig; seconded by F. A. Clarke.
2..1.; and resolved unanimously.
That the thanlis of this:Meeting he given to the Directors of
Cie Noi a hill Union, ter :he readint,is with winch they have render-
ed ti the Coamtittee every facility in Me investigation of their
sdairs.
(Signed) TIMM:IS RENSLEY, Chairman.
Nr..Beialty hovity, left the chair, it tits taken by Mr. Patteson,
itUtsooesd. • 1-
' .'not the Thank s of the Meeting Me given to "rhonias Serisley,
ki) . the Cliaiiman both of the Committee and this Meeting, for Lis
Inip,i;tial conduct in the chair, and his attention to the whole of the
.rev ,iblls business over which he has pre.dtletl,
This motion was vewaded ty Mr. Altkrinan Thorp, and pasted
unanimously.
• it was a's° nievell, second:o, and resolved.
• That die Ile-oletion !low r.,,,,d be published in the usual Morn-
-irg, Evening, and Provincial Papers.