The National Register.
London, England, 1815-07-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

CORONER'S .INQUST.

MR. WHITBREAD.
The untimely death of this eminent person has excited so much in-
terest and anxiety, that we should be wanting- our duty ro the pub-
lic, if we did nat publish all the particulars which have transpired.
The following account seems correct, and is complete:y ,atisfactory
as to the cause of the tragic event, which has afflicted all classes of
reople.
On Thursday sennight, information was received by Wm. Henry
Gell, Esq. Coroner for the County of M:el :le.ex, that Mr. Whit-
bread had put an end to his own existence, ;Jed a Jury was instantly.
summoned to sit on the body ifi the altering. At ciglss o'clock the
Inquest had assembled at the house of the deceased, in Dover-street,
Piccadilly.
The first witness examined was J. Wilshire, Esq. frern who:e de-
position it appeared that he was a anc,st particulir friend to the cc-
ceased. He resided in Hertf' rdshire. A few weeks sirce he re-
ceived an application from the family and friends of Mr. Whirl-read,
come to town, for the purpose of soothing their of feelings.
and, if possible, by fellowship, to rouse and restore the deceased Irons
the lethargy and dull mclanchols that was then operating upon him.
' On his arrival in town, he found his friend in a low desponding state,
and notwithstanding every exertion, he couid but occasiorialty suc-
ceed in shaking offthe melancholy, which seemed to have sized fast
hold of him, or cause him to retract or give up the irregular notions
and incoherent expressions he had continually adopted. He en-
treated Mr. Whitbread also to retire from those purr uirs and that
intenae application which apparently disturbed his imaginarian to a
deg•ee bordering on despair. Mr. W. listened on all occasi its to his
advice, and in many instances promised to adhere to it. He com-
plained, however, bitterly, that he felt rte had become completely
unlit. for business—that his public life was extinct—that Jae was tie-
rided—in short, that he had become "an outcast of society." An
evening or two before the fatal transaction, his friend and he dined
together. Mr. W. was in excellert health, and corducted him e:f its
that clear and energetic way by whicit he has alwkys bean distia-
guished. After diluter, however, his mind at once forsook h In, and
he commenced en argument of a most idle and ridiculous nature. On
this he expatiated, with as much warmth as though it was a great •
('national question. Hi; frend on this occasion endca,oured to restore
his reason, and pointed out to him the absurdity as we I as t he .inpr,-
t abi i•y of his statements. Mr. W. however, eersiattd in h:s
tied declarations ; and, among other dillies, stated that charges a
serious nature- were exhibited against him, as well by ti e pubic
voice, as by communications : this was also resisted as ere ne us by
his frier d. Mr. W: however, with much vra mth, rind rtook to.
prove it by his secre'ary, who, he said, could pre& ce documents to
the fact.' The secretary being in the house, was instantly caned, ai.ct
confronted with him, when the v. hole of what he, Mr. W. La I state t,
turn.d out to he a ,nacre fabrication of the brain. The refs on of the
deceased seernel ree or d for a short time, and !.e towed in si-
lent submission of his error.'
The evidence of Mr. Wilshire went to prove a variety of othar
ha-
cidents, relative to the deceased for several months, all of wit ch went
to establish a settled derangement of the mind of his lamt n•ed t tient!.
Mr. Holland, a magistrate, resitting at Epsom, corrob rated the
account of Mr. Wilshire, as tar as it related to the general conduct of
the der'eased ter several months. Ile was also his parecutat :.cquaine-
anee and friend. Some waeks shoe he had noticed an extraordinary
stupor and dulness abaut him, and imagining that it ;trove from in-
here study application, he entreated him to spend a few days in
the country, at his (Mr. Holland's) seat. A fter much difEctilry he
suect e led, and Mr. W. ace impavid him to F. m. (In the dav of
their arrival, Mr. W. was in apparent good health aed spirits, talked
rationally, aad retir.d to rest cetertutly. On his apee.ran'e, how-
ever, the following meriting. being asked by Mr. H. bow he 01!, and
how he slept ? Mr. W. replied he was very ill hide d, ai:fi had not
enjoyed half an hour's rest duelig the night." He tin-n add, d, "he
forego the kind invitation of his friend, and go to ins\ n ; a vast
deal of public business temaii ed to he done, an I It ugh lie wits inca-
pable r,f pertorining it, he would struggle at it, .ind do tl.e best he
could "
• Mr. Holland further related, that he had accompanied Mr. W. to a
meeting of the proprietors of Drury-lane Theatre, wi.ere he was
ca!led to the chair. The bus:Tess %N a ; for the purpose • I t Irct irg a
mamb rnt the Committee, the room of the Hun. Casten.. sh Brad-
shaw, ss ho had r...sientat On tit ocea,ion, however, N.r W.
scarcely opened his lips, and sat in the chair in a sen (less state,
looking with INCAIt IrCiaiiChOry upon all .around him. On the!r re-
tiring from the me,.tilig, Mr W. oh-ervel to his mend, " V, u te.‘e
now an opportunity of teeing my incara,ity for publ e busintss; cis;` t
or ten years ago, I could pretend to do buones+s, but nosy I a •••t •i
ineeretateece, and I at:: ores' tar my et vices," Ir. aaditl.l4