The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-18 00:00:00

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL (THIS DAY.

TENTH DAY'S INQUIRY.
This morning, at half-past eleven, the inquiry was
again resumed, with the continued examination of Mr.
Wakley, sen., who began by entering into a statement
about the dismissal of Dr. Gay, and denied that he had
taken any part in it, or that he had read the biography
published and reflecting upon the character of him (Mr
Wakley), (and which it was alleged gave the offence),
until three months after his (Dr. Gay's) dismissal. Mr.
Wakley had no sooner began, than a scene of a most re-
markable character took place. Some of the j iry com-
plaining of the useless waste of time about going into
matters irrelevant to the inquiry, which was as to the
death of the child, and, amidst cheers upon one side and
hisses upon the other, Mr. Wakley, in a few words, con-
tinued his statement, and again denied he had acted
with animosity towards Dr. Gay.
Mr. Ballantine then rose to cross-examine Mr. Wakley
as to the time he (Mr. Wakley) joined the hospital as
upon the committee, which he said was some years ago,
and about that time his son joined the hospital as sur-
geon ; and asked if at the time of joining there was not
mismanagement in the hospital ?
One member of the jury here rose and again objected.
The others wishing it to go on again, there was another
disturbance; Mr. Wakley, jun., who sat behind Mr.
Ballantine, calling Mr. Ballantine a ruffian to pursue
such a course, and again repeated the assertion.
Mr. Bodkin reprehended Mr. Wakley, jun., for such
conduct, and said that Mr. Ballantine could not feel
himself as acting freely when such language was used to
him. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wakley, jun., apologised.
Mr. Ballantine then examined Mr. Wakley at some
length, and be most strenuously denied that he had
thrown any impediment in the way of holding the in-
quest more than he should with any other case, as he
did not think it advisable to hold inquests in all cases
where persons had died from operations, as it would in
hundreds of cases deter surgeons froth operating, and
they would rather let people perish than take the risk.
This was the only case where an inquest had been held
upon a patient who died from an operation of lithotomy.
William Hicks—l am college porter ; was present at
the operation, and during a part of the operation held
the leg of the child. Recollected the syringe being asked
fur, and he filled it. Mr. Thomas Wakley examined the
child with his finger, but did not see him hold any knife.
Mr. Baker then commenced summing up, and said
that, after ten days of a laborious and somewhat ano-
malous inquiry, it became his duty to sum up, and be-
fore entering upon his task, he hoped the jury would
discharge from their minds whatever they had heard
out of doors, and confine themselves only to the cause
of the child's death, or they might render themselves
liable not only to censure, but perhaps to legal proceedings.
He then referred to the feeling which had been shown
during the proceedings, and expressed his regret that
more respect had not been shown to the office of coroner.
He then went at some length into the history of the pro-
ceedings connected with the dismissal of Dr. Gay, and
those leading through his and other means to the inquest
being held, and told the jury that with that they had
nothing to do, or no right to interfere. The coroner
then proceeded to read some passages from Sir Astley
Cooper's Lectures which stated that the operation of ex-
tracting the calculi in children was of a very dangerous
nature, and the younger the more so ; and that they fre-
quently died in three days from the time of performing
the operation, especially if the patient lost much
blood. The lecturer also went on to describe
the manner of performin: the operation, and
added that he had known a dozen cases where the
operator had missed the bladder. He then went on to
point out the illegality of juries appending remarks to
theiriverdicts,and quoted Lord Denmanwho said that juries
should confine themselves to the question before them, as
by doing otherwise they made an injurious use of their
powers. He (the coroner) then reverted to the law of man-
slaughter, and cited the opinion of Mr. Justice Patti-
son in "The Queen v. Lightfoot," in the Not-
tingham Railway case, where it was laid down that
where a man did his best he could not be held guilty
of manslaughter if through his act death ensued.
Also in the case King v. Williams (Carrington and
Payne), where a man midwife had, through mistake,
done an injury to a woman whom he had delivered,
which caused her death. Lord Ellen borough warned
the jury of the great danger of returning verdicts of
manslaughter, as it would deter medical gentlemen from
attempting operations of the greatest benefit to their
fellow-creatures. Manslaughter could only be returned
in cases of gross neglect. He then reverted to the
ruling of Mr. Baron Garrow in the case of Saint John
Long, and then went on to read portions of the evidence
taken at the several inquiries.
The jury had not returned their verdict when we went
to press.

THE LONDON GAZETTE.

(THIS EVENING.)

BUCKINGHAM PALACEr JULY 17.
This day had audience of the Queen—The Count von
Bernstorff, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo-
tentiary from the King of Prussia, to present his creden-
tials to her Majesty.
To which audience he was introduced by the Earl of
Clarendon, K.G., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Major-General
the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, K.C.H., her Majesty's Master
of the Ceremonies.

OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, JULY 18.
Ordnance Medical Department—Joseph Barker, Gent.,
to be an Assistant-Surgeon ; Henry Clifford, Gent., to be
julyloan Assistant-Surgeon, July 15.
COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS.
Cavalry—
Matthew 2d RegimentNorthamptonshire
Samuel
Knapp,R
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Regiment
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Militia—LordbeCornet, Yeomanry
Brown-
low
Guaids, Tli t
oa Thomas
eMon Secondt Montague
lief
aj Cecil,or, j lateu lJuly
loo.f the.io LightiaSz Scots onlt su Fusilierfantr.
4th Regiment of West York Militia—Robert Borth-
wick, Esq. (late 91st Regiment), to be Captain, June 21 ;
Bryan Stapleton, Esq., to be Lieutenant, June 28 ; Ben-
jamin Webster, Gent., to be Assistant-Surgeon, June 28;
Thomas Sturges Walford, Esq., to be Captain, July 7.
[The following appointments are substituted for those
which appeared in the Gazette of Tuesday, 27th June :_]
3d6:h Regimentnegiment ofof
WW
oesstt
York
oorrkk
m3liiiliittiiaa_,
Thomas Orton Howorth, Gent., to be Ensign, June 10y—
Wynne, Gent., to be Lieutenant, June IG. Henry Cole

BANKRUPTS.
George Chaffer, builder, Pimlico, to surrender July 31
and August 31, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Cannan, official assignee, Aldermanbury; Hick, Gray's-
inn-square.
Thomas Padley Sant, baker, Islington, July 28, at
twelve, and Sept. 5, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Lee, official assignee, 3loorgate-street ; Willoughby and
Cox, Clifford's-inn.
David Cooper, pearl button manufacturer, Birmingham,
July 29 at twelve, and Aug. 24 at ten, at the Birmingham
District Court. Bittlestou, official assignee, Birmingham;
Motteram and Knight, Birmingham.
George Frederick Bloxham, horse dealer, Lukesland
Grove, Ivy-bridge, Devon, July 26, and August 24, at one,
at the Eager District Court. Hirtzol, official assignee,
Exeter; Stogdon, Exeter,
William Pilling, publican, Shudehill, Manchester, July
28, and August 18, at twelve, at the Manchester District
curt.
ester. Hernaman, official assignee, Manchester; Potter,
nch
William Whalley, cotton-spinner, Stockport, July 31,
and August 21, at twelve, at the Manchester District
Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester ; Atkinson,
Saunders, and Last, Manchester.
Samuel Hodson, innkeeper, Manchester, August 2, and
23, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official
assignee, Manchester ; Higson, Manchester.
William Astins, machine printer, Upper Thames-street,
July 29, at eleven, and August 31, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ;
J. and J. H. Linkla.ter, Backlersbury.
Auguste Silvestre, importer of and dealer in fancy goods,
Argyll-street, Regent-sti eet, July 28, at twelve, and Jep-
tecn ber 5, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards,
official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Braham, Furnival's-inn.
Henry Cottinan, grocer, Sandgate, Kent, July 28, at
two, and August 31 at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Dods, St.
Martin's-lane.
James Russell, cabinet maker, Chichester, July 29 at
one, and Aug. 31 at half-past twelve, at the Courtn of.
Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Ba!ii ll
street ;W. H. and C. J. Palmer, Bedford-row; Titcl,7,l2a
ener ,
Chichester.

SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
Alexander J. Warden and Son, manufacturers, Dundee;
creditors meet July 27, in the British Hotel, Dundee.
James Thomson, grocer, Glasgow; July 25, in the Globe
Hotel, Glasgow.
Browns and Findlay, parent metallic cask manufacturers,
Glasgow; July 28, in the Globe Hotel, Glasgow.
Milne, Cruden, and Company, manufacturers, Aberdeen ;
July 28, in the Royal Hotel, Aberdeen.