The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-23 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

EXTRAORDINARY DELUSlONS.—Yesterday morning a Com-
mission of Lunacy wa3 opened before Commissioners PHILLI-
DIORE, C. K. MURRAY, and J. M. WEST, at the King's Head
Tavern, Norwood, Surrey, to inquire into the state of mind of
Mrs. Label Sprout, a widow lady, an inmate of a private lunatic
asylun; at Norwood.

The proceedings were considerably delayed in consequence
of only eight jurymen attending out of twenty-four who had
been summoned. Mr. Under Sheriff Abbott had to send
about the neighbourhood, which is thinly populated, for tails-
men, to make up the requisite muster of jurymen ; and after
nearly an hour's lapse of time a Court was formed.
The Learned CHIEF COMMISSIONER addressed the jury, arid
explained the object of the inquiry, and added that it was not
only necessary for them to find that this lady was a lunatic,
but that she was so far of unsound mind as to be incapable of
governing herself and her property, because it was not suffi-
cient to find her a lunatic to deprive her of her liberty and
property.
Mr. STEWART observed that he appeared before them as
Counsel in support of the Commission. Mrs. Sprout had
been a widow for the last fifteen years, and had lived with her
sister a great portion of that time. He believed he should be
able to show by the clearest evidence that the lady was of un-
sound mind, and utterly incapable of managing herself or her
property. Among other extraordinary delusions under which
she laboured was that of fancying herself an empress, and
that her husband was Alexander, King of Bavaria—and that
her uncle had married the daughter of a common hangman,
named John McCraw. She also believed that she allowed
M'Craw 100/ per year, and had done so for some time. Ano •
ther delusion that existed in her mind was, that within the last six
weeks she had been stripped and gagged at least ten times. On
other occasions she imagines herself daughter of Frazer the King
of Bavaria who married Aurora. She also calls herself the Prin-
cess Charlotte, and on being told that the Princess has been dead
for some time, she asserts that she is Empress of the t" hole
world except thei East Indies, which she state.; is to 3 hot. She
r: is !ici..l,l* .;,, and :1•:-

- • ,
ii~e bi.tarci Daughter of Al.‘Crutv, the hafig-i-nad. One eo cum.
stance, however, above all, proved beyond doubt the unfortu•
nate state of this lady's mind, and that was, that it was ex-

tremuly difficult to get her to change her linen—and she ob-
stinately persisted in not doing so, except in the presence of a
police officer, whose presei?u, it was found necessary to obtain
for the last twelve months.
A great many witnesses were examined, whose evidence fully
bore out the statements of the Learned Counsel. The unfor-
tunate object of the inquiry, on being visited by a deputation
from the Jury, put the state of her mind beyond a doubt, and
a verdict was returned " That Mrs. Sprout is a lunatic, and
has been so since the 22d of August, 1837, and is incapable of
governing herself and her property."
The unfortunate lady, it was stated in the course of the in-
vestigation, was possessed of considerable property.

LORD WESTERN UPON THE SUB-

JECT OF SOWING WHEAT.

Lord Western has addressed a letter to Lord Rayleigh ea
the advantage of increasing the quantity of seed wheat, and
drilling it in at nine inches distance from row to row.
From the letter, which appears to-day in the Essex He-
rald, we select the subjoined portions :
" One objection, I have heard urged .by some persons, is,
in my mind, a recommendation, viz. that it requires a great
deal of attention, as indeed does the drill system generally--
the master's eye, good ploughing, even and equal sized
stetches, &c., &c. Such a necessity forced upon some
farmers, would be a great good to tbeFri. I certainly have
often seen some of the most negligent and disgraceful work
in ploughing and putting in wheat, particularly on clover
leys ; and that in cases where other work in the farm may be
fairly well done. It is almost incredible that such should be
the case, but I confidently maintain that it often is so. . •
I think I told you, my Lord, that I had (speaking in round
numbers) 100 acres sown with wheat, and no failure of a plant
in any instance ; in fact, as perfect a plant throughout as any
person would desire. . . • • • . •
I have gone through every field with my bailiff, and am of
opinion that there arc fewer small ears than in a thin broad cast
plant. I state this as matter of fact ; the reasoning upon it is
another question. . . • • • • •
I have no claim to originality in it; I adopted it, I believe
I told you, upon my last visit to Holkham, ten years ago
nearly : my friend, the Earl of Leicester, sanguine upon the
advantages of it (nor less so two or three of his most ex-
perienced tenants), urged me to make the trial; and, from
that time to this, I have, without exception, put in all MY,
wheat in that way ; and though the precise quantity of seer
may vary according to land and time of sowing, I contend that
a larger quantity than is generally sown would much increase
our national produce. I have never put in less than three
bushels per acre ; and I may venture to add, upon the recol-
lection of my bailiff as well as my own, that I have never failed
in my plant of 'wheat since that time. I come now to speak
of the probable produce this year. Ido not hesitate to state,
my opinion that I shall average very nearly, if not quite a lobo.
an acre, (40 bushels) upon the full hundred acres; 13P°11
ninety out of the hundred I say it with great confidence • •
. When I speak of a load an acre, I mean the
.
farmer's acre, and not the landlord's. I allow for hedges'
ditches, &c., about seven per cent. Last year I grew, uP°ll
my farms of Felix Hall and Rivenhall Hall, 497 prates.
7 bushels upon 105 a. 2R. 38r., landlord's measure ; deduct
seven for waste from 105 a. 2R. 38e., and there remains
Ha. 2s. 38r., and we find an excess of 7 quarters 7 bushels
above a load an acre."

•
WANT OF A NATIONAL OR METROPOLITA;
LIBRARY OF MUSIC. —( From the Musical World.)—ln one°
our former numbers we adverted to the lamentable state of the
library of the British Museum in reference to musical works'
and the slight means that collection afforded to the student, i°
tracing the progress of the art, either in this or other Collo'
tries. We find this subject has been taken up by Mr. E. 'lnaY'
lor, the Gresham Professor of Music, who. proposes to fon
by the aid of a general subscription, a Metropolitan LibrarYie
Music, the particulars of which are explained by that gentif:,
man in another part of this number. We cordially concur
the object which Mr. Taylor seeks to attain ; but we still thin'
that the Metropolitan Library should be at the British Mu,-
seum. This Institution' already possesses many valuab'e
works in the science ; which are, nevertheless, in such a stette.
r
of confusion, that their existence is almost unknown, and, te
want of classification, access to them is almost impossible_
There is, however, in this national receptacle of literature
and the fine arts the germ of a Musical Library; and Govern"
ment might easily and effectually forward the plan in centeint:
plation by appointing a librarian in the musical departntells
and causing such purchases, and selections from foreign source
to be made, as would render the collection at once an oroac_
ment to the metropolis, and an invaluable source of refereut._;
to the members of the profession. In the repositories of.
r°l_,
British Museum might also ultimately rest the splendid bb
_31.1
ries which some few of our professors and amateurs are toile
to possess. Within these ten years we have witnessed
f
dispersion of the libraries collected by the zeal and energy
Messrs. Cletnenti, Jaceb, Charles Wesley, G wilt, Dannea.l.9o
Grcatorex, 1-leather, Rev. George King, and Messrs. C.. Itithe
and Budd, libraries which collectively embraced some °Leg
rarest gems of English and foreign print. Of what sacrile7_,,
have we b witnesses, through the ignorance of auction.
and apparently still greater ignorance and apathy evinced 4
the majority of our professors? At the sale of M. Clernenijh
library the most rare manuscripts were knocked clown' eac
lot at the paltry sum of a few shillings. One lot, which soldf
for five shillings, contained a large bundle of tie° fugul„ae°
Sebastian Bach, the majority in the composer's handwr't'7,
with his emendations ! The appointment of an officer at tn.
British Museum, who should devote his attention to the aecle,,lh
sition of a Musical Library, would prevent the repetition of stt%
a sacrifice of property, and probably induce our wealthy
tours to bequeath, or present, many rare and invaluable sPee
mens of the learning of past ages. •
ATTEMPT TO POISON A FAMILY.—On lg°110;
day evening, a young girl, named Mary Anne Ryan' the
brought up before the Liverpool Police Magistrates, uri-i_kfr,
serious charge of having attempted to poison the family•
Power, of Ford-street. It appears that the prisoner is an Ly
prentice with a respectable confectioner, and on Thur.', to
last, gave a veal pie to a boy, directing him to came I",ie
Mrs. Power, in Ford-street, and he did as desired. Tha-
was wrapped in a paper, on which was signed " Sara"
over,
nor," who, it appeared, was an acquaintance of Mrs.
,ete.
Mrs. Power and the children partook of the pie without v„tes
ceiving any thing peculiar in the taste, but in a few oin" t h
after she experienced a pricking sensation about her Wtea
and throat, which became exceedingly painful, and o.ol,„°°„,nucra
before it died away, to a scalding sensation. I sing
minutes afterwards she was seized with most violent filled
in her stomach. She felt as though her bowels Were:rae/0
with scalding water. She went to bed, but she was so "%iet,
together that she was unable to remain in any other P?isi.ber
than on her hands and knees. After she was taken it
little boy was seized with precisely similar symptorns.„ seri
other child and the young woman were next taken i'"were
with them also the pains, swellings, and vomitings t the
e9u ;By violent. They did not taste anything fetid am° bad
pie, but after eating it their mouths tell as though
been burned, and their lips and palates were blistered. the
Power stated that on Friday week she had a quarrel Wit!'.oole
prisoner, who abused her and struck the child. The Prtbbeieg
was afterwards taken into custody, and on her boxer ore
searched, two packets, containing some sort of powder, 4.9 of
found, which was discovered to be arsenic. The cooteu',oo
the stomach were also subjected to the usual tests, but Suct.
difficulties arose in the case, and the prisoner was rernagdf.../
GENTLEMEN'S ELEGANT FLAT Lice
WATCHES are offered, price Nine Guineas each, °L "'AO
suited for wear in the waistcoat pocket, engine turned ceses%g are
enamel dial, and hand to mark the seconds. The movemen-00'
on the celebrated horizontal construction, with going fuzee t°
at
time goinv while winding, jewelled, &c., and warranted, ae,,eo
COX SAVORY'S, Watchmaker, &e., No. 47, Cornhill, (se
doors from Gracechurch-street), London.
N.B. Second-hand Watches, Plate, &c. purchased in exchauf>oi
theyors.

11 In TBS.
On the 21st inst., the lady of John H. Taylor, Esq., of Ifolis
hotu e, Crouch-hill, of a son.
he 19th ;t, th -if lf the Be''

At Sarum-street, on the ith inst., to wife o
Timson, of a daughter. i‘err'
On the 15th inst., at Dittisham, Devon, the Lady Henry
of a son. Zil°i'
On the 7th inst., at Kingsbridge, Devon, the lady of R. 0
q.n
Es, of a daughter.
O the 20th inst., in Mecklenburgh-square,. the lady of Wlllls
Burra, Esq., of a son. rosborr
On the 18th inst., the wife of T. Hamber, Esq., of na
park, Islington, of a daughter. -- t OA
On the 7th inst., at St. Mary-le-Strand-place, Old Nei'
the lady of Captain Ricketts, Madras Army, of a daughtearliotelli,
On the 21st inst., the lady of J. Jennings, Esq., of a C±.---

,-,,1e,
MA RR lED. ~,,,11 "A 1
On the 18th inst., at Aladron, Cornwall, William -1-'--, c and
°
second son of John Gale, Esq., of Bouyerie-street, Lona°,"' tote'
Balham, Surrey, to Josepha, second daughter of the late J.
t},°
Esq., of Penzance. fsc.t ve,
On the 18th inst., at Cheltenham, Edward Hawke, „,..'IY of
youngest son of the late J. Hawks, Esq., of Newcastle-ul?",htlei,
to Mary Anne, only daughter of the late Rev. Henry Inli" doh
Charwclton, Northamptonshire. rr H. 11.
On the 21st inst., at St. George's, Bloomsbury, Ater of
berton, Esq., of Hampton, to Fanny Hughes, third daug
e,
r
Twining, Esq., of Bedford-place, Russell-square. l•
On the 21st inst., at St. Pancras Church, Henry P.ii. p rel.'
Esq., of Gower-street, surgeon, to Caroline, daughter of _fie
gal, Esq., of Upper Gower-street. t.:,... Cinbe
On the l'ith inst., at Cochno House, Durnbartene''-' of -
Henry Noble, Esq., of Oporto, to Agnes, third dogbter A
late James Graham, Esq. p feVoi.
On the 21st inst., at Chigwell, Essex, Henry ilussPer. et
Registrar of the Court of Chancery, third son of the youtigto
Hussey, late Rector of Sandhurst, Kent, to Eliza. Atlanis?tor to
daughter of J. G. Watford, Esq., of Woodlands, Solict
daughter
Customs. jail
At Paris, Count Taille des Essarts. to Agnes Leulia'„dort
of the late John Vetch, M.D., of the Charter-house- "°— ----

Queen-street,
On the 21st inst., at Queepn --------- ar
iesl2
Miss
Augusta Kemp, aged 59. .'
' . -
(3n the 20th inst., aged 49, Joseph Lytl goe ...scl''
v of Pse
1.
street, St-z, ~I, ' •
On the 20th inst., at Gloucester-place,"ti.cntis`:=town'
=
Batley, aged 68. n 00°14
Golden-cquaPe, r
On the 16th inst.,at 1-1 bl d IT Ch 'es --ich
am e on, ants, ar art'
aged 20. 'et Ste°llarr. ...
On the 19th inst., S • -B 1 1%1
al unningdale er •s, rs.
_..„ !,,q,„.
At Brighton, Mary Ann, widow Of the late F. Dren',,,ls, P"
On the I.sth inst in Pk t t 1 r ton, Joseph ''
~ Park-street, -s ree , s iri its
aged 68. 100, scl•'
At Upper Islington, on the 20th inst., Jaynes Pee gr..
his 78th year. _,,,are,
On the 20th inst., in London-street, Fitzroy-DT-
Wal,,,lev, a!--.1, P:7.

t- 006'
f t 9
I : n Printed and Published by MUHDO in filo °°
112, Strand, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Stran`"
of Middlesex.—Thursday, August 23, 1838•