The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-31 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

A Commission De Lunatic° Inquircndo, was held this day
at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, for the pur-
pose of inquiring into the state of mind of Mr. John Taylor,
of Picadilly, an alleged lunatic. The Commissioners were
Messrs. J. W. West, Winslow, and Murray.
Mr. Thesiger, Mr. Clarkson, and Mr. R. Parker appeared
for the Commission, and Mr. Williams on behalf of Mr.
Taylor. . . .

Mr. MESMER stated that the inquiry was instituted by the
three surviving sons of the supposed lunatic, and the party op-
posing it was the brother-in-law. In the earlier stages of the
inquiry, motives had been alleged for the proceedings which
the nearest relatives of Mr. Taylor had been induced to resort
to, but to these he would not further allude at present. Mr.
Taylor was of a very advanced age, having entered his
87th year in the month of March last. He was a native
of Henley-upon-Thames ; was apprenticed to a jeweller
in London, and followed that business himself for -many
years-, until-1802, when, having obtained a small compe
tency of about 3001., and the rents of some houses which
he enjoyed, he retired from business, and lived at Balls-pond, Is-
lington. Mr. Taylor had six children by his wife, who died in
1816. His house was kept for some time after his death
by his daughter, Mrs. Miller, and subsequently by a
young woman named Mary Smith, by whom he had
an illegitimate daughter who went by the name of Mary
Anne Taylor. The Learned Counsel then proceeded
to state that the first appearance of any unsoundness of
mind was in the year 1835, and detailed various circum-
stances for the purpose of proving that statement. Several
letters were also read, addressed by Mr. Taylor to vaious
persons. His conduit was such that at length in the beginning
of Oct., 1836, it was found necessary to remove him to a pri-
vate asylum, that of Dr. Williams, of Hackney, where
he was visited by Dr. Southey, whese evidence of the state of
his mind would be laid before them. From thence he was
taken in the following 'month to Dr. Sutherland's establish
meat at Chertsey, and from the treatment he there experienced
he was so fat recovered, that it was deemed advisable to send him
back to his friends. He was accordingly sent to Mrs. Moore's,
where he bad previously lodged, but his conduct was
so violent and se indecent that Mrs. Moore was
most anxious to get rid of him. In the month
of February, 1837, he was taken away by Mr.
Miller, his daughter's husband, and there was very little known
of his conduct or proceedings, until the month of August, when
lodgings wet e taken for him at a Mrs. Halls. His behaviour
there would be also detailed to them, and which would leave
no doubt upon their mind that Mr. Taylor was of unsound
mind.

The detals into which Mr. Thesiger entered were uninter-
e.tting; as they related principally to family and pecuniary
matters. The investigation is likely to be a very protracted one.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS

' CITY (THIS DAY), TWELVE O'CLOCK.
The following letter from Buenas Ayres, of the 4th October,
four days later, is posted up at tLe North and South American
Coffee-house :

" BUENOS AYRES, OCT. 4, 1838.—The blockade state o
cur port prevents regular communication with you. I will give
you a hurried sketch of affairs here, taking the chance that it
will reach you by way of Monte Video. The blockade of the
port of Buenos Ayres continues, as it is likely to remain in
this state, unless some interference takes place, and a decla-
ration of war is expected instantly to take place by the French
Admiral, he having sent in the ultimatum, which is of such a
nature that the G,,vernment cannot and will not agree to it.
The consequence is, that preparations are making here to resist
any aggression on the part of the French. Three batteries,
it is said, will be immediately erected, and the feeling of the
majority of the people, is. decidedly in favour of its operations
for a month.

When the Argentine Ceneral Hereda entered the Bolivian
territory, he accepted the services of the Caya Indians,
whom he organised as a corps of infantry. They deserted him
on the eve of battle, and he was with his cavalry obliged to
evacuate Tarija, which he had held some time in his posses-
sion. The Bolivian General Brown immediately.re-entered
that city, but evacuated it again in a few days, in order to
suppress a revolution, said to have broken out in Santa Cruz,
De la Siel ra, and Chihaharaba.

New York Papers have been received by the Toronto, to
the 11th inst., one day later, but they do not add any addi.
tional intelligence from Canada than previously received
The Court-martial had commenced to try the prisoners, and
it was expected would be finished on the following day.
We hare received Penang Gazettes to the sth August.
On Tu'sday evening the Bishop of Calcutta arrived in the
Ilathnees, from Calcutta. His Lordship landed the following
day, and will leave on Monday, for his voyage further to the
eastward.