The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-27 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, an inquest was held at the
Woodman Inn, Highgate Archway-road, before Mr. STIR-
LING, on view of the body of Mrs. Anne Colson, aged 71,
a lady of great respectability, who destroyed herself under
circumstances of a very afflicting nature.
William Simmonds, shepherd to Mr..Colson, whose resi-
dence is situated upon Highgate Common, deposed, that
between four and five o'clock on Wednesday morning, he
returned to his master's house, where he slept, Navin; been
out during the night watching his flock, as a number of
sheep had'of late been worried by the dogs. Witness had
scarcely got into bed, which is in the kitchen, when he heard
screams from one of the servants up stairs, and the voice
of Mr. Colson, exclaiming, " Oh, for God's sake, William,
come up stairs, your mistress has hung herself." He (wit-
ness) instantly run up, and discovered the deceased sus-
pended by a silk handkerchief to a rail of the bed-post.
He severed the handkerchief. Life appeared extinct. A
surgeon attended in about ten minutes, and declared the old
lady quite dead.
By the jury—My mistress has been in a very dejected
state for some time past ; but I cannot assign any reason
for such. She lived upon the happiost terms with her hus-
band and family.
It was here stated that a little girl, only three years of
age, grand-daughter to the deceased, slept in the room in
which the act was committed, and actually saw the unfor-
tunate old lady suspend herself, but gave no alarm, arising
either from fear or her extreme youth.
The jury objected to pain the feelings of Mr. Colson, by
putting her under examination, and observed that they had
noticed of late the altered manner of the old lady, which
manifested a defectiveness in her intellect.
Verdict—" Temporary derangement."
DREADFUL AND EXTRAORDINARY DEATH IN AN OAK
TREE IN SANDBECK PARK.—On Monday last an inquest
was held before Mr. Badger, Coroner, at the Eagle Inn,
near Sandbeck Park-gates, the seat of Lord Scarborough,
on view of the body of George Athey, of Stainton, wool-
peeler, who came by his death under the following melan-
choly and extraordinary circumstances :
It appeared from the evidence of John Barlow, woodman
to the Earl of Scarborough, and John Jackson, of Stainton,
that the deceased was that morning, about seven o'clock,
in the act of cutting off a very large branch from an oak-
tree in Lady's-walk, in Sandbeck Park, and sitting at the
same time on a lower branch, with his back to the trunk of
the tree, the arm or branch he .was cutting being entangled
with the boughs, so that when he had severed the branch,
instead of its falling to the ground, as he had calculated it
would do, it was suspended by the thick branches, and fell
against Athey with great force, and pinned him to the trunk
of the tree, in which perilous situation he was fastened for
upwards of 25 minutes, crying out most dreadfully,. until
Barlow and Jackson could saw away the bough, and extri-
cate their fellow-workman, who, on being released, ex-
claimed to Barlow, " I am now easy," but died in a few
minutes after, and before he could be taken down from the
tree. The Jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a
verdict of " Accidental Death." The deceased has left a
widow and eight children unprovided for.—Sheffield
Mercury.

" MY AUNT PONTYPOOL."—The style of this
novel is excellent, and its originality great. When the mind
of the reader is not strongly excited by the various passions
that obey the master-hand of the author, his fancy is amused,
and his judgment satisfied, by brilliant wit or sound philoso-
phical remark. There is no mere verbiage in the volumes ;
every page is either a scene or a lesson, and every sentence
tells. If the concealed author be not the very first of the day,
assuredly he is second to none other.

Extract of a Letter from Lemberg in Galicia, dated
the 12th instant :—" We have received positive information
from Wilna, that a conspiracy against the government of the
Emperor Nicholas has been formed in that city. A Catholic
society has been established, under the pretence of studying
and practising religion. Measures were taken for overthrow.
ing the Government, and proclaiming the insurrection of Li-
tl;uania. Young men distinguished for their talents and birth
took part in it ; but a treacherous brother, who had insinuated
himself into the fraternity, revealed the whole of the plot to
the Governor-General of Wilna. Seventeen of the conspira-
tors have been arrested and sent to St. Petersburg. They are
said to be the chiefs. Further arrests arc daily made in the
town, and in the districts, for a great many of the students
have quitted Wilna, and sought refuge at their respective
homes. All their families are in the greatest distress, for
there can be no doubt that Siberia, or service for life in the corps
stationed on the Caucasus, will be the fate of the conspirators."
CAPTAIN BRENTON'S NAVAL HISTORY.—This
important work, now in course of publication, on the new plan
of monthly parts, commences with the year 1783, and is brought
down to the present time. Since the work was first written,
several years have been zealously devoted to its revision and
completion, for which purpose the author has availed himself
of every possible authority by consultations, with the most
distinguished officers in the service, with many of whom he
has enjoyed the most friendly intercourse.
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