The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-15 00:00:00

HORRIBLE AND ATROCIOUS

BARBARITY.

A MAN BURIED ALIVE !—The Clare Journal gives
the following, being the result of the Coroner's Inquest in
this appalling transaction—the first notice of which ap-
peared in the Mail of Monday, under the head of " Mys-
terious Occurrence," -copied from the Limerick Star :
" An inquisition was taken before Thomas Whitestone,
Esq., Coroner, and a Jury of very respectable gentlemen,
at Broadford, on New. Year's Day, on view of the ske-
leton of a man named Patrick Barry, who was buried alive
about thirteen months since. The circumstances attending
this appalling transaction are nearly as follow, and which
have been given in evidence by one of the persons who as-
sisted at the time. The deceased had been a millwright,
for some time in the employment of a man of the name of
David Burns, near Broadford ; he was old and in a very
delicate state of health, and being no longer able to work
at his trade, Burns sent him on a car to some friends of
his residing in the county of Tipperary, with one of his
sons and the informer, who had also been in his service.
On their arriving there they were 'refused admittance at
two houses, and were obliged to return back. On their re-
turning they communicated the circumstance to old Burns,
who asked them why they did not put him into a hole, and
throw a ditch on him, and immediately ordered another of
his sons to go and make a grave in a small burial-place,
convenient to the house, which he did ; and then the younger
son and the informer brought him there, having previously
taken off part of his clothes : they then thrust him into the
hole, and when covering him with earth, it is alleged he
groaned twice, and stirred one of his arms, upon observing
which, the informer called and said they would all be
hanged, for the man was alive. This, however, did not
prevent them from pursuing their inhuman work, and the
unfortunate man was covered in. Previous to the disco-
very of the body, which had on it at the time some portion
of decayed articles of clothing, the informer described the
place where it was interred, and most accurately the posi-
tion in which the body was found ; the head raised, the
body inclining to the right side, and one leg also raised, as
if indicating an effort to rescue himself, or of great suffering
when they were throwing the earth upon him. It is a re-
markable circumstance, that over the body a child's coffin
was found, of which the informer denies all knowledge.
The Jury came to the following decision, ' that the de-
ceased was buried alive, by James Burns, Michael Burns,
and John Connellan, and with the concurrence and know-
ledge of David Burns, the father,' all of whom have been
committed."

MEMOIRS OF MATTHIAS D'AMOUR

On the occasion alluded to (a dinner at the Duchess of
Gordon's), I remember, just as the Prince of Wales had
been giving way to his peculiar happy style of jocularity, the
Duchess remarked that, whoever should live to see it, his
Royal Highness would make a singular king. Gathering
up his face into the very picture of seriousness, he replied,
" Pardon me, your Grace ; I think the honour of England
has been so degraded of late, that the crown would scarcely
be worth the wearing." The Prince alluded to the peace
which England had been forced into with America and its
allies ; and the Duchess, remembering who sat at her right
hand (the Duke of Orleans), without a moment's hesitation
rejoined, " And Sir, pardon 'me, in return ; I think Eng-
land, having had the magnanimity to defend herself against
four such powerful and persevering assailants, and having
had the means of making such an honourable peace, be-
tokens that the honour of Great Britain was never more
free from tarnish than at this moment." A murmur of ap-
plause went through the company, in which the Duke of
Orleans joined as well as the rest.
I remember on one occasion, when we were expecting
the Prime Minister and his colleagues to supper, that her
Grace beginning to feel impatient, as it grew late, requested
me to send to the House of Commons, and try to ascertain
by some means if the house was likely to break up soon.
The messenger brought word that Mr. Dundas was upon
his legs, but nothing further could be learned. When

they came, the Duchess; in expressing her apprehension
that the supper was spoiled, asked Mr. Dundas what in the
name of wonder induced him to make a speech that night,
adding that she had sent her compliments to Mr. Fox, re-
questing him as a favour not to make a long speech. Mr.
Pitt laughed heartily, and remarked with singular liberality,
" Mr. Fox has not obeyed your Grace ; he has made a long
speech, and decidedly. the best which I have heard within
the walls of Parliament."

During the afternoon (of the day in which the duel be-
tween the Duke of York and Colonel Lennox took place)
we had a visit from her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Cumberland, which caused me to be witness of a circum-
stance which was never made public, and which throws some
light upon the views which even ladies in high life take of
points of honour. Her Royal Highness alighting from her
carriage, and entering the house in a hurry, and presenting
herself at the door of the Duchess's room, scarcely gave me
time to announce her, and by no means gave me time to
retire, ere she exclaimed with the greatest apparent glee,
" Thank God, your Grace, it is now established that princes
can be called to account as well as other gentlemen."
The Duke of Bedford, it is well known, had been, as his
nephew is at present, one of the most influential leaders of
the Whig party. His Grace had been disgusted at the line of
policy pursued by the men in power, and, hai'ing retired in a
great measure from public life, was employing himself in im-
proving the breeds of sheep and horned cattle in the country.
While the Duke was in this humour, I heard our Duchess
one day, while dining with his Grace at Woburn Abbey, re-
monstrate with him, and even blame liirn that he did not
Join in with and endeavour to guide the young and gifted
Mr. Pitt. The Duke's answer was rather uncandid. " If,"
said he, "your Grace can point me out one good thing which
Mr. Pitt has done for the nation, I will consent."

CREDITORS ON TURNPIKE-ROADS, NOT IN-
JURED BY RAILWAYS.—When the Liverpool Railway was
opened the creditors of the present turnpike-road became
alarmed for their money, which they had called in. The
Treasurer could not pay then—he had no funds for the
road was indebted to him. But mark the consequence—
within five years after the opening of the Liverpool Rail-
way, the Treasurer's debt of 2,4001. has been paid off, be-
sides 3,000/. of bond debt. Such is the flourishing state of
the funds of the road, that the trustees intend to pay off
1,000/. of their debt. per annum. This is owing to the in-
crease of traffic on the road consequent on the Railway.
The creditors on the Durham and Tyne turnpike need be
under no alarm with this fact before them.—Tyne Mercury.