The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-21 00:00:00

Ebitton

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

COMI%IISSION OF LUNACY: ON
MR. VICARS.—(THIS DAY.)
The commission directed by the Lord Chancellor
to inquire into the state of mind of Mr. Edward
Vicars, of Liverpool, spirit merchant, was opened
to-day before Mr. Commissioner Barlow, at the
Sheriffs' Court, Red Lion-quare. The case appeared
to excite very great interest, and the court was
crowded long before the time appointed for opening
the commission.
Mr. Rolt, Mr. Renshaw, and Mr. Wills appeared
for the commission, which had been granted by the
Lord Chancellor, on the application of the sister of
the supposed lunatic, Miss Hannah Vicars; and
Mr. Malins, Mr. James, and Mr. Jolliffe were
counsel for the alleged lunatic, Mr. Edward Vicars.
The Learned COMMISSIONER having stated to the
jury the duties they had to perform,
Mr. ROLT proceeded; to open the case to the jury
a'. some considerable length. The facts stated by the
Learned Gentleman will be found in the following
evidence, which was adduced to the jury :—Matthew
Vicars was a wine and spirit merchant at Liverpool,
aid brother of Edward Vicars. The brother was
about 46 years of age, and a partner with him and
a person named Mcore. The brother had property
to the amount of about 6,0001. His brother was
fond of his glass, and was addicted to drinking. Ile
first saw something strange in his brother in 1847.
On one occasion he lost his luggage, anktold him he
knew he should do so. On one occasion his brother
told him it was no use eating, as he had no bowels,
and that all he ate went into his legs ; he also
said that he had no brains. He then went to an
asylum, from which he escaped in October, 1848.
Saw him after it at his sister's house. He conversed
a great deal upon electricity, said it was the moving
power of the earth; thst leaple might be made
mad by it, but that he could not be played
upon by it, as he was in the secret. He
said he could prove, from the Scriptures, that
people could be made, by electricity, mad, and that
people could converse by it at any distance, and that
by it he had heard voices from heaven. While his
brother was in confinement he had his case investi-
gated by Dr. Thornby, who reported in writing upon
his case ; the result of which was that witness did not
like to advise his sister to release his brother The
witness then proved that several letters which had
been read by Mr. Reit in the course of his address to
the jury were in the handwriting of his brother, in
which he alluded to the power of electricity to make
people mad ; that madhouse keepers were a set of
thieves and rogues ; that they would soon be all put
an end to, and that all the gold of California should
not prevent him from putttnie an end to them.
Cross examined by Mr. Mamas—His brother had
travelled in the wine and spirit trade, and was at one
time a very good man of business. When they began
business his brother began to drink heavily. He
was very fond of his glass, and was often tipsy.
He did not think his brother's wife madehim a good
one. She was given to drinking, and died while his
brother was in a lunatic asylum. It was his sister's
doing that his brother was put in a lunatic asylum.
had visited Lis brother at the asylum ten or twelve
times, bit had never ep Asen to him, because Dr.
Litchfield had told him not to de so. On one occa.
site) his brother whistled to let him know that he saw
him, bat he never beckoned to him, or called to
him to come to him. His brother was always well
c!otteni when he went to see him.: His bro-
ther on one occasion, after he had escaped from
the asylum, said th.t he had pledged himself before
God and man to do away with lunatic asylums, and
he would either coequer or die. They had lent
a person of the name of Birchenoff, who kept
the Royal Railway Hotel at Liverpool, 5001,
and the part that Mr. Birchenoff had
taken in endeavouring to release his brother from the
lunatic asylum had hastened on the demand they
had made for the repayment of that sum. An
arrangement was made in 1845, by which his brother
was not to attend to business, but his account was to be
charged with 1751. a year to pay a clerk, which was
charged against him during the whole time he was in
a lunatic asylum. Witness had refused to advance
his brother any money to oppose the commission, but
had done so to his sister in support of it. The rea-
son he refused to do so was because he thought his
brother was not sane. Since the Lord Chancellor had
ordered the commission he had advanced 2001.
John Bristowe, of Broughton Furness, knew Mr.
Edward Vicars well. Ile used to drink freely. In
1846 he was called to see Mr. E. 'Vicars, the servant
telling him her master was going mad. Mrs. Vicars
told him that Mr. Vicars had run down a
steep place into the river. When witness saw
Mr. Vicars he was in bed praying, and scratches were
on his body. Mr. Atkinson, the surgeon, was sent
for, and on his coming, he said, let him get out of
bed. Mr. E. Vicars then got out of bed, and attempted
to get out of the a indow, but witness and Mr. Atkinson
prevented him. He then got into bed again, and began
to pray, and he continued in that state for a week.
Oa one occasion he told witness he had been
to ht it ; that he had had a very pleasant journey;
that he touched at a very nice island ; that they
found the old hell was full, but there were two new
ones which were very pleasant. On another occasion
when witness called upon Mr. E. Vicars, he said he
was very glad to see him, as he was going to
die at six o'clock that evening, and he wanted
to tell him what to do about his funeral. He took
out his watch and said he had only an hour or two to
live. Witness said he must go, when Mr. E. Vicars
said he had better stop till he was dead. Witness went
away, and when he returned he found Mr. E. Vicars
making a good supper. The witness then alluded to
other acts of singularity committed by Mr. E. Vicars,
particularly his refusal to take food, which he perse-
vered in for upwards of a week, and reduced himself
a'most to a skeleton. On one occasion witness went
with Mr. E. Vicars to Liverpool : be did not speak
for the first 20 miles, but on the occasion of witness
getting out of the carriage, Mr. Vicars said no
earthly power should remove him from the carriage,
and it was with the greatest difficulty he was got out.
He was afterwards taken to a lunatic asylum, in the
neighbourhood of Liverpool. On one occasion he
told witness that a whole workhouse might be made
mad by electricity. On another occasion he said he
would fight fur the lunatics as long as he lived, and
would spend all the money he had for them.
Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES—After Mr. Vicars
had been taken to the asylum witness sold
all his furniture, by order of Mr. M. Vicars.
Hail refused to give;an accountito the attorney of
Mr. E Vicars of the sale of his furniture, stating
that he was indemnified in what he did by Mr. M.
Vicars. Witness considered electricity thunder and
lighteing.—(Laughter.) The drinking habits of his
wife witness believed had made Mr. E. Vicars
unhappy. A few days before Mr. E. Vicars'
illness he had been hunting and drinking. Witness
had not said that Mr. E. Vicars was mad from drink.
Mr. Atkinson had said in witness's presence that Mr.
E. Vicars must be kept away from his wife, for
her drunken habits made him mad. The place Mr. E.
Vicars ran to in the river would not take him up to
his knees. Mr. E. Vicars had never told him,
to the best of his recollection, that he had been shut
up in a ward,with a man who was mad upon the
subject of electricity.
Mr. W. Atkinson, was a surgeon, practising in
Broughton Furness. Had known! Mr. E. Vicars
for more than twenty-seven years. Had often seen
him too much excited by drink. This witness
corroborated the evidence of the last witness with
respect to the attempt of Mr. E. Vicars to throw
himself out of the window. Witness thought it was
right he should be removed to a lunatic asylum, and
he appeared to him to have settled down into a species
of monomania.
The case was proceeding when our reporter left,
and appeared likely to last till a late hour.

THE LONDON GAZETTE.

(THIS EVENING.)

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, Auo. 20, 1849.
Orders for the Court's going into mourning on Thurs-
day next, the 23d lust., for his late Majesty King Charles
Albert, father of the King of Sardinia, viz :—The ladies
to wear black silk, fringed or plain linen, white gloves,
necklaces, and ear-rings, black or white shoes, fans
and tippets. The gentlemen to wear black, full trimmed,
fringed or plain linen, black swords and buckles. The
Court to change the mourning on Thursday the 30th
instant; viz:—The ladies to wear black silk or velvet,
coloured ribbons, fans and tippets, or plain white, or white
and gold, or white and silver stuffs, with black ribbons.
The gentlemen t
white, or white ando wear black coats and black or plain
gold, or white and silver stuff waist-
coats, full trimmed, coloured swords and buckles. And
on Sunday, the 2d
of
out of mourning September next, the Court to go
[From the Dublin Gazette, Aug. 17, 1849.]
CROWN AND lI4XNAPER OFFICE
an Act, passed in thefortieth.
In rursuance ofyear of
the reign of his M,..jezty King George rte Third, inti-
tulc "An .Act to regulate the mode by which the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal and Commons to Serve in the pa
'lament of the United Kingdern, on the part of Ireland, shall
.4
6' summoned and returned to the said Parliament," i
frreby give notice, that George John Danvers, Earl of
Lanesborough, has btcn chosen by a majority of votes to
he the peer to sit in the lli,usQ of Lords of the United
Kingdom, in the room of Jubn, Earl of Mayo, deceased,
Aug. 14. C. FITZ SIMON,
Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper.

WAR-OFIICE, A lIG. 21.
Rty Regiment of Horse Guards—Gtorge Philip
Ce:il Arthur Lord Stanhc.pe to be Cornet, by purchase,
Tic! Gambitr, promote], Aug. 21; Thomas Lord Rib•
ble fia!e re b. Curca t, by purchase, vice 13reedon, pro-
moted, Aug. 22.
lit Dragoon Guards—William Peareth, Gent., to bo
Cornet, by purchase, vice Carew, promoted, Aug. 21.

7th Dragoon Guards—Thomas Joseph Reddington
Fi'rench, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Middle-
ton, promoted, Ang. 21.
Ist Dragoons—John Inglis Jones, Gent., to be Cor-
net, by purchase, vice Stocks, promoted, Aug. 21.
3d Light Dragoons—Edward Howard Vyse, Gent.,
to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Ricketts, promoted,
Aug. 21.
10th Light Dragoons—Thomas Manners Townley,
Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Blair, promoted,
Aug. 21.
16th Light Dragoons—Julius Alexander Sartoris,
Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Goff, promoted,
Aug. 21.
17th Light Dragoons—Alexander Learmouth, Gent.,
to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Reed, promoted, Aug. 21.
Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards—Captain the
Honourable Augustus George Charles Chichester, from
the 6th Foot, to be Lieutenant and Captain, vice Eccles,
who exchanges, Aug. 21.
4th Regiment of Foot—Thomas Edward Gordon,
Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Poyntz, pro-
moted, Aug. 21.
sth Foot—Second Lieutenant George%Jobn Stewart,
to be First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Forster, who
retires ; Ensign Edward Reginald Simmons, from the
47th Foot, to be Second Lieutenant, by purchaSe, vice
Stewart, Aug. 21.
6th Foot—Lieutenant and Captain William Eccles,
from Coldstream RE giment of Foot Guards, to be Cap-
tain, vice Chichester, who exchanges; Frank McPherson,
Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Davies, promoted,
A ug. 20.
12th Foot—Lieutenant James Clarke Hearn to be
Captain, without purchase, vice Lewis, deceased; En-
sign Frederick Bagnell to be Lieutenant, vice Hearn,
Aug. 8; James Fielding Sweeney, Gent., to be Ensign,
without purchase, vice Cole, promoted, Aug. 21.
13th Foot—Henry William Somerville Carew, Gent.,
to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Lynch, promoted,
Aug. 21.

16th Foot—Captain William Ashmore to be Major,
by purchase, vice Brand, who retires ; Lieutenant
George Patrick Goldie to be Captain, by purchase, vice
Ashmore, Aug. 21; Ensign and Adjutant Charles
Coote Grant to have the rank of Lieutenant, Aug. 20;
Ensign William Armstrong to be Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Goldie, Aug. 21.
17th Foot—Lieutenant Alexander M'Kinstry to be
Captain, without purchase, vice David Cooper, who re-
tires upon full pay, Aug. 21; Ensign Richard Bolton
Neynoe to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Perce-
val, deceased, July 27; Ensign Henry Baxter, from the
28th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice M•Kinstry ; Ensign
Frank M`Pherson, from the 6.1 Foot, to be Ensign, vice
Neynce, Aug. 21.
223 Foot—Ensign Andrew Bill, from the 79th Foot,
to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Alexander Miller,
dismissed the service, but allowed to sell, Aug. 21.
23d Foot—Major Charles Crutchley,to be Lieutenant-
Colonel, without purchase, vice llelmes, decease.l; Cap-
tain Harry George Cheater to be Major, without pur-
chase, vice Crutchley, July 24; Captain Daniel Lyeons
to be Major, by purchase, vice Cheater, whose promo-
tion by purchase has b cancelled, Aug. 3; Lieutenent
Francis E. Campbell to be Captain, vice Chester, July
24; Edward Gascoigne Bulwrr, Gent., to be 6econd
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Brady, promoted, Aug. 21.
26th Foot—William Mosee, Gent., to be Eusign, with-
out purchase, vice Hinchliffe, promoted, Aug. 21.
30th Foot—Frederick Luxmore, Gent., to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Pcnnefat her, promoted, Aug. 21.
35th Foot—Ranulph Charles Lee, Gent., to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Digby, promoted, Aug. 21.
45th Foot—Edward Evans, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice Griffin, promoted, Aug. 21.
46th Foot—George Norris, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice Bennett, appointed to the 86th Foot,
Aug. 21.

48th Foot—Bache Harpur Heatlic3te, Gent., to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice Cairnes, promoted, Au,. 21.
53.1 Foot—Frederick Richard Sully Flood, Gent., to
be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fenton, promote d, Aug. 21.
.56th Fuot—Ensign Morten Robert Eden to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Lanauz ~ who retires, Aug. 21.
69;,11 Foot—Hugh Parker Montgomery, Genr., to be
Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Robinson, pro-
moted, Aug. 21.
621 Foot—Charles Gooch, Gent., to be Ensign by
purchase, vice Dawes, appointed to the 89th Foot, Aug.
21; William Whitehead, Gent., to be Ensign, without
purchase, vice Wood, superseded, Aug. 22.
69th Foot—Ensign William Tracey to be Adjutant,
vice Bowen, promoted, Aug. 21.
74th Foot—John James Hood Gordon, Gent, to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice Bruce promoted, Aug. 21.
78th Foot—Captain Charles Thomas Bentley, from
half-pay Unattached, to be Captain, vice Lamert, de-
ceased, Aug. 21.
79th Foot—Wemyss Thomas Cockburn, Gent. to be
Ensign by purchase, vice Hill, promoted in 22d Foot,
Aug. 21.
82d Foot—Lieutenant George Edmund Halliday, to
be Captain, without purchase, vice Brevet Major Moore,
deceased; Ensign William Alexander Bailie, to be Lieu-
tenant, vice Halliday, August 10.
85th Foot—Arthur Savory Armstrong, Gent., to be
Ensign, without purchase, vice Fraser, who resigns,
Aug. 21.
93d Foot—Arthur Rose, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Middleton, promoted, Aug. 21.
98th Foot—Lieutenant John Riordan to be Quarter-
master, vice Fagan, appointed Paymaster ; Quarter-
master James Fagan, of the 98th Foot, to be Paymaster,
vice Edward Hunter, who retires upon half-pay,
Aug. 21.
Brigade—Sergeant-Majorllill Henry Peacocke, to be
Quartermaster, vice Richard Taylor, who retires upon
half-pay, Aug. 21.
Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant George
Lyon, from half•pay 99th Foot, to be Lieutenant,
vice Douglas, promoted ; August 21 ; Ensign
George Granville Gower Munro, to bo Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Lyon, who retires, Aug.
21; George Mignan Junes, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Munro, Aug. 20; Charles Douglas, Gent., to
be Ensign, without purchase, vice Powell, promoted,
Aug. 21.
MEMORANDUM—The names of the Lieutenant of the
98th Foot (July 10, 1849), are "John Riordan," not
" Reardon," as previously stated.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.
Leicestershire Regiment of Old Militia—Edward
Howard Sanders, Gent., to be Ensign, May 19.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
The Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Staffordshire
Yeomanry Cavalry—Edward Dolman Scott, Gent., to be
Lieutenant, vice Sir Francis Edward Scott, Bart., pro-
moted, Aug. 14.
WHITEHALL, JULY 11.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed Robert Slaney,
of Newcastle under-Lyne, in the county of Stafford, to
be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chan
cery.