The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-15 00:00:00

FOR, THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR—In the first number of a new
musical publication, " the Harmonicon," appears
a " Canzonet,7 composed for the work by Mr.
Braham ; " 0 very sweet was morning's dawn :"
the words of which are stated to be by the late
Mr. M. G. Lewis, M. P. The words of, the
Song are not given as originally penned and
printed : and had they been so, the fame of Mr.
M. G. Lewis, although an M. P., would not have
been enhanced by them ; I have, however,
my doubts whether Mr. Lewis ever read the lines
in question ; and I am satisfied that he did not
write them, because some twenty years ago—l
wrote them myself ; and about September 1807,
they were, published, with my initials, as a signa-
ture, in the Morning Chronick. Now, whatever
may be my contempt for the lines—l have none
for the writer, and their recent re-appearance is
connected with that concerning which no person
of proper feelings is at liberty to be indifferent ;
I mean my liability to the suspicion of acting so
unworthily as to appropriate the effusions of an-
other man';; mind, and especially of one standing
so high in the esteem of the literary world as the
author of the Castle Spectre. I am, accordingly,
most reluctantly forced before the public in my
own vindication ; And, therefore, I request that
you will please to give this a place in one of your
columns, together with the hapless composition,
as it was first written.—l am, Sir, &c.
10, Johnstone Street, Bath, Jan ED WARD MANGIN.
. 12, 1823.

MARY.
An attempt to adapt English words to a very wild and pathetic
Irish Air, known among the Peasantry in the Province of
Connaught by the title of " Maurien Ogc." Nothing,
however, but the Melody of this Ditty remains; both the
Name ot the Poet and the Poetry itself being lost in the
stream of Time.

0 ! very sweet was morning's dawn,
To me—any Mary,
When thou and I stray'd o'er the lawn
Together—Mary ;
And passing sweet was yon green grove,
My gentle Mary,
'Where first I heard thee own thy love
Forme—my Mary !
This blowing rose resembles thee,
My modio Mary,
For in its leaveitihink I see
Thy blushes, Mary:
Thy song was like'that linnet's song,
My tender Mary
I fancy It thy voice among
The hawthorns—Mary !
And, Oh ! these dewy gems I prize,
That sparkle —Mary,
So like the diamonds in thy eyes,
My whiting Mary !
But-now—to life and love farewell—
I've lost thee... Mary,
And'here I may no longer dwell
Without thee—*Mary ! _ _

E. AI.

EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE.-A short time
since two fine rams, which had been bred up to-
gether, were found dead in a field near Tewkes.
bury, lying in a position which left no reason In
doubt that they had been fighting, and that, the
same violent blow had killed them both !
(Gloucester Journal.)

MOST EXTRAORDINARY MISTAKE.

On Monday evening, at -eight o'clock, an Inquisition of a
very extraordinary nature was held at the Coronation Tavern,
Charles-street, Somers Town, before THOMAS STIRLING'
Esq., Coroner, on the body of a yoUng man named John
Southey, who expired is a lunatic asylum at Bethnal-green,
on the 26th of last month.
The CoftoNEn observed, before any evidence was taken,
that he, when first informed of this business, scarcely knew
whether to grant a warrant for the inquest, as the man was said
not to be dead, but in a trance: however, his doubts had since
been completely dispelled.
To account for the singular proceeding of not interring the
deceased for 17 days, but actually keeping him for part of that
time in a bed, comfortably wrapped up atatitthes, it would ap-
pear that his family actually supposed that he was not dead,
but entranced : they Consequently refused to have him con-
signed to the grave. He for a number of years. past was in a
lamentable state of madness, and was placed in Mrs. War-
burton's asylum, Bethnal-green, where every attention was paid
him. The madness with which he was afflicted occasionally
caused violent convulsive attacks of
.epilepsy, and in a dread-
ful attack of this kind, on the morning of the 26th of last
month, lie expired. The directors of the asylum instantly
sent to his family, to whose house, in Charles-street, his
body was that evening removed. The body was placed on
the bed, but certainly it presented not the ashy hue of
death ; on the
_coatrary, the countenance was composed
as if in sleep ; the features were collected, and the face
- was overspread with a fine healthy colour; these appearances
created considerable surprise, and more so on the following
day, when the body was discovered to be rather warm, and
, the limbs in a remarkable state of flexibility. The family
latently consulted some friends, who, on perceiving that the
body presented no change even on the following days,pronoun-
ced 'their opirians that the deceased was in a tranee,and therefore
it would be absolutely inhuman to nail him up in his coffin, or
bury him. The family, of course, would do nienittrerheonpde atnhxatiotuhse-
ly watched by the bed for some time daily,
editacy would soon be over. In the mean
while, the affair became
notorious all over the neighbourhoosl; anti some eminent physi.
clans andis irgeonsaanong whom were Ur. Brooks
cret, tax.
viewed the baly, but they laughed at the extraordinary credu-
lity of the deceased man's family, and pronounced him dead.
This opinioa was confirmed at the latter end of last week by
the slow decemposition of the body, putrefaction having taken
place. A strange and very vague rumour was then spread
through the neighbourhood—namely, that the deceased was
entranced, and during that state he was improperly treated by
his relatives, who made use of no means to restore him to life,
but entered into some understanding with the surgeons, who
consequently attended, and not only practised upon the body,
but actually opened the.nran's head while he was alive. These
false and inconsistent reports produced a very great sensation
in the neighbourhood; and the more so, when it was under.
stood that the parochial officers and Mr. Stirling had received.
anonymous communication& It was then determined on, that
an inquest should take place,. and consequently the jury was
summoned. Tae room was crowded to excess, several medical and surgical geademen being present. The following was the I evidence addaced
William Henry Aeret, rage of Francis-street, Bedford.
square, surgeon, stated, he had known the deceased and family
for some years, but had not seen him for some rime previous to
his death. Ile waiesent for on Thursday, and found him in
his coffin, lie examined his body, and found some slight
scratches on his neekebut not sufficient to cause his death. Ile
directed that heshourd not be fastened in the coffin, and saw
hfin again on-the following day, last Friday, when he examined
the body, and found from the abdomen symptoms of putre.
faction. On the Previous day he had no 'ilotitt he was dead,
but wished to ascertain the cause; and in the presence of se-
vend surgical geutlemen, the head of deceased was opened. and
a considerable effusion of blood on the brain, on examination,
was discovered.. He had no doubt his death proceeded from
natural causes.
Joshua Brooks, Esq., of Blenheint-stteet. surgeon and lec-
turer, exsmined.—Stated he had seen the deceased. Having
been informed hy Sic George Alderson, that tae man was in a
trance, and never having seen any body in that situation, his
curiosity was excited, and he accompanied Sir George and an-
other gentleman; but the moment he saw the deceased be pro-
nounced him dead. Ile discovered samptonis of putrefaction
holet, the
in tltlytirae presence ct 131 e oefYseesywer7le gentlemen,eeniiietelYileaxecalidnin examined the Friday
ceased's head, and was of opinion, from the appearance of the
brain, that he died from the effects of eanguine apoplexy. The'
witness more than 'once expressed his surprise at en inquest
.being held open the man, whose death was so very natural,
Mra Chabot, surgeon, of Clarendon-square, opened de-
ceased's head by the wish of Mr. Brooks, and was of the mine
opinion as to his death ; he had pronounced him dead several
days before.
The superintendent of 'Airs. Warburton's Lunatic Asylum,
Bethnal-green, said, deceased had been in the asylum under
his care tor nine years ; he was frequently seized with convul-
sive fits, and was, during the period they lasted, very furious,
He was seized with one of those attacks on the morning of the
261 of last December ; during the struggle, he expired.
The CORONER thought no further evidence was needing,
and said they could come to no other conclusion on the evidence
but that the man died in a fit of apoplexy.
The Jury were of this opinion ; and before they retired to
view the body, Mr. Brooks requested to know who was to re-
munerate him for his attendance ?
The CORONER said he had no power to give him any thing.
Mr. Brooks expressed his surprise at thiat and said it Was
acting extremely inconsistently, to summon hint to attend upon
a care so very clear, when his duties elsewhere were orso math
importance.
A Juryman asked him if he did not think the Jurymen were
as much entitled to payment as himself; they were called from
their business.
Mr. Brooks replied, their business Ives not so important as
his; he might elsewhere be wanted : besides, there was no
necessity to hold an inquiry upon a n an who died a natural
death.

The Juryman said, that could not he known until the case
was fully investigated ; and he was of opinion, that when a
ercise of an important public
Ciluurt;,y svaent7re4"esquireubdieddielorthe L3i'
attendance of a surgeon, he should obey
that mandate, without any exp. -tation of reward.
3lr. Brooks was always willing to give his advice and assist-
ance to the poor and to the parish paupers gratuitously; and
although he did not come for his fee in this case, yet he thought
it was most unjustifiable 'to summon him. upon a case which
actually was clear to any person who would take the trouble of
inquiring ; he thought it so very singtilar that he should be
pitched upon.
Jones, the summoning officer, observed it was thought ne-
cessary in consequence of the mysterious reporta,flying about,
to hold the inquest, and it was his duty to summon, if not to
compel the attendance of the bestevidente.
The CORONER interrupted th,, discussion, by saying he
could not award to any witness, and Mr. Brooks retired.
The Jury then viewed the be, y, and recorded the verdict—
Died of apoplexy.

SUICIDE.
An Inquest was held yesterday at the Three Colts public-
, house, Hackney, before T. W. Uxtvix, Esq. Coroner, on the
body of Mr. John Varvell, late of 'l'avistock-street, .covent.
garden, perfumer, who was found drowned in the Regent's
Canal, with a wound in his throat.
Frani the evidence of the Lock keeper, it appeared that the
tkceased had cut his throat, and then ,threw himself into the
water.
Charles Varvell sworn_l am son of the deceased, the de-
ceased called on me about 11 o'clock nit Saturday. morning last,
and appeared in a dreadful state of mind, he ran about the
room like a child, and -said he could not slcep.....dteeaKd had
lost two old friends about a week ago, which apptared to prey
very much upon his mind. The-deceased hadlesitlesi in I avt-,
stock-street upwards °fah years, and was 80 years a age.
Wit-
ness was perfectly satisfied that the deceased wits in an insane"
state of mind.
The Jury consulted a short time, and returned a verdict,
" That the deceased, by inflicting a wound on his throat, atoll
throwing himself into the water, occasioned his death, and that.
he was at the time in a state of insanity.