The Sun.
London, England, 1815-02-27 00:00:00

DEATH OF SMITFISON TENNANr, Esct.

Ir
is with much concern that we announce the
death of !..;MITHSON. 'PENNANT, Esq. F.R.S. and
Professor of themistry•in the University of tam-
bridge ; a loan in whonS genius, talents, and virtue
were united in their highest forms. Although his
industry was checked by a frame naturally weak
and a languid state, of health, his acquirements
in science• were remarkably general,' ant! in many
branches profound. Ile was known throughout
Europe by several important discoveries in che-
mistry. In this country he was distinguished in
a 'very numerous circle of the best society, for
the variety, extent, and accuracy of his know-
ledge, the singular rectitude of his understanding',
his love of literature, and a highly cultivated taste'
for the elegant arts, combined with great origina-
lity and extraordinary powers of Conversation. To
those who had the happiness of being intimiAely
connected with hir»;-'lic was endeared by his
tuons independent principles, and the sincerity,
w;irnith, and constancy 'of his friendship. To this
may be added a very original cast of humour in
his character and manners;and a singular felicity
of wit, wholly untinctured by personality or sar-
casm, which rendered his conversation delightful
to his friends, and made it impossible to know
him much without admiring and loving him.- The
circumstances of Mr. Tenn;uit's death were most
afflicting. He was returning from France, where
he 'had 'been several months, and was waiting at
.Boulogne for a favourable wind.- He had actual-
ly embarked on Wednesday.the 22d, brit the ves-
sel was obliged to put back, and it was determin-
ed, if the weather should be tolerable, to make
another trial in the evening. Darin.= the interval
Mr. Tennant proposed to a German Officer of •
distinction, whom he had accidentally joined on
the road, and who was also going .to England, t()
ride with him to Buonaparte's pillar, near -Bou-
logne. In returning they deviated a little to look
at a fortification near the road. But as they were
attempting to pass a draw-bridge, which,
to some neglect, was not properly secured, the
bridge gave way, and they were precipitated into.
die trench. The Officer fortunately escaped with-
out any serious hurt, but Mr. Tennant was found
fallen under his horse, and was t:;ken up speech-
less, his skull and one of his trios being-conside-
rably fractured. He was conveyed with difficulty
to the hospital at Boulogne, as the nearest and
most convenient place to receive him, and expred
in halt an tour. klis reniaias were interred at
Boulogne. -

LUNACY.—On Monday last, about 12 o'clock,
a most extraordinary circumstance took place at
the Flotse Guards, in the yard between the iron
gates in Whitehall and the general building. A
Gentleman 'of • about 50 Years of age, after walk-
ing about for some time in a .state of great a;iita-
tiOn, made up to the sentinel in the passage lead-
ing front the open space to the Orderly. Rooms,
and producing a brace of pistols, insistet) upon his
fighting him. The sentinel ordered hint to With.
draw from his post, which he did, •to the open
space, where be discharged one of the pistols in
the air, and'immediately after prosentq the other
at his own bead. A life guardsman, and another
person, rushed in, upon him at' the instant, arid"
with difficulty tvrested the pistol from him. .1t
was found to be charged with ball. Sayers, the
136 w-street Officer, who was passing at the time,
took charge of the Gentleman, and, as he refused •
to give any account of himself, proceeied to
search him. There were found on his person
Es-
chequer hills to the amount of between 14 and
15,0001. and Napoleon and other coins to a con,
,•
siderable amount. He was afterwards taken be-
fore Sir N. CONANT, who, on discovering his.re-
halves, ordered hint to be placed tinder their care.
It appears, that he held a high appointment in the
army, and that the unfavourable result of a Conti
Martial, in' which he had been e %aged, continues
to prey upon his mind, so us to cause occa.sional:-
derangement.

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