The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-01 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY AIURDER

AND SUICIDE.

We find in 66 81, Louis Bulletin of July 24 the
following extraordinary tairitive

" ST: LOUIS, JULY 24.
"NORTHERN PASSAGE.—LANIENTABLE SUICIDE OF
ONE or THE DISCOVERERS.—It will be seen by refer-
mice to the British papers, that the North passage, so
long sotight after by advnturous navigators, hati at
length been discovered by two young men belonging to
the Hudson's Bay Company. It is not our intention
to enter into a detailed report of the mf'inor.ible voy-
ages but merely to mention the melancholy fate of one
of the dieotereti,

" It appe,as that on their return to York factory, the
principal depot of the Hudson's Bay Company, they
ho:h set out. for Eagland, eager to grasp the rich re-
ward which th‘, British Government never fails to lavish
upon all for eirz'os who contribute anything towards
extending her wide-spread domains, or to perpetuate
her well-earned fame. On the arrival of the two young
men at Lake Winnepeck, they disagreed about the route
which should be pursued, and there separated. Mr.
Si•npsnn, accompanied by Mr. Bird, Mr. Legr mid
LO of 3i of the colonists, strur•k across for St. Peter's,
Intending to push on to New York, eta the Lakes, and
thence sail for Liverpool. Mr. Dice, his compeer, witn
unothi•r party, set out for the Canadas.
" About the 20th of June Mr. Simpson and his party
had reached Turtle River, where they encamped for
the night. He had, from the beginning of the journey,
exhibited occasional symptoms of mental hallucination,
caused, ns the party supposed, by the dread of being
outstripped by his competitor in their long race for
don. On the evening above-mentioned he had eon-
tinu to push on until a late hour at night, and even
then his feverish state of excitement deprived him of
nourishment or rest.

When they stopped. and while in the act of campinr,
Mr. Simpson turned suddenly,round and shot Mr. Bird
through the heart ; and befbre the astr,untied party
cook' tly from the presence of the madman, he dis-
charged the other kirrel, and mortally wounded Mr.
Legros. It appears the party had separated; awl when
he committed the murder on his companions there
v,ere only two more preent, one of them a son if
Legros, who a short distance. The
dying father earnestly besought Simpson to permit his
sou to return and embrace him before he should die,
which he agro.ed to, and beckoned them back, saying
there was nothing. tear.

" 01 their return, S•mpson accused Legros of con-
spiring with Bird, and asked bin whether it was not
their inteotion to osio-t.iunte him that night ? Toe
!lying twin slid it was, hut on being interrogmed a se-
cond tint', he d: melt having any intention or oosi4tt o
a deed, mut shortly after he expired. Sitip4on
then trdcred the two mr,:t to bridle their' horses, alio
prepare to return with him to the settlement, but no
s.‘.oner were they mounted than they dashed off in quest.
of toe main body, and overtook them about eighteen
auks alt,.-id.

Tiv.l all returned in the morning, and when they
had reached within 200 yards of th,i camp they got a
of Simpron at the door of h,s tent, and imme-
diately afterwards hard a report of a gun. Supposing
that he was determined to carry out the work of de-
struction which he had begun, they attempted to intimi-
date him by firing three volleys in the direction of the
camp, and then approache3 cautiously. When they
came up, they found their commander weltering in his
blood, and on closer examination loan(' that he had
literally blown his head to pieces.
•‘ party arriied at St. Pet' is about the Ist of
in possession of the important papers and other
property belonging to the ill-fated Simpson.
" These particul irs we learn from Mr. W. A. Air-
kin, a trader from Lake Superior. Mr. Aitkin further
states that the matt,r is involved in mystery, which
time roily can clear up.
" The unfortunate Simpson was a native of Seotl'ind,
and a nephew of the present Governor of the Hudson's
13 ay Company. He was about 28 years of age, pos-
sessed of file talents, an Amiable disposition, and the
universal esteem of those who knew him."

cOS V-OFFICE OF THE UNITED

STATES.

In the American papers the revenues of the Post-
offiee are particularly considered, as affording an :teen-
rate view of the :vaunt ircial condition of the country,
since tie greater part of the postage is paid on business
letters, while even other correspondence is aff,:cted in a
. greater or less degree by the state of commerce. The
ordinary increase of business and population in the
United S:ates wound, it is calculated, produce an in-
crease of revenue of a: least six per cent. per annum.
- Now, during the year ending July, 1836, the increase
was 13 per cent., while for the year ending July, 1837,
it exceeded 20 per cent. In 1838 it was reduced to
three per cent., and rose to five per cent. in 1839.
A decrease was expected in the year just expired
of about two per cent., which would make a dif-
ference of seven per cent. between 1839 and 1840.
Thus the results exhibit a faithful view of the commer-
cial ch angel in the country, and mark how the great
overaction of business in 18:36 and 1837 was followed
by a reaction, the last. result of which will probably be a
redaction of the Post-ullice revenues about 7 per coot.
below their OatUril amount, As the returns are not yet
flt de for the year ending July, 1840, the relative
ereaso of tne receipts hir postage iu infKoamt stitioris is
cabal meal for the first three (patters of the two
years wii;ch end in July, 18:30, aad July, 1810.
From a comparative view of the different towns, it
appears ti-..t in the eastern and middle Salts there
are very few towns where the postage has tic-
&M N], a bile miost of them have increased, though
nailer the averagt.. Tie large,it increase is exhi-
bited by B PvivtieNce Town, which depends
maeli on Ina manufaituring interest, likewise ex-
hibits an faereasa. Philade:phia has declined 3
p r cent., New York less than 2, the former dif-
fering from Boston by about 9 per cent. Front
these observations it is gathered, that where the
banks did not suspend, and the currency has been
m tiutained in a comparative state of soundness, business
had surf:red but little, and only to the extent that might
be accounted for by the embarrassments fa other quar-
ters. Referring now to the States where overtrading
was universal, it is found that the decline is most mate-
rial, and although the third quarter from New Orleans
is not returned, it may be assumed, it the decline should
equal that of the two preceding quarters, that the de-
cline for the whole thr,a; will be 40 per cent. The
Western States generally exhibit deciina.

Tile ,iiinmary et all tile r,:asollin on the subject is,
that where the paper ini-tlitnn was most expanded and
speculation Intadt. active tie• comaiwrcial depression has
been the greatest, so that where the delusive prosperity
was greatest in 1833 and 1836 the reaction was most
a!estructive in 1839. 'rite United States Bank hating
been brought. to bear more directly on Mississippi and
the South-Western States than anywhere else, it was
there the pros(ratihn of business was most severely
Idt. Times.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
(LLOYD'S.)

LONDON, Aoo. 3l.—Wind this day at noon, pleasant
breeze from the northward arid eastward.
DEAL, Auu. 29.—Wind N. E. 30th—E.N,
the Napoleon, Routledge, for Swan River; Bengal, Tur-
pi!, Launceston ; British Isles, Muirhead, Demerara; St.
Georr4e, S ewart, St.. Jago dc Cuba.
LIVERPOOL, Avo. 29.—Wind SE. 30.1a—Variable.—
Arrived the Hlndoo, Morson, from Calcutta, sailed from
Sandyhead April 14, and St. Helena 14th ult. i • Hero of
Malown . late Grundy, Bombay; City of Poonah, Wilson,
sailed 2•41 h April, rind St. Helena 14th ult. ; Mary Ma-
c4uley, Bombay ; Wiodermerc, Brown, Calcutta ; Inde-
penderice, Nye, New York. sailed 7th inst. ; Belfast,
Jimaica; °prey, Cork; Quebec, George, ditto; Jean
Hartil, Pau Piniel ; Messenger, Miramichi ; Capri-
corn, Mobile. Sailed the Tapley, Mallory, Cal-
cutta; Glorat. Metcalf, Ceara; Archer, Matthewson,
flarbadoes Jubilee, Anderaon, Rio Janiero ;
ghatty, Miclesebt, Philadelphia; Miry Alice, Barker,
Bathurst ; Mersey, Hamilton, Montreal ; Par-
ker, Sewell, ditto ; Tttkrn, Chambers, Cape of Good
Hope ; James Dean, Wilson, Montreal ; and Mediter-
mican, Cabrow,

SHEERNEis, Am). 29.—Put hick the Pr;nee George,
transport, from London for Sydney, New Sluth Wales,
with howsilit sprung, and other damege, having been in
contact with a vessel, Sailed the Cefyro Nicola, Laude,
for llavannah.

Mr. MACKRETH'S is truly with
the most gratifying feelings we can state, that Mr. Mack-
reth is now enabled to taste solid food, and that the heal-
ing progress of his wounds is far more rapid than his me-
dical attendants could ever have anticipated. Every
one who has visited this unfortunate but excellent
a d amiable man, speaks in the highest terms of his adnii-
. rabl, tone of maid: and extraordinary fii airless. One trait
of him we cannot forbear recording:—When Mr, Henry
Hodges, the surgoon. who has so ab y tr, reed his case,
had sewn up the wound on the right side of his otwit.
and had put but one or two stitches in the left, the adjust-
ment restoring to Mr. Mulcted) the power of utterance,
he clasped his hands, and wi,h an expression of counten-
ance, turned upwards, that deeply affected every one pre-
sent, his words were "My God, my blessed God." These
were the first words h uttered on recovering the
power of speech.— Ludlow Standard. of Saint day.
LUDLOW. Auo. 30 1840.—( From a Correspondent.)—
Mackreth is doing uneummonly well, and would
biter if he Was not to exert himself by talking. M;sterA's
behaviour in prison is marked by an uncommon degree of
levity.
EXECUTIONER OF Louts XVI.—M. Sanson,
the paslic executioner, who died the other day was re-
markable for the horrible task he had to perform in 1793,
when, in virtue of his office, he had to bird the hands of
"41 XVI.. and afterwards place the Monarch's head
und,,r the guillotine. He was the third of his name who
[ad filled the same functions, and he has left a son and a
grandson.. Ho bad acquired some property, and become
an elector, was a well-informed man, was fond of the arts,
and pas,ed most of his evenings in playing on the piano.
Of the two men.who astiited him on the memorable 214
of January, 1793. one died on the 21st of January, 1795;
precisely two years afterwards; and the other wag killed
in the streets of Paris on the 21st of March. 1784,