The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-31 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

Yesterday a commission de lunotico inquirendo was
opened at the Coach and Horses inn, adj,ining
ion
House, the seat of the Duke of Northumberland, Isle-
worth, before Mr. Commissioner Winslow and fifteen
special jurors, to inquire into the state of mind of the
Rev. Benjamin Lewes, rector of Kilrheden, Carmar•
thenshire, now of Dr. Costello's, Wyke House, near
Brentford. _ _

The commission, which was unopposed, was supported
by Mr. James, of the Chancery bar, who stated that the
unfortunate object of the inquiry was G 2 years of age ;
he was a bachelor, and possessed of a rectory worth
about 5001 a year, and of freehold property worth about
5001. a year more. About fourteen years since he was
affected with a mental attack, from which he recovered,
when he told Captain Davis, who had taken out the
commission, that should he be again affected he wished
him to take charge of his property. In March, 1846,
he fell from his horse, and was dragged some distance
in the stirrup, which so shook his nerves, that on the
31st of March he was attacked, while performing the
burial service at his own church, so as to be unable to
go through with it, and from that time he bad laboured
under delusions, showing that he was not able to take
care of himself or property.
Captain David Davis, magistrate of the county of Car-
marthen, described the nature of the rev. gentleman's
property, and his first and second attack of insanity. After
he fell from his horse he dressed, and came down stairs,
seizing his gun, with which he attempted to shoot him-
self. After that, delusions of poverty came on. He
turned away his workmen under the impression that be
could not afford to pay them. He refused to have his
hay or corn cut, saying he could not afford to pay, and
it was necessary to get it done by the tenants. He
further imagined that he was dirty in his person, for
which there was no foundation ; and the proceeding
was only, rendered necessary by Mr. Evans, a brother-in-
law, having taken forcible possession of part of the free-
hold property. The rev. gentleman imagined that
every person he saw was a sheriff's officer, whom he
feared wished to take him for debt ; and also that lie
expected to go to Newgata, or die in a workhouse.
for
Coventry, Williams, Esq., Member of Parliament
Coventry, gave similar testimony, which was confirmed
by the evidence of Dr. Costello, the proprietor of Wyke
House, Dr. Conolly, and Sir A. Morison.
The Reverend Gentleman was then introduced to the
Court. He stated that be knew the object of the in-
quiry. He knew that he was not capable of taking care
of himself or his property. Ile was in debt and diffi-
culties; if he had 20,0001. be could not pay his debts.
He was very comfortable at Dr. Costello's; it was such
a beautiful place.
The unfortunate gentleman in other respects bore out
the foregoing testimony, and the jury without hesitation
returned a verdict, dating the unsoundness of mind from
the 31st of March, 1846.

Mr. H. Lambton, M.P., left Farrance's Hotel yester-
day for Ryde, Isle of Wight.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMoting, MARCH 29 --`ll7r. Ilihernie, 104, Capt.
Richards,
,flag of Vice-.A!;teifel S r 11.-ir. Parker, Com-
manderan•Chief in the Medterranean; the Trafalgar,
120, Captain Nott; the Canopus, 84, Captain Moresby
and the Phoenix screw-sloop, Commander Dennis, were
off Lisbon on the 19th inst.
The Jackal steam-sloop, Lieutenar t- Commander Wea-
-1 tern, left Lisbon for Athens on the 16:13 inst.
The Amazon, 20, Captain Stopford, arrived at Port
Mahon on the 7th inst.,_ and remained ori the 12th, ex-
pecting to be stationed there some time.
The Nautilus, 10, Lieuteeant.Commander Rivers,
sailed from Lisboa for Oporto en the 18th inst.
The Admiralty have ordered a trial to be made on the
Champion, 18, refitting in this dockyard, of the metal
for sheathing manufactured by Mr. Mun'a, M.P., of
Birmingham.
The Admiralty have ordered, on the suggestion of
Commander Sherringham, of the Dasher surveying-
vessel, a nautical mite to be measured in the Southamp-
ton Water, to be marked by sign-posts, fir steamers to
test their rate of speed by.
The Sidon sailed this afternoon for her cruise, with a
brisk westerly wind blowing. If we may trust to ap-
pearances, there is great probability of some weather
that will " try" her severely.
The Retribution steam-frigate has been totally dis-
mantled and brought alongside the sheer jetty, appa-
rently with the view of removing her masts. Her arma-
ment still remains.
The Sphynx is ordered to be taken to Woolwich, in-
stead of Deptford, as at first ordered.
A letter from the Curacoa, 24, Captain Broughton,
just come to hand, dated Rio, Jas. 20th, says—" The
French seem determined to finish the war at Otaheite.
Three 50-gun frigates have passed through Rio within
the last week on their way to Otaheite, with troops on
board We expect to be home by the end
of March or the beginning of April."
The Fairy is being coated on the bottom with com-
position, but is not undergoing any refitment, or having
new screw applied, or indeed receiving any other ser-
vice at the hands of the dockyard officers than that
above stated.
MARCH 20.—The Salamander steam-sloop, acting
Commander Ricketts, left early this morning for Wool-
wich, orders having come down last night for her to
proceed thither; apparently, therefore, no court-martial
will take place, and the truth or falsehood of the nume-
rous reports of cruelty and oppression practised on board
this ship will never be publicly known. This mode of
stifling open investigation may be very satisfactory to
the powers who have ordered the Salamander to be paid
off, but it is not satisfactory to the public after what had
oozed out, and leaves a bad impression, as the wort
construction is put upon the motive. It is unfair, too,
towards both officers and men in the ship. Since she
has been in harbour her crew have behaved with the
most praiseworthy order and decorum, which is highly
to their credit, considering they have been absent from
England five years, and may naturally be imagined to
wish to get ashore and have their spree. It also shows
good care of them by their office's.
The Portland, 50, under the temporary command of
Commander Sehomberg, of the Queen, sailed this morn-
ing from the harbour direct for Cork with 3,500 bags of
meal and biscuit for the " relief service." It is said she
will call at Plymouth, and make up her cargo with
seed corn.
The Sphynx sailed last night for Woolwich.
A board of Admiralty is expected here on Wednesday.
The Anna Maria (Indiamen), Captain Taylor, arrived
in the night from Calcutta. On the 19th inst., in lat. 44
N., long. 29 W., s!e experienced a hurricane from S.W.
to W.N.W., which continued for three successive day&
The sea swept her decks, stove in cuddy, carried away
stanchions, lost all her boats, bulwarks, and had every-
thing washed from off her decks. Part of the cargo was
thrown overboard, and her anchor parted to lighten the
ship. Three men were washed out of the waist, and two
of tht m here washed back again upon the poop; a sol-
dier and sailor, however, were drowned—the former
being washed away from the pump. She has anchored
at the Mother-bank, but sails this evening for Gravesend,
where she will disembark her troops (detachments of
the 39th, from Calcutta, under the command of Lieut.
J. F. Dairy mph.). She called at St. Helena on the 6th
ult. The island was very healthy, but there were no
men-of-war there.

PLYMOUTH, MARSH 27.—The schooner May flower,
Captain John Uran, arrived this morning with about
460 quarters of wheat, shipped at Ville.. Viciosa and
Gijon; left on the 18th inst. So much has the price of
provisions advanced, that the Spanish peasantry were
about to rise, and the Mayflower, with her forehatch
not hattem d down, was, iu consequence, hastily towed
by hired boats out of the harbour. The brig Ceres, of
Poole, was the only vessel remaining at Gijun. She is
about half laden. The populace have come down from
the country, and, for the present, prevented her further
loading, but the Gijon merchants have presented a me-
morial to the Governor-General of the provine (As-
turia) to secure the completion of her cargo. From
Saturday sight, the 20th, to Wednesday, the 24th, the
Mayflower experienced a terrific gale, which shifted her
cargo, threw the vessel nearly on her beam-ends, and
compelled them to wear ship every four hours. On
Sunday night one of her hands, John Barrier, aged 22,
a Spanish native of Gibraltar, for some explained cause,
attempted self-destruction by cutting his throat. When
apparently at the point of death he signed a declara-
tion, in the presence of the - ofloers and crew, fully
exonerating all on board from being in any way im-
' plicated in the rash act. Barrier is likely to recover.

FATAL AFFRA Y IN THE DARK.
On Monday an inquest was held, by adjournment, be-
fore Mr. W. Baker, Coroner, at the Grave Mariner,
Whitechapel-road, respecting the death of Samuel Salter,
aged 31 years, late a porter in Leadenhall Market, who
died in the London Hospital on Tuesday morning last
of injuries he received in an affray with a man named
Charles Frenkish, a carpenter, who is in custody, and
has been remanded on a charge of wilful murder by Mr.
Yardley, one of the Thames-police magistrates. The
particulars of the case appeared in the Thames•police
report on Wednesday last. Mr. Pelham, solicitor, at-
tended on the part of the accused. From the evidence
it appeared that the deceased resided with Frenkish at
No. 24, London-terrace, Commercial-road East. For
some time past he had been leading a very dis-
sipated life, and was constantly in a state of in-
toxication. On Friday, the 19th instant, he was
drinking with several companions during the day,
and towards the evening he became very much
intoxicated. About eight o'clock the same evening
he went into the Mackworth Arms, where he remained
until twelve o'clock, drinking and fighting with several
persons. He then left tlfehouse, and being unable to
walk, he was assisted hcme by Mrs. Frenkish ; he was
very violent, and fell heavily to the ground several times.
On reaching home he abused Mrs.Frenkish, and struck her
a blow en the chest. Shortly afterwards Freakish re-
turned home and accused him with striking his wife.
The deceased said he had, and instantly struck Frenkish
a violent blow on the mouth. An altercation then took
place between them, and they fought for several minutes
in the kitchen. A policeman named Read was called in,
and they then agreed to fight on the following morning.
Frenkish then retired to his bedroom, and the deceased
again began to abuse him. They then fought for several
minutes in the dark, and during the struggle. a table
was broken. The deceased bled most profusely from
the mouth, and in the morning he was con-
veyed to the London Hospital. He remained
there about an hour, when he left the hospital and
returned to his lodgings. During the day he continued
to get worse, and he was again conveyed to the London
Hospital, where he expired on the following Tuesday.
Mr. John Day, house-surgeon to the London Hospital,
stated, that when the deceased wes brought to the hos •
pital he appeared to be in a state of intoxication. The
upper part of his body was most frightfully discoloured
and bruised. He had since made a poflt mortem examina-
tion of the body, and found the intestines; very unhealthy.
The liver was Of an enormous size, and weighed upwards of
five pounds, the ordinary weight bring about two pounds.
The appearance of the stomach indicated that the deceased
had been a greet drunkard. The immediate cause of
death was an effusion of blood on the brain, caused by
violence, he had no doubt from blows. A fall might
Call,e 211 eiTUsiou of blood on the brain.
Tne CORONER ttnn :named up at great length, and,
after a long consultation, tie jury returned an open ver-
dict, that the deceased " Died fl oin an elfusios of blood
en the brain, from violence, but how it was caused there
was no satifactory evidence before the said jurors."
The inquiry lasted seven hours.

• _ _
COAST DEFENCSS OF SCOTLAND.—The arrexed
return embraces a list of the various guns mounted on the
different castles on the coast of Scotland and the esluaries :
Edinburgh Castle—nine 24-pounders, six 18-pounders, nine
12-pounders, sevea 6-pounders, and two 8-inch mortars;
total, 33. Stirling Castle—six 12-pounders, eleven 9-
pounders, and twelve 6-pounders; total, 29. Dumbarton
Castle—three 18-pounders, nine 12-pounders, one 9-pounder,
and four 6-pounders; total, 17. Leith Fort—five 24-
pounders, four 18-pounders, and one 10-inch mortar; total,
10., Fort George—seven 24-pounders, eight 18-pounders,
eight 12-pounders, two 6-pounders, and two 13-inch mortars;
total, 27. Fort Charlotte—eight 18-pounders, and four 32-
pounder carronades; total, 12. Fort William—twelve 12-
pounders. Rothsay Castle (Isle of Bute)—five 18-pounders.
Grand total for Scotland, 145 guns. It will be observed from
the above return that with the exception of a few guns,
mortars, and carronades, at Leith Fort, Edinburgh Castle,
Fort George, and Fort Charlotte, the whole of the guns iu
Scotland are of exceedingly light calibre, and almost unfit
for the improved state of modern warfare. The attention of
the authorities has not yet, we understand, been drawn to
the coast defences of Scotland, but a total revision is likely
to take place shortly in the character of this armament, or,
at least, a material increase in the number of guns of heavy
calibre.
Baron
de Bode, with important dispatches from
Russia, arrived in London on Saturday morning by the Sir
schoolmasterse
to be
Edward Banks steamer, from Ostend.
MILITARY SCIOOLMASTERS.— The
about to be trained at Chelsea on the systemnew a r
amenable to military discipline, and, if approved, after pro-
bation, will be enlisted as sold'
allotted to particular regitnent iers, and take rank, when
Ser-
geant-major. They will be s, immediately after the
corps, but in other mustered monthly with the
respects their
to the duties whichtitle occupation will be confined
their denotes. Height is enjoined
for the sake of confor •
must be prescribed conformity to military regulation, and age
on account of theare pension which they
to
receive after a certain service. Thus the new school-
master, like the old, are to be soldiers still.—United Gazette. Service

1.

M. E. Arago, the avocet, son of the celebrated
astronomer, and his aunt, Mme. Arago, have recently bad
an almost miraculoue escape from destruction. Whilst going
from Perpignan to Estagel their carriage had to pass on the
brink of a deep ravine, and, having passed too close, it
turned over, and tell from a height of eighteen metres, drag-
ging the horse with it. The vehicle was dashed to pieces;
but, strange to relate, M. Arago sustained no injury beyond
a few bruises. His aunt's head was cut, but not seriously,
and the horse escaped unhurt.—Frsnch Paper.
SOCIETY OF ARTS.—On Monday es ening the third
s„i,ie of this spiciety in_ik place, to inspi et the legit specimens
of recent British manufactures which have been lately spent()
the public.