The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-22 00:00:00

THE LATE GENERAL LEON.

- •
Diego Leon, who has been shot at Madrid,- was the
best cavalry officer which the constitutional army pos-
sessed during the last war. He acquired his promotion
and his title of Count of Belascoa on the field of battle.
Lower Navarre and Arragon were the principal theatres
of his exploits, and in all the battles fought in those pro-
vinces he was distinguished for his clear judgment and
impetuous valour. A bold and brilliant cavalry officer,
and still young (he was only 37 years of age), Diego was
of so noble a nature that he was beloved both by officers
and soldiers, a circumstance the more extraordinary, as
the Spanish privates seldom attach themselves to their
officers.

Diego Leon was known to the army by the name of
the Spanish Murat, on account of ins bravery and his
rich and dazzling uniform. He wore, throUgh choice,
the hussar uniform of the Princess's Regiment, even
when he commanded a division of the Royal Guard.
His shako was always ornamented with a streamer, by
which he was easily recognized on the field' of battle.
Espartero was intimately connected with him until the
events which occurred at Barcelona last year.
Maria Christina, who justly appreciated Diego Leon's
devotedness, had recourse to him when abandoned by
Espartero at Valencia. She appointed him Captain-
General of Madrid. Diego repaired there forthwith,
against Espartero's will, who wished to keep him at
'Barcelona, but he only arrived at his post to witness the
.defection of the troops and the downfal of the Queen-
Regpn t'S authority.
He remained at Madrid, where Espartero authorised
hini to reside, in order the better to observe his move-
ments. It is known that Diego Leon, when the last in•
surrection broke out at Madrid, remained at horse wait-
ing the signal. It Was a young cavalry officer who went
for him. They traversed together the lines of troops en-
gaged without having been recognised, and joined Gene-
'Ml Concha, who commanded the insurgent troops. The
details of his arrest are not known, but his tragical
death will, n ) doubt, deeply affect his brothers in arms,
who so long admired his noble disposition and his bravery
at the moment of action.

THE DARKNESS ON THE METROPOLITAN
ROADS.—ACCIDENTS.—On Wednesday evening, owing
to the dense darkness on the metropolitan roads west-
ward of London, from the discontinuance of the gas
lamps, two accidents occurred at Kensington, which had
nigh been attended with serious, if not fatal conse-
quences. The first occurred about a quarter before nine
o'clock, when Hayne's 'Twickenham omnibus, No. 2,689,
came into collision, between the turnpike and the en-
trance to Kensington Palace, with a cart belonging to
William Hodgson, of Grosvenor-mews, Bond-street, by
which the shafts of the cart were broken, and Mr. Hodg-
son.thrown out, and so much injured as to be obliged to
be carried to the Goat public-house close by, where he
still remains. The second accident occurred soon after-
wards, near. the wall of. Holland park, where another
omnibus and cart came into violent collision, but, fortu-
nately, neither were seriously injured.
DREADFUL SUMIDE AT LONDON-BRIDGE.

—Yesterday evening, about six o'clock, a man respect-
ably dressed as a mechanic, was observed hastily to get
up on the parapet over the dry arch of London-bridge on
the City side, and, after kneeling there for a moment or
two, precipitated himself off, and fell with fearful violence
on the pavement in Lower Thames-street. He was
picked up, covered with blood, by some hackney coach-
men, and conveyed immediately to the surgery of Mr.
Croft, on Fish-street-hill, where ho died in about three
minutes afterwards, his skull being fractured in a dread-
ful manner.

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE WIDOW OF BEL-
LINI, THE COMPOSER.—Yesterday forenoon an inquest
was held before Mr. Baker, the Coroner for Middlesex,
at the Shakspeare's Head, Shakspeare's-walk, Shadwell,
on the.body of Mrs. Eliza Bingham, aged 35, wife of a
gentleman connected with the Customs, and widow of
the composer. -From the evidence it appeared
that the deceased resided in Shakspeares-walk, and en-
joyed the best of health, although labouring under a
partial attack of paralysis on the right side. On Sunday
evening, on her return from church, . she partook of a
hearty supper, and then prepared to go to bed. The
servant began to undress her, when she suddenly put
her hand up to her head, exclaiming," Oh, what a dread-
ful pain in my head," and at the moment sank lifeless on
to the cofa. Verdict—" Died by the visitation of God."
. SEIZURE FOR CHURCH-RATES.—Yesterday
afternoon a good deal of excitement prevailed at the auc-
tion-rooms of Mr. Lloyd, auctioneer, Hatfield-street,
Stamford-street, in consequence of its being known that
half a dozen mahogany framed chairs had been seized
for Church-rates from the premises of Mr. Watts, of the
firm of Watts and Dalton, potters, High-street, Lambeth,
and which were in the catalogue for sale. The property
taken was valued at 101., while the amount of rate was
only 11. 58. Upon Mr. Lloyd coming to the lot,
which was ninety-one in the catalogue, several voices in
the rooms exclaimed, " Tho chairs have been seized
for. Church-rates • therefore, don't bid for them." This
notice was responded to by loud cries of " shame," inter-
mixed with groans and hisses ; and then came a cry
of "No Church-rates ;" this lasted for some seconds,
when a Mr. Harding, a grocer, made a bidding of a
shilling for the lot. Amid great confusion a person from
the broker who made the seizure stood up on the form,
and offered a guinea, followed by - a :second bidding of
two guineas. A gentleman of the name of Baker, who
attended for the purpose of buying in the property,
made an advance to 41. 55., which Mr. Lloyd immedi-
ately accepted. The- confusion still continued, when
Mr. Lloyd said ".There are no. more Church-rate lots,
and therefor° you can depart." This remark was -re--
's'ponded to by hisses, and at the lower end of the room
the altercation' became so violent between some. of tho
parties-as .t,"; cause blows to be .exchanged. The belli-
gerents were, however, speedily ejected, and Use peace
of the room restored.'