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

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

On Monday a commission de lunatico inquirendo was
opened at the Coach and Horses inn, adjoining Sion
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 62 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 ho recovered,
when Captain Davis, who had taken out the
commission, ihsso toldion ,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
, which so shook his nerves, that on the
3
of March he was attacked, while performing the
inlburialst theo stirrup,
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 ho dressed, and came down stairs,
seising 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 he
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 eecessary 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 be saw was a sheriff's officer, whom he
feared wished to take him for debt ; and also that he
expected to go to Newgate, or die in a workhouse.
William Williams, Esq., Member of Parliament for
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 he knew the object of the in-
quiry. He knew that he was not capable of taking care
of himself or his property. He was in debt and diffi-
culties; if he had 20,000/. be could not pay his debts.
Ho 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.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 30.
ROYAL ASSENT.

The Royal Assent was given to day by Commission, at
Four o'clock, to the Drainage of Land Bill, the Llynvi
Iron Company, and the Whiteburn and Kelso and Lauder
and Kelso Road Bills.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Monteagle.
Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure.

The Lora) CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
Lack at Five o'clock.

WATERWORKS CLAUSES BILL.

This Bill was read a third time and passed ; as were
also the Gas Works Clauses Bill, the Markets and Fairs
Clauses Bill, and the Commissioners Clauses Bill.
GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION.

The Earl of CLARENDON presented several peti-
tions, on the part of the Marquis of Lansdowne, from
congregations of Baptists at Oakham, from Protestant
Dissenters at Rocking, in Essex; and from Protestant Dis-
senters at Eddington, in the county of Bedford, against
the Government scheme of education.