The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-29 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

On Saturday, Mr. Martin West, the Commissioner,
and a jury, of which Luke Thomas Flood Esq., the
Magistrate, was foreman, assembled at the Old Swan,
Brompton, to inquire into the state of mind of the
Rev. David Magan, formerly of No. 11, Camden-villas,
Camden-town, and now an inmate of Dr. Elliott's Lu-
natic Asylum, Cowper-house, Brompton. Mr. Cole
attended as counsel in support of the commission.
It appeared that Mr. Magan had betrayed symp-
toms of insanity previous to the month of October in
the past year, and upon the 22d of that month he was
suddenly deprived of his senses while taking a drive in
his chaise, and became quite imbecile. Upon his reach-
ing home medical assistance was rendered, and on
the following day he became exceedingly violent, and
required five persons to restrain him. He roared,
kicked, and bit at everybody who came near him, and
spat in the face of his keeper. He had no recol-
lection of recent events, and called persons by their
wrong names, insisting that they were his old school-
fellows, and at other times abusing them for being Jews,
Dissenters, and servants of the devil. He imagined
that two of his deceased brothers were living and prac-
tising as surgeons, and that his former wife was alive.
He also fancied that he continued to preach from time
to time in the parish church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields,
of which parish he was formerly curate, and greatly re-
spected. He had no children, although he had been
twice married, and as he possessed considerable property
in the funds, and a number of leaseholds, it was deemed
necessary that these proceedings should be taken by
his wife for her own protection. He was removed from
Camden-town to Dr. Elliott's asylum, on the 3d of
December last, and since that time no change had taken
place in his mind.
A number of witnesses were examined, who proved

that Mr. Megan could not read his prayer-book, or
keep up a connected conversation, and that he laboured
under the delusions already described.
The Rev. Gentleman frequently interrupted the wit-
nesses while they were giving their evidence by inco-
herent remarks, and protested that they were all Dr.
Davis, a Jew, an enemy of bis, who went to school
with him. He likewise declared that the Rev. Mr.
Gee, of St. Martin's, ought to be removed by the vicar,
and that Mr. Marshall, a surgeon, was a dangerous man,
and owed him (Mr. Magan) a large sum of money.
The jury returned a verdict, finding the unfortunate
gentleman insane from the 22d of October, 1840.

FIRE AT THE COLLEGE OF SUR-

GLOMS.

About half.past eight o'clock on Saturday evening,
a fire broke out in the museum attached to the loyal
College of Surgeons, Lincoln's Inn-fields.
The fire was discovered by police-constable 68 F,
who was on duty in Portugal-street, the northern side
of which is flanked by the gable end of the building.
His attention was first attracted on walking past the
spot by a loud crackling noise, and, on observation, a
dim light was seen through one of the basement win-
dows. He immediately hurried round to the front en-
trance in Lincoln's Inn-fields, and, having given the
alarm to the beadle, dispatched messengers to the various
fire-engine stations. In a very short time the engine of
the brigade establishment from the Holborn station ar-
arrived on the spot, and soon after that from Chandos-
street. By this time the flames had made rapid pro-
gress, and the whole of the pavement floor of the
building was in a perfect blaze of light, the greatest
fears being entertained for the destruction of the whole
of the valuable contents of the far-famed museum.
Fortunately there was an excellent supply of water
near the spot, and the engines having got into work
immediately, a vast body of water was thrown upon
the flames, and in a very short period all fear of
their extending beyond the lower apartments was at an
end. By half-past nine the fire was completely got under.
The cause of the accident is not yet clearly explained ;
the apartment in which the fire broke out is that in
which the heating apparatus for the building is con-
tained, but it does not appear that it originated from
any defeat or mismanagement of the machinery. It is
supposed that a spark must have dropped upon the
floor of the room, and connected with some light deal
boxes which were ranged on one side. It is a most for-
tunate circumstance that the fire was discovered at so
early a period, as it is stated that the next apartment
contains nearly sixty barrels of spirits of wine, which,
had they once ignited, would, in all probability, have
caused the destruction of the whole building, together
with its valuable contents. It is not a little singular
that this is the fourth fire which has taken place on 4
Saturday evening within the last few weeks.