The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-29 00:00:00

N . 17,=318.1] LONDON, WEDNESDA : WT
.1

AN APPEAL to the I
WIDOW of WILLIAM
coumr

PUBLIC in behalf of the
rmom, Poet of Inverury.
ITTEE.

Mr. John Watson
31r. James 1.1. Ower

Provost Thorns
Rev. George CBMilan
Rev. J. It. M'Gavin Mr. William Boyack
Dr. Arrot Mr. William Itett
Mr. James Westland Mr. James Chalmers, jun.
Mr. Patrick Watson ter. Arthur Begg, jun.
Mr. Thomas Saunders.
TREASURER —Mr. Patrick Watson.
SECRETARY—Mr. William Boyack.
The Committee appointed to raise a fund for the relief of the
Widow and Family of the late William Thom, the gifted but unfor-
tunate Poet of Inverury, beg leave briefly but earnestly to appeal to
the Public, more especially to the Public of Scotland, in behalf of the
trust which has been confided to them.
The name awl genius of Thom are well known and universally ac-
knowledged ; many of the feeling aad pathetic effusions of his anise
have been brought before the public, not enly in a connived form,
but in various periodicals. His talents attracted the attention of the
ablest judges; and the Messrs. Chambers, in their Journal, have de-
voted a chapter to his autobiography, and to that favourable weed of
praise to which they considered his merits entitled.
The life of William Thom has, indeed, combined the vicissitudes of
a humble child of the Muses, having formed a scene of trials and dis-
appointments, accompanied by an overflowing share of poverty and
distress.
Many of his earliest and best years were passed at the Hawkhill
of Dundee—the remembrance of which seemed deeply impressed on
his mind ; for thither, to use his own emphatic language, he wished
to return, like a bird that flutters round her forsaken nest, to spend
his latter days in comparative peace and quiet.
His wishes were fulfilled, for not many months ago he did return
from his wanderings, debilitated and impoverished, and breathed Ids
last on Monday, the 28th of February. He has left awidow and three
infant children, the youngest but five months old, totally unprevided
for ; and it has therefore been resolved to raise a fund, in order, if
possible, to afford them permanent assistance. A. Committee has
been appointed, who have cheerfully undertaken this duty, and al-
ready they are happy to announce that their call has been responded
to in a prompt and liberal manner. Lord Kinnaird, Lord Jeffrey,
Messrs. Douglas Jerrold and Robert Chambers, and many others,
have spontaneously sent their contributions; and it is earnestly
hoped that the charitable and the admirers of native genius and un-
obtrusive merit will support and encourage the laudable object which
the Committee have in view.

Dundee, March 10, 1848.
Contributions will be received by Hay of the Members*L Commit.'
tee; and sit the shors Of Messrs. Chalmers, Shaw, and Middleton,
Booksellers, and Mr. Mills, Perfumer, Dundee.
DEATH OF WILLIAM THOM, THE INVERURY POET.
(To the Editor of the "Dundee Courier.")
Dundee, February 29,1843.

Sir,—The painful task has been deputed to me of announcing to
the public the death of William Thom, the Inverury poet. For
some time past he had been in delicate and declining health ; and
his diseased state of body was doubtless aggravated by the uncer-
tainty of his circumstances, and the consequent anguish of his
honourable and sensitive mind. Yesterday, in our city, at half-
past eleven A.M., he departed this life. lie has left behind him
something more than a name—some true and beautitul strains.
winch, ns " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," the world will not
willingly suffer, like the inscription in the coffin, to be buried in
the tomb. He has left behind him, alas ! something of yet ten-
derer and mere mournful interest—a widow and three children,
thi eldest of whom is only four years, and the youngest but a few
months old. These are " utterly destitute," and but for the kind-
ness of one or two private friends, might have beets cast out ere
this to the charity of the streets. I snake no appeal in behalf of
the poet himself; " after life's fitful fever he sleeps well." He has
found what the most troubled and tempest-tossed wanderer will at
last find, and which to him was peculiarly grateful—rest. Nor will
I indulge or express any vindictive feelings as to the treatment
which he received while yet alive. A true poet, he met with truly
poetic usage. He was caressed, but not fed ; as if one could sup
on incense, or as if one public dinner could keep a man alive for
years ! But I would bespeak general sympathy in behalf of his
destitute family. I would implore every lover of literature—
every one who has derived pleasure from the departed poet's
lyrics, or front the simple story of his life—to prove their pleasure
and their gratitude true by some more substantial evidence than ex-
clamations or tears. I would call especially upon those who saw
him at our late Watt Festival, and heard almost his latest breath
given forth in those brief, broken, but thrilling accents—accents how
far superior to the measured cadences of rhetoric—to testify by
generous deeds their sense of melancholy satisfaction that theirs was
the privilege of meeting with and hearing him fur the last time.
No time ought to be lost. Indeed, no time has been lost. Intima •
Lions to the above effect either have been, or are immediately to be,
dispatched to DouglAs Jerrold, Charles Dickens, Lord Jeffrey, and
others. But as Dundee has had the honour of containing his death-
bed, let us follow the start we have acciden,ally gained by instant,
active, strenuous efforts in behalf of his widow and his fatherless
bairns.
Messrs. Chalmers, Middleton, an", Shaw, Booksellers, and Mr.
Mills, Perfumer, have kindly undertaken to receive donations.
The smallest sums will be welcomed.
I am, Sir, yours truly,
GEORGE GI LF LL AN.
The last verses of the late William Thom, written shortly before
his death :
SONG OF THE DWELLERS IN DEAN VALE.
Tune —" Miller o' Dee."
While we laugh avid sing, in this happy ring,
With a bright and a brotherly glee,
May we never forget that the sun baths set
On the homes of misery.

For oh ! it may be that this chill night wind
Sweeps round some fireless hearth,
Freezing the heart of the homeless one,
With never a friend on earth.

Then aye, as we sing, in iy we closer cling,
In our bright and brotherly glee ;
Yet never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.

Man was not made for this world alone,
The world was lent to man ;
'Tis a debt we owe to Heaven, you know,
Then pay it as well as you can.
Now winter rides mad in his carriage of snow,
With his pelting rain and his hail ;
May it never be said that hunger and woo
Meld abiding in bonny Dean Vale.

QUEEN'S LARDER, 79, LONDON WALL.
CH XPAIAN begs to state that he has rev,-
LO • vered his health and resumed business in the above Esta-
bliannent, and trusts his attention to business in quality and price
wil: still merit their support.

This day is published, Avo., price ls. 6d.,
QUGGESTIONS for a REFORMATION in the
LY CHURCH of ENGLAND, and for the EDUCATION of the
PEOPLE of the EMPIRE; with an Introductory Letter to the Right
Honourable Lord John Russell, her Majesty's First Lord of the
TreaSury. By ANGLICANUS.
Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria lane.

I,
ANV LIF E ASSURANCE OFFICE,
1..41 ILBET-STREET, next St. Dunstan's Church.
March 27, Mt.

Notice is hereby given, that the BOOKS for TRANSFERRING
SHARES in this Society were CLOSED on TUURSDAY, the 23d
inst., and will be RE-OPENED on MULSDAY, the 6th of April
next.
The DIVIDENDS for the year 1847 will be PAYABLE on 'Plums-
DAY, the 6th April next, or oa any subsequent day (Tuesdays
excepted), between the hours of Ton and Three o'clock.
By order of the Directors,
WILLIAM S. DOWNER, Actuary.

CORPORATION
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ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE
OF lIOUSES AND GOODS FROM FIRE.
OFFICES—ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDON.
Branch, 25, Ball-mall.
Notice.—The usual fifteen days allowed for payment of Premiums
ailing due at Lady-day will expire on the 9th April next.
ASSURANCES ON LIVES,
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without involving the Assured in any risk of Partnership.
GOVERNOR—Thomas Tooke,'.Esq.
gcß-GOVERNOR—WiIIiam Sampson, Esq.
DEPUTT-GOVERNOR—The Hon. J. T. Leslie Melville.
DIRECTORS.
Sir J. W. Lubbeck, Bart.
Charles John Manning, Esq.
Hoary Nelson, Esq.
Edward Howley Palmer, Esq.
John Henry Pelly, Esq.
Abraham G. Roberts, Esq.
Charles Robinson, Esq.
Sir Samuel Scott, Bart.
William Soltau, Esq.
William Wallace, Esq.
Octavius Wigram, Esq.
Charles Baring Young, Esq.
ALEX. GREEN, Secretary.

Henry Bainbridge, Esq.
George Pearkes Barclay, Esq.
Edmond S. P. Calvert, Esq.

otareltillettl3ntleY,
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Riversdale W. Grenfell, Esq.
William T. llibbert, E,q.
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GENERAL FIRE and LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY,
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The following are the annual Premiums for the Assurance of 1001.
for the whole 'if*, one-half of which may remain for five years by
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Age 20, without profits.. Li 13 0 With profits ••••• • • • LI 18 0
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FIRE DAPARTMENT.
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The Directors beg to remind their friends, whose premiums become
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March, 1848. JOHN BIGG, Secretary.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
WESTERN CIRCUIT.—Exeter, March 27.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PLATT and a
Special Jury from the City.)
THE BISHOP OF EXETER AND THE " WESTERN TIMES."

REGINA V. LATIMER.-LIBEL.
This case, which has excited the greatest interest,
and has been postponed for two assizes, came on for
trial this morning. The court and the passages were
crowded throughout the trial.
Thomas Latimer, the editor of the Western Times,
a newspaper widely circulated in the county of Devon
and the west of England, was charged by the indictment
with having published a false, scandalous, malicious, and
defamatory libel against the Bishop, calling him a
brawler and a consecrated and careless perverter of
truth. To this the defendant pleaded not guilty, and a
justification under the 6 and 7 Vic , c. 96, sec. 6, and

that it was for the public benefit.
Mr. CROWDER. in opening the case, said that the
Bishop of Exeter complained of a libel charging him
with having uttered a gross and deliberate falsehood in
a matter connected with his church government, and in
the discharge of his parliamentary duties in the
House of Lords. He therefore appealed to the
laws of his country for protection. He then
stated the facts of the case as follows :--In the year
1832 the Duke of Somerset, who was the owner of the
manor of Bridgetown, and the patron of the living of
Berry Pomeroy, had built, for the use of his tenants, a
church at Bridgetown. The Duke met the Bishop of
Exeter in the summer of 1832, and expressed a desire to
have the church consecrated. The Bishop inspected the
building, and expressed himself perfectly satisfied with
its appearance, and understood from the Duke of Somer-
set that it had been built for the purpose.of being used
for worship according to the-rites and ceremonies of the
Church of England. Some conversation took place as to
the mode in which the consecration could be obtained.
The Bishop of Exeter informed him of the course which
ought to be pqrsued, in order that the Duke might re-
tain the patronage—namely, that it should he endowed;
and something was said as to the amount of endowment.
Subsequently a correspondence took place between Mr.
Maberly, the agent of the Duke, and Mr. Barnes,
the secretary of the Bishop, the object of
which was to ascertain the proper mode of
obtaining consecration, so as to secure to the
Duke of Somerset the exclusive right of nominating the