The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-02 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females

Total .

... 1,346

COMMISSION DE LUNATIC° INQUIRRNDO.—Yes-
Corday morning, at ten o'clock, a Commission de Luna-
tico Inquirendo was held aa the Roebuck Tavern,
Chiswick, pursuant to adjournment, before F. Barlow,
Esq. and nineteen special jurors, to further prosecute an
inquiry into the state of mind of Miss Maria Collins,
aged 53, dasighter of the late Captain Collins, of the
Hon. East India Company's. Bth Regiment of Madras
Native Infantry, and niece to Sir William Collins, Bart.,
of Guernsey. The commission was a duplicate one,
involving an investigation into the state of mind of Miss
Amelia Hortense Collins, sister of the object of the
preseutinquiry, both of whom are said to be labouring
under similar delusions. It may be remembered that the
°ate was adjourned for a month at the request of the
Misses Collins, who protested against the haste with
which the commission had been got up by their (married)
sister, Mrs. Findlater. It appears that Miss Maria
Collins, the subject of this commission, in August last,
commenced a correspondence with Mr. Goodman, the
then Lord Mayor's clerk, of London, with Lord Palmer-
ston, and likewise with Lord John Russell. The letters
were of a most romantic and extravagant character.
She declared herself to be the heiress of the Spanish
crown, a descendant of Ferdinand VII., andealled herself
" Princess Bourbon de Bourbon." She imagined that
her mother had been assassinated in the island of Guern-
sey, and that her uncle, Sir William Collins, had some-
thing to du with the diabolical act. She considered
herself one of the most opulent persons in the world,
and, in fact, thought she was worth millions of money.
With the exception of !this alleged delusion, the tiro
sisters appeared to live peacefully and quietly
together.
After a lengthened investigation, which lasted seven
Maria
Collins the jury returned a verdict—That Miss
Collins was of sound mind, and competent to take care
of herself and her affairs. The inquiry into the state of
mind of Miss Amelia Collies was adjourned for a week.
THE FROST.—TiIe weather, for eight days past, has
been much the same as that experienced over the coun-
try.
spirit
The frost has been exceedingly' keen, and the
various ponds and lochs in the vicinity have been in ex-
cellent conditionfmortsh, eiteinsjoreeernfutiifto winteramusements.obserye
the
In these trying ti
with which the social game of curling is kept up by the
various curling clubs. During the week a great number
of matches hare come oft On Friday, the silver medal
given by the late president of the Iceland Club, Mr. H.
aPlienzie, was played fur by the members of the club
on Lounadale Dem. After a keen contest, the prize was
won by Mr. Holing of Brabloch. On Wednesday, the
gold medal given by the Right lion. the Earl of Glasgow,
was played for on the same dam, and won by Mr..Ret-
son. On Saturday, a number of games and matches
came off on the various dams in the neighbourhood.
The Cart, above the Hamil's Falls, is at present frozen
over to an extent which has not been equalled for a
number of years, and it presents a most animated ap-
pearance, from the large number of skating, shinty, and
curling matches that daily attract large concourses of
people to its glassy surface.—North British Mail.
DREADFUL OCCURRANCE.—The wife and three
children of Sub-Constable Merrigan were suffocated in a
lodging room at Rathcormac, on Thursday night, by
leaving a saucepan and fire in the room, which had no
flue, after going to bed. Next morning the wife and
three children were found dead, and the wretched hus-
band is not yet out of danger.