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

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females

Total ...

674
672

... 1,346

COMMISSION DE LUNATICO INQUIRENDO..—YeS•
terday morning, at ten o'clock, a Commission de Luna-
tico Inquirendo was held at the linebuck, Tavern,
I,
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, daughter of the late Captain Collins, of the
lion. East India Company's Bth Regiment of Madras
Native Infantry, and nieee 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, sitter of the object of the
present inquiry, both of whom are said to be labouring
under similardelusions. It may be remembered that the
ease 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 (marrit d)
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., and called 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 do 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 °Olds alleged delusion, the two
sisters appeared to live peacefully and quietly together.
After a lengthened investigation, which lasted seven
hours, the jury returned a verdict—That Miss Maria
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 Collins was adjourned foraarawt,eeh;ka
THE FROST.--Thep weather, for eight days h
been much the same as that experienced over t e coun-
try. The frost has been exceedingly keen, and the
various ponds and lochs in the vicinity have been in ex-
cellent condition for the enjoyment of winter amusements.
In these trying times, it is cheerful to observe the spirit
with which the social game of curling is kept up by the
various curling clubs. During the week a great number
of matches have come off. On Friday, the silver medal
given by the late president of the Iceland Club, Mr. H.
played fur by the members of the club
onA lleonuznised' was played
After a keen contest, the prize was
won by Mr. Reline of Brabloch. On Wednesday, the
gold medal given by the Right Hon. 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 fur a
number of }Teri., 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 OCCURRENCE.—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 bad no
flue, after going to bed. Next morning the wife and three children were found dead, and the wretched bus-
band is not yet out of danger.