The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-28 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

A commission de Lunatico lnquirendo was opened yes-
terday morning, at ten o'clock, before Francis Barlow,
Esq., one of the Masters in Lunacy, and a jury of seven-
teen gentlemen of the county of Middlesex, at the Eyre
Arms Tavern, St. John's-wood, to inquire into the state
of mind of Mrs. Sarah Westbrook, of High-street, Port-
land-town, widow. The commission was sued out by.
Mr. J. French, the heir-at-law, and cousin to the al-
leged lunatic.
Mr. CHAMBERS, in support of the commission, stated
that the present proceeding was taken by order of the
Crown, through the Chancellor.
It would seem that the lady evinced imbecility during
her. childhood. Having been at school she returned
home to her father's house, who was a man of some pro-
perty, and whilst there she was most indecorous in her
conduct. It was thought a change by marriage would
alter her state of mind, and a person of the name of
Westbrook was introduced to her, and allowed to marry
her, the brother, Mr. Edmund French, allowing them
1001. per annum to live upon. Westbrook and his
wife went to live in a small cottage at Acton, where
she was not capable of attending to the domestic duties of
the house. Her husband was compelled to sweep and
clean it whilst she went about the village in the filthiest
state. On one occasion she had been to London in a
coach, and because the driver did not stop opposite the
lane where she lived, she cried out at the top of her voice
" murder" several times. In the year 1841 her husband
died, and only an hour before his death Mrs. Westbrook
tried to pull him out of bed, telling the surgeon, who ar-
rived opportunely to prevent her, that he had better get
up and take a walk. She appeared so imbecile, that
after his death she could not perform the proper offices
for the dead, and a neighbour was called in to do it.
After this her brother took her to his own home, with a
view of having her taken better care of. The brother
thought it advisable to have a person to take care of her,
and for that purpose engaged a Mrs. Adams. With this
person she remained until very recently, and the jury
would find that she had been got out of her custody
under extraordinary circumstances. In. April, 1845,
her brother, Mr. Edmund French, died. He had lived
rather penuriously, and left property amounting to between
15,000/. and 20,0002, Mr. Richard Kirkham Lane being
his solicitor. For some time after the brother's death,
Mrs. Adams still had the care of Mrs. Westbrook, the
property all coming into the possession of that lady. A
house was then taken for her next to Mrs. Adams', and
a carriage, which was not worth more than 30/. or 401., was
purchased for 80/. In Feb., 1846, a person of the name
of Wood was introduced to Mrs. Westbrook, and from
that time to this she has remained at the residence of
Mrs. Westbrook, telling that lady she had been sent by
a " supreme power to take care of her ;" and having a
fearful control over that lady. The unfortunate lady
had frequently said that Mrs. Wood would not let her
do anything. Two young men were introduced of the
names of Marsh and CW3orn ; one a journeyman saddler,
and the other a waiter, who made love to Mrs. West-
brook, taking her to Cremorne-gardens, Vauxhall, and
other places of amusement. Before the witnesses were
examined Mrs. Westbrook was introduced, and took her
seat by the side of the Learned Commissioner. She was
most fashionably and elegantly attired. During the whole
proceedings she was very loquacious.
After the evidence by which these facts were elicited,
the case was adjourned.

THE Moons.—The accounts from the moors describe
the opening of this season as a most propitious one. Inver-
ness-shire would appear to be for the present the head- quar-
ters. Amongst those there enjoying the sports of the season,
are Viscount Milton. Lord Gifford, Lord It. Grosvenor, Lord
Lovat, Lord L. Hill, Sir H. Meux, and several eminent
barristers and solicitors, &c., from London.
TURNIP DlSEASE.—Apprehensions have for some
time past been entertained of the failure of the turnip crops
this season, which have unfortunately been realised in those
brought within the last few days into the London markets.
The tops first become affected, the disease fast spreading to
the root as in the potato,
TH. HARVEST IN WEST KENT.—The harvest may
now be reported as finished throughout West Kent, for
only a very small portion of barley and a few beans (or
rather bean stalks,-for late-sown beans are a general failure)
remain in the fields. Upon the whole' the corn has been
got in in good condition, both for the flail and for the mill.
In many cases where the new wheat Las been thrashed,
the yield is not so great as expected, although the quality
of the-grain is good. The backward turnips are growing
fast, and will' produce some feed ; those sown on the stubble
are already being hoed out, and where the land is in good
heart look very promising. Where the land is good and
clean farmers might extend with advantage the system of
sowing turnips on stubbles, particularly after early har-
vests, by being careful to select the early store, or as it is
sometimes called the six-weeks turnip, which is found to
answer well when sown after a scarifier, or even by being
harrowed in without ploughing. The potato crop has again
been struck with the same blight as prevailed last year.
Its attack was suddenly apparent about the first or second
week in August. In the course of about three days the
haulm, iVhich before looked green and luxuriant, changed
and became black and rotten, but in many cases, even where
the bine was in this state, the potatoes have proved to be in
a more sound state than generally resulted from similar ap-
pearances last year. The breadth planted this year is very
small. The crops of mangold are improving. The hops
have made a vigorous effort at the latterend of their growth,
and.where the bine has notsuffered too much from the blight
or vermin, the hops have grown large, and the crop is likely
to exceed general expectation. Picking has now generally
commenced. _ _ _

.....
EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF TOBACCO. Information has
been received by the Commissioners of the seizure of nearly
6,0001b5. of tobacco in the leaf, near the coast, at Boston,
Lincolnshire, by Mr. Glendon, of the coast guard station.
The tobacco was found in, a stable near the sea, supposed to
have been run ashore from a small open boat, hich arrived
a short time before from Holland. This valuable prize, it
would appear, had been deposited in an outhouse until a
favourable opportunity presented itself of finding a market
for it. The vessel supposed to have been used in bringing it
over was left in the harbour, and has since been taken pos-
session of by the Custom• house officers, and if no claimant
appears for it before Monday' next it will be condemned and
sold. The quantity of tobacco smuggled into England on
this coast has been very great for several years, notwithstand-
ing the increased vigilance of the coast-guard establishment
and the customs authorities.
THE DOMESTIC CAT IN INDIA.—Mr. Jacob, in his
account of Jessor, says, "The European domestic cat, when
introduced into this country, seems endowed with the power
of destroying snakes as she would have done mice at home ;
no sooner does one make its appearance in a house or com-
pound, than she pounces on it, and, after shaking it awhile,
tosses it about, playing with it if allowed, the snake becoming
so terrified as never to attempt to bite her."

QUEEN'S COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM.—The annual
meeting of the governors of Queen's College was held on
Thursday in the theatre of that institution. Mr. G. F.
Muntz, M.P., occupied the chair. The report read congra-
tulated the governors upon the successful progress of the
college, and particularly eulogised the unwearied exertions
of Mr. Sands Cox, the Dean of Faculty, its founder. The
officers and council of last year were re-appointed, and a vote
of thanks being passed to Mr. Muntz for his conduct in the
chair, the meeting broke up. The proceedings were altoge-
ther formal.

FIRE IN SHADWELL.—Yesterday morning a fire
broke out on the premises of Mr. Charles Watson, a grocer
and cheesemonger, No. 62, High-street, Shadwell. It was
first discovered by the policeman on the beat, who saw a
strong light in the shop, and gave an immediate alarm. The
Shadwell parish engine, and the brigade engines from Well-
close-square and Rateliff, shortly arrived, and by the exer-
tions of the firemen the mischief was confined to the shop
and parlour, and the flames were prevented from extending
to the upper part of the house. The stock in trade in the
shop and warehouse was either destroyed or spoiled, and a
good deal of injury was done by the immense quantity of
water poured into the house by the engines, and which com-
pletely flooded the apartments over the shop and parlour.
There was, however, no other way of extinguishing the
flames, which at one time threatened the destruction of the
adjoining houses• Mr. Watson is fortunately insured to the
full amount of his loss.
UNITED STATES.—LIVERPOOL, THurtspiky.---The

Thomas Cope, Captain Turley, arrived here from Philadel-
phia, but as she sailed therefrom on the let inst., her news
has been anticipated by the Great Britain. The Hibernia
steather, from Halifax and Boston, now out 17 days, is ex-
pected early in the morning ; she will bring 15 days later
news.
SUICIDE OF A NAVAL OFFICER.—Last night an in-
quest was held at the Windmill public-house, Robert-street,
Limehouse, before Mr. W. Baker, junior, concerning the
death of William Henry Marlow, aged 39, residing at No. 9,
Hawthorn-place, Commercial-road. It appeared from the
evidence that the deceased was a captain in the West India
service, and had been out of employ for some time past.
About four years ago the deceased was wrecked in a ship of
which he was commander, and ever since that period he has
been very low and desponding, having been disappointed in
getting the command of two or three ships. This appeared
to prey upon his mind, and on Wednesday he purchased an
ounce of arsenic, at Mr. Frederick Elsom's, a chemist, and
said it was to destroy rats on board a ship. On the same
afternoon he INA§ discovered in his bed-room, quite dead,
with a glass contaluing arsenic by his side. Verdict—Tem-
I Nary lam*