The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-10 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MARCH 7.
The writ for the election of a member for New
Ross was sent down from the Hanaper-office last
evening, and at the same time appeared in the
Dublin papers the address of Mr. J. C. Fitzpatrick
to the electors. Mr. Fitzpatrick's intention to
stand was well known for some months past, and
his precedents, as well as the principles announced
in his address, are sure to Obtain for him a large
share of the popular favour. He undertakes to
" labour strenuously and sincerely for the advance-
ment of the rights and political power of the
people, for complete religious equality, and for the
protection of the occupiers of the soil by a tenant-
right law founded on the principles of Mr. Sharman
Crawford's bill." The other candidates in the
field are Sir T. N. Redington, whose principles are
already well known ; Mr. Tottenham, who starts
on the Derbyite interest, in the hope of getting in
through the division among the liberals ; and,
finally,, a Mr. Welch, who generally starts for
vacant seats in half a dozen constituencies, but
never goes to the poll.
The polling at the Sligo election takes place to-
day. The contest is entirely between Mr. Somers
and Mr. Wynne.
A Waterford paper states that Mr. Keating is
expected to resign his seat immediately, and that
Captain Napoleon Wyse is feeling his way with the
electors.

SUICIDE OF AN OFFICER.

An act of determined self-destruction was committed
at an early hour yesterday morning by Mr. Howard
Douglas Aytoun, ensign in the 15th Regiment, and god-
son of Sir Howard Douglas, colonel of the regiment.
The fatal act was accomplisbed with a razor, in his bed-
room, in the Royal Barracks. It would appear that he
had been a man of inexpensive and abstemious habits,
and of a retiring disposition. He was 26 years of age,
though he looked at least 33, and had formerly belonged
to the Fifeshire Militia, from which, about two months
since, he was appointed to the 15th. Pecuniary em-
barrassment seems to have weighed on his mind, and it
is said that the prospect of peace, which would lessen his
hope of advancement in a profession which he joined
rather later in life than usual, bad also a depressing in-
fluence en him. Previous to joining the Fifeshire Militia
he had been to the Australian gold diggings, and was
heard to say that he returned home a poorer man than
he went. That the dreadful act by which he terminated
his existence was premeditated there can be little doubt
from the following memorandum, which was found in
his bed ; it was evidently written hastily, in large, un-
connected, and straggling letters, on the back of a card
on which was printed an almanac for the present year
and au interest and discount table. The memorandum
was as follows :—" I gave my watch to Gaskin, to dis-
pose of for 101. There are 71. in my desk." The desk
alluded to was found to contain 61. 2s. 6d., and a num-
ber of letters.
J. E. Hyndman, Esq., one of the city coroners, held
an inquest on the body at 2 o'clock. The following evi-
dence was given :
Major Cole, 15th Regiment, said—The deceased joined
the regiment about two months ago, from the Fifeshire
Militia. He kept very much aloof from his brother officers.
It seemed from his demeanour as if something weighed
on his mind. I never saw him drink wine or spirits of
any description at the mess. He did not even take
beer. When I saw him last, about two days.ago, there
wee( nothing.striking or particular in bis manner.
In consequence of seeing the card found on his bed
(above copied), I sent to Messrs. Cane, Dawson-street,
to inquire how his account stood. I received from them
the letter now produced, dated March 4, written by de-
ceased. The letter asks for an advance of 91. till the end
of the month, to be remitted to a writer in Cupar Fife,
Scotland. A postscript of the letter asks whether an
order could be cashed in Scotland without heavy deduc-
tions, but directs that no movement should be made in
the matter till he was heard from again. I understand
that Mr. Cane being out, he did not get the cash. His
regimental debts only amount to 41. 19s, ed., which
should have been paid by the 10th of this month. I saw
a letter this morning from the paymaster of the Fifeshire
regiment, requiring payment of a small balance. The
answer of the deceased, which is not sent, demurs to the
debt. From the first day I saw him I formed the idea
that he had something heavily weighing on his mind.
It was generally remarked by the other officers. He
seems to have been quartered at Cupar, which may ac-
count for his having some small debts there.
Thos. Dyce, Esq., surgeon, 15th Regiment, said—De-
ceased had been on the sick list since the 4th inst. His
comp!aint was very trifling, and he was not confined to
bed. I saw him yesterday, and prescribed for him. I
observed nothing unusual in hisi manner. He generally
seemed in very low spirits, as if something disturbed his
mind. At half-past 9 o'clock this morning a private of
the regiment reported that deceased hael cut hie throat.
I immediately went to his quarters, and found him lying
on the floor in a corner of the room, quite dead. I have
no reason to say that he was labouring under temporary
derangement. He had evidently died from loss of blood.
I caneot say whether the wound was inflicted by deceased.
Richard Boyle deposed as follows—l was servant to
deceased for a month and four days past. I saw deceased
alive last at a quarter to ten o'clock last night. He
called me to bring him some barley-water. I brought it
to him, and be said "That will do for to-night." He
was dressed then. I saw him in the lobby, but was not
in the room. He went in and shut the door. I had seen
him several times during the dey. He was writing let-
ters a great part of the day. Ho gave me two to post
at half-past one o'clock. Ido not recollect who they
were addressed to. I left a letter, from him, at Messrs.
Cane's, in Dawson-street, on Tuesday, and brought
back an answer, which I delivered to him. I did not
observe anything peceliar in his manner yesterday or
last night, when I last saw him. I went to his room at
half-past seven o'clock this morning, as usual. I found
the door locked. I knocked, but got no answer ; being
on the sick list, I thought ho was asleep. I reported
the fact to a servant-man named Harris, at nine o'clock;
he came down with me, and we forced open the door,
having knocked again and got no answer. We found
deceased lying on the floor, in his night-dress, dead. I
never had heard him speak of money matters. I know
of his owing some small debts. I have no reason to
think he was deranged.
Surgeon George Porter described the wounds. Either
would cause his' death, though, if promptly assisted,
they might -nothave been fatal.
Thejerrr fhand thet 'l!The deceatied died from loss of
blvd, which flowed froM two wounds inflicted on his
throat by himself, last night or this morning, while la-
bouring under temporary derangement of mind."

DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENING.
MINISTERIAL DEFEAT AT SLIGO.

-----
Lord Palmerston and his protege John Patrick Somers,
have been defeated -at Sligo by a Conservative, the
Right Hon. Jno. Wynne, sustained as he was by a strong
party of Liberals, who felt that if the Premier had his
own way on 'this occasion, their town would have con-
tinued to bear the foul stains cast upon it by the re-
presentatives they have sent to Parliament of late
years. All honour to these electors. The cha-
racter of Sligo may be considered as retrieved. But
only think of 107 persons possessing sufficient
qualifications for the purp )se of recording their votes for
'John Patrick Somers ! In Mr. Wynne the people of all
shades -of political and religious opinion may feel assured
they have an honourable representative. He did not
purchase the support of his liberal friends by vague inti-
mations of what he mightdo or try to do to please them,
nor with solemn protestations that ho did net mean to
fulfil—like some o: the other worthies who appeared be-
fore the electors prior to the day of polling. Although
unpledged, there is full confidence that he will exert
himself for the general benefit of the town—the property
of the noble Prime Minister, who did all in his power to
prevent his election. The following were the numbers
at the close of the poll yesterday :—Wynne, 148
Sonier3, 107. Majority, 41.

NE CRS ELEC.
Sir Thomas RedingtonOS has gonTIONe off to New Ross,
where he will be encountered by Mr. James Fitzpa-
trick, ex-colonial judge. Neither candidate stands high in
the estimation of the Nation, which denounces Sir Tho-
mas as the impersonation of the Crarendon policy in
Ireland, than which nothing could be more obnoxious
to the Character of the country. The second-named ob-
i tained his situation by abusing Young Ireland, and " is
now speculating on getting office again by selling his
constituents." A pretty pair this, • according to the
Nation. If Mr. Tottenhana goes to the poll, we think
he will succeed. The electers of 'Ross, like those of.
Sligo, ought to be anxious to rid themselves of intruding
"patriots",and place-hunters. Mr. Tottenham, is con nected with the town by family and property, and if the
electors have proper regard to their own interests and
the good name of Ross, they will choose him as their
representative in preference to any other spoken of.
SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR CAVAN. •
special coramiesicA bits been boned for Cams to