The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-14 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 14, 1856.

..11-OCKING DEATH OF THE HON.
BERTRAM WODEHOUSE.

EXETER, OCT. 13.
An inquest was held at the Acland Arms, St. Sid-
well's, Exeter, on Saturday, before Mr. W. . Hooper,
comber, on the body of a gentleman, who, from certain
documents found in his possession, and other circum-
stances, appears to be the Hon. Bertram Wodehouse,
uncle of Lord Wodehouse, the English amba-sador at the
Court of Russia. The facts, as detailed in evidence, are
of an exceedingly painful character.
It appeared that the deceased, who was described as a
tall gentleman, wearing a moustache, and having the
appearance of a military man-, arrived in Exeter on
Thursday evening, the 3d instant, by train, and went to
the New London Inn. He was then under the influence
of drink. He slept there for several nights, and during
the whole time he was at the inn he was intoxicated.
In corsequence of this the landlord, Mr. Pratt, sent
him his bill, and suggested the propriety of his
taking private lodgings. On the Sunday evening pre-
vious to this he entered the Free Church in a state
of intoxication, and was turned out by the sexton. On
leaving the London Inn he hired John Richards, one
of the porters, to convey his luggage to another hotel,
but when be arrived at the door he refused to enter, and
ultimately agreed with Richards to take lodgings at his
house. He went there on Tuesday last. He was then
drunk, and during the same night he consumed a quan-•
city of pale brandy. The following day he ordered a
bottle of brandy, and drank about a pint of it. Richards,
" fearing that he was killing himself," took away the
brandy, and put it in a drawer, but he insisted on having
it again, and asked Mrs. Richards t‘how she dared" to
remove it. He "drank some tnori3 that night, and the
next day he ordered six bottles (quarts) of Allsopp's bit-
ter ale, the whole of which he drank, together with the
brandy which wasieft on the previous night, and a small
quantity more from another bottle, which he ordered to
be fetched on that day. On each evening be took
"composing draughts" and effervescent powders, which
were procured for him at a druggist's shop in the neigh-
bourhood. He kept his bed all the time, and only ate
two basins of soup and some arrow-root. On Friday,
at 1 o'clock in the morning, deceased called Richards,
and on going into his bedroom he saw him stagger from
the door and fall over a chair. He immediately got up
again, and when Richards asked if he should assist him,
the deceased said, "No, it's all right. I'm not hurt."
Richards then gave him some water, and about an hour
and a half afterwards deceased called again and requested
to be supplied with a basin of tea. It was procured for
him, and he then commenced retching • Richards, asked
if he should call in a medical man, to which deceased re-
plied, "No I will not have a doctor ; I don't like doc-
tors—anything but that." At 7 o'clock the same morn-
ing he bad some more tea, and at half-past 9 sent for
another half-dozen bottles of bitter ale, and drank a por-
tion of one bottle. About 10 minutes after this Mrs.
Richards went to deceased again, when he appeared very
faint. He asked for some carbonate of soda, and when
she was getting it he fell back on the pillow, cast up his
eyes, and opened his mouth. Mrs. Richards then sent
for Mr. Hunt, a surgeon.,
I During the progress of the inquiry the, Coroner read
I the following note, which was found in deceased's
pockets :

"T. H. Wodehouse presents his compliments to the
Hon. Bertram Wodehouse, and begs to hand him 451.
as requested. Messrs. C. and •Co. have received 88/.
16s. Bd. only from Lord Wodehouse, so there will be a
draught less than 15/. due in the last mouth of the quar-
ter.-29, Cornhill, Sept. 4, 1856."
In reply to a telegraphic communication which
Richards sent to the Hon. Henry Wodehouse, Upper
Brook-street, Grosvenor square, London, apprising him
of the death of the deceased, the following arrived dur-
ing the inquest :
" Procure a shell ; some one will come down on Mon-
day. Write full particulars to R. C.—From Raikes
Currie, Hytbe, Kent."
Mr. Hunt, surgeon, stated that he was called to the
deceased about 1 o'clock on Friday. He was then in
bed, with a bottle of ale, partly drunk, in his hand, of
which he occasionally partook. Deceased was not
unconscious. Witness attempted to take the bottle
from him, but he would not give it up. Deceased was
pulseless ; his legs and arms were quite cold, and he was
evidently in a dying state. When witness told him he
would in all probability die he exclaimed, " Oh, no,
not so bad as that !" He applied a mustard poultice
over the heart, and tried other means, but deceased never
rallied. He continually asked for bitter beer and brandy
and soda. Witness succeeded in taking the bottle from
deceased, and the last thing he did was to raise himself
on his elbow and ask for cold water. Witness gave him
a little; and he then fell back and died. Witness con-
sidered that deceased died from exhaustion, consequent
upon excessive drinking and his not taking ale animal
food."
The Coroner, in summing np, said there could be •nd
doubt that deceased was the Hon. Bertram Wodehouse,
the uncle of the present Lord Wodehouse our ambassador
at the Court of Russia. In tracing the peerage he found
that the Hon. B. Wodehouse was dea&ibed as a military
officer ; that he waq born in April, 1813, and was conse-
quently 43 years old. Deceased would appear to be the
fourth son of John Wodehouse, the second baronet, and
uncle of the present Lord Wodehouse. It would also ap-
pear from the letter before him that his Lordship had
been in the habit of making deceased a half-yearly allow-
ance, which, however, seemed to have been paid him
quarterly by Mr. Woodhouse, of London, who was, he
understood, an army agent.
The jury returned a verdict of " Died from exhaustion,
consequent on excessive drinking."

FRENCH SYMPATHY WITH THE ITALIANS.

The following placard has been secretly posted in
various quarters of Paris :
"To THE ITALIAN PEOPLE.—INSURRECTION IS THE
HOLIEST OF DUTIES.
" July 14, August 10, February 24, January 12,
March 22, February 9
"Brothers and Friends,— Honour. to you who have
not been crushed by your many oppressors—who have
not been discouraged by the most cruel deception ! It
is now centuries since the spirit of evil fell upon Italy,
as the noblest prey it could devour, clutching you in its
two talons—Papacy and empire. For centuries this
spirit has sucked your blood, and striven to poison
your soul with its pestiferous breath. But your
soul is immortal ! That priest who returned to Rome
through a smoking breach—that Bourbon in whose
bosom beats the heart of Tiberius—those Austrian
ravens that croak upon the harmonious banks of the
Adige, all know and feel, and tremble at the knowledge
that intelligence and life has not abandoned their vic-
tim. They all feel that the soil of Italy quivers under
their accursed feet, and that there are there undaunted
giants, such as were found formerly in the mountains of
heroic Sicily. The blood of the martyrs has but ferti-
lised your soil. You possess courage, intelligence, and
constancy, and you have that experience which is bought
by long misfortune. You want but one thing—arms !
You shall have them. You must have thorn. Already
you you have appealed to the true children of Italy.
Every one of them has offered his mite, so that those
who shall first have the honour to proclaim your eman-
cipation may find ready to their hands the instruments
wherewith to carry on the holy war. Our hearts have
leaped with joy at the news come to us across the Alps
that you are secretly storing up your first muskets while
waiting for the day of your deliverance. We also desire
to come to your aid and take part in your fraternal
union. Receive, brothers ,and friends, the produce of
the French Subscription ; receive it not only as a proof
of sympathy, but also as an offering of gratitude ; for
you are setting a great and useful example—that of ex-
treme constancy under the weight of extreme oppression ;
and it is, perhaps, from you that the spark will proceed
which is destined to reanimate the world. No nation
has suffered more than Italy ; and none, if there be
justice upon earth, will have a prouder place among re-
generate nations.

" For the people and students of Paris,

"THE COMMITTEE."

THE CHINESE REBELLION.

Since our last issue the news from the interior has be-
come more and more alarming to the Iroperialiste, whose
armies are retiring before the rebels in the direction of
Soo-chow. Last week the position of the Imperial forces
was reported to be thatthe General in Chief Eleang-yung
Occupied Tan-yang, while his advanced guard under
Chang-kwoh-leang was at Ken-yang. This week Ileaeg-
yang is reported to have fallen back ou Chang-chow,
and Chaag-kwoh-leang to have retired to Tan-yang ;
leaving the former position of the Imperialists at Kew-
hwa-sang, where Keih fell into the hands of the rebels,
and the whole of the ground between Chin-keang and
Nankin open to them. In the western part of Keang-soo
the cities of lieu-yung, Leih-pang, and Leih-shwuy are
certainly occupied by the rebels, while the mandarins in
these placesare either decapitated or fled. To these may be
added E-hing, which has been taken by the rebels, who are
said to be spreading themselves over the Tae-hoo, and
Tung-ting-san, hut lately the resort of European tourists.
Since penning the above the news has just reached us
that the rebels took possession of Tan-yang ou Sunday,
the 6th July. This' brings them into closer proximity
to Soo-'how, and the chances are that in a short time
the contending parties will be engaged in a deadlystruggle
for that capital of the province, and the outlet of
commerce for Shanghai. Reang-yung has already re-
tired to Woo-scib, which is only about 30 miles from
Soo-chow. The richer inhabitants of Soo-chow bad pre-
viously removed to Tungting-san' where they are likely
to fall directly into the hands of the insurgents. We
understand that the Canton people about Shanghai are
enlisting volunteers to go to assist in the war, but which
side they will take is uncertain. One thing is certain,
that the movers in the business haven warrant from
the Government, and from the character of the parties
engaged the chances are that they will rather aid than
repress insurrection. We have also heard that the fleet
of 40 sail of junks which some time ago went up the
Yang-tse-kiang, under the Chinese Nelson, threatening
to take everything, is now cooped up between Chin-
keang and Nankin, unable to pass the batteries at either
place, without powder and without provisions.7-North
aka Herald,. J 12.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

A:special meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works
was held yesterday in the Council Chamber, Guildhall,
further to consider the report of the committee of works
and improvements, pursuant to the references by, the b
board on the subject of street improvements in outh-
mark, and a new street from King-street, Covent-garden,
towards Coventry-street, recommending for the conside-
ration of the board a new line of street, commencing
near the Town Hall, Southwark, and extending to the
point of intersection of Vine-street with the York-road ;
and also recommending for the consideration of the board
anew line of street' extending from Cranbourne-street,
Leicester•square, to King-street, Covent-garden; and
also to consider the following motion, notice of which
has been given by Mr. Irvine, on the 22d September :
To submit plans and suggestions for the formation and
improvement of certain thoroughfares in the boroughs of
Southwark and Lambeth, and to move that the conside-
ration thereof be referred to a select committee.
The report of the committee was as follows :
"Your committee have to report that, in pursuance
of the resolution of the board of the 28th March last
(No. 13), referring to them the memorial from South work,
respecting street improvements in that locality, together
with the report of the finance committee, presented to
the board on that day, explaining, for the information of
the board, what funds exist for effecting improvements
in Southwark, and the trusts upon which such funds are
held, they have directed their attention to the several
matters referred to in the memorial and report, and have
examined various schemes which have from time to time
been proposed for the promotion of a new line of thorough.
fare, for facilitating the traffic between the High-street,
Southwark, and the West-end of the metropolis, and on
a full consideration of the subject, have arrived at the
conclusion that the line of street which presents the
greatest advantages is that which commences near the
Town Hall, Southwark, and extends to the point of inter-
section of Vine-street with the York-road, and is shown
upon the plan submitted with this report, and they ac
cordingly beg to recommend the same for the considera
tion of the board.

"Your committee subjoin an estimate of the cost o
such new street, prepared by the superintending archi

tact.

" Your committee have also to report that the resolu-
tion of the board of the 13th June, 1856, having directed
that the subject of the formation of a new street between
Cranbourne•street, Leicester-square, King-street, Co-
vent-garden, be referred to the superintending architect
for a report to be made to this commission, the superin-
tending architect has laid before your committee a plan,
showing a new line of street between the points in ques-
tion, with the following estimate of the cost :
" Estimate of the cost of forming a new street from
the corner of St. Martin's-lane and Long-acre, to King-
_ . _ _

street, Covent-garden, as proposed by Mr. Pennethorne,
and referred to in the Seventh Report of the Metropolis
Improvement Commissioners :--

" OUTLAY.
Purchases of property, goodwills, &c £82,337
10 per cent, for contingencies
500 feet run of sewer, paving, &c.

Total .

£91,820
" RETURN.
By sale of ground rents, 760 feet £45,600
By sale of old materials 1,200
24-6,800

Net cost
" And your committee beg to submit such plan for the
consideration of the board.
(Signed)

J. THWAITES.
" CHARLES ATKINS,
" FRANCIS CHALMERS."
The' estimate for making this new street in the Bo-
rough is given in detail in an appendix from which it
makes a total of 895,1041., and the return (net cost)
from property resold, &c., is set down at 263,3101., and
Government grant, 90,000/. • making a total of 173,3101.
The Superintending Architect, Mr. MARRABLE, in
reply to numerous questions, stated that he fully coin-
cided in the recommendations of the committee ; in fact,
it was his own recommendation. It was true that the
new street, 80 feet in width, would open in a street only
50 feet in width. He did not propose to alter the level
of a single crossing, and eventually the new street might
be made to communicate with the West-end, by crossing
over Hungerford-bridge (converted into a road bridge),
and terminating in Northumberland-street ; but this
was only a suggestion. The proposed street would be a
perfectly straight one, and this appeared to him very de-
sirable. He knew that the Hungerford-bridge Company
had long had it in contemplation to convert the bridge
into a road bridge.
Mr. DREW was in favour of St. Thomas-street as a
starting-point in place of the Town-hall.
Mr. COLLINSON said that a new street bad been looked
upon with great interest
_by theinhabitants of the Bo-
rough, and called attention to the fact that the second
act of Parliament had appropriated 30,0001. to a new
communication from Westminster to Southwark, not
mentioning Stamford-street, as the first appropriation
act did. If the new line of street were constructed very
close to the Thames, it would be a viaduct blocking out
light and air from the inhabitants of the low-lying dis-
trict. The speaker (Mr. Collinson) then proceeded to
0)0 ir the ine.nvenience of opening into York street, as
bad been proposed, and which seemed to meet with some
degree of favour, and remarked that the board ought to
take care that they would not leave a greater nuisance in
Southwark than they had found in it. There would be this
advantage in commencing atthe Town-hall, namely, that
they could proceed as they wished westward at a level, but
where should they terminate the street! Stamford-street
was evidently not contemplated by the act of parliament.
But he did not think that it was necessary to go to the
York-road, and was in favour of terminating the street
in Waterloo-road at the corner of Stamford-street. Ano-
ther objection to the plan was that it crossed the Water-
loo-road near the railway station. The hon. member
then specified some other slight objections to the recom-
mendation of the committee, but on the whole was in
favour of the plan. He moved "That a new line of
communication be opened from Southwark and West-
minster Bridges, and that the commencement be at the
Town Hall, Southwark."
Mr. FEW seconded the motion, for the purpose of
having the question discussed.
Mr. DOULTON protested against the proposition of the
committee. Their plan seemed to him a most prepos-
terous one. The public and the House of Commons,
and he hoped the board likewise, would not give their
sanction to any half measure, and it was precisely upon
this ground that he opposed the plan. It would bring
the traffic of a street of 80 feet in width into a street of
60 feet for 700 feet. He would move as an amendment
—" That the architect be directed to prepare a plan and
estimates for a new line of street, commencing as nearly
as possible at the South-Eastern Railway stations, and
terminating opposite Stamford-street."
Mr. SAVAGE seconded the amendment. They should
not throw away so valuable a street as Stamford-street.
Mr. BIDGOOD strenuously opposed the amendment.
If they were anxious to start from the point nearest to
London-bridge, he thought they would find that the
nearest was the one indicated by the architect. In his
opinion Westminster Bridge was doomed, and they
would see a new bridge erected very much nearer
Charing-cross than the present one.
Mr. CRELLIN spoke in favour of having the com-
mencement of the new street as nigh as possible to the
South-Eastern Railway termini.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON said he would vote for the
amendment, but would prefer having the matter again
referred to the committee, in order that they might state
their opinion on the connection of the new street with
Wellington.street, inasmuch as he thought the expres-
sion in the amendment, "as nearly as possible," was
ambiguous. This, he fully admitted, would involve some
delay, which, however, he thought would prove salu-
tary. The line specified in the amendment would indi-
cate their future progress, and it was almost as much as
the public could expect of the board during one cession
of parliament.
The CHAIRMAN observed that if the board made an
order to-day for the superintending architect to survey
the line, and directed the committee to assist in the pre-
paration, there would be still time enough to got the no-
tices out for next session. (Hear.)
Mr. OFFER would vote for referring the matter back
again to the committee, in order that they might exa-.
mine all the plans which bad only been before the archi-
tect ; but after such an examination he was convinced
that the committee would express a preference for the
plans of the superintending architect.
Mr. Fitw reminded the board that the plan of the
architect was the one which had the approval of the go-
vernment,
Mr. TAYLOR read a quotation from the blue-book,
which, he argued, showed that the government were in
favour of making use of Stamford-street.
Several other hon. members having expressed their
opinions in favour of the amendment in qualified terms,
Mr. CoLustsosi said, under the present circumstances,
he would withdraw his motion. (Hear.)
The amendment of Mr. Doulton having now become
the original motion,
Mr. WRIGHT, whilst acknowledging that there ex-
isted a necessity for a new street from Stamford-street to
London-bridge, would yet move the following amend-
ment which ho apprehended was not opposed in principle
to the motion :—" That the consideration of the report
of the committee be adjourned, and that they be em-
powered to instruct the architect to prepare a plan and
estimate of a street from Stamford-street to London-
bridge, and from the New cut to High-street, and Jay
the opinion before the board." In his opinion Union-
street cught to be widened.
• ?dr. WiLmatsoN seconded this amendment.
Mr. DIFFANGER suggested that Mr. Taylor's plan
should he referred to the committee.
Mr. TURNER opposed the amendment, which, if car-
ried, would encumber the proceedings of the committee.
Mr. IRVINE wade certain suggestions, and said that
he had prepared plans by which all the Southwark iin-
proveruents could, he thought, be carried out at the
cost of the proposed plan.
Mr. D. HARRISON hoped the board would refer the
plans of Mr. Irvine, as well as the others, to the com-
mittee.
For the amendment, 11 ' • against it, 12.
Kr, H. L. TAYLOR said they must give the usual no.
tices so as to enable them to proceed to Parliament IA