The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-08 00:00:00

DEATH OF AN EXTRACRDINARY CHARACTER.

Last week an inquisition was taken before Mr. limos, at
the Crown and Sceptre, Douglas-street, Vauxhall-road, on the
body of J. Elliott, of Lower Garden-street, Vauxhall-road,
who died under the following circumstances :
The deceased, who was well known in the neighbourhood
where he resided, was a most eccentric character. He was a
journeyman carpenter, and for many years followed that busi-
ness. Not finding that trade sufficiently lucrative, he set up
" Fortune telling," in addition to a chandler's shop which he
opened. His fame soon spread far and wide, and it would
scarcely be believed what an amazing number of silly girls
were in the habit of visiting him to have the dark page of
futurity opened to them ; and, indeed, it was not an unfrequent
thing to see young ladies descend from an emblazoned car-
riage, and walk down Garden-street to him. He would never
permit any of his visitors to ask any questions ; if they did, he
would say, " Take your money, I will tell you no more."
It appeared from the evidence that the deceased had been
unwell for some time past. The deceased sat up all night in
his chair, and in the morning he ate a very hearty breakfast,
and shortly after fell back in his chair and expired. Apoplexy
was the cause of his death.

The Jury returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation of
God."

COLONEL AUSTIN.—This gentleman, who has
been so long the subject of Mexican caprice, and incarcerated
in a dungeon of the Republic, has, we are happy to learn, been
released from confinement ; and, probably, ere this, regained
his family mansion in Texas.

The Lace Trade is going on advantageously in
Nottingham, and the demand for goods of all sorts is on the
increase.

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW TAX.—Monday even-
ing, at a meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster, held at
Willis's Rooms, Brewer-street, a petition to Parliament was
adopted for the repeal of the window tax. Col. Evans, AL P.,
was in the Chair.

PLANTING.—Mr. Dempster, within the last five
years, has planted in his estates in Sutherland more than 1,100
acres, and the number of trees planted is about three millions.
" Be aye sticking in a tree, Jock—it will be growing while
ye're sleeping."—Edinburgh Chronicle.

SUDDEN DEATH.--A merchant in Gallowgate,
having shut his shop at half-past eight o'clock, proceeded to
his own house, a few doors distant, when hating reached the
foot of the stair, he fell down and instantly expred.—Aber-
deem Herald.

INCENDIARISM.—We regret to state that a barn,
containing hay, the property of the Rev. R. B. Plumptre, the
worthy and amiable incumbent of Forthampton, was wilfully
destroyed by fire late on Thursday night, the 2d instant. A
reward is offered for the conviction of the incendiaries.--
Gloucester Chronicle.

DIOCESE OF LLANDAFF.—We have reason to
believe, upon authority which we have generally found to be
correct, that the Church Commissioners have already been in-
duced to revise the decision to which they had at first inclined
respecting the Diocese of Llandaff, and that local arrangements
nearly similar to those which we had sketched out in our last
will be adopted.—Merthyr Guardian.

An eruption of Mount Vesuvius took place on
the 13th ult., accompanied by a remarkable phenomenon. A
new crater suddenly opened and vomited volumes of smoke
and a quantity of stones. On the 14th the bottom of that
opening appeared illuminated with flames of different colours,
and a frightful noise was heard underneath. Smoke and
flames also issued from two fissures of the old crater. These
phenomena are considered as the forerunners of a grand
eruption.

Yesterday week, at the Jolly Miller public-house,
Milbank-street, Westminster, Townsend, the celebrated pe-
destrian, was matched to stand on one foot for three hours,
and during that time to shave himself, eat his supper, and to
pull off both his shoes and stockings six times, and put them on
again, without any other support than the foot on which he
stood. He commenced his undertaking about seven o'clock in
the evening, on a small piece of carpet placed in the centre of
the room, and went through the whole with complete success ;
and having stood the three hours he gave a long recitation be-
fore he placed his sinister foot on the floor.
THE LATE MURDER IN BIRMINGHAM.—A pe-
tition was presented, on Thursday night, to the Hon. Mr.
Justice Littledale, who tried Doliman, Hedge, and Gough,
for the murder of Mr. Painter, in favour of Gough. It was
signed by the family of Mr. Painter, and had the effect of
inducing his Lordship to mitigate his sentence to transporta-
tion for life. Hedge has made a full confession of his guilt.
He did so immediately after he was taken into the prison.
We believe a wish was expres3ed by.-Mr. Francis Lloyd, the
magistrate, to the High Sheriff, the Hon. Bertie Percy, for
the sentence of the law upon the murderers of Mr. Painter
to be executed on the spot where the dreadful deed was per-
petrated, inasmuch as a salutary effect might be produced
upon a class too sadly numerous in this town, with whom
these miserable men were connected. The suggestion was
mentioned by the High Sheriff to the Judge, Mr. Justice
Littledale, who passed sentence upon the men, but his Lord-
ship did not think it advisable to order it, or point out any
place for the execution. The Sheriff is bound to carry the
sentence of the law into effect, in all cases, at the usual place
of execution, unless ordered by the Judge to the contrary.—
Birmingham Journal.