The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-05 00:00:00

Mr. BINGLEY begged to move the thanks of the
meeting to the Governor, Trustees, and Committee,
and said that the accounts which had been read that '
day were a sufficient proof of the zeal and ability.
which they had displayed in advancing the interests
of the Society of which they were the executive.—
Agreed to.
The GOVERNOR, in expressing his acknowledg-
ments, said that it must be as gratifying to his col-
leagues as it was to himself, to find that their efforts
to advance the cause of the noble Institution with
which they were identified were thus appreciated by
their fellow-tradesmen. He trusted that every suc-
ceeding Committee would be equally fortunate in re-
ceiving the thanks of the trade ; and sure he was that
no greater stimulus could be given to anybody of men
to do their duty than the approbation of their fellow-
tradesmen.—(Hear, hear.)
Upon the motion of Mr. EvAszs, the thanks of the
meeting were given to the auditors ; after which,
Mr. VOUSLEY, jun., proposed the thanks of the
Court to Dr. Sheridan, the Editor of the Morning
Advertiser, and to Mr. Smalley, the Secretary.
They all knew the talent and ability with which Dr.
Sheridan conducted the Morning Advertiser.—
(Hear.) His merits were so , well appreciated by
the gentlemen present, that he was sure it required.no
eulogium from him to induce them to accord their
thanks to that gentleman.—(Hear.) With respect
to Mr. Smalley, who owing to the unexpected de-
mise of the late Mr. Blake—and here he could not
but express a hope that they would not leave that
place until they had manifested their feelings with
respect to their late lamented Secretary—had but
recently been appointed to his present honourable
situation, he would only observe, that for many years
Mr. Smalley had held a responsible position in con-
nexion with the Incorporated Society of Licensed
Victuallers—(Hear, hear)—this, together with the
manner in which he had carried out the duties of his
office since lie had been appointed to it, and par-
particularly for his conduct that day, which had given
such general satisfaction, was, he thought, a sufficient
ground for calling upon them to give that gentleman
their best thanks.—( Hear, hear.)
Dr. SHERIDAN, 111 expressing his acknowledgments
for this continued mark of their kindness and confi-
dence, said that his greatest pride should be so to con-
duct the Morning Advertiser as to afford satisfaction
to its patrons and supporters,, and to advance the in-
terests of the noble charity with which it was inti-
mately associated.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SMALLEY felt more than he could well express
at this unexpected manifestation of their kind feelings
towards him. He could assure them that he was
quite conscious of the loss which the Society had met
with in the unexpected death of his friend Mr. Blake ;
but this he would say, that however incapable he
might be of rivalling the business attributes of his de-
ceased friend, he would at the same time give way to
no one in a desire to advance the interests and pro-
mote the welfare of an Institution, the value and im-
portance of which he was well rcquainted with.
Mr. BINGLEY then begged, in accordance with the
suggestion thrown out by his friend Mr. Vousley, to
move the following resolution :
" That this Court cannot separate without express-
ing deep regret at the sudden decease of its late
lamented Secretary, J. F. Blake, Esq., nor without
recording the sense entertained of the faithful and
most valuable services rendered by :him during so
many years, by which the Corporation and all con-
nected with it have realised important benefits."
Mr. VOUSLEY seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted.
Upon the motion of Mr. DicxsosT, a vote of thanks
was also given to D. Wire, Esq., the solicitor to the
Society, for his uniform attention to the welfare of
the Corporation.
Mr. WIRE, in expressing his thanks, said he had
only one wish, and that was to see their glorious In-
stitution flourish, and to see the children educated in

it go forth to the world, and, by their conduct, prove
themselves worthy of the care and kindness conferred
upon them.—(Applause.)
The GOVERNOR adjourned the Court till the first
Thursday in July.

THE SUICIDE IN FLEET-STREET
Last evening the inquiry connected with this mys•
terious case, and adjourned from Monday last, was
resumed before W. Payne, Esq., City Coroner, at
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street. The inquiry related
to the death of Mary Griffin (servant to Mr. Scratch-
ley, surgeon, of 168, Fleet-street), who, it was alleged,
had destroyed herself by swallowing tincture of
opium on the morning of Sunday last. The evidence
on the former day tended to impress a belief that de-
ceased had been seduced by her master's brother, the
Rev. Charles James Scratchley, 8.A., now or late
curate of St. George's Chapel, Queen-square, Blooms-
bury ; and the evidence of the latter was given in a
somewhat contradictory manner, which kept the
matter in doubt, and hence the adjournment, for the
purpose of a post mortem examination, and to procure
the attendance of relatives and of additional evidence.
At the inquiry last evening, Mr. Moxen, of the
Chancery bar, attended to watch the proceedings on
behalf of the Rev. Gentleman. Among the additional
evidence adduced was that of Mr. Lewis Day, sur-
geon, who had made the post mortem examination,
who was of opinion death had ensued partly from the
poison and partly from the antimony administered as
an emetic. Deceased was not pregnant, and, in his
opinion, had never borne a child, although she was
not a virgin.
Rebecca Griffin (sister of deceased), a person of
lady-like manners and appearance, living at Canter-
bury, underwent a long examination, from which it
appeared that her sister's real name was Charlotte,
and age 34. About twelve years since she bore a
child at steeple Ashton, by a man to whom she was
about being married. Subsequently, in about the
year 1835, she formed an intimacy with Mr. Charles
Scratchley, then about nineteen years of age. They
went together to Paris, and lived in England as man
and wife, and the relatives of the latter thought they
were really married, and witness, under such impres-
sion, visited them at Pentonville ; but in about 1839
Mr. Scratchley, being then designed for the Church,
went to college for that purpose, Dr. Scratchley, the
father, having written to say that the connexion must
be dissolved before his son could enter into holy
orders. Some slight allowance was made to her, but
her mind was much distressed. Mr. Scratchley be-
haved kindly to her while she was living with him,
and the object of recommending her to his brother
was to give her a character for another situation.
Witness did not believe she was capable of commit-
ting robbery, but had latterly thought her mind im-
paired, and was consulted by Mr. Charles Scratchley
as to the propriety of her being taken care of.
It further appeared that Mr. George Scratchley
was ignorant of the previous connection when de-
ceased came into his service, and also that deceased
had become of intemperate habits, and was accus-
tomed to converse and drink spirits with abandoned
females, although her conduct was proper while liv-
ing with Mr. Scratchley. She was, however, very
desponding, and generally so whenever the Reverend
Gentleman came to stay at his brother's.