The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-16 00:00:00

DEATH OF PLACIDO.

HAVANNAH, JULY 16.—The curtain has just fallen on
the execution of the chief conspirator, Placido, who met
his fate with heroic calmness. •

Nothing was positively known of the decision of the
Council concerning him, till it was rumoured a few days
since that he woud proceed, along with others to the
"chapel "for the condemned. On the appointed day a great
crowd was assembled, and Placido was seen walking
along with singular composure under circumstances so
gloomy, smoking a cigar, and saluting with graceful
ease his numerous acquaintances. Are you aware what
the punishment of the " chapel " means ? It is worse
a thousand times than the death of which it is the sure
precursor. The unfortunate criminals are conducted
into a chapel hung in black, and dimly lighted. Priests
are there to chaunt in sepulchral voice the service of the
dead, and the coffins of the trembling victims are arrayed
in cruel relief before their eyes. Here they are
kept for twenty-four hours, and are led hence to
execution. Can anything be more awful ?—and
what a disgusting aggravation of the horror of
the common death ! Placido emerged from the chapel
cool and undismayed, whilst the others were nearly or
entirely overcome by the agonies they had already under-
gone. The chief conspirator held a crucifix in his hand,
and recited in a loud voice a beautiful prayer in verse,
which thrilled upon the hearts of the attentive masses
which lined the road he passed. On arriving at the fatal
spot he sat down on a bench, with his back turned, as
ordered, to the military, and rapid preparations were
made for his death. It was well known that in some
affecting poem written by Placid() in prison, he had said
it would be useless to seek to kill him by shooting his
body—that they must strike his heart to make it cease
its throbbings. And now the dread hour had arrived—
at the last moment he arose, and said "adios monde"
(adieu world), and sat -calmly down. The word was
given, and five balls entered his body. Amid the mur-
murs of the horror-struck spectators he got up, and
turned his head upon the shrinking soldiers, his face
wearing an expression of superhuman courage. " Will no
one have pity on me ?" he said. " Here (pointing to
his breast), fire here !" At that instant two balls pierced
his breast, and he fell dead, whilst his words still echoed
in our ears. Thus has perished the great leader of the
attempted revolt. Nineteen were shot at tke same time
with Placido. They all died miserably.

WHITECHAPEL IMPROVE It ENTS.—Wednesday work-
men were employed in pulling down the mansion in
Essex-street, Whitechapel, which was in the occupation
of the Earl of Essex, the favourite of Queen Elizabeth,
shortly before his death. In a few days nothing will
remain of the building. It is situated on the east side
of Essex-street, and was at the rear of the houses form-
ing that street. It is three stories high. The attic
windows are latticed, and the rooms on the first and
second floor are about fourteen feet square. 'There is
a part of the spacious staircase remaining, and the joists
and girders are in as good preservation as when
originally placed in the brickwork. The property was
sold a few days ago by order of the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests, with twenty-five other houses, which
are to be taken down for the improvements in that
neighbourhood. At a short distance from this spot, be-
tween Elliston-street, Petticoat-lane, and Houndsditch,
is another large mansion, which will be demolished for
the purpose of having new buildings erected on its site.
This was the palace where Queen Elizabeth occasionally
resided. The building, the walls of which are very
strongly constructed, is four stories high, and some of
the windows are latticed. The ceilings of the ground
and first floors are ornamented with different devices,
coats of arms, figures, &c., among which may be distin-
guished roses, fleurs-de-lis, and the word " Britannia."
There are also several Latin inscriptions, scarcely legible.
There is a quantity of oak pannelling in various parts.
The premises were for some years latterly used as a
common loiging-house, were beds were let out at three-
pence a-night, and it was known as the " big house." The
rooms are now used as carpenters' workshops. This
property belongs to Mr. Hutchinson, who, at the last
general election, contested the borough of the Tower
Hamlets.

HO/MIELE DEATH.—During the visit of the United
States sloop of war Saratoga to the Island of St. Thomas,
off the coast of Africa, May 24th, the coxswain in charge
of the Captain's gig, straining too hard upon the tiller,
broke it and fell overboard. While in the act of swim-
ming towards the ship, he was seen suddenly to disap-
pear, and thereupon the fins and tail of a huge shark
emerged from th• water, and splashing for a few mo-
ments, sunk beneath the surface. I saw, says a spec-
tator, nothing but a crimson stain of blood and a hat
floating at a short distance. Not a cry was uttered, it
was so sudden. Again the splashing of the shark oc-
curred, another was seen to seize the hat—two boats
reached the spot, but too late—scores of fish were leap-
ing about for the torn pieces of the poor sailor.—New
York Republic.
THE ANCIENT HOUSES IN WEST-STREET, SMITH-
FIELD.—MORE SKELETONS DISCOVERED.—Yesterday
morning' as the labourers employed to pull down the
houses for the Clerkenwell improvements, were digging
out the foundation of the house, No. 3, West-street,
known formerly as the Old Red Lion Tavern, they dis-
covered at the north-east corner of the building, about a
foot below the surface of the cell, two perfect skeletons
in a high state of preservation. Upon being removed to
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and carefully examined,
they were pronounced to be both males, of remarkably
tall stature, one measuring from head to foot above six
feet, and the other only a few inches shorter. The po-
sition in which they lay, and the-particular part of the
premises where they were discovered, confirm the
opinion of many persons who viewed the house,
that they must have become the victims of the
lawless wretches who inhabited this den of infamy,
and after being waylaid, robbed, and murdered,
were thrown through a trap-door which stood imme-
diately over the spat, and thus accounting for tkeir dis-
covery. Many reports have been in circulationArW the
date of its first existence : we are enabled to give the
subjoined, which may be relied upon. The house, No.
3, West-street, formerly called Chick-lane, was built in
the year 1683-4, by a man named 111`Willen, or 111`Wel-
land, chief of a tribe of gipsies, under the pretence of a
tavern, called the Red Lion, but for the moro direct pur-
pose of concealing stolen property, and harbouring
convicted thieves. This practice was successfully car-
ried on for a period of fifty or sixty years, when, for
some reason unknown, it was suddenly suppressed by
Government authority. From that period (about the
year 1740) no correct account can be given ; suffice it to
say, that it has been occupied from the first of its ex-
istence to some few weeks since, by the lowest and most
abandoned class of society. We can find no account
whatever of its ever being the residence of Jonathan
Wild ; his houses being in the Old Bailey, and Wych-
street, Drury-lane; there is not the slightest doubt,
however, that it might have been ono of his principal
haunts, from its favourable position, and the fact of its
existing in his time. A most rigid search is still being
carried on by the labourers, under the superintendence
of Mr. Wakelin.

IMPROVEMENTS AT WINDSOR.-It has just been
determined by her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods
and Forests, to take down the old and dilapidated
houses in the Lower "Ward of Windsor Castle, the resi-
dences of five of the military knights, and known as the
" Lower Foundation." It is in contemplation to form a
noble terrace on the site of these houses, to be open to
the public, affording extensive and highly picturesque
views over St. Leonard's, and the Great Park. It is
also in contemplation, we understand, to restore the Sa-
lisbury Tower, agreeably to the original plans of the
late Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, and as they were approved
of by George the Fonrth. When this has been accom-
plished it will afford a convenient residence for three of
the military knights on the Lower Foundation. The
remaining two knights on that foundation will have
apartments provided for them at the upper end of
Henry the Eight's gateway. No one unacquainted
with the locality of the Royal residence can form an
idea of the splendid view which will be thrown open
from the upper grounds of the Castle by these arrange-
ments being carried into effect. It is hoped that,
amongst other improvements, the unsightly and ruinous
Horse-shoe cloisters will be razed to the ground, so that
the terrace may be extended beyond the Bell-tower. It
will then only remain to restore the Garter-tower, in
order to effect one of the greatest improvements ever
produced in this portion of the erections connected with
the Castle. Several of the houses in Thames-street,
(portions of which are built over the old ditch of the
Castle) have been recently purchased by the Crown, and
the materials sold. The whole of the remainder of the
houses, on the Castle side of the street, will also be pur-
chased as soon as the necessary arrangements are made,
from time to time, with the owners of the property,
by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. The
northern and eastern. terraces will then be extended
round the Castle.

DEATH OF TIIE GRAND DUCHESS ALEXANDRA OF
RUSSIA.—Wo lament to announce the premature demise
of the Grand Duchess Alexandra, fourth daughter of
the Emperor of Russia, and consort of his Royal High-
ness Prince Frederick of Hesse, eldest son of the Land-
grave William of Hesse. The melancholy news reached
the Russian Embassy yesterday morning, from St. Pe-
tersburgh, by a special courier. The Imperial family
were prepared for the sad termination of the Grand
Duchess's illness, which, it is well known, was the prin-
cipal cause of the Emperor's hasty departure from this
country. The young princess, so prematurely cut off by
death in the prime of life, was born June 24, 1825, and
was married last September to the Prince Frederick of
Hesse. The Courts of the Hague, Sage Weimar, Wur-
temburg, and Hesse, are placed in mourning by the de-
mise of the Grand Duchess.