The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-20 00:00:00

THE WELLINGTON STATUE.

The cost of the statue and pedestal was 9,0001., the
metal having been given to the Committee by the Chan-
cellor of .the Exchequer, Ind valued at 1,5004 in ad-
dition to that amount. The money was raised by a
publio.subscription, after a meeting held at the Mansion-
house. The contract with Sir Francis Chantrey
made in February, 1839, by the trustees, Sir Peter
Laurie, Mr. John l\lastermin, Mr. Arthur K. Barclay,
and Mr. R. L. Jones, the w'ork to be completed and fixed
by 1843. Sir.F. Chantrey, at his, death, left the whole
mo-lel complete, and also the head of the Duke, the full
size. The work has since been completed by his assistant,
Mr. Weeks, under the direction of the executors. There
was much apprehension, from the delay in delivering
the stones of the pedestal by the contractors, Messrs.
Macdonald and Leslie, that the statue could not have
been completed on the anniversary of the battle of
Waterloo, and they were not on the ground until mid-
day on Saturday. Mr. Jackson; the contractor for the
Royal Exchange, then took the work in hand, and, by
the most spirited exertions, succeeded in getting the
whole of the pedestal fixed, and the statue in its place,
by the evening of Monday. The general opinion passed
upon the pedestal during yesterday, was that it is much
too high, and too plain, to do justice to the magnificent
structure in the 'front Of w4ich it is pyteed.
The statue itself is fourteen feet id height; from the
feet of the horse to the top of the head of the
Duke. The pedestal on which .it stands is of
Peterhead, or the red granite of Aberdeenshire, with
the exception of the lower course, which is of grey
granite. This pedestal is altogether fourteen feet high,
co that the total height is exactly twenty-eight feet.
The attitude of the horse is of the quiet character,
which was. introduced by the great artist, and greatly
resembles the horse of the statue of George IV., in
front of the National Gallery. The costume of the
Duke is generally taken from that which he wore on
the great day of Waterloo, including his usual and re-
- markable military cloak.. .

ALLEGED POISONING BY •
PRUSSIC ACID.

Yesterday; Mr. James Cockburn Belaney, a surgeon, was
brought before Mr. Broderip, at the Thames police-court, on
a charge of poisoning his wife, Rachel Belaney. This was
the second examination of the prisoner, and the interest
which has been excited by the case appeared to be in no de-
gree abated. A rumour was circulated that a second charge
would •be preferred against Mr. Belaney, and. the report
Created a painful sensation in Stepney It will be seen, from
a remark that fell from the worthy Magistrate on the termi-
nation of the proceedings, that some grounds really dop.xist
for the rumour.

Mr. Clarkson, the barrister, and Messrs. Coode and
Browne, solicitors, appeared- on this occasion for the prisoner.
The Rev. Mr. Belaney, vicar of Arlington; in Sussex, a
highly-respectable and much-esteemed minister of the Esta-
blished Church, and another brother of the accused person,
were present during the investigation. The prisoner, who is
thirty-three years of age, but looks several years older, is a
person of very gentlemanly appearance. He was much de-
jected, but listened to-the evidence with great anxiety.
Dr. Henry Letheby, a physician, residing at No. 12, Tre-
degar-square, Mile-end-road, was the first witness called. He
stated that on Tuesday, the 11th inst., he examined the con-
tents of the deceased's stomach, which was handed to him by
Mr. Curling, the surgeon who conducted the post mortem exa-
mination with Mr. Garratt. The liquid was in a tumbler,
and had a turbid appearance, and the odour of prussic acid.
It was placed in a retort, with a little diluted sulphuric acid,
and about a drachm and and a half of fluid was distilled
over. This fluid had the odour of Prussic acid. It was then
tested in the following manner, by first saturating,it with so-
lution of potass, and to this was added a solution of a double
salt of iron, together with a few drops of muriatic acid. A
bluish green precipitate was the result, indicating the pre-
sence of prussic acid. At. that stage of the inquiry a note was
received by Mr. Curling, who was present, and nothing more
was done at that time. On a further analysis, he detected
the presence both of prussic acid and of. Epsom salts in the
deceased's stomach, which was also brought to him. He did
not test it for quantity, but it smelt verfstrongly of prussic
acid. He should say it was about the pharmaceutical strength.
Mr. 'Broderip asked the witness if he detected; the prussic
acid in sufficient quantity to destroy life? Dr. Letheby—l
can't answer that question, Sir. It could only be answered
by an experiment. I should be very sorry to try. If prussic
acid is taken in n pure state, one drop is sufficient to destroy
life. One hundred and twenty drops of the pharmaceutical
strength contain very nearly three drops of the pure acid.
Mr. Broderip—Will you state what remedies ought to have
been used by the prisoner when he discovered his wife had
taken the prussic acid he left in a tumbler? Dr. LethelSy—
As a medical man, this treatment ought to have been
adopted :—The great object is to rouse the patient ; and the
first thing I should do would be to dash cold water in the
face. I should then evacuate the contents of the stomach,
and at the same time exhibit stimuli, such as ammonia, or
brandy and water, provided the heart's, action was still main-
tained. I should perform artificial tsespiiation, and app
sponge moistened with a little chloride of lime, or a weak
solution of ammonia, somewhere near the mouth, so that the
odour might be inhaled. This I should maintain for at least
an hour, and, provided there was a galvanic apparatus at
hand, I would apply galvanism.
Mr. Broderip—Have you known any cases where the
means you have described have been successful after the
dilute prussic acid had been taken ? Dr. Letheby—Yes, Sir,
I have.

In cross-examination by Mr. Clarkson, Dr. Letheby said
he had considerable experience in cases of poisoning by
prussic acid. Its presence on a post mortem examination
would be easily detected by the odour.
Mr. Garratt, the surgeon, who was first called in to see
the deceased directly after her death, here said he had no-
thing to add to his former testimony, and was allowed to
depart.
Mr. Thomas Donahoo, a surgeon, of No. 27, White Horse-
street, Stepney, stated•that he was acquaint& with the pri •
soner about four years ago, and knew he was a surgeon, as
he called at his shop several times, and on one- occasion he
asked him to attend a case of midwifery for him. He had
lost sight of the prisoner since that time until about Wed-
nesday or Thursday week, when he was informed that a
gentleman named Belaney had left his name on the slate
as an old acquaintance, but he did not then recollect the
person. On Thursday evening (the 6th), about *seven o'clock
the prisoner came to his shop, and he recognised him. He
said he had been in the habit of taking prussic acid in
small doses for some time, and wanted some, and that
unfortunately what he did get was very spurious in ge-
neral, and he should be obliged to witness if he
could obtain some• He promised to do so, and re-
quested the prisoner to call for it next morning, as
he was not in the habit of keeping it. On the Friday
morning, the 7th, the prisoner came to his shop before
witness had risen from his bed, and rang the bell. He then
supplied the prison( r with an ounce stopper phial of prussic
acid, half a drachm of acetate of morphine (a deadly poison,
found by the police in the prisoner's room), sonic salts and
senna, carbonate of soda, and tartaric acid. He asked for a
supply of all those articles at the same time as he ordered the
prussic acid. He saw no more of the prisoner until the fol-
lowing Monday, when he called upon him, accompanied by
Captain Clarke, and said he had met with a sad misfortune,
by the neck of the bottle containing the prussic acid coming
off, and. wished him to attend the inquest, which he promised
to do if he could.
_ _

~„
Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson—The prisoner called upon
him about eight o'clock in the morning for the prussic acid,
and said he was going to take some for pains in the
stomach. He had had no experience with prussic acid. He
considered acetate of morphine a more pleasant medicine
than prussic acid in complaints of irritation of the stomach.
He had never known prussic acid given in cases of phthisis.
Dr. Ramadge, who was a very high authority, did not use it
in cases of phthisis. He had heard of prussic acid being re-
commended to allay irritation of the stomach. He lived about
half a mile or rather less from Green-street, where Mrs. Be-
laney died. He knew the prisoner again' directly he saw him,
and they recognised each other as old acquaintances.
Thomas Long said he was gardener at the City of London
and Tower Hamlets Cemetery, near Bow. I saw the pri-
soner on Saturday, the Bth inst., a few hours after his wife's
death. It was about half-past twelve o'clock when he en-
tered the cemetery, and said he wanted to purchase a piece
of ground for the burial of a body. He did not say who it
was, but Captain Clarke, who accompanied him, said it was
his mistress. The prisoner said he should wish to bury her
on the following Tuesday, and should like the grave to be a
brick one. Witness said he must givefour;clear days':notice be-
fore a brick grave could be got ready. The•prisoner and
Captain Ch.rke then consulted together, and they said a
seven feet grave would do for the present, until such time as
a brick grave could be got ready, and they would see about
it. The prisoner then left him and Captain Clarke talking
together, and leant urea the stone of a brick grave, pulled
out his handkerchief, and began weeping. The prisoner said
nothing more to him, and left the ground. He had not seen
him since, till that day.
Mr. Clarkson—l wish to know, for my future guidance,
who brought you here? Witness—Mr. Hill, the superin-
tendendent of ;the cemetery, informed me that the police
had come for me this morning, and desired me to attend the
Court.
Mr. Broderip, after consulting with Mr. Symons, the chief
clerk, said there were reasons why he should not proceed fur-
ther with the case then, although many witnesses were yet
to be examined.
Mr. Clarkson—l shall not trouble you with any observa-
tions on the case, Sir. You are aware, Sir, the coroner's
inquest, relating to this very melancholy case, is adjourned
till Monday next. • I trust you will not send this unhappy
gentleman for trial till the inquiry before the Coroner's
jury is. terminated. _1 will not be tempted to make any
further observations beyond this, that on the part of my
client, I shall not object.to the most rigid inquiry into
everything.,
Mr. Broderip—l find it my duty to remand you (the pri-
soner at the bar) until this day week. It is my duty also to
state that, since the last examination, I have ' received
authentic information, which leads me to expect very mate-
rial evidence, which will throw some light upon the present
obscurity of this most painful case, and, perhaps, on another
case against the prisoner.
Mr. Belaney was then removed in custody, and at the
usual hour sent to Clerkenwell prison in the van. Inspector
Haines of the detective police force, who was present during
the examination, has received directions to proceed to the
north, and make some 'inquiries about the prisoner's pur-
suits during the last three • or tour years, and some extra-
ordinary disclosures are expected at the next examination.

An immense steamer, to ,be named the' Terrible,
and to be fitted with engines of Bw-horse power, is now
building at the dock-yard, Deptford. She will be soon
ready for launching.

SALE OF THE CLEEVE COURT
MANSION AND ESTATES BY MR. GEORGE

ROBINS.

- -
BRISTOL, SATURDAY, JUNE 15.—As more than the usual
interest attending sales of this nature has been excited in the
present instance, we may, perhaps, be pardoned for stepping
out of the accustomed course of regarding such matters as
merely private. We will premise, then, that the property
consisted of the Cleeve Court Mansion, and various dairy and
grazing farms, comprising altogether 1,547 acres, and pro-
ducing a rental of 3,4001. a-year ; the whole belonging to J.
H. S. Pigott, Esq. The sale was appointed for Tuesday, the
11th inst., and the auctioneer employed to dispose of this Es-
tate was the celebrated George Robins, whose fame, as he
would say himself, is " European." This circumstance, to.
gether with the well known valuable nature of the property,
brought together so large a company, that it was found neces-
sary to adjourn from the original place fixed for holding the
sale (the Commercial Room) to the large room of the White
Lion, in Broad-street, which, at one o'clock, was completely
crowded, not less than 600 persons present, and the heat quite
overpowering. We may also state that the quality of the
audience was quite equal to the quantity. The influence and
property that had been congregated by the alluring announce-
ment of this auction was sufficient to have purchased the
whole county. of Somerset twice over.
Mr. Robins mounted the rostrum at one o'clock, and after
stating how much he was flattered by the numerous attend-
ance, went on to say that the property was one of fhe most
important ever offered for sale in this county. He then di-
rected his clerk to read the conditions.
The clerk then read the conditions. On the fourth being
read, which requires purchasers to pay their deposits to the
solicitor for the vendor,
Mr. ROBINS said it was the first time in all his long pro-
fessional experience that he had ever known the deposits to
be made payable to the solicitor; they were always the legi-
timate profit of, and invariably paid to, the auctioneer ; but
as he did not wish to disappoint the large company assem-
bled, he consented to submit to sell under Mr. Baker's con-
ditions. But he did so under solemn protest and notice that
he should require the benefit of the advantage to be derived from
the deposits. He had been told, it was the custom in this
part of the country to pay the deposits to the solicitor ; but
he would, in the hearing.of Mr. Fergus, than whom a more
honourable or more experienced man did not exist in the
profession, say it was a custom" more honoured in the breach
than the observance:"

Mr. BAKER—Is this a notice to the gentlemen present, or
is it a notice to Mr. Pigott's agent ?
➢lr. ROBINS—It is a notice that we sell under your
conditions. _ _ _ _ _ . . .

vv
Mr. TYLER—It has always been the practice, throughout
the county of Somerset, to pay the deposit to the vendor's
solicitor.
Mr. KNAPP corroborated Mr. Tylee, and observed that
Mr. Robins's remarks seemed to throw some sort of slur on
Mr Baker, which was quite uncalled for.
Mr. GOODIIIND—The conditions are before us, and that is
all we have to do with the matter. It seems to me that the
subject has been very unnecessarily introduced. What is it
to us to whom we pay the deposits?
Mr.•RomNs—That is your opinion?
Mr. GOODLIIND—It is.
Mr. ROBINS—It is not of much value then.
This slight skirmish being finished, the rest of the condi-
tions were read, when one or two gentlemen raised some ob-
jections, which were put down by the auctioneer declaring
that the conditions had been properly considered, and Mr.
Baker would make no alteration or modification in them.
Mr: Robins then put up the first Lot, comprising the
Cleeve Court Estate of 260 acres, and an " abode of the most
delightful description." He exhausted all his vocabulary in
magnifying the property, but without much effect. The
value he put on it was 30,0001. He got a bidding for 20,000/.,
and it was bought in for 24,000/..
Lot 2, consisting of a Cottage Orn€e, and 63A. 2n. 15r. of
rich dairy land, was bought in for 5,5001.
Lot 3, comprising the first Claverham Farm, with farm re-
sidence and out buildings, and 235 A. 3n. 21r., obtained a bid-
ding from Mr. Fargus of 12,500 guineas, but was bought in
for, 13,500/.
Lot 4, the second Claverham Farm, with residence, or-
chards, gardens, out-buildings, &c., and 134 acres of land, was
bought iii at 7,500/.
Lot 5, comprising the third Claverham Farm, with house,
orchards, buildings, and 41 acres of land, obtained a bidding of
2,000/. from Mr. Tylee, but was bought in at 2,600/.
• Lot 6, the fourth Claverham Farm, with good residence,
out buildings, and 126 acres of rich dairy and grazing land,
was hid up,to 9,000/. by Mr. Fargus, but was bought in for
9,100/.
Lot 7.—Mr. John Lyons' Farm, with now residence, build-
ings, and 157 acres was bid for by Mr. Fargus up to 9,4004
but was bought in at 9,600/. •
Lot B.—Farm-house, &c., and 90 acres of rich dairy land,
was bought in at 4,700/.
Lot 9.—Three closes of meadow land, containing 16A. 313.
34r. was bought in for 1,000/.
Lot 10.—Small grazing farm of 55A. Mr. Tylee bid 3,000
guineas ; bought in for 4,000.
Lots 11, 12, and 13.—A1l small, were bought in at 80, 90,
and 90 guineas.
Lot 14.—A small piece of 3n. 10P. was bought by a gentle-
man, whose name we did not hear, for 90 guineas.
Lot] 5 comprised the Nailsea Court Farm, with ancient
manorial house, gardens, buildings, and 156 acres of rich dairy
and grazing land. There was no bidding, and it was bought
in at 7,800 guineas.
Lot 16.—For the Cadbury Farm, with house, buildings,
&c., and 22 acres, Mr. Tylee bid 1,700 guineas. It was bought
in for 1;950.
Lot 17 was bought in for 280/.
Lot 18.—Mr. Tylee bid 1,000/. ; it was bought in for 1,060/.
Lot 19 was purchased by Mr. Braikenridge for 1,8001.
Lot 20 was sold to the same gentleman for 650/.
Lot 21 went to the same purchaser for 1,300/.
Lot 22 was bought in at 1,300/. ; and
Lot 23, the last, was disposed of in the same manner. for
330 guineas.
This concluded the business, at half-past three o'clock.
The attorneys attended in great abundance, to assist Mr.
Baker's appeal to hold the deposits. They spoke angrily,
but in addressing Mr. Robins they took nothing by their mo-
tion. He told them to be satisfied with a long law bill, and
leave the legitimate profit of the deposit with the auctioneer,
who was always the stakeholder. In this case he had pro-
tested, and would. require the interest derivable from it of
Mr. Pigott. The result, however, will render this unneces-
sary; for Mr. Baker (who played first fiddle as valuer of
the land) put such outrageous prices, as precluded the least
chance of selling; but for this, the result would have been
prodigious. This is the second time, during two years, that
the Commercial Rooms have been found insufficient to hold a
third part of the auditory—this honour seems to belong
especially to Mr. George Robins.—Bristol paper.

FRANKFORT, JUNE 14. Yesterday evening a
courier arrive,l here from the Hague, on his way to
Kissingen, to inform M. Sevina, the Russian Ambas-
sador to the. Court of Bavaria, now residing at that
place, that his Majesty the Emperor of Russia would pro-
ceed direct, by way of Berlin, to St. Petersburgh. There
seems to be no doubt that_ this sudden change in the
Emperor's plan is owing exclusively to the dangerous
illness of her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess
Alexandria, Princess of Hesse.
CRUSADE AGAINST REPEAL BUTTONS.--011 Friday
morning, notice having been forwarded to the Corporation
House, in William-street, that the main pipe fo
supplying water to the Royal Barracks was out of
order, some of the men employed in the pipe-water de-
partment were at once dispatched to rectify it; but on
approaching the barrack-gate the were refused admit-
tance by the sentinel, unless they pulled off their repeal
buttons. The men declined to do so, and the sentinel refus-
ing to admit them, although they explained the object of
their visit, they returned to the Pipewater-office, and the
Royal Barracks remained without the means of obtaining a.
supply of water.—Dublin Evening Post.
A sturgeon was taken on Thursday morning, a
short distance below the marsh wall, between Errol and Sea-
side, of the following dimensions :—length, 7 feet 1 inch ;
girth, 2 feet 11 inches ; and its weight 1271b5. It is believed
to be one of the largest ever taken in this part of the country
—Perthshire Constitutional.

THE WAYERLEY BALL.—The current rumour that
a grand fancy dress ball was in contemplation, in which
the leading characters of Sir Walter Scott's novels were
to be sustained, is likely to be realised. It is said that
measures have been taken by the Duchess of Buccleuch,
with the gracious concurrence of her Majesty, to pro-
mote with her influence the getting up of this splendid
fete. The Hon. Charles Murray, under the Duchess's
authority, has communicated with a number of the
leading female aristocracy on the subject ; and we hear
that the overtures made by that gentleman have been
eagerly embraced. The ball, it is asserted, will *take
more of a private re-union than a public assembly, as ad-
mission will be only granted through the medium of a
lady patroness. The surplus fund goes towards defray-
ing the completion of the Scott monument at Edinburgh.
LIBERALITY.--" WANTED A GOVERNESS."—ID the
Evangelical Magazine may be seen the following adver-
tisement :—" Wanted, a young person of decided piety,
about twenty-two years of age, to take the charge
of and educate three children under twelve years.
She must be capable of imparting a sound Eng-
lish education, with French and music. Any one
who would feel anxious for the welfare of the chil-
dren will be treated as one of the family, and may
realise the comforts of a home. Salary, 8/. per annum.'
The Patriot newspaper, after quoting this tempting offer,
animadverts in a strain of bitter irony on the qualifications
required, and the remuneration promised by the very. re-
ligious and charitable advertiser. The young lady is to
be " pious," " accomplished," " musical," "learned, ' com-
bining therewith an -almost parental regard for the adver-
tiser's children, all for 8/. per annum! Surely there
must be some error here—may it not be, we would
charitably ask, an error of the press in accidentally
omitting the 0 after the 8? If not, we are utterly at a
loss to describe the immeasurable meanness of the man,
or his egregious folly in expecting his advertisement to
be apswered.—Berhs Chronicle.
QUICK DzsrATcH.—On Wednesday, the sth inst.,
the ship Lydia was berthed in the Waterloo Dock. and
within thirty-seven hours discharged a cargo of above
500 hogsheads of sugar; then went to the Graving
Dock for repairs, and by Wednesday the 12th instant
had taken a full cargo for export on board, and sailed
next day.—Liverpool Courier
A HOME SECRETARY OF " LETTERS."—We beg
leave—on the part of Sir James Graham—to inform the pub-
lic, and all parties who, since the Secretary's appointment to
office, have failed to receive post letters directed to them,
that such letters are, at this moment, in the Home-office. If
they have been delayed until now, it is because of the.pressing
avocations of the Right Honourablo Secretary.;: Sir James
will, however, cause all the letters to be posted directly. he
shall have read them. N.B.—A few good bands wanted who
can open letters with secrecy and dispatch. Persons who
have studied Fouche's plan will be preferred. Apply at the
HODIQ.O/dee.—Punch.