The Sun.
London, England, 1821-09-18 00:00:00

SUDDEN DEAT

On Sunday se'nniglit an unexpected occurrence
took place at a well known tavern in Catherine-street, Strand,
which has thrown a respectable family into the deepest affliction.
On the preceding night Major S—, who was in a very weak •
and emaciated state, dined at Osborn's Hotel, in the Aaelphi,
and, after dinner, ajDerson called by appointment, whom he ac-
companied to the Theatre. After the evening's entertainment
was concluded, they were driven to the * * • * in Catherine-
street: They had not been long there before the 111ajor way
attacked with severe indisposition. The waiter was called,.
and a bottle of soda water proeured at.the request of the
Major, who immediately drank it, but was in an instant
seized with excruciating pain and fell into a fit. Dr. Hume
was sent for, who arrived very promptly, and rendered assist-
ance to the unfortunate man. On Sunday evening the Major,
having become worse, breathed his last. A t eleven o'clock at
night the body was removed in a coffin to Osborn's Hotel,
where he had for some • time previously resided. All the
deceased's friends reside in Dublin, and letters were sent off,
communicating the intelligence to them. The deceased was a
middle-aged man. Means having been taken to conceal the cir-
cumstances attending the Major s sudden death, and to inter
the body privately, the Cell, the Coroner for Westmin-
ster, on receiving information of the fact, issued his warrant to
hold an inquisition thereon. The beadle of the parish in which
the body of Major S—r lies, presented on Saturday night
to the Coroner (J. H. Gell, Esq.) a letter from a medical gen-
tleman,
,whose son attended the deceased during his indisposi-
tion. The beadle stated that it was the wish of the friends of
the deceased to prevent an exposition of the lamentable affair ;
and if he (the Coroner) would give his warrant for the inter-
ment of the body, without an inquest being held on it, it would
greatly oblige them. The following is the letter addressed to
the Coroner:—
" No. 108, Lone acre, Sept. 15,1221.
" These are to certify that the late -Major S—, who died
on the 9th instant, was attended by three medical gentlemen ;
that my son, who is a regular surgeon, - was one of them; that
all the medicines were prepared by. myself : and that the only
cause of the death of the said Major S— was a decided and
clear case of apoplexy, and nothing else. Dr. Mackinnon, of
John-street, attended also on the deceased, and, if required, will
confirm this statement. " JOS. HUME, Chemist."
To which the Coroner gave the following answer :
" Sept. 15, 1821.
" Sir,—Perhaps it might not be decent in me to desire the
parish officers to obtain the warrant for summoning a Jury;
but, from what is reported, and under all the circumstances, I
should think it would be far more satisfactory to all parties that
an inquisition should be held on the body. I have heard no
evidence, and unless an inquest take place 1 cannot sanction the
burial of the deceased, though Ido not purpose taking steps
myself to prevent it.
" I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
" H. GELL, Coroner."
`l-P.S.. I apprehend that any dissatisfied parishioner might
cause the inquiry to take place, by calling upon me to issue rejr-
warrant to bold an inquest."
On the Coroner giving the beadle the above letter, the beadle
stated that the corpse was soldered up in a leaden coffin, and it
must be broken open if an inquest was indispensable.
Coroner—" I can only say, that if the body is interred with-
out an inquest being held thereon, it will, probably, be my
duty ter order it to be disinterred, atulsuch-a circumstance ought
to be avoided."

The KING, we believe, will leave town on
Saturday next for the Continent, on his way to
Hanover. Ills MAJESTY, it i 3 said, will embark
at Dover for Calais, and make a short stay at the
Silver. Lion in that place, whilst the Royal car-
riages, &c. are landing. We understand that a
Council of Regency -was appointed yesterday.—
(Morning Herald.)
Yesterday the Dukes of YORK and CLARENCE,
and the Princess SoPut A, visited the KING at his
Palace in Pall-Mall.

On Saturday morning the Duke of Sitxt MEI-
NINGEN and suite arrived at Dover, and shortly
afterwards embarked from France, under a sa-
lute from the guns at the heights.
A private- letter from Weimar states, that the
inauguration of the statue of LUTHER will take
place at. Willemberg, with extraordinary solem-
nity, by special order of the Court of Berlin.
The King and Princess -of PRUSSIA, the reigning
and other Princes of SAXE-WEIMAR, ANIIALT,
MECRLENBURGII, WTIRTEMBERG, JIESSE, BADEN,
GOTIIA COBURG, &c. received invitations to be
present. This extraordinary solemnity takes
place in consequence of some disgust recently
given to the German Protestants, by the commu-
nications between the Court of Berlin and the
See of Rome.