The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-14 00:00:00

MADNESS OF A WHOLE FAMILY.

A very singular case of sudden and unaccountable
madness, in an entire family of the Commune de
Treverree (Arrondissement Brieux), has excited
much local interest, and has even created an ineffec-
• tual inquiry into its cause on the part of the most
celebrated physiologists of Paris. Jean Lepage, a
farmer and proprietor of lands, the produce whereof
enabled him to support, in comfort and respecta-
bility, his wife, his sister-in-law, a son, and a daugh-
ter, and whose conduct, as that of every member of
his family, had been marked by regularity and inof-
fensiveness, who had lived on the most kind and
friendly terms with his neighbours, some time since
wholly withdrew himself from all communication
with his acquaintances, and, imitated by the
sreoestietyof
than
ns
thatfam family, red
his ownwholl);ooffrosinheitoetrielte4r.
They refused to reply to any one they met, they spoke
not even with each other—as they passed aloag,
signs were the only medium by which they convey-
ed their sentiments. The hitherto well-cultivated
farms, holden by Jean Lepage, were abandoned
and neglected, and laid open to the ingress
of every species of cattle : his grange, which
was well-stored with corn, was never resorted to ;
and, finally, after long indulging in their gloomy
reserve, the characters of himself and his relations
assumed all the marks ©f highly-excited derange-
ment. Whosoever was met on their passage, as
they walked forth in company, was certain of being
assaulted. They visited the church of their parish,
but not for the purposes of devotion; on the con-
trary, their irreverent and riotous behaviour inter-
fered frequently with the due celebration of its rites ;
and at length, in an excess of frenzy, Jean Lepage
struck the curate, even while he was in the per-
formance of his sacred functions at the foot of the
altar. Repeated violence offered to their neighbours,
coupled with this last outrage,induced an order for the
arrest of the family; they were conducted to prison; and
subsequently brought up for examination before the
Magistrate; but they refused to reply to inquiry—
treated exhortation and remonstrance with disdain,
and were wholly inaccessible to reproach or intreaty.
The two women and the children were called sepa-
rately before the Magistrates, without the latter
being enabled to induce them to speak. They were
as a necessary precaution, reconducted to prison, but
every attention their singularly unfortunate state
demanded was shown them. Lepage here refused
all nourishment; for eight days he never suffered
aliment of any kind to pass his lips; his strength
decayed rapidly; he sustained all the horrors of
voluntary starvation with the courage of a martyr;
and it was not until it became too evident that
his existence would be speedily terminated by his
obstinate refusal of nourishment, that he and his
family were released from confinement. They re-
turned to their now wretched home, but the former
violence they had exhibited was not repeated; a deep
and settled melancholy seemed to have possessed
them. For the last 22 months, they have daily
wandered forth, the father in company with his son,
and, at a short distance behind them, the three
•
females. They speak not amongst themselves, nor
do they address others ; and the only offensive pecu-
liarity in their manner is that of never diverging from
theirnc u path,r l ethem,
tthem
however,
from
humanity
move from their way ; aiel tiers
or fear,
may.
us they pursue their
encounter
miserable career to the astonishment and pity of those
who, not long since, beheld the balf-faruished, ragged
All who
n
and unhappy wretches whom they uow see, the most
contented and the most respected members of their
small commune.—Athenceunz.

The LORD CITANCELLOR and Miss HART
gave a splendid ball and supper, on Tuesday evening, at
their mansion in Merrion-street, to the Lokn LIEUTENANT
and the Ladies PAGET, and all the rank and fashion Nf
the capital. The suite of apartments were remarkable for
their brilliant illumination, and for the profusion of the
choicest plants, flowers, and exotics with which they were
ornamented. The corridors and stairs were decorated with
fruit trees in full blossom, and the supper consisted of every
delicacy the season aftinds.—Dublin Alopting Register.

•
ANGLING.--The beautiful trout streams at
Driffield, and in the neighbourhood, are likely, this season,
to afford excellent diversion to gentlemen anglers, more
large fish having come up in consequence of the abundance
of water, than have been observed for many years before.—
Doncaster Gazette.

JEWS' HOSPITAL.—The anniversary dinner
given by the supporters of this charitable and highly praise-
worthy institution took place on Thursday at the City of
London Tavern, his Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX,
Patron, in the chair. At half-past six o'clock, 200 gen-
tlemen, chiefly of the Jewish persuasion, resident in
London, sat down to a sumptuous dinner. The meeting
did not break up until a late hour.
•
ST. LAWRENCE'S CHURCIL—In excavating
a large vault for the reception c.f the remains of the late
Mr. GArtatArt:ra, father of our respected fellow-townsman,
Mr. 6ARRARD, brewer, of Friar-street, the workmen came
in contact with the remains of a wall, at the depth of about
three feet from the surface, no doubt forming part of the
monastic buildings of the Abbey, anterior to the erection of
the Church. The wall is composed of stone and flints,
and cemented by a composition as hard as the materials
which it unites—similar to that used in the building of
Reading Abbey; it is nearly parallel with the piers which
support the great tower, on the north side, and probably
is the remains of the west gateway which communicated
with the spacious area in front of the Abbey, now called
the Forbury. In the same excavation were found some
rather singularly large human bones, more especially those
of the thigh and leg. -Jerks Chronicle.

SHERIFF'S COURT-CHESTER, APRIL ”

THE GAME LAWS.
ROGERS V. SHAW AND COTTS.
Mr. TEMPLE stated that the action was brought
to recover the value of a dead hare, and a certain gun
of great value, Ivhich the defendants had seized and
taken, and other wrongs to the damage of the plain•
tiff 100/.

The Jury consulted together for a short time, ai
found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 75/.
There is a motion before the Court of King's
Bench, to be heard in the course of the next term,
for a criminal information, arising out of this trans'
action.