The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-21 00:00:00

tb°
°f , f
my

tweet
1011

,59
,ISS
,230

to the
.t hed
or t°

,/4-

LITERATURE.
REVELATIONS
OF SPAIN 1N 1845. By an
W English Reside, t.
aoti ere
Spain a country more worthy of public
ce or of any great importance in the balance of
Power •
Plac In Europ
v. e, the revolutions which have taken
e there within the last forty years ould form
one of Lilo I the most interesting features in modern
r.Y. Even in her fallen state, however, Spain
ca l'u
Itnot fail to excite interest. She has played a great
Part on
dii_se.orerintghe stage of nations; she had. the glory of
the new world ; she in consequence
ea4l4ted undivided dominion over the whole of South
altrtar..taa., and in her wars with the ancient inhabitraits
`letect the eves of all civilized nations, while in the
116,world, both for the extent of her territory, the
per of her arms, and the ability of her kings and
,ens she justly occupied the very first ran.
is the least among the nations. Her vaskt
Vasessions have one after another been wrested from
belt ibY foreigners, or the revolt of her children, and of
eein?nense colonies scarcely now a speck remains.
ell'°°,Peru, New Graneda, Florida, Louisiana, and
slat Y other districts large enough for independent
dw.es, have slipped away, and her colonial empire has
Nrint'lled to the Canary Islands, two of the Antilles,
ap-A Rico, and Cuba, and a spot or two on the
sirthern coast of Africa. The Low Countries, Italy,
lee,ilY) nay the one half of civilized Europe owned
be...BwaY—her navy, even so late as 1782, co.m-
qd seventy sail of the line and frigates, besides
of tt smaller war vessels, is now reduced to one ship
eh" line, a few frigates, corvettes, and brigs, if
biplithese can be said to exist, for during the last
aeZ Years no uniforms have been made for the
ll'. eel and to every member of.it, without exception,
six
months' pay is due. " In the crumbling
"thereand prevalent ruin of Spain," says the writer,
ehi, are no more melancholy fragments than those
ie theu may be seen, or scarcely seen for their rarity,
the glorious ancient ports, from whence went forth
de 'c'nquistadores in one century, and the Armada
toted invincible in the next ; and into which for
rtebUndred years flowed in lordly galleons the
11:4`1,ed wealth of both the Indies. The Armada
Ilii,eh't no remnant behind. The merchant service,
1,-"°nce extended through the world, has sunk into
pt,t4ndful of generally inferior vessels, and a great
t()thuf the passenger and carrying trade is transferred
tnikhe, 'hips of England and America. ',Bow are the
ert`i'e "Y fallen !' Is there here a requital for the
opt,atties of Mexico and Peru ?" Never was the
•
tartlironounced against a wicked nation so visibly
'''-itao effect. The mighty man and the man of
the I,' g
tk '
e Judge and the prophet, and the prudent and
kap-neieut ; the captain of fifty, and the honourable
fl~d the counsellor are gone, and the terrible
t '1 ha'l flbti°ll "I will give children to be their princes,
Sided es shall rule over them," is literally ful-
ltipm Such is the melancholy condition of the
anth°in on whose dominions the sun never set. The
to `)rl, of these "Revelations of Spain" begins his
set about the time when a babe began to rule over it,
cote eeti gves the following concise outline of its
tf;l,l', he events of the year 1843, in Spain, have been of
41)0 eztraordinarX a character, and the principle of
tth
atative government in the Peninsula has been
and such severe and unusual tests, that the social
ao r
elitical state of that remarkable country i
seems at
itrep „ vlous period to have claimed a more attentive n-
ki;'ci The springs of society have been stirred from
164 epths ; the pillars of the Commonwealth rudelyClli.e,n; orders subverted, and laws defied; the executive
tif the State has been exiled and deposed; a child
Faioro raised to the exercise of sovereignty before the
tikda re,cognised by the Constitution; a Minister, after
Lla,"3; tenure of power, has been expelled from office
'ttti'akice plot, and like the Regent, five months before,
,!,artire;',liged to fly for his life ; Parliament has been
,14 fili,-r"Y closed, its scrutiny contemptuously evaded,
ri,Ptil,-,.eti°ns audaciously usurped ; the heads of the
L.rt ',',Party have been thrown into dungeons without
l", ,L; the lives of numerous citizens forfeited without
'sealit'ue Sovereign has been brought forward in an in-
Naltitude, and a military government,, or the law-
jj of dishonest civilians, established.'
et'kte. 40(1, apparently with great truth, the cha-
,„(,a,; ef the leading personages,. including Espartero,
,4tiz',,4, Lopez, Olozaga, the Marchioness of Santa
',otti'LL`ollteen Christina, and her two daughters, and
fie u'f,"ea historical details of the intrigues, plots, and
„I'te,- the principal actors, as well as the schemes of
among whom the French Ministers and
iateau" perform a conspicuous part. The
t4i tif,jt oaf the royal conspiracy is interesting. It was
a 'Lae ennspu acy to ruin Olozaga, to bring back
them and to destroy the Constitution, got up in
,414 't barefaced manner by the Camarilla, at the
Sl34' Which was the clever and notorious Marqueza
Ptla()iita Cruz, who he says is a very fascinating
t,4 hi' most elegant and distinguished manners,
415 intellectual attainments. Of Queen Chris-
blips
till he speaks on the whole favourably. "In her
a'44,0 411.11 city she has always been remarkable for
lAlities, two of them virtues, and two of them
),unitise ;--courage, resolution, insincerity, and
t`ttitti. Olozaga was cruelly betrayed, and his de-
-51) ,°ll was resolved on and effected because he had
patriotism and virtue to yield to the
tames f
k,QBlit Le' the Camarilla. The poor child load been
‘,trihr,i•er lesson well, she recited it before the as-
he;`:tceuneillors to perfection ; but of the falsehood
°ntbaternerits not a doubt can remain, judging
' tht"e original document signed by the Queen
kh, s
1,1, , same regu.lar, unshaken, and school-
led qwriting which she had invariably ern-
-1,14:1; since her majority was declared," and
fir had (Theauga refused at first to give up till
leveed shown it to a hundred senators—from the
e4l `er°ll, with a signature shaky and scarcely
tOrete,"; and what was known to the patriarch her
E: eh r• These, and other manifest proofs, cleared.
Olefin utter Olozaga, and hushed up this dis-
irft4;"_transaction. The "Revelations" altogether
a'tae,ueh interest, and though given in a loose,
an ales,
eeted style, abounding with many Spanish
tpd roduced often for display rather than use,
1),,a ie this country—among others that of Lord
lliteptes—not in the most favourable light, they will
thPa b.Of service in estimating the remarkable revo-
ti,l4:ought about by Louis Philippe, Christina,
i4s'4l)4,`,'stez. We give the following extract as a
`1141(1t-,ntli:.en of the work, premising that the Queen
tilfs110) -„ue bad 'health, and that the King of the
k'aa,il'iee contemplated a marriage between her
t4Th tile Duke D'Aumale :
le.,tt'tas„apPettrance of Queen Isabel Maria to the eye of
antir is thatof a precocious but somewhat car..eh-
airt ei Lnickly girl—exceedingly pale, and Wlt
41111,,'11 ',,tuer expressive or interesting in her coon
tici7riod but that her brow is circled with a crown, at
kijt4,o,th,,°t unparalleled youth to emerge from legal
re is little there to arrest your attention; you
it),‘114,1-,ri'orbidden nor attracted ; you deem her more
i;',P.nel'lntn lies age, but this precocity, as compared
Nilv`ry,7,'4,tni, is universal in the Peninsula.
itilq t",look more closely, you will see a shade pass
f
111,,i'ardn'leu over her brow and features, indicative of
top t'ti b of disposition, and of a character somewhat
t ; and you will not be far mistakenmw if
aod a spar is conclusion. But your eye is soon arrested..
e6,44411"Ling face beside her, all radiant with vivacity
a.it,gre° ; younger,. yet less frivolous ; more
t t the Joyous, yet with more of sentiment..
e Infanta Luisa, her sister—a charming child
the,,,tYg'eti,nance. radiant with the highest beauty, the
Ino,,Niijoei,me mind. In the sitting of the Corr, where
of her royal sister was declared, this darling
ttihl'itie,'" all the admiration.
(lett ti,"lsabel is said to be of a rather wilful nature,
IteVeat".Petteh fits; at times not a little obstinate, and
ttiv,aisa lar intelligence as well as in temper. These
.9aZat'. a
imatilia i" inheiited in part from both father and
She has thrown her whole soul into her
VI was likewise a maternal failing, for Men-
TNl:reete n, is official interviews with Queen Christina
oha -altY to lockout the listening Camarilla: the
%D.et(4llB,:rig%laiel at Olo'zlga's door.
et e j'sabel's Camarera Mayor, the Marqu •sa. de
Y t .11z
n'„now so notorious throughout Europe, is a
4,-4-ng person, of most elegant and distinguished
tittliDk,a,'„' high intellectual attainments—one of the
tit rtes sCrt.s. of the Court of Spain—and to these
ttat,,, 13 indebted for her influence over the Queen.
he 'Slot? add that she wears one of the proudest and
Et 4:14,-„°;as amongst the historical names of Spain.
442%4 ra(;::.s of Santa Cruz, in the time of Philip 11.,
anrie-hat oe,"' illustrious admiral, who defeated on nu-
4si.ns the Moors of Africa, and completed the
.4,111% or Portugal by destroying Don Antonio's ex-
it! elnt th 60 vessels fitted out by France. It was not
I "rest Armada,
of Medina Sidonia, who commanded
.41
tantl,:due,,4_,atiel has been very imperfectly and irregu-
anla:lt'llrisi'Qu• That she should be little enlightened is
„qlit ''eclgC.ng ; that she should be deficient in ordinary
rdpktl6z''os rli's a mere corollary of her inadequate tutoring.
wikt altogether three months in the hands of
tinZ4tioe "se instruction was confined to her political
a sheynd under the guidance of Arguelles, to
the arld vas Previously entrusted, she was rather in-
-4E1i,.!4 ea, !'efraetory. About the court, they say that
attll4,,alY Cil„ei°lls, wilful, disinuilada ; and fibbing, an
s,nek'ructeristic of her age in young girls, is
tor41.1•"41)./':hliueer. verY much the contrary of being dis-
PrePel,i: last, three years she has been in constant
pare I..!nc with her mother, and inevitably thus
ae,l Y"th a strop 4,1 sz g
dislike f • the Progresistas, as a
t:
1_ wally 'weeny. It Was they who drove Cristina
'44t141):Z1a9 who have always thwarted that prin-
4e, liatt uttst tendencies. Never, therefore, et.uld
RlP'llea with affecti
tt,iste„ or of ona e respect to the lessons of
rant ; and • Olozaga, both of them eminent Pro-
'ft h who d In Espartero she could only see the
she iElf eprived her mother of the regency, and
,l'aß:tirallets °rPilan. Still, loting obliged to keep up
Ntfti and the entire power of the State being
%?, bt, 'Tarter
-nt 4 the -0, she was taught to be false and
attt4B te, force of circumstances, and trained by
tread her'''',lt• An intimate friend of the master who
cor;e(smpgoensdt,erwrote thinks concerning her in a
per be, atiel ,ce which 'I
should be sorry to
kiNit,net for' which I prefer imputing rather to the
1,114 initetnr:tion of character at her age, than to
I%l' Q"e eXtr ntly bad in her disposition."
kle, 1,14 acts are taken principally from the first
they furnish an imperfect view of the

work. The second volume is chiefly dedicated to a
description of " m n and manners" in Spain, and the
women are not forgotten. We have also graphic
accounts of the state of agriculture, smuggling, the
price of getting up a pronunciamento, and many
other peculiarities of that primitive and sirgular
people. Altogether it contains the best modern de-
scription of the country that we have seen, not even
",Inglis's Spain" excepted.
The author sums up his remarks with the following
conclusions, which we trust are well-founded :
"In the midst of all these broils and dissensions, and
in defiance of the turbulence of her sons, Spain is de-
cidedly and visibly advancing. The progress, to be sure,
is slow and feeble, but may be traced in every direction.
Material improvement develops itself in despite of r oli-
deal obstacles, comfort begins to be comprehended, and
faction cannot check the tendencies of the age. New
communications are opened, new roads constructed, oli
ones repaired and made more available to the commu-
nity ; minerals are' explored, and foundries establishel
for the melting of ores, with the aid of British skill and
capital ; the public vehicles are multiplied ; inns with
passable accommodations start up here at d there for the
first time in the lapse of centuries ; opposition on the
bustling road gives its spur to speculative enterprise.
The shipwright's cheerful sounds begin once more to
be heard, and the Guadalquivir is about to be made
navigable to Cordova. Happily, these are matters in which
governments have no coxcern, and the local Ayunta-
mieatos and Provincial Deputations in not a few quar-
ters make an honest and successful application of the
local taxes. New companies spring up for the working
of profitable mines, and fostering o manufacturing in-
dustry. An association has been formed for the devo
lopment of the colonial wealth of the Filippines ; im-
proved agricultural processes are likewise at intervals
introduce ; a system of telegraphs is about to be esta-
blished ; even a railway is mire than spoken of. No
roseate tints of fancy are added to this picture, but facts
are stated which prove what a mighty thing is national
vitality. The incumbent weight on the acanthus makes
it sprout into more fantastic shapes, but still the growth
is incessant ; and if scoundrels were not at the top of the
tree, the plant would wax tall and beautiful."

NAVAL AND MILITARY SKETCH BOOK.

fait 11.

This interesting periodical goes on with increased
spirit. The translation of Eugene Sue's interesting
r autical romance of " Atar Gull" is continued in the
present number, and is beaut fully illustrated. It is
to be regretted that the names of the artists are not
given. The sketch of Atar Gull and the Pirate is one
of the most spirited things we have ever seen. The
whole of the illustrations of this part are worthy of
the highest praise. Many of the nautical sketches
are nut inferior to the happiest effects of old Pocock,
that prince of marine painters, who painted not mere
fancy pictures of ships, but actual portraits of actual
crafts which had " braved the battle and the breeze,"
and carried "the meteor flag of England" in triumph
over every sea. The other service will in this Part
find also many of their gallant deeds illustrated by
the pencil of the artist. The sketch of the siege of
Cuidad Rodrigo would, if elaborated, become a fine
historical picture. Ihe time chosen is the march of
the forlorn hope to the attack of the breach ; the
subject is handled in a thoroughly artist-like manner,
and the varied expression of the countenances of the
soldiers in the foreground is beautifully given. The
effect of the whole is admirable. The literary contents
of this part are of a very varied character. We have
biographical sketches of officers of both sere ices, tales
of " moving accidents by flood and field," humorous
anecdotes, &c.; in short, there is something to suit
every taste; and if the Naval and Military Sketch
Book goes on as it has begun, we augur for it a
long and prosperous career.

REMARKS AND COMMENTS ON THE
MEDICAL AND CHEMICAL EVIDENCE
• ADDUCED AT THE TRIAL OF JOHN

TAWELL. By G. L. ,Ftrauss.

This is a pamphlet of most painful interest, and if
Mr. Strauss be right, a very heavy responsibility rests
upon the medical men on whose evidence a verdict of
guilty was returned against John Tawell. It struck
us from the beginning that the medical evidence
given before the Coroner was of a rather slovenly
character, and in this opinion we were borne out by
an article, which appeared shortly afterwards, in the
Medical Times. The contradictions in the medical
evidence, as given before the Coroner knd at the trial,
are most imoortant, and are thus pointed out by Mr.
Strauss :

Mr. Champneys stated before the Coroner, that not
the slightest trace of the peculiar odour of prussic acid was
perceptible during the post moi tem examination ; and,
probably, aware that the absence of this odour militates
most decisively against the supposition of free prussic
acid being present, he, as well as Mr. Norblad, endea-
voured to account for the absence of this odour by
assuming that cyanide of potassium might have been
adMinistered instead cf prussic acid ; this proposition,
however, is quite untenable, as these gentlemen them-
selves seem to have discovered afterwards, since at the
trial they made no mention what?ver of cyanide of po-
tassium. (Mr. Cooper had probably told them in the
meantime that cyanide of potassium in solution is rea-
dily decomposed, even by weak acids, such as carbonic
acid, with evolution of hydrocyanic acid ; and in the
stomach the cyanide encounters one of the strongest acid,
known to us—viz., hydrochloric acid.) Mr. Champneys,
however, mentioned to the Coroner that during the
examination he thought he smelt prussic acid, that be
made a remark to that effi ct to Mr. Norblad, who replied
that he perceived no smell. As this is a most important
point, I think it will be better to quote from the evidence
as taken down before the Ccroner

" Question—By a juryman—Would not the smell of
prussic acid be discovered if there was no other thing in
conjunction with it, to destroy that effect (smell) ?
" Mr. Champneys—lt was very unuival not smelling
the prussic acid, but I mentioned during the examina-
tion that I thought I smelt prussic acid, but Mr. Norblad
did not think he did, and afterwards, on opening the
stomach, I did not think I did at all.
" The Coroner—Then you abandoned that idea of
smelling at all ?
" Mr. Champneys—Yes, Sir.
" Mr. Norblad likewise stated before the Coroner that
there was no smell of prussic acid perceptible.
" At the trial, however, Mr. Champney asserts most
positively that he in reality smelt prussic acid immedi-
ately upon opening the body, and that he mentioned
something to that effect to Mr. Pickering (before the
Coroner it was to Mr. Norblad), that this was not a
mere passing conjecture of his, but a fact, of the reality
of which he was most positive. In cross-examination
he stated that neither Mr. Pickering nor Mr. Norblad
did smell it; and that he himself did not perceive it
after having opened the stomach. Mr. Pickering, on his
part, asserts that it was upon making the first incision in
the stomach of deceased that Mr. Champnes called his
attention to the smell, and that he himself did perceive
the smell of prussic acid. Here we have more contra-
dictions and discrepancies than would be considered quite
sufficient to overthrow the evidence of witnesses in any
common case.

" Mr. Champneys positively contradicts himself. Be-
fore the Coroner he admits that he simply fancied he
smelt prussic acid, and tells the Coroner that he aban-
doned that idea subsequently altogether; at the trial, this
passing conjecture having had two months' time to grow,
had ripened into positive certainty.
" This assertion of Messrs. Champneys and Pickering
was laid hold of by Mr. Baron Parke in bis very impar-
tial summing up, in order to prove that the prussic acid
existed as such in the stomach previously to the con-
tents of the stomach being subjected to digestion in the
sand and water baths. It is this assertion which has
most materially contributed to decide the issue of the
trial; and yet it would have been so easy to confute it,
simply by pointing out the discrepancies and contradic-
tions which appear on the face of the evidence on this
point."
Now, if these gentlemen really smelt prussic acid,
how comes it that tests were applied in the first in-
stance, to discover oxalic acid, vitriolic acid, in fact.,
every conceivable poison but prussic acid ? How
comes it that neither of these gentlemen who smelt
prussic acid on opening the body, mentioned the fact
to Mr. Cooper, for—
" F rom Mr. Cooper's own evidence, it appears that he
himself was the first to hint at a suspicion that prussic
acid might be present—' Well, if this woman has taken
poison, it can be no other than prussic acid :' these are
Mr. Cooper's own words, as given in cross-examination."
Besides, as Mr. Strauss very properly remarks in a
note—

" Had Messieurs Champneys and Pickering really
smelt prussic acid, they would have continued to smell
it. Do these gentlemen imagine that a definite minute
proportion of odour enters into the composition of prussic
acid? Perhaps the acid in this case retained only suffi-
cient to give a taste of it to two noses—which supposi-
tion would at once satisfactorily account for Mr. Nor-
blad's inability to smell it."
Then, as to the quantity discovered. Mr. Cooper
found only one grain in the contents of the stomach.
Mr. Strauss says—
" I myself have taken as much as three drops of pure
anhydrous prussic acid—(equivalent to about 2'l grains)
—of course largely diluted with water, without feeling
any very considerable inconvenience ; and if Mr. Nor-
Mad will read Liebig's lectures on Organic Chemistry'
(Lanai), he will find that a cat can stand, without in-
convenience, from two to three drops of anhydrous
prussic acid, diluted with from four to six ounces of
water." _ _

" I may venture to assert, that one grain of prussic
acid introduced into the digestive apparatus in a high
state of dilution, will not be sufficient to destroy life.
Messrs. Champneys, Norblad, and Pickering, and also
Mr. Cooper and Mr. BarOn Parke, however, deem even
less than one grain quite sufficient to cause death. On
this point these gentlemen take their stand, more parti-
cularly upon the case of the seven epileptic patients in
one of the hospitals at Paris, who are reported in Eng-
lish on the subject of poisoning by prussic acid,
to have-died from. so small a dose as 7-intim of one grain
of this deleterious substance. New this is a most egre-
gious blunder, occasioned probably by con7ounding the
medicinal acid of France with that of Scheele."

" The physician who treated the seven patients in
question, presciihed eleven grammes fifty centigrammes
of hydr cyanic sirup, which he intended to be prepared
according to Magendie's formula.

---41 ad—the sirup been prepared according to the phy-
sician's intention, every one of the seven patients would
in the 172 grains of hydrocyanic sirup which were ad.
ministered to him. have received only one grain and one-
third of absolute acid. But having been prepared by
mistake, accordingio the formula of the old codex, the

amount of pure and absolute prussic acid administered
to each of the patients, was two grains and one-fourth,
on the most moderate calculation, i. e. if the acid au
sixieme was used; if the acid au tvisien,e was used, the
quan:ity of pure acid amounttd to six grains for every
patient."
" Can there be a grosser blunder than this ? And
yet it is upon such at.d similar (ex ut,o discs, °nines)
authority, that a fellow-creature is about being con-
signed to an ignominious death I. I.
" It is by such evidence and such authorities that one
of the most clear-headed judg(:s of the land has allowed
himFelf to be completely misguided."
The highest authority in Toxicological science is
undoubtedly M. Orfila, and—
" M. Orfiat states in his celebrated work on Toxico-
logy, that the mere detection of prussic acid in the di-
g( save apparatus, or in matter rejected.by vomiting, does
most decidedly not entitle the Physician and chemist,
charged with medico legal investigations in cases of
snspicicus death, to affirm that this acid has h. en in
reality administered to the subject of the investigation.
Prussic acid is formed in serne cases in the animal
organismus, even though the individuals offering this
phenomenon be in a state of perfect health. It is a
well-known fact, that the perspiration of some per
fectly healthy individuals exhales the peculiar odour
of hydrocyanic acid, and sulphocyanide of potassium has
been detected in the saliva, by Tiedetnaun and Gmelin.
Moreover it would be very absurd indeed to deny that
prussic acid may be formed in the dec )mposition and
putrefaction of organic matter, just as likely as ammonia,
acetic acid, and other similar compounds, to the forma-
tion of which the simple decomposition of organic
matter gives rise. Bitter almonds and pomaceous seeds
may be present in the stomach, and subsequently upon
the distillation of its contents, yield hydrocyanic acid.
Ferrocyanide of potassium is a perfectly innocuous
substance ; this may by chance have been partaken
of ; (as is frequently the case in manufactures of fer-
rocyanide of potassium—vide Liebig's Lectures on
Organic Chemistry, in the Lanett.) ; and would, of
course, urn distillation, yield a consideralA amount of
prussic acid.
"In the year 1841, M. Orfila,was called in to refute
the evidence of two physicians and four chemists, in a
case of suspicious death. The physicians and chemists
in question asserted most positively that a certain Mon-
sieur Pralet, procureur at Chambery, had died from the
effects of prusSic acid. M. Orfila proved, however, most
clearly and satisfactorily, that M. Pralet died from apo-
plexy, and not from prussic acid.
" According to M. Orfila, the detection of prussic
acid in the digestive apparatus, &c., assumes the value
of positive evidence, only in such cases where the sub-
ject of the investigation, has exhibited previously to his
or her death the characteristic symptoms which are con-
stantly attendant upon poisoning by prussic acid, and
where the post mortem examination reveals the patho-
logical alterations produced by the action of this delete-
rious substance upon the animal organismus."

Now, were these symptoms observed in the case of
Sarah Hart ?

" Mr. Champneys states that he smelt at the mouth
of deceased, and that he could not perceive any odour of
prussic acid. Had prussic acid been administered, he
must have smelt it, especially as the quantity must have
been considerable enough to cause death within from ten
to fifteen minutes. He, moreover, states that her, eyes
were fixed; he dues not mention a word of that peculiar
brilliancy of the eye which is generally considered one
of the characteristic symptoms of poisoning by prussic
acid, and which persists even for a considerable time
after death. I myself have seen three cases of poisoning
by hydrocyaric acid, and this symptom existed in every
one of them. With regard to the repeated screaming of
deceased, I will admit that this would not very much
militate against poisoning by prussic acid, since its re-
sults from Coullon's experiments that animals poisoned
by prussic acid scream repeatedly (luring the second pe-
riod of the action of the acid. It is, however, gene-
rally held, that after, or rather with that peculiar shriek
usually emitted by persons poisoned with prussic acid,
and which has not improperly been termed " death-
scream," all power of volition ceases, and complete insen-
sibility supervenes.
" The absence of the peculiar odour of prussic acid
militates, however, most strongly against the supposition
of poisoning by this deleterious substance. Mr. Champ-
neys, as well as Mr. Norblad, seem, indeed, to have felt
this difficulty—at least they endeavoured, before the
Coroner, to account for the absence of the characteristic
odour of prussic acid.
" The brain is found in a perfectly healthy state ;
the lungs are found perfectly healthy (this statement,
however, Mr. Champneys modified at the trial, inas-
much as he asserted, in cross-examination, that he found
them slightly congested), with the exception of some
old adhesions of long standing ; the stomach and the
abdominal viscera likewise are found to be perfectly
healthy, though rather fat : the internal surface of the
coat of the stomach is found to be covered with more
mucous than is usually the case, anditscontents are found
to manifest an acid reaction. There is nothing whatso-
ever to indicate the action of a poison. The acid reac-
tion of the contents of the stomach is owing, as is now
generally_ admitted by chemists and physiologists, to the
presence of free hydrocloric acid in the gastric juice.
" Not one single pathological alteration is found in
the brain, nor in the heart and lungs, stomach and ab-
dominal viscera of deceased; however Messieurs Champ-
neys, Norblad, and Pickering seem to have settled to
their own perfect satisfaction, that some poison or other
must have been administered, the notion that deceased
might have died from natural causes seems to have been
scouted altogether and unanimously by these gentlemen.
This point being thus satisfaetority settled, there re-
mained simply one slight difficulty, viz., to find out what
kind of pulavii bad beets tultialmlocereil LO Cteceuatd.
" All they know is, that death has ensued suddenly,
and that the contents of the stomach are acid. It is
upon these very slight indices that Mr. Norblad comes at
once to the conclusion that oxalic acid has been the
cause of death ! in which opinion his colleagues seem to
have joined at once, since it results from Mr. Cooper's
evidence, that the contents of the stomach were tested in
the first instance for oxalic acid. Now, it is very true
that oxalic acid causes death, in some instances, almost
as rapidly as prussic acid, especially when the acid is
dissolved in a copious amount of water, so as to facilitate
and accelerate its absorption ; it is true, moreover, that in
such instances no remarkable alteration is observed in the
brain nor in the abdominal viscera ; but the lungs exhibit
a number of spots of a lively red tint, and the blood is
either black in the two vasculary systems, or the venous
blood is black, and the arterial blood of a vermilion tint.
Nothing of the kind was observed in Sarah Hart's case,
and yet Mr. Norblad actually stated at the trial (in
cross-examination) that he firmly believed deceased died
from the effects of oxalic acid, until he saw the special
test for this acid fail detecting it."

They did not examine the bronchial tubes—they
did not examine the spinal chord, and they say no-
thing as to the appearance of the blood.
" We are therefore justified in assuming that the ap-
pearance of the blood was perfectly natural, and this
natural appearance of the blood militates altogether
against the supposition that death was caused in this in-
stance by prussic acid."
When Mr. Champneys was first called in he at once
determines that his patient has been poisoned.
" Having made up Lis mind upon this point, he pro-
ceeds, about three minutes after the death of deceased, to
open one of her veins—not as he very naively stated be-
fore the coroner, with a view to bring her back to life,
but in order to ascertain the cause of her death from the
state and appearance of her blood. How this object
could be accomplished, I must confess I am altogether at
a logs to divine. At the trial, indeed, Mr. Champneys,
who has then had two months' leisure to find out the
absurdity of such a proceeding, declares that he bled de-
ceased simply in order to satisfy the parties present that
nothing was left undone ; but this after-statement has
surely not the pow::r to annul the deliberate statement
made before the coroner. This part of the evidence is
very wavering and contradictory in every respect. Mrs.
Ashley, for instance, stated before the coroner, that de-
ceased died immediately after Mr. Champneys' attempt
at bleeding her, whilst at the trial she asserts most po-
sitively that deceased was dead when Mr. Champneys
bled her. If deceased was really still alive, bleeding,
under the peculiar circumstances of the case, was highly
improper, and could only tend to accelerate death.
_ _

:‘ The fact, perhaps, is, that Mr. Chapppneys fancied at
the time, he had to deal with a case of cerebral conges-
tion, or of apoplexy, and that Meeding would restore
animation."

With regard to the cause of death, Mr. Strauss
says :
" It is my most conscientious conviction that Sarah
Hart died from natural causes. It is of course quite
out of my power to point out the precise cause of her
sudden death. I neither witnessed the symptoms exhi-
bited by her during the few minutes immediately pre-
ceding the extinction of life, nor have I seen her body
after death. It would perhaps have been easy to come
to a correct conclusion on this point, had the post mor-
tem examination been made by men of sterling science;
however, as it is, the cause ,of death will probably re-
main shrouded in mystery.
" My conviction that prussic acid had nothing what-
ever to do with the poor woman's death, is based chiefly
and principally upon the absence of some of those symp-
toms which my own experience (limited as it is) has
taught me to expect invariably in cases of poisoning by
this acid; and moreover upon the total and complete
absence of any of the pathological alterations which I
should invariably expect, at least in all cases where the
acid has not destroyed life instantaneously, but after the
lapse of a few minutes or so. In all cases of poisoning
by prussic acid, without exception, the venous system is
found gorged with very fluid blood of a dark violet or
black tint ; the liver is gorged with blood of black
colour. The brain is in most cases overgorged with
blood, which in many instances is found to have extra-
vasated ; the lungs are almost invariably gorged with
blood of a deep violet or black colour ; the oesophagus,
stomach, and intestines are generally in a state of greater
or le ser inflammation, &c. &c. &c. Of all .these indica-
tions of the action of prussic acid, we have none in this
instance. II nv is it possible that any professional man,
possessed of the slightest knowledge of his art, can, in
the face of these facts, come to the conclusion that the
death of Sarah Hart is chargeable upon prussic acid ;
simply because some prussic ucid was obtained by dis-
tilling the contents of her stomach ?"
Ile thus concludes

I have now arrived at the conclusion of my remarks.
I beg it to be distinctly understood that I do not know
Mr. Ta,well, and that I am induced to step forward in
his defence, solely because I believe him innocent of the
crime imputed to him.
" In conclusion, I beg to propose two simple ques-
tions :

" 1. If the facts and allegations averred by me are
true (and I challenge the strictest inquiry into their
correctness)—will any impartial and unprejudiced man
be bold enough to assert that Mr. Tawell hal a fair
trial, and that he has been condemned oil irid!!biteil4
conclusive evidence ?