The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-20 00:00:00

GROSS INSTANCE OF INTEM.

PERANCE AND NEGLECT.

It would, perhaps, be difficult to discover a stronger
instance of the shocking effects of habitual intemperance,
than has been afforded by an inquiry instituted on Mon-
day and Tuesday last week, at an inquest held by A.
B. Bone, Esq., Coroner of Devenport. It having come to
that gentleman's knowledge, that reports were in circu-
lation to the effect that a pauper, named Holmes, living
in the neighbourhood of Cornwall-street, had died, not
precisely by foul means, but through want and- neglect,
so deplorable as to be criminal, Mr. Bone, very properly
issued an order for the exhumation of the body of the
deceased, with a view to the investigation of the real
causes of death. The remains of the deceased were
accordingly disinterred, aad a post mortem exami-
nation having taken place, a jury was impannelled
to hear the evidence adduced, and from which it appeared
that the deceased was a very old man, residing in the top
room of a house in Cornwall-street. On Friday, the 26th
ult., a woman in a state of intoxication brought an overseer's
order for medical attendance on Holmes, to the residence of
Mr. J. Bennett, one of the parish surgeons. Mr. Bennett was
from home on professional business at the time, but having
returned about two hours afterwards, he immediately visited
the patient. He found Holmes lying on a bed placed on the
floor, suffering from an apoplectic seizure, speechless, helpless,
very much emaciated, dreadfully pale, and evidently beyond
hope of recovery. There was no one present, no furniture
except a chair and table, the latter of which was turned up
and placed across the foot of the wretched bed to protect the
unfortunate man from the draught of the door, and the room
was also destitute of food, drink, and fire. Mr. Bennett
made inquiries to ascertain if the man had friends, and
was told that he had a wife, but she was from home. One
of the inmates of the house offered to go and fetch the wife,
and in a few minutes after returned with her—she was
shockingly drunk. Mr. Bennett upbraided the wretched
creature for her culpable neglect; and apparently succeeded
in awaking feelings of remorse, for she went down on her
knees by the bed-side, spoke to the
.poor sufferer in tones
of affection, and manifected a desire to ameliorate his
unhappy condition. Medicine and food were immediately
supplied for the relief of Holmes, and Mr. Bennett
regularly visited him, but it would appear that the amend-
ment was but transient, for the wretched husband was left
alone, unwatched, unattended, and unable to help himself
from the Friday until the Tuesday following, the 30th ult.,
when death terminated his miserable existence. The jury,
after a careful investigation, returned the following verdict :
" That the deceased died from apoplexy, but whether his
death was caused by the gross neglect of his wife, or by na-
tural causes, they could not from the evidence determine." '
Another lamentable feature in connection with this case was
the awfully sudden death of an old woman who was employed
to perform the sad office of preparing the body of the deceased
for interment. Like the old man's wife, she also was a drunk-
ard, and whilst occupied in the duty for which she was en-
gaged, she left the bed-room for the purpose of procuring a
stimulant, on returning with which she fell over the stairs,
broke her neck, and was laid dead by the side of the body
she had a few minutes previously prepared for burial !
West 737 iton.

LAW COSTS.—At the Bieester Petty-sessions, a
few days since, Sarah Tombs, a poor woman of Weston-on-
the-Green, was charged by a looker-out on the estate of the
Hon. P. Bertie, with having, when in search of nuts in a wood
at Chesterton, damaged the above gentleman's property to
the amount of one penny. She was ordered to pay one penny
fine, and the clerk's expenses, 4s. She was allowed seven
days to pay it in. At the expiration of that time she ap-
peared with 2s. towards the amount. This she said she had
borrowed, and she hoped " the gentlemen " would not ins'st
on the other 2s. being paid, for she did not know how to get
it. She was told she must pay, but seven days more would
be allowed her to do so.
DEER-STALKING.—Lady Seymour is at Achan-
Carry, enjoying the noble and healthful sport of deer.stalking. A
few days ago her ladyship took down a splendid stag.
Several suggestions are abroad as to the most ap-
propriate mode of disposing of the Hudson Testimonial F und. We
feel, however, that it is a question rather for Mr. Hudson and the
Committee generally than for discussion in the public prints.
Besides, as yet, it is impossible to estimate the ultimate amount,
which already approaches 20,000L—Sunderland Times.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A LADY OF FORTUNE.—An
inquest was held on Friday, at the Ship Tavern, Charing-cross, on
the body of Mrs. Louisa Webster Seahouse, aged sixty-five years,
a lady of fortune, lately living at the above hotel. The deceased
had been residing with a relation at the hotel for nearly five years.
She was exceedingly eccentric, and latterly had refused to have
medical advice, although she was at times very ill. She would
only allow one person to wait on her. She scarcely ever had any
regular meals, but lived upon milk, arrow root, &c. On
Wednesday she was attacked with violent coughing; a medical
man was then called in by her attendant, but she was evidently
sinking from the effects of suffocation. Tl e surgeon prescribed
for her, but she died in half an hour after from a long standing
disease of the lungs, which was the cause of death.—Verdict ac-
cordingly.
The deputation from the directors of the Isle of
Jersey Railway and Pier Company left the island for London this
morning.—Jersey Times, Oct. 14.
M. Thiers arrived at Mivart's Hotel, on Friday
morning, from visiting the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne,
at Bowood Park, Wilts, and in the afternoon left town, accompanied
by Count Walewski, for the Grange, Hampshire, to pass a few days
with Lord and Lady Ashburton.
DEATH OF TIIE NEW GOVERNOR OF THE NAVAL
KNIGHTS or WlNDSOR.—Lieutenant Robert Carter, who succeeded
to the Governorship of the Naval Knights of Windsor, upon the
death of Lieutenant Charles Carter, which took place on the let
inst., expired at Exeter, where he had been staying upon a visit to
his relatives on Tuesday last. The deceased, whose commission
is dated August 14, 1801, was midshipman of the Royal George, in
Lord Bridport's action in 1795, and the Mermaid, in her gallant
action with the French frigate Loire in 1798, and was lieutenant
of the Swiftsure at the battle of Trafalgar. Lieut. Okes, brother to
the lower master at Eton College, who is the next senior Naval
Knight, according to the date of his commission, will be the new
Governor.

The majority of the chemists and druggists in
Newcastle-upon. Tyne have, in compliance with a memorial from
their shopmen and apprentices, resolved to close their places of
business at seven in the evening, instead of eight, as heretofore.--
Sunderland Times.
Railways made of wood were first used in North-
umberland about the year 1633, and made of iron at Whitehaven
in 1738. The first iron railroad was laid down at Coalbrook-dale
in 1786. Steam power to convey coals on a railway was first em-
ployed by Blenkinsop, at Hunslet, near Leeds, and afterwards on the
Stockton and Darlington Bailiray.
DEPARTURE OF MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. 17.
—The Royal West India steam-packet, the Trent, Captain Boxer,
went out of dock at three p.m., carrying the West India and other
mails, also 100 passengers, and extremely full cargo. The Queen,
Captain Russell, one of the Peninsular Company's steamers, also
left the docks this day for Gibraltar, with the Gibraltar, Penin-
sular, and Corunna mails, a full cargo of goods, and the usual
number of passengers. The Clyde, Captain Symons, will take out
the next Mexican and West India mails on the 2d Nov. She is
expected to take 170 passengers. The Oriental Company's steam •
ship Duke of Cornwall, Captain -Mills, will leave this port on the
3d, with the East India and China mails. The next West India
homeward mails will be due on Sunday.
MUNIFICENT DONATION.—The committee of the
Church Building Society have just received the munificent sum of
500 guineas, from " H. C. T.," .as a donation in aid of the Incor-
porated Society for Promoting the Enlargement, &c., of Churches
ai,d Chapels.

LOVE AND SUICIDE.--On Tuesday last, a young
man, named John Lang, a groom. to J. Whipple, Esq., surgeon, of
No. 14, Devonshire-terrace, Plymouth, committed suicide by
hanging himself. The deceased„ 'who is aged about 17, has been
in the employ of Mr. Whipple rdiout two months, was generally of
a very cheerful disposition, and was greatly in favour with his
master. On Sunday he went into the country, for the purpose, as
he said, of visiting his father. when he had an interview with a
girl named Sarah Kellan, whom he was ardently attached to, and
with when, he had passed most of his boyish days. He returned
. in the evening, but a particular alteration was observed in his con-
duct. He would frequently mention the young girl's name, and
on one occasion expressed to the cook, who was also called Sarah,
his fondness for that name. On Tuesday evening he was
missing for some hours, the time having passed over when he
usually fed his master's horses, a man named. Taylor was sent
for to do that work. In getting some hay, Taylor had to pass
the room in which the deceased slept, and he endeavoured to
open the door. It, however, appeared to be fastened, and on his
forcing it open he saw the deceased hanging from one of the beams.
He immediately cut him down, and called for assistance, but the
poor fellow was perfectly lifeless, and had apparently been dead
some hours. On his bed was found a letter marked on the top
with an A, and written on seve cal pieces of paper folded in the
form of a book; it was written vet 7 imperfectly, and contained no
date ; it was as follows ;—" Dear tia-rah—These few short lines corns
to with my kind Love to you and', j hope you will never marry no
other. So farewell to you and all brothers and sisters all I have I
give to Sarah Kellen and Mr. Skepeard, Boughton, Ermington,
Devon (in the name of the Lierdl• so do). Its nothing but my
Sarah•s crossness that had mad nup. dq this thing but I hope that
the Lord will forgive at the risaog• of the dead so wicked world
forgive me.—Yours, .1. M. LANG.I' 'A Church of England prayer
book, with a leaf turned down at theitl2d Psalm, was also found
in the room. An inquest was 'held 'Off the body yesterday, when
the Jury returned a verdict of " • Temporary insanity." Plymouth
Journal.

DR. PEDME.--It is with
DEATH OF THE REV.
sentiments of deep respectful regret that we announce the decease
of one of the oldest and most esteemed of our ixens, the Rev.
James D.D., senior minister of the United
Con-
gregation, Bristo-street, in the if Tth year Of his age
ministry. For the two last years. Dr. P. has beenand
laid 63d of his
ministered
aside. from
Associate
public duty by infirmity, but for 61 years he regularly
with unabated acceptance to one of the largest congregations
this city. He took an active part in conducting the affairs ofthine
large religious denomination of which he was so distinguished a
member, and was a most efficient supporter of all our great religious
and benevolent institutions. The original powers of his mind were
of a superior order, characterised by soundness, comprehensiveness,
and energy; his attainments as a scholar and theologian were extensive
and accurate; his character as a 'Christian was exemplary in all tile
relations of life; and his conduct as a pastor so faithful and wise as
to secure for him in an uncommon degree and to the end the
reverence and affection of his numerous flock. He was by much
the oldest of our city ministers, and with the exception of two
clergymen of the Episcopal persuasion, was, we believe, the oldest
minister in Scotland of any denomination. Few men have ever
sustained for so long a time so high a reputation for worth and
wisdom, and carried its honours so untarnished to the grave. Dr.
Peddie's death took place on Saturday, f.t half-past eleven in the
forenoon, at Laverock Bank House, Trinity, where for some rime
he tad been residing for the benefit of his health. His funeral, we
understand, is to take place on Friday, to the Edinburgh cemetery
at Warriston.—Scotsrnan .

The Government has at length commenced the im-
provement of the harbour of Harwich, for which desirable object a
Parliamentary grant was made last eession. This has been promptly

followed up by the formation of a Dock and Railway Company,

which we observe has for Ste object the making of suitable docks

at Harwich, so as to adapt that port for the tr;ffic which the ex.
tension of the proposed line of railway into the centre of England,

and its connexion with the great trunk lines will necessarily demand,
We understand the plans for the docks are those of Mr. Walker, the
engineer, whose eminent name is a sure guarantee that the wet ks will
be of such a character as will ere long render Harwich from its

favourable situation an important station for the mail packets, as

well as a depot for our owl' manufactures as also for the imports of

northern and central Europe. We cannot but congratulate the in-
habitants of Harwich upon the prospects, before them, nor can we

pass over the advantage which must accrue to the Eastern Counties

REilway Company, when they shall find what will be, in effect, one

of their termini converted from a small fishing town with a ne.
glected harbour, into a Government port, with Government and
trading vessels, and docks to contain them.—Bailwny Times.

DEATH OF THE REV. DR. BAGGS, CATHOLIC VICAR
APOSTOLIC OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT.—Died, at Prior Park,
on the 16th, the Right Rev. Dr. Charles Michael Baggs, Ca-
tholic Vicar Apostolic of this Western District. He was born

in Dublin on 21st May, 1806. After studying at Rome, his
virtues, talents, acquirements, and urbanity of manners, re-
commended him as the fittest person to succeed Dr. Wiseman
in the government of the Eng'ish College there, and he
proved himself a general favourite, especially with our gentry
who visited that city. On the death of Bishop Baines, he
was appointed his successor in this district ; but did not reach
Prior Park until 30th May last year. His useful career has
been suddenly arrested, to the deep regret of all who know
hunt but 1* end was in peace... Frowns Timm