The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-10 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

NEWBURY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9.—This morn-
ng at eleven o'clock a commission de lunatico

inquirendo' was opened in conformity with the
terms of the Act passed in the last session of Par-
liament, before Mr. Commissioner Winslow, at the
George Inn, in this town, to inquire into the state of
mind and the capacity to manage and conduct her
own affairs of Miss Mary Jones, a maiden lady, aged
42 years of age, who it was stated was possessed of
property of not less value than 20,0001. The case
excited considerable interest in the town and neigh-
bourhood.

e Learned
vorftnhietteldhi
sjtChucihrmi,.l:
Mr. Montagu Smith, the barrister, appeared in
support of the commission, which was unopposed en
the part of the unfortunate subject of the inquiry. Of
24 gentlemen who had been summoned to serve upon
the Jury, the following 15 answered to their names,
and were sworn :—Mr. E. S. Gale, foreman ; Mr.
Hall, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Darling, Mr. Goddard,
iaeleswtselh stated that under the recent
NehEad:esaiirielrdiogpthhetna
that
no
Missgb
e the
present
Mr. Herbert, Mr. Austin, Mr. James Tanner, Mr.
Richard Lovelock, Mr. Forster, Mr. Woodruffe, Mr.
Thatcher, Mr. Saw, Mr. Greaves, and Mr. Mills.
statute it was provided that the individual to whom
pro-
ceedingsT
the incapacity of lunacy was sought to be attached by
during the examination of all the witnesses who might
Jones
sbahenociunal er.yintroduced.

The unfortunate lady was accordingly conducted
into the room. She presented a very ladylike ap-
pearance, and manifested great self-possession. On
taking her seat near to the Learned Commissioner,
she was addressed by him as " Miss Jones," to which
she immediately relied,v " No, no, not Miss Jones,
but Mrs. Althorp ; ' thus exhibiting the delusion
under which she laboured—namely, that of imagin-
ing she was a married woman. In answer to ques-

tions put to her by ihe Learned Commissioner; she
replied, that she had been married in the heavenly
bower ; that the house she had lived in was her own,
hut that the Almighty had taken it away, and that
Miss Jones had departed in the year 1824, and that
she was now Mrs. Althorp. When told the nature
of the inquiry, and asked if she had any objection
to make to it, she replied, " Oh, no ; all or none ; all
or none."
Mr. M. Smith, in opening the case to the Jury,
detailed various acts which exhibited the existence of
manifest delusion in the mind of the unfortunate lady,
especially that which had been shown to the Jury by
the examination of Miss Jones herself, viz., the delu-
sion that she was a married woman.

The evidence which was adduced in support of the
Commission went back as far as the year 1831, and
was given by Miss Clarke and Miss Baskerville, in
whose scholastic establishments Miss Jones had been
educated ; by Mrs. Baggs, in whose care she had
been for a number of years ; by Mr. Stephen Hem-
stead, surgeon of this town • and by Dr. Monro.
During the examination of Mrs.: Baggs, the object of
the inquiry anticipated that lady's answer to every
question propounded, either by the Learned Commis-
which
w
sioner or by the Court, and manifested an astuteness
and shrewdness that surprised all the Court. So
much did it interfere with the witnesss's self-possession
that she appealed to the Court. and stated it would be
impossible for her to go on in Miss Jones's presence, as
all she said she should hear of from her again. By direc-
tion of the Court Miss Jones was removed in the care of
Mern.
tot m
makesth d
the and
eastheebeelodnendeedooufbMt,rsw.
mßaggs,
completed.
On the close of the examination of all the witnesses,
ea
Miss Jones was re-introduced, and the evidence which
had been taken was carefully and minutely read oyer
to her. The only reply she made was a repetition of
the expression " All or none." After her again re-
tiring from the Court,
The Learned COMMISSIONER observed, that the
case was so clear, not only from the evidence which
had been adduced in support of the Commission, but
from the conduct and demeanour of the unfortunate
lady herself before the Court, that it was scarcely ne-
cessary for him to address or recapitulate the evidence
to the intelligent gentlemen who composed the Jury.
With them, however, the verdict rested.
The Jury, after a very brief consultation, returned

s- ~-.~

a verdict to the etecf, that Miss Mary Jones was
unsound mind and incapable of managing her o
affairs, and they further found, that she had labor;
under that unsoundness of mind and incapacity sii
the month of March, 1841.
At the termination of the pmceedings, which las
until past two o'clock, Miss Jones was removed
Mrs. Boggs to the residence of the latier at Gre
ham, near this town.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB.'
The forty-second Anniversary of the above Soc
was held last evening, at the Freeniasons' Tax
Great Queen-street, Earl Spencer in the chair.
The attendance, although not so numerous as
some former occasions, included a large numbe
noblemen and gentlemen, well known a 3 experime
agriculturists. Among those present were—His GI
the Duke of Richmond, Lord Louie Lord Mo
eagle, the llon. Messrs. Lymington, Nugent, Wils,
Hon. Captain Spencer; Messrs. Piney, M.P., Bene
M.P., Colonel Wood, of Littleton' &c., &c.
The cloth having been removed, the usual loy
toasts were drank with all the honours, after which
The CHAIRMAN said the exhibition for the preset
year was better than any he recolleccted. TI:
number of animals was greater than usual, althoug
some were certainly of an inferior description. H
had no hesitation in saying, that he remembere
shows in Smithfield in which the chief prizes wont
have been carried, off by third-rate animals in th(
present exhibition. The size of the animal was not
the only thing to be looked to—the supply of the
market with the cheapest and best meat was the main
object.—(Hear, hear.) It was a mistake for persons
to inquire " What is the use of bringing such ex-
tretnely fat animals to market ?" They were a test of
what could be done with that particular class of oxen
with ordinary feeding. There were animals whini*
he woulddefy any grazier in England to render pro-
fitable' either to themselves or the butcher. The
Noble Lord, in conclusion, proposed " Success to the
Smithfield Club."
The toast was responded to with immense applause.
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to distribute the
various prizes awarded by the judges, and severally
proposed the health of the successful competitors in
each class, most of wiom returned thanks.
The Duke of RICHMOND then rose to propose, "The
health of the Chairman of the Smithfield Club," and
said, that when their Society was at its lowest ebb,
the Noble Lord had come forward, and by his influ-
ence and example amongst the agriculturists had led
them to see the great importance of this Association
to the country. The Noble Lord was a practical
agriculturist, and, what in his opinion was far more
valuable, an honest and honourable man.—(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with three times three, and
one cheer more.
,The CHAIIMAN said he had always considered it of
the greatest importance to the welfare of the country,
that Associations like that which they were assembled
to support should flourish, and, therefore, he had
felt it a duty at the period to which the Noble
Duke alluded to accept the office of President of
their Society. Undoubtedly, one motive which bad
actuated him was his attachment to agricultural pur-
suits. He thought the discussion of practical topics
among farmers was of great impoyance, and he had
always done his best to promote it. It was gratifying
to find that the Society had been progressively im-
proving year after year. Formerly they bad to de-
pend on casual receipts for the prizes of the following
year, but now they were always in advance.
lie could
say for himself, that so long as he had hellth and
strength, he would always devote himself to their
service. It was true that he was not getting youskjers
and must look forward to a diminution of vigour;
as. long as he could exert himself in their behalf hes
would do so. He considered it the duty of every
farmer in the country to visit their annual exhibition,,
in order that they might learn the most useful breeds.
of cattle. He could answer for one, that graliers
often thought their cattle very good until they saw the
animals against which they had to compete. He Ws
satisfied with the decisions, although he should cer-
tainly have preferred being a successful candidate him-.
self.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lord thanked the zeeet-

ing for'the enthusiasm with which they had. received
his health ; and subsequently, in an eloquent addr.c.ss,
proposed " The Health of the Duke of Richmond,"
which was drunk with great applause.
The Duke of RICHMOND begged to thank them for
the kind manner in which his name had been received.
It was true that on the present occasion he was an
unsuccessful candidate ; but he bowed with the greatest
deference to the opinion of the judges, who had a most
arduous and difficult task to rform. He thought he
had good sheep, and he had brought the best of his
flock ; but, notwithstanding this, he had been unsuc-
cessful. It was by the friendly conflict excited by
the Society that ithad become so flourishing. Its mem-
bers were distributed all over the country, and were
men whose grand principle was the improvement of
agriculture. Among the numerous advantages which
have resulted to the country by the establishment of
agricultural societies, one of the most prominent was,
the union which it brought about between landlord
and tenant; and, for himself, he had always thought
that where the interests of the two classes were one
and the same, it never could be intended that they
should be other than the firmest friends. Men in
every situation of life had certain duties to perform
for which they were responsible to their fellow men,
and also to the great Creator of the universe; and he
knew of none more important to an Englishman than
that of improving to the utmost of his power the agri-
culture of the country, upon which was based the
welfare and independence of millions of our fellow-
subjects. There was a duty which the landowner
owed to his country, and that was to promote the
comfort and prosperity of his tenantry. lie would
say that no man could be more anxious to promote
improved agriculture than he was, and he should ever
be ready to lend his aid in the service of the Society.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the
Honorary Secretary, Mr. Humphrey Gibbs, who re-
turned thanks in an eloquent and appropriate address.
The Duke of RICHMOND proposed the health of
Earl Dude, who was both a farmer and a manufac-•
turer. He trusted the Noble Earl would never forget
when he was selling his agricultural implements that
he was also a practical farmer.—(Laughter.)
Earl DUCIE said the Noble Duke had alluded to
him in the twofold capacity of manufacturer and agri.
culturist. In reply to the observation he could only
say, that we manufacturers must live as well as we
farmers. He trusted that competition would reduce
the price of all manufactures, and, in conclusion,
thanked the meeting for the honour they had con-
ferred upon him.

The CHAIRMAN next gave, " The Earl of Hard-
wicke and the Royal English Agricultural Society."
" Success to the manufactures and commerce of the
country," was then given, and succeeded by several
other appropriate toasts, after which the meeting se-
parated.

STATE OF TRADE—LIVERPOOL.—Money is rather
more in demand. During the last month about
500,000 sovereigns have been shipped to the United
States, at the same time gold has arrived in mode-
rate quantities from the Continent. There has not
been much business done in the corn market, and
prices have not varied. The superabundant crop, and
heavy stocks at home, keep the markets well supplied
with cotton, the demand remaining very moderath,
and prices much the same, but if any change, more in
favour of the buyer. In Manchester the demand for
goods and yarns is greater than the supply, higher
prices are asked, which has prevented an extensive
business being done. Several mills have been re-
opened, and constant employ for the operatives during
the winter is now certain. In colonial and foreign
produce there is a fair, steady demand, and sales are
made with more facility. It is gratifying to observe
an increased bustle, just now, about our docks and
mercantile warehouses.

THE INCOME-TAX.-But now that peace is restored
what is to become of the war-tax ? When Sir Ro-
bert Peel was told in the last session that the Income-
tax was a war-tax, he boldly demanded, are we not
at war with India and China ! What shall he say in
the coming session to this ? The Chinese expenses
will be more than repaid by the 21 millions of dollars
which they have bound themselves to pay ; and the
charges of the Affghan expedition belong legitimately
to the East India Company, who derive all the secu-
rity and profit; and not to the people of England,
who have not got enough to keep their own poor
from starvation. On the score of war, then, there is
no longer the shadow of a pretext for continuing this
most odious tax one hour longer ; and, on the score
of revenue, it is equally unnecessary. The deficiency
in the revenue in the years 1840 and 1841, was
greatly caused by the advances for Canada, China, and
India. These were occasional and not permanent
causes, and are now at an end. Besides, the remain-
ing deficiency is more than made up by the duties
upon corn, and the other articles of import now first
admitted by the tariff. There is no longer a single
excuse, then, for keeping up this iniquitous war-tax.
Let the people, then, arouse themselves, and pebi-
tion for relief from that most obnoxious measure,
which is doubly onerous by drying up the other re-
,sources of the country. Down, then, we say, with
the war-tax, the inquisition-tax, the tax upon freedom.
If any portion of it should be found really neces-
sary, let them keep up the impost upon real property.
But let them loosen their grasp from the trading and
professional classes.—Hampshire Independent.
CONTRIBUTION OF LIVERPOOL TO THE GREAT
LEAGUE FUND.—We are happy to hear that the
mere announcement by the League of their wish to
' raise so large a sum as 50,0001., has been enthusi-
astically responded to from all parts of the kingdom,
and yet one alloy to our gratification, we must con-
fess, is the fact, that Liverpool has only, so far, CO"
tributed twelve hundred pounds—an amount less
than the sum collected in Huddersfield !—Liverpool
Mercury.