Star.
London, England, 1830-08-20 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, the Jury in the commission ap.
pointed to inquire into the state of mind of Mr. Brand assembled at
Gray's-inn Coffee-house pursuant to adjournment. The Court was
much crowded, the case exciting great interest. Dr. PHILLIXORE
presided.
Mr. Brand was introduced and was dressed as on the last day of
examination, vis. with a strait waistcoat over his clothes; he ap.
perfectly composed, and in answer to a question from the
reearaliTeld commissioner who presided, he stated that it was his wish
that the proceedings should go on, and that he should conduct his
own cause himself.

Dr. Pnti.timons then in a very luminous manner detailed the
nature of the investigation, and
Dlr. Setjeant TADDY MC to state the case for the Commission,
and took a review of the principal events of Mr. Brand's life. The
party against whom a commission was prayed was possessed of pro-
perty to the amount of 4,0001. per annum. He had been educated
at Winchester school, after which he went to Cambridge, where
he acquitted himself with great credit. He was always of a pas-
sionate mind ; entered into his amusements with enthusiasm Bp.
preaching to madness, spent large sums at chess, cricket, and en
women. [Here the unfortunate man shed tests.] He lived with
more females than one, whom he had picked up in the streets or
theatres. One of them, Mrs. Dashwood, died under peculiar eir-
eumstances, and he had her grave watched for four months, and he
had since constantly said that wherever he went be saw her face and
r:gcby night and day. At the Gallery of Paintings, Somerset-
sen, and at Suffolk-street Exhibition, he exclaimed " How ex-
trsonlinary ! I see Mrs. Dashwood all round the room ; the painters
want to expose me." He had lately been imprisoned in ['whin..
fields, and on the Slat of July mote to Sir R. Peel, stating " Re.
lease me from gaol, or by O—d it shall cost you your life."
Mr. Paynter, of Trinity College, Cambridge, was then called in.
He deposed that Mr. Brand bad been educated at the same college.
He was clever, had a strong memory, possionate, and extravagant;
he iaid out great aunts in dui* as much as 3,0001. Had acquired
a taste for shells in France ; he had had this information from Mr.
Brand; he spent great sums at chess ; one person received no less
than 1,6001. Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Chan, with whom Mr.
Brand had lived, were taken, the one from the saloon of a theatre,
and the other from the street. Mt. Brand talked of marrying
31n. Dashwood, but at the earnest entreaty of Sir E. Ryan, be
did not. He usually drank two bottles of wine, and smoked from
twelve to twenty cigars daily. His cigars cost him IL per week,
Witness then described Mrs. Daahwood's death, which took
place from a fractureof the skull, arising from a fall down stairs,
after they had been playing at chess ; they differed that night, and
slept in separate beds. In the morning Mr. Brand thought she slept
long, and he sent servants to ascertain the cause ; they said she was
sleeping soundly, and he waited some time longer, after which she
was found breathing hard, and she pointed to the hinder part of her
head, and seemed to be in great pain. She took Mr. Brand by
the hand, and said she had fallen down stairs. Alr. Brand had
mortgaged part of his property for 8,0001. in the Pelican office ; he
thought he had been cheated and was in distress about it. He ma-
nifested such symptoms about it that witness thought Mr. Brand
was unable to manage his own affairs.
The witness was examined at great length by Mr. Brand as to the
nature of the mortgages on Iris property. Witness, in answer to
questions from Mr. Brand, said he never recollected a servent.maid
at Camberwell to which he (Mr. Brand) alluded, neither did he
know of one in Prinee's.stieet ; had never declared that Mr. Brand
had spent 46,0001. in his life; had stated that his income was be.
tweed 2,0001. and 3,0001. a.year. Witness believed that Mr. Brand
did not care fur his child, because be thought it was not his.
By Mr. *leant considered Mr. Brand had
doting his life been subject to strung mental excitement.
By the entre. Costartssiosza—From witness's own observa-
tion he should say, that from the beginning of May or the latter end
of April, %Ir. Stand was not of sound niind. He considered the
extravagances of Mr. Brand to have arisen from a disordered mind,
The Caner Commtsstowre—You have heard and seen 61r.
Brand to-day. Do you think he is now in sound mind ?
. Witness--Judging from his previous manners, I should think he
was of unsound mind.
By Mr. WHIT si Assa—His rejection of me, as a friend, without
any cause or quarrel, tends me to this conclusion.
Mr. marehant, solicitor, was then called in, and examined by
Mr. &leant TAM/If—l/ad knowit Mr. Brand 10 years. Sir. Brand
=ma on him some tuna in Miry, and asked him if he did see recollect
some particulars of an altercation he (Rr. Brand). had with yreach
oak*, at Bordeaux f Mr. Brand hoped he would recollect the
transaction, as his honour was concerned. He wished also that
witness would recollect the conversation he said witness had had

with the Duke of Wellington, when his Grace had said, calling
him (witness) by his Christian, name, " Dennis, it is all non-
sense, Brand has behaved very well." Witness denied ever
having had any conversation with the Duke upon the subject,
or that he knew his Grace, or ever dined with him. Mr Brand
went on to connect the pictures in Suffolk-street gallery with the
women with whoM he (Mr. Brand) had been connected. Mr.
Brand premed witness to go and see them, and witness promised to
do so, wishing to get Mr. Brand out of the house, not feeling very
comfortable In his presence. Mr. Brand spoke of a conspiracy
against himself, and could not account how those pictures got into
the gallery ; he said it was done to expose him. The instant Mr.
Brand left the room he had written to a mutual friend, expressive
of his feeling that Mr Brand was !mane.
In answer to a question witness declared that he had never said
he knew the Duke of Wellington, or that he had dined with him.
By the Cniar Commisstowna—The impression on witness's
mind was, that if he was sober at that time, Mr. Brand was of un-
sound mind. It was a serious thing to give an opinion the state of
any man's mind.
By Mr. Brand—Witness did receive a pension from Government.
He was a son of General Le Manchant, who was in the army, and
was killed at Salamanca. His father was intimate with the Duke of
Wellington, but he had no acquaintance with his Grace.
Mr. Barnard, a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, was
examined as to some extraordinary expressions made use of by Mr.
Brand on the ground. Witness stated that Mr. Brand had, without
provocation, called the honorary secretary of the club a thief, a liar,
a coward and a --, and that he was ready to fight with pistols
across the table with the secretary. Witness was the more surprised
at these expteasions,beeause Mr. Brand before, had always acted in
a mild, gentlemanlike manner. There had been nothing in the se-
cretary's conduct to warrant such expressions.
By Mr. Brand.—Had no knowledge that the secretary had talked
of any ante in France.
Mary Petit, examined by Mr. Serjesnt TAT/DT—Witness was
servant to Mr. Brand. She did not witness the death of Mrs. Dash-
wood. Mr. Brand after that event was low spirited, and she used
to sit down with him to drink a glass of wine. Her master used to
say, he did not like to see the faces and shadows in the curtains.
She was called up sometimes at two, three, and four o'clock, by ha
master, to make tea. He said be had felt in since the death of his
poor mistress.
Examined by Mr. Brand—Her master had never taken any liber-
ties with her. %%ritual. had always experienced kindness. She did
not know that it was agreed that separate post-chaises should be
had to come home.

To other questions, witness answered that the first time she con-
sidered her muter out of his mind was when he came home with
Mrs. Brand quite unexpected. and was eras to her ; he had always
before been kind : he fancied dirt had been put into the tea
Re-examined by Mr. Brand—Witness always thought her master
more quiet and comfortable when left to himself. She had always
seen that he was composed in her presence. Should not mind walk-
ing 10 miles with her master if he was civil.
By the Chief Commissioner—Witness did not think her master
was in sound mind, his temper had altered so.
The jury here (it being nearly five o'clock) expressed some de-
gree of impatience, and it was agreed to adjourn the proceedings till
tomorrow, (this day.)
Mr. Brand said be should probably require many witnesses to be
summoned, six or seven from Bordeaux and other places. He
wished for a list of witnesses on the other side.

During the whole of the proceedings, Mr. Brand, who was in a
strait waistcoat, appeared to possess the moat perfect self.possesakm.