Star.
London, England, 1827-01-31 00:00:00

LUNACY.

The inquiry into the state of mind of Mr. James
King, of Pla.stow, in Essex (son of Mr. King, the emi•
vent meat salesman of Newgate Market), was yesterday,
after a protracted investigation of five days, brought to
a conclusion.
It appeared from the evidence, that his father died,
about seven years ago, leaving a very considerable real
and peisonal property to be equally divided between
him and his brother, and that he had employed himself
since then in farming and in grazing cattle on hisestate
at Plaistow. This he did up to the year 1823 with
considerable judgment, but in that year he was seized
with an illness, front the effects of which, according to
the evidence adduced by his brother, who was the Pe-
titioner for this inquiry, he had never recovered, but
had graivally sunk lower and lower, till at last an
entire prostration of mind ensued. Shortly after this
illness he became indolent and Slothful to such an ex-
tent as to neglect attending in the commonest degree
to personal cleanliness and appearance, and at this time,
and afterwards, performed many acts whith.shewed a
want of self-possession. He had heretofore been a ca-
pital judge of horses, and had kept an excellent stud,
but he now purchased many of very inferior descrip-
tions, and sent them to his stables, where he has suf.
feted them to remain inactive ever since. One in par-
ticular he had. there, which, during the seven years that
bad elapsed since he became possessed of it, had never
done a day's work. It had, in fact, never been broken
in. About this time he went down to Gloucester,
and there became acquainted with a female, pauper
9f that place, whom he married, and that on the
day of his marriage he took to the Office ,of the
Gloucester Jourital an advertisement, stating the
marriage, and describing himself as a relative of
Lord Hood, and his wife as being the daughter of
Smith, Esq. of Friendly Cottage, near Glou-
cester, and a relative of Major Smith, the nephew
of Lord Smith. The publisher of the Paper in question
not knowing any such titled person as Lord Smith,
asked him if he did not mean John Lloyd Smith, of
thit town? to .which he replied in the affirmative, and
the advertisement, thus altered, was inserted in the
Newspaper. On its appearance he came to the Office,
and with great violence complained of the indignity he
had received, -and insisted on the whole impression
being recalled and republished, and the proper title
inserted of his relative by marriage, Lord Smith. It
further appeared that he had been in the habit, both
before and since his marriage, of describing himself as
a man of noble family, as being intimate with the King,
ashaving hunted with him, and having been employed
because of his superior judgment iii purchasing a flock
of Merino sheep for him. He also talked of his ac-
quaintance with the Duke of Wellington and other
Noblemen, and entered into the most extravagant de-
tails of his own property, making himself out to have
immense estates in every county in England, and as
being the richest man in the kingdom. In September
last,. symptoms of decided and ravinginsanity displayed
themselves, and he has ever since been nailer the care
of a keeper.
A number of witnesses were enandoed. at the instance of the
wife who endeavoured to establish that he was sane at the time
of his marriage, although it was admitted distinctly that be had be-
caw insane since.

'The Cosmos Simonys addressed the Jury at great length on
this side of the ease, and was replied to by
')sir. &suss?, with his usual force and ability.
The CHIEIr COIdiIISSIONItit (Mr. PHILLIMORR) then
recapitulated the evidence, and the Jury. after some
time spent in deliberation, returned a verdict, finding
that Mr. James King had become a lunatic in Decem-
ber, 1823, and had continued so up to the 18th of
September, 1826, enjoying, however, lucid intervals;
but that since the latter date, and up to the present
time, he had continued a lunatic, without lucid inter-
vals, and, consequently, was unable to manage his estate

Fifteen years ago the tobacco consumed in France
amounted in value to 4,800,000 francs ; is sow amounts
to above 11,000,000.

The poor people who have business to do at the Ses-
sions, are cruelly imposed upon by men, who act as
anomie', or as desks for attornies, but who are, in
every respect, as unqualified as they are rapacious. The
sufferers are not aware of any available remedy against
them. It should be known, however, that the Act of
the 22d of Geo. 11. cap. 46, sec. 12, declares, that no,
person can lawfully conduct business, prosecuting or
defending it at any General or Quarter Sessions, unless
he be an attorney, sworn and admitted, of his Majesty's
Courts of Westminster, uader the penalty of 504 fir
each offence, recoverable within twelve months ; and
any attorney allowing any person, not as attorney, in
his name, to carry on Sessions' business* incurs a penalty
of 501. This provision has slept in the Statute Book,
and an idea is commonly entertained that persons are
not bound to be admitted attornies of the Courts at
Westtninster,to entitle them to conduct Sessions business.
In the Northern rivers, not only in Sweden, but in
Norway, &c. the natives practise the dextrous method
of taking fish, in which the late King of NAPLES was
so greaka proficient—namely, harpooning them when
attracted by the light of a fire in an iron basket at the
prow of.a fisherman's boat for that purpose. In many
places the fish thus caught they eat raw, as the greatest
possible delicacy.
LIVERPOOL, JANUARY 29.—We have had a steady
demand for Cotton to-day, and the sales are estimated
at 2,000 bags, 700 of which were Egyptians, at lid.
per lb.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
In the absende of the ordinary theatrical entertain-
ments, an excellent selection of ancient and modern
music was last night performed, under the direction of
Mr. Bishop. The list piece performed was an "Ode
to the Memory of the late Duke of Yolk—the music
selected from a sacred work composed by Cult:unix'
land never performed in this country," as the programme
'of the ernertainment informed ns. The music is full of
mind and power, and it was executed in the best style.
Miss STEPHENS was prevented, in consequence of a
cold, frees performing. Her place was occupied
by Miss GRADDON, who acquitted herself with much
talent in HANDEL'S air, Let the bright Seraphim. Mr.
HAREER'S trumpet obligato accompaniment evinced a
perfect mastery of the instrument. Madame CARA.
DORI. in MATER'S aria, " Ah the fora in tai moments,"
rivetted the attention of the audience by the delicacy
of her intonation and the truth of her expression.
She sarg also with much excellence the popular air,
Should he upbraid. Very great applause followed this
effort. Mr. BEARADI executed, in a grandly-impressive
style, a scene, composed by Mr. BISHOP, the subject
" The Battle of the Angels,' from MILTON'S Paradise
Lost. We do not know whether this is a new composition;
but we are sure that it is a good one. Miss Love was very
happy id her execution of WINTER'S plaintive air, Sad
my Soul, which was encored. The same mark of ap-
probation was bestowed on Madame Corteroe's Doke
Coacento, which was charmingly sung. The running
passages, in which the air abounds, were given sweetly
and distinctly ; and the shake with which she terminates
the song was firm, even, and harmonious. The cadence
was uncommonly beautiful. Mr. PHILLIrs pleased us
much throughout the evening—his voice and style re-
mind as strongly of Mr. Bar.x.mity in his best day. His
first song, from HmaDar., !haw and Arms, was most
justly encored. He evinced great judgment, and much
flexibility as well as power of voice, in the recitative and
air from HAYDN'S Creatiox, " And GOD said, Let the
earth bring forth the living creature after his kind."—
Mr. BUZAU sang Dr. Pertisca's Cantata, See from the
silent Grove, with commensurate passion. The accom-
paniment on the violoncello by the veteran LINDLEY
was rapturously applauded. Mr. SPAGNOLITTI led the
orchestra most ably: Mr. Bison, presided at the
organ. The House, we are happy to say, was full.