Star.
London, England, 1827-01-24 00:00:00

LTINACY.
-....---

The commissionfor inquiring as to the lunacy of Mr.
James K'ng, resumed its adjourned investigation yester-
day morning at the Gray's inn Coffee-house.
Jchn Juler, the first witness called, was an ostler at
Burford. Recollected Mr. James King coming there
in •ptember, 1824; when he came he had two horses
in his gig, and a servant led four other horses, after
bim in a string. By his appearance and conduct he
attracted the general attention of the people in the inn-
yard. He desired witness to trim a horse, excepting its
tail, which he said tie would trim himself; he did set
about trimming it himself, and cut all the hairs off on
one side, and none on the other. Witness considered
him deranged.
James Bateman and John Price gave similar testi-
mony ,a 4 to the extraordinary appearance and conduct
lof the alleged lunatic at Burford, and the last witness
also spoke to his having applied oil to a horse in a very
singular manner, at the same time stating that it was
oil which would cure almost any disorder.
_ _

Mr. Alexander Walker, the editor of the Gloucester
Journal, recollected Mr. James King coming to him on
the 6th of November, 1824, to request him to insert in
that Journal an advertisement of his marriage. Mr.
James King dictated the advertisement, which was as
follows By licence, on the 6th of November last,
married, James King, Rol. of Thorp Cottage, Plaistow,
and a relative to Lord Hood, to Hannah, youngest
daughter of William Smith, Esq. of Friendly Cottage,
near this city, and sister to the late Maim. Thomas
Smith, and relative to John Lord Smith." Witness knew
a person who lives near Gloucester of the name of John
Lord Smith, so he inserted the word " Mr." before that
individual's name in this advertisement atter Mr. King
left him. The paper containing the advertisement was
printed on Monday, Nov. 8, and on that day, Mr. King
I came to witness, and was vety angry at the alteration
which had been made in the advertisement, and expres.
sed a wish that all the copies of the paper should be
called in, in order that the advertisement might be re-
altered to its original state, at the same time offering to
pay c.A) guineas to have this done. Although witness
told him this was impossible, he seemed still to think it
I might be done. Witness considered him deranged.
John Skane was waiter at the Booth Hall Inn at
IGloucester. Recollected Mr. James King being mar-
ried from that house: the marriage was quite private.
Mr. King ordered him on that day to procure nectarines
and apricots for the dessei t. Witness told him lie could
not get them. Mr. King said he must. After dinner
Itfir. King was not angry at there being none on the
table, and seemed.to have quite forgotten the order be
had given. The woman whom Mr. King married re•
sided with him at the inn some time before the marriage.
When she first came there she was called Mrs. King,
and lived with him as his wife. Witness considered him
deranged.
Samuel Greening, a farmer living near Gloucester, in
1823, rented three small tenements, and about an acre
and a half of land, of a Mr. Parker, for which he paid
141. a year. One of these three tenements was let by
witness to William Smith, the father of Mrs. King, who
was a day labourer, and had worked for witness on the
road when he was surveyor. Smith's son had been in
the waggon train, and his daughter Hannah had been
in a farmer's service, near Gloucester; after that she
had lived with her sister in Gloucester; they followed
no trade. Witness knows John Lord Smith, who was
no relation to William Smith. This person had been
out of Ills mind. Witness recollected Mr. King pur-
chasing a great many oxen, sheep, and poultry,
at different times, whilst he was at Gloucester, with-
out having provided any pi operplaces for keeping them.
He also bought several pigs, and sent for linseed and i
treacle from London to feed them on. Witness recol.l
lected his purchasing the cottage in which witness re
sided of Mr. Parker, for 400 guineas ; lie paid a deposit
of 201. which he forfeited ; the purchase was never com-
pleted. Witness recollected seeing Mr. King out with
Lord Smith's greyhounds; there was a little girl there,
about ten years old, of the name of Anne Vaines; Mr.
King called her his little huntsman, and said he would
buy her a hunting jacket, which he did. Mr. King
told witness that he had had several conversations with
his Majesty, with whom he was very intimate; as also
that it was his intention to build better houses for the
poor of Gloucester. Witness was of opinion that he
was of unsound mind.

Daniel Thomas, a tailor, at Gloucester, proved the
making of the little hunting jacket (which he produced)
for Ann Vaines, according to Mr. James King's orders,
who desired him to get it done the same day it was be-
spoke, alleging, as a reason why he required this expe-
dition, that lie was next day going to hunt with the
King and the Duke of Wellington, on Hounslow-heath.
When witness took it home to him, Mr. King said it
would not fit at all, and directed him to alter it, and put
a pocket for carrying hares in it. Witness considered
him insane.

Joseph Bond, a gardener at Gloucester, stated that
Mr. King came to him in October, 1824, and wanted
.him to go over to an estate which he said he had pur.
chased near Gloucester, for the purpose of planting and
laying out pleasure grounds there. Mr. King refire.
presented it as a large concern ; witness went . over to
the cottage Mr. King had purchased of Mr. Parker,and
was surprised to find it so very small; witness consi-
dered him deranged.
George Vaines, a journeyman carpenter at Glou-
cester, had been introduced to Mr. James King, by his
father-in law, Smith; Mr. King had desired him to
meet him at the cottage he had bought of Mr. Parker,
as he said lie intended to build a mansion there; he
ordered witness to procure materials for it. Witness
did order a quantity of swims, but as he lound Mr.
King settle to no plan, and act in a most inconsistent
manner, he countermanded them.
Ann Vaines spoke to the hunting jacket having been ordered for
her by Ur. King.
Be;jamin Itaine, a horse.dealer at Gloucester, spoke
to his having sold Mr. James King a gig for 141. 14s.
wh ch Mr. King wished him to take back at the same
price, after it had been veal', broken and shattered;
this witness also spoke to a curious mode which Mr.
King had of feeding his horses out of a gallipot.
John Evans, a superintendent of a lunatic asylum,
had been sent for in September last by Mrs. King, .on
account of the violent conduct of her husband. On this
occasion, hew as introduced to Mr. King as coming from
Mr . Maxwell, an old friend of the family. Mr. King
invited him into the parlour to take sAne refreshment,
after which be asked him if he was a medical man?
Witnets pretended that he was so; for sometime Mr.
King *as tolerably•tr actable, but all at once he jumped
up and insisted on witness aceonspaming him through
the house to see his pictures. In order to pacify him,
1 ovrtneis accompanied him : he conducted him.eif in X

Ivery.vrild extraordinary manner ; after which he Came
down to the parlour to dinner ; and dating dinner time
kept perpetually ringing the bell for some of the servants,
and when they came he gave his orders in a most wild
incoherent manner ; he had a little spaniel, of which he
was extremely fond ; he would ring for it to be brought
to him ; and when it was brought to him he would beat
it most unmercifully; at other times he would give it
broth, afid after it had taken as much as it would take,
he would drink the remainder himself ; witness was de•
cidedly of opinion that he was mad.
Mr. Samuel Cullum, a cheesemon,..ter, in Bond-street,
was an old friend of the family; he had remarked a
very great alteration in the alleged lunatic since his
illness in 1823. Witness had seen him in October last,
when he talked about giving him various orders for
his Majesty at Windsor; amongst other things he
ordered 700 Muicovy cats; at this time he said that the
King of Spain was a great friend of his, and had sent
him 400,0001., 200,0001. of which he proposed apply.
ing to the use of his brother, and a further sum for the
benefit of the witoess's family ; witness considered him
quite insane.
Mr. Eyles, a surgeon and apothecary, who had
attended him during his illness in 1823, confirmed the
statements of the former witnesses, as to the variation
which took place in his spirits at that time.
Dr. George Borrows, a physician, who has had very
considerable practice in casesof insanity, had been called
in to see Mr. James King. On the 21st of October last
this witness, accompanied by Dr. Babington and Mr.
Eyles, visited him ; they found him under the care of
keepers; his chief deltision seemed to be an idea that
he possessed a great number of horses of immense va•
lee ; he also spoke of the great wealth of his father•in-
law, who had, as he said, given him 50,0001. and was
about to give him a large sum more, the produce of a
large fall of timber he had just had on his estates ; he also
spoke of his having bought Merino sheep for his Ma-
jesty and the Duke of Wellington, of having honied
with the Duke, and of his being a great favourite with
almost all the Sovereigns of Europe, esp .cially with the
King of Spain ; he also stated that his brother had rob.
bed him of 80001. He also spoke of his intending to
travel; he should first go to Gloucester, and then to
Scotland, and afterwards to the Roman islands. Wit-
ness asked him where the Roman Islands were He
said he did not know, but that Gou lived in one of
them, and he wanted to pay him a visit. He spoke of
keeping three packs of fox hounds, aid alleged that he
was related to Lord Hood and several o:her Noblemen ;
he also spoke of his great skill in medicine, especially
in medicine for cattle, and of the great regard which
the people of Gloucester had for him, and of their in-
tention to erect a statue to him. This witness gave it
as his decided opinion, that Mr. James King had been
deranged ever since his illness in 1823 ; he also 'stated
that he had frequently known insane persons very car-
rect in accounts.— After the examincion of Dr.Butrows,
the Commission was adjourned.

REGISTER OF PUBLIC SALES, JANUARY 23.

Mr. HOG GA RT.

A Leasehold Estate, comprising the houses, workshops, and
premises, Nos. 91 and 95, serwick•street, Soho, lately occupied in
the wax and spermaceti business, held for 74i years, at £lO7 ; also
theklouse adjoining, held for 20 years, at £5O, let at £570 a year;
fixtures, plant, and utensils to be taken at a valuation—knocked
down at £l4BO.

An Absolute Reversion of £1513 16s. 6d. 34 per Cents. Re.
ceivable on the demise of a Lady, aged 40—X365.
A Polley of £lOOO, effected in the Rock Life Assurance Office.
in June, 1810, on the life of a Gentleman, now 40, wick the addl.
dons since that period, amounting to 1110 ; animal premium
1£25 Os. 101-2295.

THE LATE HURRICANE IN TESER(FFE.—A Meeting
of Merchants, &c. trading wi:h Spain and its depend-
encies, was held yesterday, at the City of London
Tavern, to devise means of affording relief to the suf.
ferers from the late hurricane in the Island of Teneriffe.
Sir JAMES LITTLE in the Chair. The Chair man entered
into a detail of the damage which had been suffered by
the ravages of the storm, and after some conversation,
in which several persons joined, k was resolved, to
open a subscription for affording that immediate assist-
ance to the sufferers, which the urgency of the circum-
stances require. Several individuals put down their
names as subscriber s.

Sunday, between four and five o'clock,WilliamLewis,
about 14 years of age, cabin-boy of the Widdrington,
Captain Muers, now laid up on the Tweedmouth side
of the river, took the boat and proceeded from the shore
to the vessel, for the purpose of feeding a dog that was
in it. There being a strong fresh in the river, and he
having no oars, the boat, in spite of all the exertions he
made with the seat of it for an oar, was rapidly eatried
Jown the river by the current, to the great horror of
numerous spectators on slime, who could render him no
assistance, all the tishing•boats being drawn up. The
' crew of the schooner perceiving his Perilous situation,
three spirited young men, amidst the loudest cheeriags
from the immense crowds on the pier and Spittal Point,
took a boat and soon came up to him. They succeeded
in getting him into their boat, but immediately after it
, was upset by a heavy sea, and all in it sunk, and were
drowned. A boat from the Mermaid, Revenue cutter,
well manned, soon followed the schooner's. The men
seeing what had happened, and convinced they could
do no good, returned, aid with great difficulty saved
themselves. The names of the three unfortunate men
are—William Morrison, a Scotch man ; Joseph Wilby,
a Welcbman ; and John Lucas, a Yorkshireman. The
schooner's boat has since been picked up at Holy
Island, but none of the bodies have yet been found.,
Berwick Advertiser.

• Yesterday the roads leading from the metropolis in
various directions were in so slippery a state from the
late f.. 11 of snow, that the horses could with great
difficulty keep their foot-hold ; many of these poor
animals were to be seen down on the roads, some of
them never to rise more until drawn up into the
knacker's cart : the Surrey side in particular presented
many of these spectacles. At noon-day the horses in
three several Camberviell stages were all down at one
time, within 100 yards of each other : the horses in
one of the coaches, in falling, broke the splinter-bar
short asunder, and one of them in struggling to get up
came in contact with one of the sharp splinters, which.
penetrated his side, and entered a considerable depth,
by which the poor animal was rendered totally unable
to move from the spot.
CORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, JANUARY £4.
Although the frost has not as yet affected the inland navigation,
higher prices were demanded this morning for all descriptions of
grain, and what few sales of fine Wheat were made wire cerian ly
at a trifle higher; and, front appearances, our Market is lookips up.
Barley, owing to the short arrival, is also in request ; and hatrabete
been any quantity, no doubt Monday's prices would havn.betn
maintained. Oats were much sought after • but as the factoraa.k
more money than on Monday, very little business: has b:ert done.—
lit other art.cles there is no alteration.