Star.
London, England, 1818-02-14 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR RICHARD CROFT.

It is with great pain, t,tl many accounts, that we
Word the premati.re death of this Gentleman. We
'!rave for many years considered the frequent and
assiduous publicity given by the Press acts of
Sui-
cide injurious to public morals, as tending to fami-
liarise diseased minds to the contemplation of the
most dreadful crime which man, as a mature, tan
commit against Nature t—a contemplation calculated
to act as a stimulus and excitement which can pro-
duce nothing but evil. In consequence of this view—
and we earnestly wish that Public Journalists would
gave it due consideration-74n every instance in which
we could persuade ourselves that by our silence we
could keep a fact of this kind from the knowledge of
even a single individual, we have uniformly forborne
to rec•rd at in our columns. _ _ _

Indeed, we are firmly persuaded that the Legisla.J
tore would render an essential service to morality—
to the State—to mankind generally, by prohibiting
the publication of apy act of suicide, or of any gross
crime against 14/`,ire, under the most severe penalties.
But, as the la* and practice stand at present, this is
one of the instances which cannot be hid from a
single individual in the Empire ; and, therefore, our
silence would answer no purpose whatever, but only
to keep some Readers ignorant of the fact for a very
few hours. _ _

Sir RICHARD had been called in to attend the ad.
coucAment of Mrs. THACKERAY, the wife of the Rev.
Dr. THACIRRY (one of the King's Chaplains), who
had come to town to be delivered at the house of her
sister, Miss-Coxrot:, No. 86, Wimpole-street, Caven-
dish-square.
The labour of Mrs. THACKIRAY was greatly pro-
tracted ; and on Thursday morning her situation be-
came so critical, that Sir litcnAmo wished to have
further medical aid. Another Gentleman having
been called in, it was their joint opinion that the re-
sult was uncertain.
Sir RICHARD became more and more alarmed
every moment ; for ever since the liunented event at
Claremont he had suffered greatly in his spirits. On
some of the family expressing their anxiety, he struck
his forehead, and said, " If you are anxious, what must
I her Many other expressions escaped him, indicating
intense feeling, and apprehension, amounting occa-
sionally almost to distraction. At other times he was
calm, and Mrs. THACKSRAY had no knowledge of his
fears. Early yesterday morning he left her room, and
was shewn into an apartment, that he might lie down
and repose himself. He had scarcely slept for several
nights. Here were the fatal instruments of his death.
Dr. THACRRRAY is accustomed to keep loaded pistols
by him at night; a brace were on the back of a
chair. The unhappy Sir RICHARD (who, if he had
waited two hours longer, would now have been re-
joicing in his success) in a moment of phrenzy seized
on the instruments of death (so inopportunely pre-
sented to his view) and discharged both of them through
his head.—His death was instantaneous.

An inquest was held last night at eight o'clock,
by THOMAS STKRLINO, Esq. Coroner for Middlesex,
on the-body of the deceased, at the house of Mr.
TaAcKsaity. The servants of the house were ex}
mined, and described the report of the pistols, and
the circumstances under which the body was found.,
Doctor LATHAM, Mr. FINCH, and some other intimate
friends of the deceased, were also examined. From
their evidence, it appeared that ever since the la-
mented
death of the Princess Cu A a Lorre the deceased 1
bad suffered excessiveanxiety ; that his mind was every
day leaving him ; and that be was at length re-
duced to a most distressed and desponding state.—
The inquiry lasted about two hours, and, after a
charge from the Coroner, the Jury returned a verdict
of insanity. The inquest was conducted with the
greatest secrecy. A Beadle was stationed at the door
to prevent the entrance of any persons except the
Jury and witnesses.
At half-past ten, last night, a coffin was carried to
Miss Corrores house. At a quarter before eleven,
the hearse drove up from a neighbouring Mews, and
the corpse was immediately put into it. There had
been some apprehension of a crowd, and the watchmen
in the neighbourhood were prepared to preserve or-
der; but there were few spectators. The hearse drove
into Saville row, and the body was carried into the
house of the deceased through the garden entrance.
A young gentleman and lady of his family had first
left it in a hackney coach.
. -

Sir RICHARD WAS in his 57th year. LadT CROFT,
who survives him, has been for some time in a very
delicate state of health. Her Ladyship is a daughter
of the late Dt. DENMAN, and sister of Mr. DENXIA
the Barrister. He has also left three sons and a
daughter. One of the sons is in the army, in which
he served with great eclat in the late war on the
Continent.

Great numbers of the Nobility and Gentry sent
their enquiries to Burlington-street, as soon as the
report of this melancholy event began to circulate.
Mrs. TRACKERAY, we are happy to say, was safely
delivered of a floe girl yesterday by Dr. BATTY.

The Duke and Duchess of Itenwsrn are at this time in much
aßliaion, in consequence of the loss of their youngest son; and
to add so their distress, the Marquis of (leaver is very in.
Wednesday, as Mr. Bailey, an upholsterer, in Bolsover-etreet,
was going along Portland-street, his foot slipped, and he was
pitched backwards on his head, and instantly expired.
Teta LAW NVIIDZIPJAITO ' AT CARENWICIL—Yesterday
the Jury re-assembled at the White Hart, Greenwich. The man
who was seen on the Greenwich road, covered with blood on
Sunday morning, is now in custody. The evidence taken was
that of Mary Harris, John Lynch, Elisabeth (Xdridge, Metcalf,
a waterman, and John Armstrong, a police-officer. Metcalf, the
waterman, brought the man who is in custody over from the
London side of the water, and landed him at Elephant Stairs about
half-past sever o'clock on Sunday morning. John Armstrong,
' the police-officer, apprehe..ded the man in custody at the Uni-
corn public-house, Shoreditch ; his name is Mansfield, and he
says he was ill-used on Saturday night in St. Catherine's. Tient
the Coroner remarked to tlsinJury, that as this man was in the
custody of the Police it was unnecessary to examine the officer
(sober. " It is greatly to be lamented, after the arduous and
laborious investigation you have bad, that se little light has as yet
beets thrc.avn on the manner haw those unfortunate persons came
by their death ; the manner there can be no doubt about, though
there has no light as yet been thrown on the perpetrators of this
inhuman murder. If you be inclined to think it necessary to
have the mass now in custody brought before your shall adjourn
the lure ; but I think this unnecessary, as the refire will in that
part do their duty. Now, Gentlemen Strangyts. I beg you will
clear the room, in order that the Jury may outsider their ver-
dict." Every person conformed to this proposa, and the Jury,
after comultatirm, retnrned a verdict of " Wilful murder egoism
some person or persons unknown'

dies,
da

KA 1-AL INTELLIC EN-a,
MAILS THIS DAY.
alit. 005
Dublin 0 Lisbon saa
Waterford I I Malta 0
Otierniey and Jersey 1 0 France
11 (Aland 0 0 Ham tru rgh
Gottenhurgh 0 I Flanders 0
The Bose, from Sicily to Liverpool, was d
shore on the 10th ult. near Tusktu--crew saved.
The Favourite packet, which sailed front De,„
the 4th instant, was wrecked at six o'clock at
three leagues and a half to the west of
tween Nipaul and Senitegate. Fortunateig :Se
was not so rough as to pi event the Lem film,
put out, and the passengers, beginning with the
dies, were landed in safety. Among these e
dame the Countess of Botnexs, daughter of the
quit of OSMOND.
FALMOUTH, FEBRUARY it.
Wind S. E.—The brig Aurora, —, repoubi
night, has damaged her ground tier.
PORTSMOUTH, FEBRUARY 13.
Wind S. E.—Sailed the Ceres, Cnows, for •
DEAL, FEBRUARY 13.
Wind F. S. E.—Came down from the
Cumberland, WILLIAMSON, for Valparaiso aikli
Calypso, IfurcuiNsow, for St. Domingo; (,e.
Planter, Tuoap, for Jamaica; John and it,
You, for Rouen ; Magnet, GRAVES, for Af•
Eclipse, Battost, for Smyrna ; Castle Bundy, Ds,
MOND, for India and Duchess.of Bedford, Lict.
-Jamaica. The whole have sailed with dte ounrz.
bound as per last, except the Castle lintly, sly
ship remains with Dunira, for India : and ttx Oc
fur Honduras. Arrived and sailed
River the Gladwin, BANKERSLEY, from St. Nil
SCILLY, FEBRUARY 7.
Came its the Just, —, from Newport, ado,
9th, his Majesty's brig Ht:non, from a train.
WHITBY, FEBRUARY 11
Arrived of this port, the Cypress, lbAvises,:
Ptllau for Hull—passed a foreign vessel at the
trance of the Cattegat, bottom up.
GRAVESEND, FEBRUARY Is.
Arrived the Dyke of Wellington,—, from Ostend
Mann, from ditto; Margaret, Brown, from Havre; •
Cooper, from Lisbon ; anti the Gladwin, k
char'''. Sailed the Hero, Evans, for Cadiz; John,
Madeira and Jamaica; St. 'Miry, Burton, for Jon,:ii;
tannia, Haber, for Grenada ; James Harris, Ca:ir, tx
:mica; Planter, Rose, for Demerara ; Nancy, Lain!. iv
timorc; Brucea, Dunbar, for Smyrna; Flat', suet
Trieste; Hem, James, for Genoa and Leghurn; C
Brodie, for Tenerife • Deptford, Williams, for Dais. •
Linda, Roberts, for Antwerp ; Rover, CiII, n, for liar.
Charles, Marsballs, for Rotterdam ; and Dike of York
for ditto and klaessluys.
CUSTOM-HOUSE, EMIR I'AR Y 13
Sum 17CTLRED Tywaltars—The Fortitude, RardLe.ims
ley ; Gambier, Dare, from Gems ; Pros-Vilna, Citar.
Antwerp ; Prince Cobourg, Godfrey, from St. Makes; .
Gnit, from Calais; Cbventry, Smith, from Riga; ad
Colette, Kloosing, from Ostend. Otemaam—The
Rice, for Philadelphia ; Waterloo, Moor, fix Madras and
Harmony, Dedwith, for Antwerp ; Douglas, Muir, to T
rife; Omar, Esworthy, for Halifax; Weilingtnn. fl.nr.
Newry; Helen, Fyal, for Elsissecr and Stettin; Casey,
for Montserrat ; and Thetis, Rend, for liambstrgh.
Yesterday morning the Prince of Huse Ho
rode out in one of the Passes REt;gsy's e
attended by Lord STRWA lir, and visited the Doke
CLASENC9, at his residence in St. James's •
His Serene Highness proceeded to Clshltron
House, Piccadilly, to honour the Marquis and
chimes% with a morning visit.
lesterday Mr. BacEsT, the Judge Advocate.
an audience of the PRINCE RIKIENT, at f
House, and laid before his Royal Highness ter
ceedings of some Courts Martial, and took LLF,:
Highness's commands upon them.
The Selection of Sacred Music last night at f
Garden was truly sublime and most cffectrl
chorusses grand beyond description, and the a 77.
bestowed on the whole was warm and unieers;„
From the number of inclosures dropped
receiving-boxes of the Two-penny Post rev':
,evening, in all parts of the Town, filled with
u Love's keen darts,
" And bleeding hearts!"
The revenue of that Office, this day, promises
teed the amount of any Vslentinis Day, for yelnt
LONG CREDIT !—A Bond-street lounger
the other day, that although he had been to: .
successful in getting (we presume he meant
long credit; yet he must allow that Bean, the L
Contractor, had far outdone him in this way.
undertaking to procure credit for sine for a t
I years: for his part, he could not swallow it—f":'
so lona a term, that he thought not even Loot
self could go such lengthil
EcoftDEß's EPORT-011 Tuesday the nrre.
made a Report to the PRINCE REGENT oft 'ne
in g prisoners, capitally convicted at the Old &-
Wm. Seymour, T. l'earum, l'Aunore Israel, and Jet •
stead, for stealing ro. p.!, in dwiLhng-houses ; J. Wyvt.ll
stealing; Mary Ann James for forgery; Fa Haokn, R.
ing, R. West, W. West, J. Summers, J. Knight, J. kai
Chandler, and G. Bolton, for burglakes ; F. Ham". F
ter, Wm. (;overly, J. Whitford, H. Ellis, Sarah frinb.
Willis J. I)ainty, J. Holmes and F. Crrriek, kroner
in dwelling-houses; James Cr.viskshanks, T. Reed, J.:
T. Leonard, for highway robberies; and W.
Charlotte Newman, for I.'l-genes; earn (Surf re N.
Mary Ann James, .1. Path', and W. 11..t:hsaas,
for execution on Tuesday near.
COUNTRY MARKETS
Ussaince, Frs. 12.—Wheat, pet load, hail Od ts 11
Barley, per Tauter, 29s to 32.1—Oats, sits to
46s to 511s—Pcas, ais to 554—Rye, oos to Oes.
Oiroao, FEL 12—The price of a Basted of Win* lb
—The Quarters Loaf, Wheaten, is id.—Hosisemd.
Hasorae, Fm. IL—Wheat, as 6d tolls 02—Bram. 6
to vs lid—Vetches, ohs Od per bushel—Barley, *4l
—Oats, 56s 04 so Sir Od per quarter—Bread, m of 2,
peck—Flour, Gls to 00, .-sr sack.
Buss, Via. IY.—Wheat, St's to 9611:1
32, to 49s—(has, Els to 3M—arum., 4.21 to 700—n.
to 56s.—Brad, Is II d to fts i 4. per Gallop.
COAL MARKET, FEB. 13.
Dips at Market Ships Sold Price
sst Newcastle I 9 3.5 s Od ti O'
13 lenderiand I sea sa
I Welch Cod 1 vs. es.
DIED.
The Sd Instant, In Dublin, Mrs. Grange, widew of rit
Richard Chapel Grange, of SaUrnoent, county of
daughter of the 110 e. WIII. Rocbfort.
Tuesday, in Norton-street, Mary-la-bonne, linst-i
Ward, of the Bombay Fatablislienert.
andNuTth2,6,34anthEyirekaraklay,hitshemit.ryt.iecirlig:wWniiiiiirunwes.„‘d....o_,
mum.. of the Burgher congregation at Hawk'', is 1:,4,
wards was admitted to that of St. Andrew's, in 1799•
labeered under the palsy upwirds of 13 years.
LONDMit Printed and published hylkses B.a'
Placa, Templepda