The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-04 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY MURDER AND SUICIDE

We find in the St. Louis Bulletin, of 24th July, the fol-
lowing extraordinary narrative :
NORTHERN PASSAGE.-LAMENTABLE SUICIDE OF ONE

OF THE DISCOVF.RERS

ST. LOUIS, JULY 24.—1 t will be seen by reference to the
British papers, that the North Passage so long sought after
by adventurous navigators, has at length been discovered by
two young men belonging to the Hudson Bay Company. It
is not our intention to enter into a detailed report of the me-
morable voyage, but merely to mention the melancholy fate
of one of the discoverers.

It appears that on their return to fork Factory—the prin-
cipal depot of the Hudson's Bay Company—that they both
set out for England, eager to grasp the rich reward which the
British government never fails to lavish upon all her citizens
who contribute any thing towards extending her wide spread
domains—or to perpetuating her well earned fame. On the
arrival of the two young men at Lake Winnepick, they dis-
agreed about the route which should be pursued, and there
separated. Mr. Simpson, accompanied by Mr. Bird, Mr.
Legros, and twenty or thirty of the colonists, struck across
for St. Peters, intending to push on to New York via of the
Lakes, and from thence sail for Liverpool.—Mr. Dace, his
compeer, with another party, set out for the Canadas.
About the 20th June, Mr. Simpson and his party had
reached Turtle river, where they encamped for the night. He
had, from the beginning of the journey, exhibited symptoms
of mental hallucination, caused as the party supposed, by the
dread of being outstripped by his competitor in their long
race for London. On, the evening above mentioned, he had
continued to push on until a late hour at night, and even then
his feverish state of excitement deprived him of nourishment
or rest.

When they stopped, and while in the act of camping, Mr.
Simpson turned suddenly round, and shot Mr. Bird through
the heart ; and before the astounded party could fly from the
presence of the madman, he discharged the other barrel, and
mortally wounded Mr. Legros. It appears the party had
separated ; and when he committed the murder on his com-
panions there were only two more present, one of them a son
of Legros, who immediately fled a short distance. The dying
father earnestly implored Simpson to permit his son to return
and embrace him before he should die—which he agreed to,
and beckoned them back, saying there was nothing to fear.
On their return, Simpson accused Legros of conspiring
with Bird, and asked him whether it was not their intention
to assassinate him that night? The dying man said it was,
but on being interrogated a second time, he denied having
any intention or design of such a deed, and shortly after be
expired. Simpson then ordered the two men to bridle their
horses, and prepare to return with him to the settlement,
but no sooner were they mounted, than they dashed off in
quest of the main body, and overtook them about 18 suites
a-head.

They all returned in the morning, and when they had
reached within 200 yards of the camp, they got ksiimpse of
Simpson at the door of his tent, and immediately afterwards
heard a report of a gun ; supposing that be was determined
to carry out the work of destruction which he had began,
they attempted to intimidate him by firing three volleys in
the direction of the camp, and then approached it cautiously.
When they came up, they found their commander weltering
in his blood, and on closer examination found that he had
literally blown his head to pieces !
" Far in the wild, unknown to public view," were the
the three bodies committed to the same grave by their com-
panions, who then pursued their route with feelings more
easily conceived than described. . _ __ _ _

The party arrived at St. Peters about the Ist of July, in
possession of the important papers, and other property be-
longing to the ill-fated Simpson.
These particulars we learn from Mr. Wm. A. Aitkin, a
trader from Lake Superior. Mr. Aitkin further states that
the whole matter is involved in mystery, which time only
can clear up.
The unfortunate Simpson was a native of Scotland, and a
nephew of the present Governor of the H. B. Co. He was
about 28 years of age, possessed of fine talents, an amiable
disposition, and the universal esteem of those who knew him.

EXTRAORDINARY FECUNDITY.—A short-horned cow, the
property of Mr. Gill, of Cumrew, produced twin calves on
the 25th of August, 1839, and on the 18th instant produced
other two, making the unparalleled number of four within the
year. They are are all heifer calves and doing well.—lbid.
CLEVER THEFT.—During the late fair, Superintendent
M`Kay, of the rural police, had a con4erable number of
young depredators apprehended and putin ward as protection
to the pockets of the lieges. On searching them, a pocket
handkerchief was found on one young scamp. " Why,"
says Mr. WlCay, " this looks very like my own." He felt
his pocket, and his own sure enough it proved ! . The boy
who attacked the pocket of Mr. M`Kay so successfully,
assuredly deserves to be classed as A 1 in the police books.—
Paisley paper.

That a war with Prance is now regarded by the organs of
popery as the most promising engine for carrying out the de-
signs of the Papal See against the power and religion of
Great Britain, is no longer concealed. On the contrary, the
fact is broadly stated and openly avowed. Nor is that en-
gine to be directed against Great Britain alone. Far from
it. It is to be made the lever for uprooting the Protestant
faith in every state throughout the whole extent of Europe.
In short, war and the Propagandist system are now an-
nounced as ready to go hand in hand.—Dublin Packet.
Dartmouth, the proposed packet station, is a town of
great antiquity, and in the time of Edward 111. was one of
the chief contributors to the armament assembled before
Calais. A considerable Newfoundland trade was, during a
long period, carried on by its merchants, which is now lost
to England. Its prosperity, however, may be restored
through the medium of steam-ships ; indeed, its inhabitants
have an hereditary claim for consideration from its having
been the birthplace of Newcomen, who, in 1705, took out
the first patent for a steam-engine. Of its harbour nothing
need be said after the able report of the commissioners, and
its proximity to Torbay renders It a most important and
interesting maritime district, the scene of activity in the
naval wars of England.

THE SEASON.—We have had some fine weather since our
last, but on the whole the week has been unfavourable, par-
ticularly for the wheats. The grain has considerably reco-
vered from the effects of the storm of Monday week, but a
large breadth of oats. we fear, will not rise again. The
harvest has partially commenced in the vicinity. At Halton,
Mr. Williamson has begun, and at Hest Bank, our neigh-
bour, Mr. Thos. Heaton, has got into a field on the shore
side. We are sorry to find that a good deal of the harvest is
still to be done in the south. A vast quantity of rain has
fallen and the water is standing in pools on the land.—
Preston Pilot.

BOSTON.—In the neighbourhood of Boston the harvest is
general. In many parts the grain has been led in good con-
dition. In Halland Fen the harvest is nearly over; and in
the parishes of Kirton, Sutterton, Wigtoft, Benington, Sib-
sey, &c., the harvest work will be completed by the ensuing
week. The heavy rains of Monday and Tuesday, accompa-
nied as they were with wind, have laid the grain and shaken
the corn in many parts. Generally speaking, however,
though the crops are thin, yet straw is heavy, and the yield
above an average. Many hundreds of the sons of Ireland,
who came down to Lincolnshire with the expectations that
the harvest would be early, have returned. There perhaps
never were so many of these men in this country as at pre-
sent. Their improved appearance is the subject of general
re ma rk Times.

STOCKPORT VIADUCT.—This gigantic and most wonder-
ful piece of workmanship is steadily approaching to comple-
tion, and assumes now an appearance of the most interesting
kind. Already are the coping and ornamental top stones
laid along about one-half its length—fifteen of the wood cen-
tres have been struck, two only remaining to be formed—nor
are there more than four of the arches to be turned, the piers
having been finished long since ; so that the whole twenty-
six arches, we should judge from appearances, will be com-
pleted by the latter end of October. At that period, we hope
sufficient progress will also have been made in the line on
the Cheshire side of the river, to permit the directors to adopt
another station-house, as at present the distance into Hea-
ton-Norris, from the centre of our population is disagreeably
inconvenient to the greater portion of it. As many of our
readers may not have had an opportunity of seeing this
" lion " of Stockport, we will give them a slight idea of it by
briefly stating that 22 of the 26 arches are 93 feet in the span,
and that the height of the river arch, from its under-crown to
the surface of the water is 107 feet.—Slockport Advertiser.
MORTALITY AMONG CHILDREN BROUGHT UP ay 1-14Nn.
—At an inquest held before Mr. Baker, at the Moynere
Arms, Hoxton, on Saturday, upon the body of an Want
which was fed upon biscuit, the surgeon who was exaMlned,
in the course of his evidence, stated that it was a common
observation of the medical profession, that they found- that_
during the first twelfe but of every five infants so
brought up, one died. The fact was, that though the child
may be healthy, from not having its proper food, such as
nature intended for children, the blood became quite changed.
On a post marten'', examination in the above case, the limp
and all the vital organs were found perfect, but the blood was
disorganised, and there was a general want of blood through-
out the system, and which was the cause of death. Mr.
Baker referred to an official circular, issued May 18, 1840,
by order of the poor law commissioners, upon the subject
(No. 4), in which is given an abridged statistical account in
reference to the above subject. In that circular it was stated
that the experience of foundling hospitals shows that the
want of sufficient food is to adults. The Abbe Gallard states
that at Parthenay 54 of the 153 foundlings died in the year
after birth, or 35 out of 100 born. At X , 197 out of
244 born, or 81 per cent., perished in the first year. He as-
certained that as much care was taken of the children at
X-- as at Parthenay; but at X---- the children were
all brought up by hand (au biberon), and it is to the want of
milk (au defaut seul d' allaitement) that the abbe and the
managers of the hospital ascribe the excessive mortality. In
the year ending June, 1838, 71,888 infants died under one
year of age, the greater part of them of poor persons, and
the probability was assumed to be that that arose from the
coarse, innutritious, and inadequate subsistence of impove-
rished parents.
-

THE SLEEPING PIIENOMENON.—In consequence of its
being reported that this unfortunate object of public curiosity
was deceased, a friend of ours recently went to Deighton and
made personal enquiries, and visited the house in which he
still continues to vegetate. His name is Thomas Bradley,
aged 22 years, and he has had two somniferous attacks pre-
vious to the present one. The first lasted but a few weeks,
the second during a period of forty weeks ! and the present
sleep has now continued exactly fifty-two weeks yesterday
(Friday). He has had more nourishment administered to
him within these last three months than previously, and his
personal appearance seems improved. He has within the
last mentioned period exhibited some scintillations of return-
ing faculties, but has again relapsed. During his apparent
approach to sensation, he is stated to have uttered some
words ; but so incoherently and indistinctly as to be unintel-
ligible. He continues in the same posture as before, viz.,
reclining partly on his left side ; with one leg straight ant
the other crossed over it at nearly a right angle from the
knee. This uncommon object has baffled the skill of every
medical gentleman who has as yet seen him. It is, however,
the united opinion of the profession that if he returns to sen-
sation, his existence will soon terminate.—Halifax Guardian.

Abipping

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER It—Wind E. Fair

Anftivisn.—N. Pres. Felix, Solitra, from Londonderry—Seagul,
Bransby, from Arklow—Belgrave, Bennett, from Wick low—Barus,
Lowther, from London—and Star, Johnson, from Poole.
SAiceD.—Eufrasia, Paicarich, for Trieste—Giorgio, Chirico, for
Messina—Wakefield, Young, for Quebec—Virginian, Allen, for
New York—Nora Creina, Pentreath, for Syra and Constantinople
—Adelaide, Granby, for Oporto—Emily, Young, for Bombay—Cas-
pian, Patten, for Bath—Georgiana, Toole, Tiger, Baker, and
Fanny, Glover, for New Orleans—Castries, Beasley, for St. Lucia
Falkland, Appleton, for Leghorn—Gregory Begosloff, Tuleff, for
St. Petersburg and Cronstadt—Aristides, Hutchings, for Newfound-
land—Mary Marsden, Williams, for Monte Video—Woodstock,
Austin, for Demerara—and George IV, Cornelius, for Gibraltar and
Cadiz.

Robert Burns, Messenger, from Quebec, off Holyhead; sailed
3th August
Sphynx, Conniber, from Malta, at Patras
- Arrow, Rider, hence at Cadiz
Marion, Parson, hence St. Übes
Blackness, Murray, hence at Archangel
Arab, Pinlay, hence at St. Petersburg

Aden-, Ponionby, from China, at Plymouth ; sailed from Cape
Sing Moon Bay 27th April. Left loading, for London, the General
Kyd, Asia, Fortescue, Guisachan, Frances Ann. and Mangalore;
for Bristol, the Arabian, and for Greenock, the Tyrer.
Release, --, hence at Labrador
Collingwood, Guthrie, from Hambro' for New South Wales,
at Ramsgate—having been on shore on Sandwich Flats

, from Manilla, at Macao, and would proceed to
Zorigkoo to load
Active, Moore, henna for Kiel, at Milford
Spencer, -, hence to Rio, was spoken 13th ult. in lat. 45,
long. 9

.kiiiii Dugdale, M`Gowau, from Sincapore to London, was spoken
25th May, in the Straits of Sunda

Lady Rowena, -, from Bombay to this port, was spoken
4th July, in lat. 330 S, long. 15 30 E

WEDNESDAY, SE pm's xft
.2.7 W ind variable and light

ARRIVED.—George, M'Grundell, from St. John, N.B.
SArt.sn.—Agnes, Norman, for St. Thomas—Louisa, Snow, for
Boston—Robert Whiteway, Bartlett, for Valparaiso—Chalco, Dick-
inson, for Monte Video—Masy Ellen, Joy, and Broad Oak. M'Coy,
for Bahia—Fanny & Jane, Lovering, tor Messina and Palermo—
Triumph, White, for Dordt—Palme, Dickinson, and Frederica,
Kroll, for Hamburg—and William & Joseph, Crisp, for St. Peters-
burgh.

Sullivan, -, hence off Cape Hatteras
Elizabeth Bruce, Higgins, hence at Apalachicola
Amazon, Stringer, hence at Bath
Alliance, -, hence at Mobile
Acadia. (steamer) Miller, hence and Halifax, at Boston 17th Aug.
at g a.m.

Gloucester, -; Cumberland, Hatch; Medford, -, and
Russia, , hence at ditto

Howard, -, hence at ditto, with loss of cutwater, having
been in contact with the C. Prichard, for Halifax. the 7th Aug.
Shaw, Chase; Viola, Palermo, and Charlotte, , hence at
New Orleans

Brooklyn, Richardson, hence at New York gth Aug. ; Rob Roy,
Arnold, ditto, loth; Roscoe, Huttlestone, ditto, 19th; Neva, Bun-
ker, and Huntsville, Eldridge, ditto, 14th ; Tuskina, Spencer ; Ste-
phen Whitney, Thompson-. and Canada, Wilson, ditto, 16th
President,. (steamer) Fayrer, hence at ditto, 17th, at 5 p.m.
Nashville, Wood, hence off ditto, 18th
. Virginia, Barstow, hence at Philadelphia

Algonquin, Turley. hence at ditto. On the 17th June was struck
by lightning, which shivered main topgallant mast and did other
damage
Julia, Reg, hence at Providence
Oxford,
Tamerlane, Theobald, and Ann Wayne, hence at ditto
Commerce, Reid; Minerva, Adams; J. A. Lancaster, and Gan-
ges, Jones, hence at Virginia
Princess Victoria, Ferguson; Adelaide, Davidson; Cumberland,
Power; Mary Muir, Payne ; Diadem, Leslie, and Charles Hum-
berston, Graham, hence at Quebec
Jane Walker, Whyte, hence at St. John, N.B.
Moro Castle, hence for New Orleans, off Key Vaccas
Thomas Battersby, -, hence at Savanilla
Lord Glenelg, -, from Antigua, at ditto
Sir Henry Parnell, -f from St. Thomas, at ditto
Europa, Budig, hence at Swinemunde
Great Western, (steamer) from New York, at Bristol, Ist instant,
sailed lath ult. She arrived out in I-if days
Hebe, Le Boutellih, sailed from Trieste for this port 17th Aug.
Commerce, -, for this port, was lying at the bar of Mira-
michi 3rd Aug. waiting for water
Banffshire, hence for New York, was spoken in lat. 48 0, long.
29

Brenda, Deritt. from Savannah to St. John, N.B. went on shore
3rd ult. in Machias Bay, and will be a total wreck
Helena, -, hence for Bombay, was spoken 11th July, in lat.
9 0, long. 22 0

Ocean, hence for Baltimore, was spoken 10th Aug. in lat. 42 0.
long. 62 0

Nkw Yonic, August 15.—A large ship was see►► on shore on
Stirrup Keys, 22nd July.—Hith Ang. A British schooner, from
Grenada, was lost 25th July, on Grand Key; crew drowned
HALIFAX, August 15.—The Cora, —, from St. John, N.B. to
Milford, was spoken off New Harbour, waterlogged, and en-
leavouring to make a port, having struck on Sable Island Bar

THURSDAY, SErricmazn. 3.

—Wind W.N.W

ARRIVED.—RoyaI Albert, —, from Demerara and Trinidad—
Orpheus, Cole, from New York—Amelia, —, from Cork—Bra-
zilian, White, from London—Arrow, Hall, from Bristol—Laurina
Thompson, —. and Swansea, Thomas, hence at Swansea—
and Wm. Gillies, Clark, fram Chepstow.

Dos de Enero, and Virginia, Ferrer, hence at Havana
Amelia, Bleasdale, sailed from ditto for Antwerp 30th July
Eutau, Allen, hence at New York 7th Aug.
Wm. Pirrie, Reid, hence at Quebec
Victoria, Oliver, from Bahia Blanca, at Falmouth
Blundell, —, from Trinidad, at Dublin
• Kensington, --, from New Orleans, at the Clyde
NEW YORK, Aug. B.—The wreck of apparently a large brig,
painted black, with a white streak, was seen off Frying Pan Shoal.

TELEGRAPH OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 3, 1840,

Wind at Holyhead, W.N.W. moderate in the morning, West, at
noon, and S.W. blowing fresh and showery in the evening.
Off Holyhead, at 7 3o a.m. No. 1511, Mountaineer, steamer, from
Swansea; 357, Ellen Clare, 8.8.-at 8 a.m.; ago, Liverpool, 8.8.
at 11 a.m. from Cronstadt; and 4278, Sir John lieresford, B.Bk.
from Hamburg.

Off Point Limas, at 8 a.m. (has a pilot) No. 1719, Gannet, 8.8.
from Africa.

Off Great Ormshead, at 10 a.m. No. 62, Agnes, 8.8. for St.
Thomas, and 2037, Robert Whiteway, 8.8. at 1 p.m. for Valparaiso.
Off Voel Nant, at 11 30 a.m. No. 923, Brazilian, B.Bk.
East of the Floating Light, at 3 15 p.m. No. 1739, Eve, 8.8.
In the Victoria Channel, at 5 p.m. No. 1719, Gannet, 8.8. from
Africa.

Off the port, at 6 pan. 1 ship, 1 barque, 5 brigs, and 6 schooners

VESSELS ENTERED FOR LOADING
(SINCE OUR LAST PUBLICATION.)

EAST INDIES, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 4,c.
Letitia, W Black, 575 Batavia and Sincapore,
T & H Murray or Bold & Co
Imogen, H Shields, 330 Calcutta, W & J Tyrer

WEST INDIES AND MADEIRA.
Calder, Turner, 226 St. Thomas, W Rose & Co
Ahercromby, J Ure, 458 Demerara, W N Moore
Kingston, Broadfoot, 388 Kingston, Jamaica, Rowlinson &Co

AN ACCOUNT OF CATTLE,

Imported into Liverpool, from '2sth to the 3i st ultimo, inclusive

Cows. Sheep. Pigs. Horses. Mules. Calves. Lambs
2379 7197 1009 97 8 14 708
Previously 47085 113614 127591 2885 165 229 13781

Cows. Sheep. Pigs. Horses. Calves. Lambs
16 1720
2984. 8149

Previously

5126 104