The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-08 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

DREADFUL ATTEMPT AT MURDER &SUICIDE

As Sir Charles Bamfylde was passing along Montague
square, about half-past 4 yesterday afternoon, he was shot
st bye man, who Immediately drawing another pistol
from his pocket, placed the muzzle in his mouth and blew
the upper part of his head away. His body now lies at
the Westmorland Arms, George-street, Manchester-square,
picked up by (Paddington) Tom Jones and a man of
the name of Johnson. The ball entered Sir Charles's
side, but was supposed not to be mortal, as he was ena-
bled to walk home, stemming the blood with his hand-
kerchief.

(PEIRTNER PLRTICULLIS.)

The name of the unfortunate man is Joseph Morland,
and, as we are informed, he formerly kept a small public- ,
house near a country residence of Sir Charles, while his '
wife held the situation of housekeeper. A short time
since he left his house, and coming to London, took up
his residence at the Westmorland Arms, and had often
expressed to the landlord the dislike he had of his wife's
continuing' with Sir Charles. The cool and deliberate
manner he proceeded in the arrangement of Isis
Waifs. a few hours before the murderous at-
tempt on Sir Charles, shows the resolution he had
formed of sacrificing his own life as well as that of the
object of his jealousy. Early yesterday morning he ex-
pressed a wish to make his will, observing that life was
very uncertain ; and sent for a person in the neighbour-
hood for that purpose. After they had been together
some time, and every thing appeared to have been set-
tled to his satisfaction, he called for a quartern of gin,
which he and the other drank, and then parted. Mor-
land then went to his room, and after remaining there a
short time came down again and went out. It was then
about ten o'clock. He appeared somewhat uneasy. It
is supposed that he had watched for Sir Charles a consi-
derable time, as it was not till near four in the afternoon
that the attempt was made. Sir Charles had proceeded
about a bundr. d yards from his own residence, when
Morland was observed a few yards behind him. A
baker with his basket was at the moment turning into
George-street, and rather obstructed his aim, as he was
seen to turn his arm round the man, and immediately
fired a pistol, the ball of which entered the right side of
Sir Charles, and lodged beneath the shoulder-blade.-fir
Charles cried out "Oh!" and fell upon the pave-
ment. 11., however, with assistance, walked to his own
house, where he still continues in a precarious state,
the ball not having yet been extracted. The pistol, it ap-
pears, was a doable barrelled one, and the moment Sir
Charles fell, Morland discharged the contents of the
other barrel into his own mouth, which carried away
part of the tongue, and lodged in the back of the head.
The body was conveyed to the Worcester Arms in
George-street, there to await the result of the Coroner's
inquest, which will be held this evening. The affair has
' excited a great sensation in the neighbourhood. Groupe'
of persens were assembled, this morning, about the
house of Sir Charles, eagerly enquiring after his welfare.
Dr. Heaviside, and several other professional men, were
in attendance; and Sir Charles, at 12 o'clock,was proceed-
ing favourably.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.—The Tragedy of Mac-
beth was performed at this home last night, with the
novelty of Mrs. OGILVIE'S first appearance in the cha-
racter of Lady Macbeth. Of this arduous part, she ac
quitted herself in a manner to sustain her previous repu-
tation with the public, and which cannot be regarded as
other than successful. The scene in which Lady Mac-
beth is made to work upon the daring imagination of her
Lord, and tempt him on into the path of criminal ambi-
tion, and that wherein she betrays the distempered rest-
lessness of the guilt-stricken soul were those in which
this Lady obtained the largest portion of applause. Mr.
MACREADY gave ample effect to the part of Macbeth.—
With his usual energy and truth. he wrought up the
harrowing portraiture of the ambitious murderer and
reckless tyrant. His last scene was rewarded with consi-
derable approbation. Mr. ABBOTT'S billCdiff was all
that could be wished for, either as regarded the char le.
ter itself, or as one which contributes to give so much
effect and prominency to the other principal parts.
- - - -

Joseph Sabine, Esq., the Secretary to the Horticultural
Society of London, has sent to the Botanic Garden, Hull,
six tubers, of the native potatoe, about the size of the
hazel nut, the produce of tubers, obtained last spring
from South America, grown in the Society's Experimental
Garden, at Turnbull Green. They are the first which
were ever introduced into thiscountry, and are considered
a great curiosity.
There has been a vacancy in the" Latymer Free Gram-
mar School," Hammersmith, for a school-master ; and
when the election came on, before the Trustees, fix., on
Thursday last, there werefbrty-eight candidates! The
salary is 2551. &year, besides the perquisites of residence,
coals, candles, talc.; and the revenue of the property, im-
proved in consequence of recent investigations, is about
6501. a year, for the education and clothing of SO boys
and girls.

A correspondent at Toulon, after extolling the Expe-
rimental Physiology of Magendie, adds—" About three
weeks ago be made a very extraordinary discovery, and
one likely to lead to most important results. He divided
the principal nerves of an animal at different times to be-
come acquainted with their different uses. To his great
astonishment, he found invariably, en dividing a pair of
proceeding from the spinal marrow, that he de-
prived the animal of motion and instinct. On cutting
the one to the right, the animal was deprived of instinct ;
and dividing the left, of motion ;—without destroying
life. This very curious fact has not yet had time to be
known in England."

The Monthly Magazine for April, 1823, gives the
following extract from a work by M. Hourens. The ex-
periment detailed in it had for object—an examination
into the causes of Nervous Sensibility. A Correspond-
ent thinks experiments of this description extremely re-
prehensible:—" To observe the pi ceon losing by degrees
its faculty of flying as its cerekellum is removed ••• then,
that of walking; and, lastly, that of holding itself lien
upright posture, and this also, is only cradually lost.—
The animal begins to be incapable of remaining erect
upon its legs; and then its feet become unable to sustain
it. At fast every fixed position becomes impossi-
ble—it makes incredible efforts to attain some particular
posture, without being able to accomplish it: and yet,
when exhausted by fatigue, it seems desirous of obtain-
ing some repose; its senses are so clear, that the least
gestures of the operators produces a re-commencement of
its contortions, without the slightest convulse 7e motion,
so long as the tubercula or the medulla oblongata remain
uninjured."
SINGULAR CHARACTER.—On Monday week, an in-
quest was held at Oadby. near Leicester, before C. Mere-
dith, tient. coroner for the district, on the body of Mr.
Geore Hutchins, who was found dead in his bed the
morning preceding. Verdict—Died by the Visitation of
tiod. The deceased was upwards of fourscore years of
age, and was unmarried. During the latter years of his
life he lived in a secluded manner, never permitting any
person to reside with him. it was but once in two months
that he even allowed the necessary operations of a char-
woman ; an interdiction perhaps in seine measure occa-
sioned by his general antipathy to the sex. It is some-
thing singular that only the day preceding his death, be
mentioned to a neighbour his intention of having a stone
engraved to his memory whilst still living, fearing that
his heirs would not pay that tribute of atintion. The
idea was at the same time accompanied with a remark
that the date could not be supplied at any future period
—a period, alas! at no greater distance than the next
rising ion.