Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-12

David Paul Brown, the eminent lawyer,
died III Philadelphia yesterday.
"DEAD: A CONTEMPLATION Mot long
since an aged English clergyman, named Wat
son, killed his wife in fit Of passion, and the
British Home Office for some reason or other,
after he had been convicted of the murder and
sentenced to death, exchanged that punishment
for Imprisonment for life. A very remarkable
degree of curiosity was excited in England to
know why the murder was committed, and what
were the cxtcnuating circumstances which re-
moved it from the category Of capital offences.
As if to stimulate the curiosity, Mr.. Watson
has furnished the public with valuable contrl-
bution to the inner history of the StOckwc
murder. During the interval between the COM
mission of the crime and his arrcst-that is, at
the pcriod when the reverend gentleman re-
manned in his home, with the corpse OF his
wife in the next room-it appears to have
struck Mr. Watson, as practced contributor
to periodical literature, that pleasant paper
might be written Oh the feelings which the as
pcct of a wie's dead body would naturally OK
cite in the mind Of a contemplativc husband.
The idea forthwith took substance and shape,
and the latest contribution to the curlOsltlcs OF
literature is contained in this essay, which
bears the sensational title of Dead: 4 Contcul-
plation.
In this essay or rhapsody, not one word of
which suggests that the lady had died by his
hands, the Rev DIR. Watson cxalts the virtues
and loneliness Of the woman whom his clerical
interposItlon had introduced to better state OF
existence From an account Of the production
given by the London Telegraph, the "Contem-
plation," stripped Of its vcrbiagc, amounts to
~ III rpbn,, wifi, 1n,l If * hard n
realize you will not sec her again-a remark
which is more impressive for its truth than
originality. Amidst mass ofdreary common
place the reader is not allowed to forget the SUI
periority Of the writer to the wife OF his bosom,
but is reminded that though possessed of far
more attractive grace" she had ''less of energy
and power," mot at all an improbable state
nlcnt, Judging from the final catastrophe;) and
we are informed that his wife treasured up
note because it came from him, and to her it
was precious" Even the depth Of the writer's
alleged regret does not blind his eyes to the
mpcrlcctions of the dear departed. 'Was she
not, we are told, occasionally hayward, some
what perversc, and difficult to be persuaded to
comply with that which things demanded p
However, Notwithstanding this "reminiscences
Mr. Watson kind reader, to whom the solo-
guy is addressed, is hidden TO be charitable in
these words: Thou wilt not mediate on these
little impcrfcctions Of woman nature no; thou
hast already forgiven them. Thou cousidercst
in thy conscientiousncss that thou thysef vast
not altogether perfect"
After this candid admission that there may
have been faults on both sides, Mr. Watson
wandcrs into spccuaions about the relations
between man and wife In 4 future state, and
the origin of innate IDEAS and only comes down
to mundane affairs in an apology he offers for
giving his wife handsome funeral, or, in his
own words for 'havnga longer train OF mourn
crs than his condition in lite would seem to
justify" winding up with stiltcd rhapsody on
the solemn and impressive peace Of tho grave
yard. -
The paper appears to have been written dur
ing the days which elapsed between Mr. Wat
sons crime and its discovery, while his wife S
corpse was hardly cold. Such production
would seem to afford a strong prcsun'pton If
not proof, of the writer 5 insanity, though the
Telegraph considers it cunning device to shield
himself from the consequences of his crime by
the opposite incompatlbility of the essay with
the hypothesis Of guilt. -BaN. SIN.
The Amcricus Club Of Philadelphia, before
their departure from Baltimore, were drawn up
in front OF the Virginia headquarters at the St.
Clair their band playing Aud Lang Syne"
They gave three cheers for Governor Walker,
who, in response to calls, came forward and ad-
dressed them in his usual happy vein. After
complimenting the members for their bearing
during their sojourn in Baltimore, he express
ed the hope that they would ever be found as
now, in the cause of right and justice This |
club had previously elected Gov w. an hon
oraly member. Three cheers were then given
for Virginia, the mother Of States and Dtmo-
Gratis. I