The Sun. — 1827-08-28 (London, England)

THE WIFE OF TWO HUSBANDS.  The following singular account of the funeral of a celebrated beauty, in her day, who was called Kate Cannon, at which the chief mourners were her two husbands, is taken from an English Newspaper for the year 1752. It is in a letter from the mayor of Colchester, dated August 15, 1752 :--- " Perhaps you have heard that a chest was seized by our Custom-house officers, which was landed near this place a fortnight ago. They took it for smuggled goods, though the person who brought it produced the King of France's signature to Mr. Williams, Harnhurgh merchant. Our-'Custom's people, not satisfied with Mr.. Williams's account, opened the chest, and one of them was going to run his hanger into it when the gentleman to whom it belonged clapped his hand upon his sword, and desired him, in French, to desist, for it was the corpse of his dear-wife. Not content with this, the officers plucked., off the embalming, and found it as he had said. The gentleman, who appeared a person of consequence, was in the utmost agonies, while they made a speCtacle of the lady, who was placed in the church, where any body might come and look at her; nor would they suffer him to bury. her until lie gave a further account of himself. There were other chests of fine clothes, ewels, &c. helOnging to the deceased. He acknowledged, at last, that he was a person of quality, and his name not Williams ; that he was born in Florence, and that the lady was a native of England, whom lie married, and she desired to be buried in Essex ; that he had brought her from Verona, in Italy, to France, by land—then hired a vessel for Dover, discharged her there, and took another for Harwich, but was driven hither by contrary winds. This account did not satisfy the people ; he must tell his name and condition, in order to clear himself of a suspicion of murder. He was continually in tears, and had a key of the vestry, where he constantly sat with the corpse. He talked both Latin and French, and finding a gentleman to converse with him in these languages, he (to his great surprise) told him who the lady was, which, proving to be a person he knew, he could not help uncovering the face. In abort, the gentleman confessed that he was the Earl of Roseberry's eldest son, Lord Dalinany ; that he was born and educated in Italy, and never was in England till two or three years ago, when lie fell passionately in love with this lady, in London, and prevailed on her to quit the kingdom, and marry him ; that, having bad health, he had travelled with her all over Europe : and, when she was dying, she asked for pen and paper, and wrote, lam the wife of the Rev. Mr. G---, Rector of Th—, in Essex ; my maiden name was C. Cannon, and my last request is to be buried at Th---. " The poor gentleman, who last married her, protests he never knew, until this confession on her death-bed, that she was the wife of another person ; but in compliance with her desire, he brought her over, and should have buried her at Th—, if the corpse had not been stopped, without making any stir about it. After the Nobleman had made this confession, they sent to the Rev. Mr. G., who put himself first into a passion, and threatened to run her last husband through the body. However, he was prevailed on to be calm ; it was represented to him, that this gentleman had been at great expence and trouble to fulfil her desire, and Mr. G. at length consented to see him. The meeting was very moving, and they addressed each other civilly. The stranger protested that his affection to the lady Wag so strong, that it was his earnest wish, not only to attend her to the grave, but to he shut up for ever with her there. He had a very handsome coffin made for her, with six large silver plates,Overit ;, and, at last, was very loth to part with her to_ have her buried. He put himself in the deepest mourning, and, on Sunday last, in a coach, attended the corpse to Th---where Mr. G. met it, in like manner. After the funeral, Mr. G. attended him to London, where they parted very civilly.