The Sun. — 1859-08-24 (London, England)

WEBB."  TILE CONVICT SMETHURST.  This convict, who at present lies in a position so perilous, is the son of a small schoolmaster, and was born in the neighbourhood of Coventry, in the year 1804. There is, however, no pretext for the allegation that his father was tutor to the Earl of Dysart ; nor does there appear to be any better foundation for his assertion that he is a regularlyeducated medical man. According to his own account, as detailed in a boarding-house where he lii7ed, he married his present wife from feelings of gratitude for her attention to him when ill, during the period of his career as a medical student; but there is no proof that he originally was more than a chemist, or possesses a higher professional degree than that of the Apothecaries' Company and a German degree (Giessen) of doubtful merit. He undoubtedly, however, carried on medical practice at Stockwell, Camberwell, and various places adjoining London. But it was at Ramsgate where he practised longest, and was best known. He carried on business there for several years, and it is but fair to add that, except as being considered somewhat close-fisted and fond of money, he bore a tolerably respectable character. After residing there for some time be quitted for Germany, with the double view of placing himself under the celebrated hydropathist Priessnitz, for the purpose of obtaining relief from a lameness with which he was afflicted, and of acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the system to enable him to practise it. On his return to Reaectsaettamdenb: to entitled" ii stestablishment, gateemd he, en, Ht n, oybt an or t on ppl nya bt ohl ipes erh ni ea ed. d„ a ba To och koe I word-wk upon a t et is hr e ac seuuarbei je R. T. Claridge, Esq., a gentleman who then enjoyed some notoriety for having introduced the coldwater system into ltahraiesa bycyeountry, and who ramuetsetr ihnadveeed,bife,eana doe! 7 m eetniivnirasbt,l eh his s czheaa-1 " for the health of his fellow Creatures was universal as his benevoleornetaace.." A prayer- for his health follows by the author, ioannsdfrtohme sweorrikp interlarded bryenqdoe accurately The extraordinary trial to jurymen in . any degree connectnsreea adopted warmly by Smethurstof objecting, at his with distillation is Scripture, not courseve frequentlyr very 9 explained by this work. In its pages he evidently afraid that this might raise in their advocates " Teetotalism," and he was breasts a prejudice against him. The book is rather respectable as a compilation, and it is somewhat remarkable that when absent in Germany his practice was, at his request, taken care of by a gentleman before whom he was eventually brought at Richmond on a charge for murder. But at Ramsgate he never got into what is termed " fashionable practice," and h consequently removed to the establishment of Moor Park, in Surrey. After keeping this for several years, he eventually sold it to advantage, and led a comparatively private life until arrested on the charge for which he has recently been conthdhie aolmu' hngeehdc con. The conviction o e v depressed, ecsst eo df t,. the ee presentbSelmi eevt ehushra ss t from the been n the time, sentencennif 0 will u andoo f be carried into effect. Tuesday, in the wer.,-t 'after next, is the day fixed for the execution, ' but Sir Walter Farquhar, the High Sheriff, has, . ally notified the fact to the wretched • not officiwitl, however, be done this day, in tl man. That Mr. Abbott, the Under-Sheriff, and ae presence of gaol officials.