The Sun. — 1833-05-23 (London, England)

DREADFUL OCCURRENCE AT THE HOUSE OF THE HON. MRS. PORTMAN.  An Inquest was yesterday held at the Merlin's Cave, South Audley street, before Mr. limas, on view of the body of James Jordan, aged twenty-eight, in the employ of Mr. Briggs, upholsterer, of Greek-street, Soho, who terminated his existence by cutting his throat in the drawing-room of the Hon. Mrs. Portman's house, No. 5, Deanstreet, Park-lane. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased had for some time past led a dissinated life, which aff.cted his mind to that degree that he imagined every person he saw would murder him. On Tuesday last he was sent by his employer to prepare the house for the reception of the ahove-named lady, who was expected in town in a few days. Mrs. Vera, the housekeeper, showed him up into the drawing-room, when he stared at her wildly, and commenced pulling the furniture about in a strange way. After some incoherent observations he told her that a gip.ey fortune-teller had a few days ago prophesied that he would be executed; but he was determined, he said, to do the deed himself. The housekeeper was so terrified that she ran with all possible haste to the street-door, and called on some neighbours, who proceeded with her up stairs to the drawing-room, when they beheld the unfortunate man lying on the carpet weltering in his blood, which was flowing copiously from no fewer than five wounds inflicted in various parts of the throat and neck. Mr. Bright, a surgeon, was called in, but life was extinct. A bloody chisel and penknife were found near him, with which he appears to have perpetrated the sanguinary act.—Verdict—lnsanity.  Baron NATHANIEL ROTHSCHILD arrived ,a London this morning from Paris.  We understand that Mrs. TROLLOPE'S new work, " The Abbess," will be published on Monday. The High Church party have adopted as their motto, " Dum !Tiro, Spero," which they facetiously translate, " While there's a spire, there's hope." His Majesty's ship Jupiter, with Mr. JEILEMIE and the 10th Regiment on board, arrived at Rio Janeiro on the 28th of F-•bruary, from nymoutb, and sailed on the 8&h March for the Mauritius. The springs are so low that many of the pumps in the elevated parts of the metropolis have been for se veral weeks totally dry. Early this morning three detachments of fine young men, under the command of a captain, marched from Chelsea and Westminster, where they hay- been re cruited during the last week, on their route to Gravesend. On their arrival, they will immediately embark on board two vessels lying there, which hive been engaged by Don PEDRO'S agents to cunvey them direct:), to Oporto. They are well provii:ed with money, clothing, and provisions. The non.commissi,,ned officers are all men who have served during the Peninsular war, and well acquainted with the country. With these reinforcements, and those from France, Don PEDRO will have nearly 16,000 foreign troops to commence the campaign. The following as a sample of the marvellous stories now in circulation in Lisbon during this season of superstitious excitement, may perhaps pass ; it has made a strong impression upon many of the lower orders :—" A young man in the habit of a Friar, of mild and benevolent countenance, knocked at the door of a rich merchant and solicited charity for the poor sick people attacked by the disease now so prevalent ; a female servant who opened the door told him that her master was at dinner and could not be spoken with, but he particularly directed that she would inform him of hie request. The gentleman desired the stranger to be admitted. On entering the room he was requested to sit down and partake of the repast, which the stranger refused, and with singular mildness urged his suit, and added, ' This disease, with which your city is afflicted, is sent by the Almighty God to warn sinners of their uncertain state in this life, and will continue until the day of the ascension; and that you may not doubt what I tell you, your servant who opened the door is now a corpse in the next room.' This was found to be the case. The astonished merchant immediately returned, but the stranger was gone, nor could any trace of him he found, although several persons were standing in the street. The day mentioned is the 16th of May, which is looked for with much anxiety."—Aforning Herald. I)