The Express. — 1848-06-29 (London, England)

DEVONSHIRE. SUICIDE OF A LADY.—At Bideford, on Wednesday last, Mrs. Mary Madeline Bourmaster Douglas, aged 39, wife of Major Douglas, of the Royal Infantry, daughter of the late Gen. Sir William Dixon, fell by her own hand. She had been married to Major Douglas about 21 years, and the fruit or their tuition was ten children, seven of whom survive their ill-fated parent. The deceased had been in India with her husband almost ever since their marriage, and only returned to England about twelve months ago. Major Doug'es landed at Southampton some three weeks since, and posted immediately to Exeter, where he met the deceased, with whom he repaired to Bideford, and engaged a suite of apartments in the High-street, where they were lodging when the fatal event occurred. Nothing particular happened, at all conneeted with the sad catastrophe, until Thursday se'nnight, when the deceased lady called at the shop of Mr. Joce, druggist, and asked for a poison to destroy cats, mentioning prussic acid. Mr. Joce had not a supply in stock, but sent out to another druggist from whom he procured an ounce bottle, with which he furnished her, at the same time informing her, in answer to her questions, that it might be mixed in milk. On this bottle there was the usual printed label, " Hydrotianic acid: Scheele's strength " On Monday following she called at Mr. Jose's, stating that she had accidentally dropped the bottle and spilt its contents, and asking is be supplied with a second quantity. Mr. Joce again rent out, and obtained a similar bottle, which he sold the deceased. This bottle was labelled as the other, but on neither did the word " Poison" or " Prussic Acid " appear, nor any caution as to the use of its deadly contents. The deceased had appeared as usual up to the afternoon of Wednesday, although the person with whom she lodged deposed that she was frequently seen much dejected, and that her manner often suggodid to her doubts of her perfect sanity. The family had all dined together (Major and Mrs. Douglas and three of their children), and deceased seemed in good spirits, and talked with her husband with apparent pleasure of their proposed emu siltation for India in October. Soon after dinner deceased rose from the table seadenly, and went upstairs to Iv r dressing-room, and after the lapse of about half a minute came hurriedly down, and rushed into the drawing-room, where she immediately fell senseless on the floor. Major Douglas called for assistance, and the domestics were instantly in attendance, and raised the unfortunate lady to the sofa. Messengers were despatched for a surgeon, and within five minutes Mr. Smith was on the spot, and found life net quite extinct, but death occurred within • minute of his arrival. The major showed the surgeon a bottle which he had taken from deceased's dressing table, and on looking at it he immediately pronounced that it had contained prussic acid. It was almost emptied. Mr. Smith applied the stomach pump, and the fluid dislodged from the stomach sufficiently indicatel the cause of death, the peculiar odour of that deadly mixture being strongly betrayed. On going to the dressing rocm Mr. Smith found on the platform of the looking glass upon the dressing table a pair of scissors and the stopper and covering belonging to the bottle, so that there could be no doubt that the infatuated lady ran from her husband's presence and instantly repaired to the fatal drug.  MR. HAT:sMANN'S CZ;;;CbRT---. This eminent violoncellist gave his annual concert last night in the Princess's Concert Room. It was a classical entertainment, and afforded great pleasure to a numerous audience, especially to the lovers of the violoncello, an instrument which is more and more cultivated by amateurs. Mr. Hausmann's principal performance was a concertino of his own composition, accompanied on the pianoforte by M. Benedict. lie showed great judgment in consulting the true character of the instrument, which is always heard to the greatest advantage in strains of broad and vocal melody, and not in rapid fiddling passages in which solo players on the violoncello too frequently indulge. His tone and expression were admirable, while, in the execution of some brilliant embellishments, tastefully iutrm duced, he showed great command both of the fingerboard and the bow. Lachner's pretty song, " When midnight's darkest veil," sung by Mr. Locke'', with Ilausmann's obligato accompaniment, was loudly encored. Madame Dulcken played Ries's pianoforte solo on Swedish airs, with quintet accompaniments, one of the best works of that composer. Miss E. Lucombe sang Beethoven's famous scents, " Ah, pertido !" This young lady, who is just returned from Italy, whcra she has been pursuing her studies, premises to be one of our most distinguished vocalists. In the execution of Beethoven's arduous composition she exhibited not only much vocal power but great truth and force of expression. Paesiello's air, "II mio ben," a charming specimen of the pure and simple style of the old Italian school, was beautifully sung by Miss Bassano; and Miss A. Williasss'a clear soprano voice and facile execution of florid passages, acre advantageously exhibited in the great air " Non me dir," from " Don Glovanni." A manuscript quintet for the flute, violin, two tenors, and violoncello, composed by Molique, was performed, the violin part twilit( token by the composer, while the flute (the principal part) was very finely played by M. Pratten. This quintet is a most masterly composition, of a very different description from the music generally written for the flute, and calculated to raise the character of the instrument. There were also a solo on the violin by M. Molique; a portion of a duet of B. Romberg, played by Meters. Piatti and Hausmann ; and several other vocal and instrumental pieces.