The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-11-27 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF AN EX-SECRETARY OF LORD GEORGE GORDON, AND CURIOUS DISCLOSURE.  Late on Tuesday evening last, an inquest was held before Mr. Payne, at the Blue Anchor, St. Mary-at-Hill, London, on the body of Robert Watson, aged 88, who put a period to his existence in the following novel and determined manner: Ebenezer Brown, jun., son of the landlord of the above house, deposed that he bad known deceased tor about eight months, a portion of which time he had lodged in his father's house. In March last deceased left his lodgings, for the purpose, as he said, of visiting a relation at Bath. Nothing more was heard of deceased until about six weeks ago, when witness's father received a note from deceased, dated Guy's Hospital, in which he was confined in consequence of having been found in a fit in King William-street, City. On deceased's recovery he again came to lodge at the Blue Anchor, and up to the time of the fatal occurrence he appeared to enjoy good health. At times, however, deceased seemed very absent in his manner. On Sunday evening last deceased retired to his bed-room at about half-past eleven o'clock, and told witness to call him by ten next morning, as be wanted to go early into Portiand-street to receive some money. At the hour appointed witness went up to the deceased's bed-room, and on approaching the bed he found deceased in it, having his night-cap drawn down over his face and neck, and fastened round the latter by a silk handkerchief. Through a loop knot in the handkerchief deceased and iftrittniVitiii hew tiring- clenched 1.11 both hanBs.""~lte had made use of the poker as a smith does the handle of a vice. Witness called his father, who instantly came and unfastened the handkerchief; but deceased appeared dead, and was very black in the face. A surgeon was sent for, who endeavoured to restore animation, but without effect. Evan Brown, the landlord of the house, corroborated his son's evidence, and, in addition, made the following statement. He said he did not know who deceased was until Sunday evening last, when the latter related to him the principal particulars of his life. Deceased said that he had been deeply implicated in the riots of 1780, sad that at that period he was private secretary to Lord George Gordon. He afterwards became president for a time of the London Corresponding Society. Having resigned the situation he suffered various vicissitudes of foreign service, and being at Rome in the year 1812, he became acquainted with a party who had in hia possession several important documents relative to the Stuart family, and to the secret history of the papal government, particularly in reference to its connexions with the exiled royal family. Deceased said that having made this discovery, he communicated it to Lord Castlereagh, then chief secretary to the foreign department, who authorised him (deceased) to produce the documents in question at any price. Deceased, af:er much difficulty, succeeded in obtaining them, and a frigate was sent out by the English government to bring deceased with the documents to this- country. In the meantime the papal government being apprised of the existence of the documents, seized, and set its seal upon them. After much negotiation, the papal government consented to give up those portions of the documents that related to the Stuart family, and this country, on condition that it should be allowed to retain those papers which referred to its own acts in behalf of the Stuarts. Lord Brougham (then Mr. Henry Brougham) was the chief negotiator in the transaction between the English and Papal governments, and front him deceased had received several sums of money, though not all that had been originally promised to him. Witness, in conclusion, said that at the latter part of the recital deceased appeared very much excited, and in that state retired to his bed-room. Deceased owed witness between £3O and £4O, and was to pay him a portion of it the day he was found dead. The jury consulted a considerable time, and returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased destoyed himself while in a state of temporary mental derangement."