The Sun. — 1857-05-08 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—An inquest was held yesbody of Mr. Gudge, who for forty two tyearserd a hasy on thefiilcd the office of the chief clerk of tho Jour nals of the House cf Commons, in which capacity he has enjoyed the esteem and good-will of all with whom be was brought into contact. For the last 10 or 15 years he had been suffering from an irritated state of the brain, and was liable at times to wandering of the mind. Of late he hart been more ttnn usually irritable and depressed, and was under medical treatment. On Wednesday he was seen on the terrace in front of the houses of Parliameflt by a barge builder employed at Searle's. He was observed to get on the parapet and lower himself down into the wattr, as if he was g ,ing to swim. He was got out almost directly, and taken to the Westminster Hospital, where he died yesterday morning. Mr. Newcome, surgeon to the hospital, stated that he had no doubt deceased died in consequence of the immersion, the effects of which would be aggravated by the deceased's impaired condition of brain. 'Verdict, !` Temporary insanity.",  A reward of 2/. was also granted to John M`Laughhn fur his gallant conduct in wading into the surf, at the risk of his life, to the rescue of one out of six persons who had been capsized from their boat off P.m Redford, on the coast of Donegal. The boat had proceeded but a short distance from the shore, when several successive 'teas struck her the last me completely overturning her, with five of her crew underneath, who thus unfortunately perished. The other man was thrown into the surf where 111`Laughlin rushed to his rescue, and succeeded, when life was almost ciutinct, in saving him—indeed some time elapsed before he was brought to consciousness. AVLaughlin was aided in his noble act by another man who held him by the skirts of his coat. This man received 10s. from the society for his services. Various other rewards were granted to parties who had meritoriously exerted themselves in saving life from wrecks.  The quarterly reports of 47 of the life-boats of the institution were, as usual, of a very favourable character. The boats were in a state of great efficiency, and their crews had much confidence in them. Indeed, so much so, that they never hesitated at the call of duty to go off in them either day or night, and in the most stormy weather. In consequence of the superior character of the new life-boats, toe care which the institution had taken to supply their crews with every available security to their own persons, and the encouragement which the higher scale of payments and rewards had afforded ',them, had; secured the willing and efficient services of the boatmen on our coasts, who, in the hour of danger and amidst the tossing tempest, display bravery worthy British sailors in any age, as the annals of this institution abundantly testify. Let the public then extend its liberal support to an institution which has been instrumental, by its life-boats and other means, is rescuing upwards of 10,000 shipwrecked seamen, and which is now making such strensoes efforts to extend its sphere of operations in the cause of humanity. A beautiful lithographic coloured working drawing on a large scale, of Mr. Peake's plan of life-boats, which is now adopted and successfully used by this institution, was exhibited at the meeting. The Duke of Northumberland had intimated his intention to have a large number of copies of the same struck off and circulated throughout our colonies and in foreign countries. This suggestion originated with Captain Washington, hydrographer of the Admiralty, to whom the community is much indebted for the zeal and intelligence which he has, for many years past, displayed in assisting to mature a plan of life-boats which may fairly be c;nsidered the first in the world, and with which his name will over be associated as the chairman of the Northumberland Life-Boat Committee.  An interesting report was read from the inspector of life-boats, respecting his recent visit to the life-boats of the society stationed on the south and west coasts of England. About 8001. having been ordered to be paid for various lift-boats and life-boat houses, the proceedings closed.