The Sun. — 1825-02-14 (London, England)

FEB. 12.—The Trustees and Directors of the Hampshire Friendly Society held their primary meeting at the Grand Jury Chamber, in this city, on Monday last, at which JOHN FLEMING, Esq. M.P. presided, to whose strenuous and indefatigable exertions this excellent institution owes its establishment. The Secretary laid before the Board several applications from persons to be admitted members, and also proposals from the Union Hand in Hand Club, of 108 individuals, who held their meetings at the Black Dog, Gosport, to assure the whole of their members with the societ: . The President informed the Directors, that having received notice of this application, he had forwarded a statement of the respective ages, payments, and assurances, of the members to Mr. Morgan, Actuary of the Equitable Insurance Company, who had certified that they might be admitted with security and advantage to the Institution : indeed, their object beingg, purely benevolent, he was confident the Board would, at all times, be most ready to make a sacrifice to secure to such clubs the advantages they look forward to in affliction and old age, but which, from erroneous calculations in their articles, and misapplications of their funds, are seldom realised. Many proposals having also been received from mariners trading ' coastways, a resolution was passed to admit them to the benefits of the united assurances, with only this restriction—that they are not to be entitled to the payments in sickness, unless confined by illness within the county. Many other propositions were agreed to, and from the number of applications aheady received, a considerable addition of members is anticipated previous to their next meeting. At the CATHOLIC MEETINGS held yesterday evening, at the city and west end of the town, it was unanimously resolved, in deference to the expressed wishes of many friends to Catholic emancipation, that no more money should be collected under the designation of the Catholic Rent ; but that the different Committees should be still authorised to receive such contributions as might be voluntarily offered under the name of the " British Catholic Free Gift ;" such contributions being applied to the following purposes :-Ist. To vindicate, by means of a liberal press, the principles, civil and religious, of the Catholics of these realms; and expose the attempts of self-interested writers to confirm the prejudices which well-meaning Protestants entertain against their Catholic fellow subjects. 2d, To defray the expellees of the preparation of petitions to Parliament, anti attending the collection of signatures in every part of the kingdom. 3d. To furnish pecuniary means for our learned anti pious clergy to publish works in defence of the Catholic religion. 4th. To purchase for the use of Catholic charity schools, cheep books of instruction, that the principles of our holy religion may be early. impressed on the minds of the children, to enable them to give a reason of the faith that is within them, and direct others into the road that leads to eternal life. Suici DE.-011 Saturday evening an inquest was held at the Edinburgh Castle Tavern, Sweeting's-rents, Royal Exchange, before Mr. Shelton, the Coroner, on the body of James Owen, aged Sd, who shot himself with a pistol loaded with three balls, which literally blew off' his head, and scattered it in pieces about the room. It appeared that the deceased,who was an eminent violin player, went into Mr. Betts's shop, at the back of the Royal Exchange, and asked leave to go up stairs, beine, a friend of Mr. Betts. His request was complied with,. when he immediately put a period to his existence by shooting himself through the head with a pistol. Several witnesses were examined respecting the deceased's state of mind, and they proved, that since his return from China, to which place he went in the capacity of master of the band, in Lord Amherst's embassy, he had been particularly wild and peculiar in hismaimerand behaviour, and which they attributed to a fall he received from a horse in China. Some of his friends described his insanity to have been occasioned by professional disappointment. He had performed with great eclat at the Opera.house, and was a member of the Philharmonic Society ; but for the approe:thing season his services had been dispensed with at the Opera-house, and he was determined to offer his services to Mr. Thomas Cooke for the Oratorios. The witnesses were questioned by the Coroner and .Jury respecting the deceased's circumstances. They said he was possessed of independent property ; had, at the least 4001. in Lubbock's Bank ; and, in fact, when he purchased the pistols, he gave a check on that firm for the price—viz. 23 guineas. The only cause that could, therefore, be assigned to induce him to commit suicide, was the acute manner in which he felt the rejection of his services, and which produced a temporary derangement of mind.—The jury returned a verdict of insanity. THOMAS WENTWORTH BEAumoNT, Esq. M.P. has presented the Northumberland Horticultural Society with twenty pounds. The same gentleman has also given ten pounds to the Mechanics' Institute at Alnwick. The Bishop of DURHAM iS also a contributor to the said Institute, having presented the Committee with ten guineas.  Earl Bathurst entertained a distinguished party to dinner on Saturday at his residence in Stanhope-street. Mrs. Frecmantle entertained a select circle of fashionables on Saturday evening at her house in Stanhope-street. Lord King gave a grand dinner on Saturday to the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdown, Lord Ebrington, Lord Altllorp, the HonourablT. Mr. and 31rs. Agar Ellis, Mr. and Mrs.. Thomas Hope, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Heathcote, &c. at his house in Dover-street. James Scarlett, Esq. M.P. had a dinner party on Saturday, at his house in New-street, Spring-gardens. The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury had a dinner party yesterday at her house in Arlington-street. J. C. Lambton, Esq. M.P. entertained his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex and a distinguished party to dinner) esterpay at his villa at Wimbledon. A splendid Ball was given, on the 11th Feb., by the Gentlemen of the Northamptonshire Fox Club. The Committee consisted of Sir Robt. Gunning Mr. Mustin, Mr. Payne, Mr. Benfield, and Mr.Hungerford, the whole furnished by and under the direction of Mr. Jarrin, of Bond-street, London. The gentlemen Inv: dressed in scarlet coats and white trowsers, and the ladies in white, with a profusion of pearls, diamonds, &c. The ballroom was ninety feet long, ornamented with garlands in all directions. At the top was dituated a table for tea, coffee, ice, punch a la Romaine, sorbet, a la Torque, attended to by Mrs. Jarrin. The company began to arrive at nine o'clock, and quadrilles commenced, and continued till one, when the supper-room was thrown open. The company entered, the military band playing a favourite Scotch air. The quadrille band was from Weippart's Soho-square. After supper the company commenced dancing, which was kept up till seven o'clock.— Many Noblemen were present.  111AnnLicEs IN