The Sun. — 1836-11-08 (London, England)

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS. —We understand that Captain Stephens, the manager, has made an advantageous arrangement for a lfrge supply of stone from the Osborne Estate, near Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, and commenced preparations for opening a quarry. The Directors being satisfied that steam tugs and lighters will give a certainty and expedition to the conveyance beyond the power of sailing vessels to accomplish, are taking steps to supply them ; and as the deld of conveyance of the dock lands to the Company cannot now, we presume, take many days in completion, we shall soon see the sea-wall and embarkment for the first dock site in active progress. During the last week a large shipowner of Liverpool, a shipowner of London, who is also a proprietor of West India property, and a third gentleman, one of the Manchester manufacturers, arrived here to inspect the port, and satisfy themselves as to its commercial capabilities. The result of their investigation led them to declare their determination to give the Dock Company their most cordial support. This decision of these competent judges, so deeply interested in the question, must be highly gratifying to the Directors and Shareholders of the Southampton Docks.—Hampshire Advertiser. Mr. T. Gardiner, at Belfast, a gentleman, well known in the scientific world, has discovered a method of producing sound sleep without the use of medicines or opiates of any kind. Mr. Gardiner has tried his method on many persons, who had previously suffered much from want of rest, with the fullest succors.—Belfast paper.  Last night a Coroner's inquest STIRLING and a highly respectable New Brompton, to inquire relative to Hammond Jones, aged 43, a miniature paint who died from the effects of an overdose of laudanum. Matilda Besser, niece to the deceased, was on a visit to her uncle, who resided at No. 44, Brompton Row. The deceased was a married man, and had a large family. He suffered much from attacks of rheumatism, for which he took laudanum. He was not of sober habits. On Saturday morning, about seven o'clock, Mrs. Jones called witness. She was in the bed-room, where the deceased was lying on the bed, and to whom she was giving warm water. He was very drowsy, and perfectly sensible. Mrs. Jones then showed witness a phial which had contained laudanum and which she had discovered in the kite.'wn. It was empty. Mrs. Jones in consequence sent her daught:r to Mr. M‘Manue, surgeon, to know what quantity had b€, ^n sent. The answer returned was that it held-a great deal too much, and they hoped he had not taken it all. The daught,-r brought back some medicine—an emetic. In half an hour's time, Mrs. Jones being much alarmed, sent her daughter a second time. Mr. M'Manus's shopman then came, and ordered a draught. On leaving, he directed that the deceased should have strong coffee and be kept awake. In the afternoon Mrs. Jones sent again, when similar directions were sent by Mr. M‘Manus, who, with his shopman, came to see the deceased about seven o'clock at night, and who ordered vinegar and water to be administered. About twelve o'clock at night Mr. Jones sent for Mr. Glen, a medical gentleman, who gave hopes of the deceased's recovery, as he had taken the laudanum so long. He ordered medicine. The deceased gradually became reduced, and died about seven o'clock on Sunday morning. By the Jury—The deceased, on being questioned upon the quantity he had taken, observed that he did not know he had taken all the laudanum, but if the bottle was empty he supposed that he Lad. On the deceased finding that he was not likely to live, he stated that he had not taken it to commit self-destruction. He had a desire to live. The phial, which was of the two ounce size, was produced. It was labelled "- poison."  Verdict—" That the deceased destroyed himself, being at the time in a state of temporary mental deratwement." Yesterday, at one o'clock, an inquest, which dicr not terminate until the evening, was held before Wm. CARTER, Esq., Coroner for Surrey, at the sign of the Waterloo Arms, George-street, Camberwell, upon the body of Wm. Henry Blake, aged 19 years, who, in order to commit suicide, swallowed upwards of half an ounce of arsenic, afterwards opened a vein in the left arm, and subsequently hanged himself. The deo, ised was the ton of a respectable tradesman residing in Camberwell, but did not live with his father, and the only cause which can be assigned for his commit tin..* such an extraordinary and resolute act of suicide, is his having formed a very ardent attachment to a young female, living as housemaid in the service of Mr. Arnold, a surgeon, residing in Camden-row, Peckham. John Morgan, a gardener, lodged at No. 24, Waterloostreet, and ha known the deceased from his infancy. His parents were highly respectable, and be had two uncles, men of independence, residing at Brighton. About a month since the deceased went to Brighton, and he did not return until Thursday night last, after witness had retired to bed. The deceased, when out of a situation, lodged with witness, and slept in the same room. He undressed himself on the night in question and got into bed, but immediately after was seized with a violent vomiting fit, and was obliged to get out again. He appeared very ill, but witness considered that he might have been drinking, and the sickness was the effects of the liquor. Upon witness getting up in the morning, he (witness) asked him how he was, and he replied, " I think a little better." Witness at  that time had no idea that he had taken poison. At eight o'clock witness went to the deceased's mother's to breakfast, and upon inquiry after him, Mrs. Blake stated that she had not seen him, and was not aware that he had returned from Brighton. She immediately went to see after him, but had not been gone above ten minutes when she returned and said that she had knocked several times at the bedroom door, could get no reply, and that the door was locked. Witness then went, and after knocking and calling several times to the deceased, and receiving no answer, procured a ladder, entered the room at the window, and discovered the deceased hanging ; his neckerchief was tied tightly round his neck, and fastened to the bottom railing of the bedstead.  The Foreman—ln what position did you find the body? Witness—The limbs were drawn together, and the feet were within an inch of the floor. His tongue, which was very black, was hanging out of his mouth.