The Sun. — 1837-08-10 (London, England)

SINGULAR CASE OF SUICIDE.—On Monday an inquest was held at the London Hospital. in the Mile-endroad, before Mr. Baker, the coroner, on view of the body of Mr. Thomas Metcalf, a young man, whose friends and connections are of the highest respectability, and who had committed an act of suicide under the following singular circumstances. It appears that the friends of the deceased had latterly procured him a situation of great trust in the office of a Russian merchant, and that soon after lie took possession of it his appearance became much changed, and his mind desponding. On the Thursday he proceeded to Layton, in Essex, and returned to his residence in Lucas street, St. George's in the East, on the same evening, when appearing very ill, Mr. Rutherford, a surgeon in the neighbourhood, was sent for and attended. On his atriva', he perceived some slight marks of blood on the waistcoat of the deceased, which caused him to examine him closely, and to his great surprise he discovered, on removing his neckcloth, a wound on his throat full an inch and a half in length, and more than half an inch in depth, and his inner garments were completely saturated with gore. On being questioned Ire said, he felt himself unequal to the task of discharging the duties of his situation, that his mind bename affected in consequence, and that he inflicted the wound on himself at Layton, and subsequently walked home. The hemorrhage was instantly stopped, and the deceased removed to the hospital, but owing to the extent of the wound, and the great loss of blood, he died shortly afterwards. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned.  A very ingenious instrument, of which we have seen a model, has been invented by Captain George Smith, R.N., intended to give warning of the approach, and to announce the course a steamer is sailing on in a fog. It consists of a gong, on which a hammer is made to strike *every ten seconds a certain number of blows, by very simple machinery, according to the course a steamer is sailing on. For example, if she be sailing north, the gong is struck once ; if east, twice ; if south, thrice ; and if west, four times, every ten seconds. By this systematic method the position, course, and proximity of a steamer will be clearly announced to any other vessel. In rivers Captain Smith proposes the gang to emit single sounds every ten seconds, which would be enough to give warning. He also proposes to apply the instrument to railway trains, by the blowing of a trumpet. The peculiar merit of the invention appears to us to lie in the equability of intervals, and of intensit) of sound, which cannot be equalled by any human means.—Rail way Mag,ozine. ENGLISH OPERA IlousE.--A new musical romance, called Manche (il- Jersey, the libretto by Mr. Peake, and the music by Mr. John Barnett, was produced at this theatre last night. The music is most creditable to the taste and genius of Mr. Barnett ; though the greatest praise we can award to it is that it is pretty. Nearly all the songs (they are but few) were encored ; nor do we find much fault with this ; they, generally speaking, are of that light, playful, and, let it be added, popular character, which is now more sure of succeeding than more ambitious and highly elaborated compositions. Miss Romer, as _Manche, gave her music with much taste, and she acted—which required a greater stretch of power—with force and just feeling. The opera was highly successful, and was announced for repetition on Friday amidst undivided applause. To the no small astonishment of many of the respectable residents of that part of the town, a blue and white flag (the colours of Lord Francis Egerton and Mr. Wilbraham) was seen on Sunday morning last, waving from the tower of St. John's church in this town. It remained there for some time, but was at length removed on the strong remonstrance of a member of the congregation, who, knowing that even the beershops and pothouses did not hang out party flags on the Sunday, applied to the churchwardens on the subject. We know not by whom this act of indecency was committed ; but we have every reason to believe that it was entirely without the sanction or knowledge of the Rev. William Huntington, the rector, who, we understand, was absent from town. We have said that the flag was removed ; but we should add, that this was only for the remainder of the day ; it was re-hoisted on Monday morning, and remained there Burin;; the whole of Monday and yesterday ; and for aught know to the contrary, it there still. Surely this is a matter of which the Bishop of Chester, or ...Manchester his Chancellor, is bound to take cognizance. Guardian.