The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1847-11-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—On Sunday Mr. James M'Cullagh, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Dublin, committed suicide in his bed-room, at ten o'clock in the evening, by cutting his throat with a razor. The Rev. S. Butcher and Dr. Stokes, his most intimate friend, gave evidence that for the last few days he had been low spirited, and complained that persons thought he was not right in his head. Dr. Stokes said,— " I think his disease was melancholia, arising from dyspepsia' which originated from over application of mind to a difficult mathematical problem, while he neglected his bowels, and was drinking strong tea. I believe him to have been a very reiigious man ; on Sunday morning I found him reading Butler's Sermons,.which he said it was his habit to read ; he asked me if I had ever read them ; I said I had not, and he said, tapping me on the shoulder, ' My dear friend, I could not recommend you a better book.' He often seemed labouring under despondency ; but I never saw him in such health and spirits as he was in since the College election. I heard that two years ago he had an ulcer on his leg. I do not think that the' stoppage of that ulcer affected his mind, because he was in excellent health. He stated in his conversation that his object was to bring a still stronger bearing between sacred and revealed religion." The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity." The Daily News gives the following account of the deceased :—" As a tribute of respectto the deceased professor, the quarterly examinations now in progress have been suspended. He was forty years of age, and entered college as sizar in 1824. He was soon conspicuous both for his scientific and classical acquirements. Scholarship and the science gold medal were among his early prizes.. He was twice a candidate for fellowship. At first he sulked and was unsuccessful. In 'his second, his answer was peculiarly brilliant, especially in mathematics and physics. He was appointed Mathematical Professor some years after, and on the elevation oi. Dr. Lloyd to the senior fellowship, he succeeded to the chair of Natural Philosophy, in which he gave the most nndoul.tql stqsfactien to the few rOlowship randi \ ` -1•••  dates who attended his 'lectures. The learning of this illustrious man was not confined to the severer sciences. He had read profoundly and accurately a general course of literature, and took especial pleasure in languages, with many of which he was conversant. His contributions to the transactions of. the academy, even before he obtained a fellowship, brought up a European reputation, which was not diminished by his subsequent exertions in the cause of science. He had an extensive correspondence with the learned 'men of Germany. and took much pleasure in referring to the testimonials to his erudition which appeared in the German journals. I may add that his friends expected for him the provostship of the University, in the event of his surviving the present provost, and the present ministry, or a ministry of similar principles, being in office. The liberals intra muros have sustained a deep loss in his death. He was their leader and rallying point, and will be missed in the days of future struggle." To this may be added he was an unsuccessful candidate for the representation of the University against Mr. Shaw.  T-111