The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1803-01-31 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST. On Thursday last an inquisition was held at the Portland Coffee-hottee, Portland-street, before G. Huuosuq, Esq. his Majesty's Coroner for the county of Middlesex, on view of the body of Wi Liam Cc:mot num, Ecq. Mr. GLoRnE GRAY, the master of the coffeehouse, was the witness first examined. He said he had known the deceased in consequence of his having used his coffee-house for the space of three or four years previous to his death. Ile had been a colonel in the guards, but had sold out upwards of twelvemonth ago. On Tuesday last he came to the witness's house alone in a coach, and asked whether he could have a bed ; he was informed he could be accommodated, and was shewn into the coffee-room, where he supped and drank a pint of wine. He retired to bed in the room where he now lays, about twelve o'clock. No person went near him or heard any thing of him till the forenoon of Wednesday, when one of the waiters proceeded to his room in order to take his cloaths to brush, but he was unable to obtain admittance, the door being fastened on the inside. Between that time and too o'clock the witness, as well as others, his servants, went up to the apartment of the deceased, but could not make him answer, nor could they gain admittance. Ile heard him make a noise as if he was snoring. The witness finding it was impossible to get the door open, sent for a smith, who, as the key was in the lock, found some difficulty in picking it. He at length accomplished it, and, upon the door bring opened, the deceased was discovered laying on the bed, in a situation dreadful to he described. His throat was cut in a most shocking manner; his arm was partly severed, in two places, and a deep wound was inflicted on his belly, through which his intestines appeared.—He was speechless and senseless, but was not quite dead. \Tr. Johnson, a surgeon of Queen Anne-street, was immediately sent for, and he washed his throat with warm water, having previously called in the assistance of two other surgeons, who, the moment they saw the deceased, pronounced him past recovery. He expired in a very few minutes. He had come from his country seat only on Monday last. Where his country seat was situated, the witness did not know. He was in general apparently of a solid, low, and melancholy disposition ; and these affections of his mind were peculiarly manifested in the whole of his behaviour and deportment on Tuesday last. At the foot of the bed were laying two razors, covered with blood, with which doubtless he had perpetrated the fatal deed. The witness believed he was in affluent circumstances, and he understood he had been married about seven months ago. The maiden name of his lady he did not recollect. The razors with which the deceased had committed the act of violence upon himself were his own.  JAMES LUDWICH GRANT, of No. 34, Manchester-street, and of Thropton-hall, near Staines, Esq. stated that he had known the deceased upwards of thirty years • he had lived in habits of the greatest intimacy with him. His general character was that of a mild, humane, good-natured man, of the strictest honour, and uncommonly fine feelings. The witness did not know, nor had he ever heard of the deceased's Laving been guilty of any—bad or dishonourablefaction. He remembered some time ago the deceased had mentioned to Mrs. GRANT that he was unhappy in his mind, and that he could not get any sleep; but he did not mention any other cause for his mental uneasiness, except some little derangement with regard to his money matters. This was a reason to which the witness did not attach the slightest degree of importance, because he knew the deceased was a man of considerable property. His country seat was at Elston Lodge, near Bedford.  This was all the evidence adduced before the Coroner's Jury. Georto e .HonsoN, Esq.--, Gentlemen, the subject upon which you are now called upon to deliberate is one which cannot but be most afflicting to those who are actuated by sentiments of cornmisseration for the distresses to which human nature is liable. You have to contemplate the dreadful catastrophe of a man who, apparently blessed with every earthly enjoyment which could render life valuable, has in a moment of mental despair laid violent hands upon himself. Far be it from me to infer that every man who destroys his own existence is necessarily to be supposed to have committed the deed under the influence of a disordered imagination. There are many instances in which a man, impatient of the common miseries of life, deliberately commits, an act of suicide, and rushes unbidden into the presence of his Maker—when such a case is manifested by proper evidence, juries, constituted as you are, act in violation of their duty if, from mistaken motives of humanity, they do not by their verdict attach that ignominy to the crime of self-murder which it merits. Whether this Is such a case is for your consideration. You have before you that the deceased was a person possessed of wealth and affluence; that he was blessed with those gifts of fortune which smooth the path of life, and make its continuance deiirable. It appears to me, therefore) that. it is impossible to attribute the fatal act to any other cause that than visitation of Heaven, which beret him for the time of his reason, and rendered him incapable 'of knowing what he did." The learned Coroner further discussed the subject in this hdrnane point of view; and expressed sentiments which did honor to his feelings. The JUry, without a moment's hesitatiori, pronounced a verdict of—Luttacy. The Coroner then issued the usual warrant for Christian interment.  --The following are the names of those Gentlemen who obtained academical honours, on taking the degree of Batchelor of Arts on Friday last, in the University of Cambridge.  Wranzters.—,Messrs. Startle, and Here, of St. John's College ; Mandell, of Queen's ; Wiles, Parke, Pryine and kn,e, of T/inity CoUogi:; Wood, of Emmanuel ; Thomson, of Jesus; Davy's, of Christ's; Ewbank, of Queen's ; Gosli, of St. John's; Coltman, of Tsiiiity. Senior Optimes.—Mcsirs. Brett, of Queen's; Bonney, of Clarehall ; Moine, of St. John's ; Collett, of Trinity.; Hamilton, of Pembroke-hall; Standiv and Waite, of St. Johns; Heathy, of Queen's ; Brown and Titakby, of St. John's ; Jones' of Peterhouse ; Walpole, of Trinity ; Paul, of roterliouse 3 Nowt), of St. John's • Johnson, of Trinity ; Smyth, of Queen's; and Cole, of Jumior Optiate.s.—Me,.ll-4. Bryan, of Peterhouse ; atrilinson, and Rowdier, of St. John's •, raglan, of Christ's ; of Peterhouse ; P. Ward, of -Quern's;' Hutchin',, of Triniti. • Roberts, of St. John's ; and Colo, of Clue hall