The Sun. — 1848-03-22 (London, England)

CALEDONIAN ASYLIIM.—A. general meeting was held yesterday, at the house of the Scottish Corporation, Crane-court, for the election of directors, and the transaction of other business. An objection was made be-. fore the commencement of the proceedings by Mr. Dobie, who maintained that the meeting was illegal, as only eight days' public notice had been given instead of ten, which was required by the Act. A long discussion took place upon this important question, which resulted in an agreement that the meeting should simply elect the directors, and that a special meeting should be subsequently called to confirm that proceeding, and dispose of the remainder of the business. The committee then proposed a list of gentlemen to fill the vacancies caused by resignation and the retirements by rotation —namely, the Mac Gregor, Messrs. J. Mackenzie, P. Robertson, E. Antrobus, J. Auldjo, W. Burn, M. Boyd. I). E. Forbes, A. Gillespie, and Dr. A. Henderson. In consequence of Mr. Gillespie declining to fill the office, the name of Mr. Harrison was substituted for that gentleman, and the list recommended by the director adopted, after an amendment had been proposed and lost by a large majority. The proceedings then terminated.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY ♦ FEMALE,--Yesterday forenoon, about half-past ten o'clock, a fine looking young woman, fashionably attired, entered a coffee-house in Judd-street,',Branswick-square, and took a seat in a private part of the coffee-room. She requested the waiter to fetch her a cup of tea and some toast. Her conduct attracted some attention, and at length she was observed to empty the contents of a phial into the tea, which she swallowed. Shortly afterwards she felt pain, and became insensible, when a surgeon was called, and it was found that she was labouring under symptoms of poison. The stomach-pump was used, and a quantity of laudanum was extracted. On being restored to her senses, she declined giving any account of herself, when a policeman was procured, and she was taken to the station-house, and charged with having attempted to destroy her life. On being searched a letter was found in her pocket addressed to her father, a highly respectable tradesman in Goswell-street, named Ironmans, bidding him and her friends adieu, and expressing her determination to destroy herself, as her life was a burden to her, and alluding to her disappointment in a love affair. Her friends were immediately communicated with, when it was discovered that some time ago the unfortunate creature formed an intimacy with a gentleman of property, who had seduced her under a promise of marriage, and then abandoned her, which so affected her mind, that she had since made five attempts upon her life, and was twice charged before Mr. Henry, the magistrate at Bowstreet Police-court. Very recently her seducer had married a lady, which added to her affliction, and there was little doubt that her intellect was deranged. She was again taken before a magistrate in a very weakly condition, when she was allowed a seat. The seducer's card was handed in, but his name and address was not made public. The prisoner looked pale and ghastly. Her relations and friends were present, and she did not recognise any of them, and she seemed to be unconscious of anything that was passing around her, but occasionally the tears rushed from her eyes. It being evident that she was still in a dangerous state, and unable to understand any evidence which might be given against her, she wac ordered to be taken to the hospital, and that proper means should be taken to provide for her in a lunatic asylum.