On Wednesday morning, the body of a middle-aged man was
picked up in the Thames at low-water, opposite the Temple. On removing the corpse, which was in a shocking state of decomposition, blood was observed to issue from three deep cuts on the back of the head. The deceased appears to have been a coal-porter. No money was found in his possession, or any thing to lead to the discovery of his name. The body was carefully examined by several medical men ; who were of opinion that the cuts had been received in drifting against some sharp substances in the river.
Among the numerous suicides that take place in England, a suicide committed from an apprehension of being buried alive will be admitted to be a singularity. We are not aware of such a whimsical motive having in any former case directed the hand even of the insane. In the following instance, it seems to have been the only cause of the unhappy hypochondriac's rashness. Letitia Grant, aged fifty-six, killed herself on Monday. James Coster, her nephew, who gave evidence of the fact before the Coroner, said "his aunt was naturally a very timid woman, and always expressed her alarm at the least infection. Last week, she complained of a bowel complaint ; which, despite all opinions to the contrary, she insisted was an attack of the cholera morbus. She recovered ; but so fearful was she of the disease, that every morning she fumigated the room with preventives of various descriptions. On Monday, she fancied she had another attack, and wished to be renioved to the Cholera Hospital ; and requested, if she should fall a victim to the malady, that she might be bled, lest the medical men should be deceived, and that she should be interred alive. He called in medical aid to convince her there were no grounds for her fears ; yet still she would declare she had the complaint. In the afternoon, about three o'clock, he heard a noise in her sitting-room ; and upon running up, he found the old lady lying on the floor weltering in her blood, with her throat cut in a most horrid manner, and quite dead, with the razor with which she committed
the act lying by her side." . .
On Tuesdaymorning, a little before one o'clock, a fire broke out On the premises of Mr. Dalby, the hatter, in High Holborn, next door to
Mr. Braggs's Shooting-gallery. The dames were first discovered burst ing from the first-floor window ; and it was not till they had reached the second floor, where Mr. and Mrs. Dalby slept, that they could be aroused to a sense of their danger. By the advice of the people in front of the house, they gained the roof, from whence they were taken into Fulwood's Rents. There was a rumour that two of their children had perished in the ruins; but we are happy to say such is not the fact. By about one o'clock, the shooting-gallery caught fire; and in a very few minutes the entire building was in one mass of flame, notwith standing there was an abundant supply of water, which the firemen used with great alacrity. On the roof of this building there was a stock of gunpowder kept, which added greatly to the fears of the neigh
bours. However, nothing serious arose from it ; but when the flames reached the roof, several heavy explosions took place' and the entire roof suddenly fell in. Mr. Dalby is insured in the Norwich Union, and Mr. Braggs in the Phcenix.
A little boy, named Willis, died on Saturday, from inflammation of the brain, occasioned by a fright. He had taken a bunch of grapes from the garden of Mr. Arnold, the paper-manufacturer, in the Kings land Road ; and two of the men working at the mill, as a punishment, let off the steam of the high-pressure engine in his face, three or four times. A verdict of "Manslaughter" has been returned against the two men ! The steam of the high-pressure engine is perfectly harmless.
On Wednesday evening, a few minutes before seven o'clock, Furnival's Inn and the surrounding houses were alarmed by a sudden explosion of gunpowder, in the chambers of Mr. Barry, a chemist, on the first floor of the building No. 7. The chambers took fire from the explosion ; and the wiadow-frames and part of the wall of the back room were carried into. Furnival's Inn Passage. The doors of the chambers were locked on the inside ; but the front door was found open, though the persons present were prevented from passing the threshold by the smoke. As soon as it had somewhat abated, lights were procured ; and on going into the bed-room, the unfortunate Mr. Barry was observed lying on the floor, weltering in his blood, with scarcelya rag on his back unscorched. He was removed, in a state of insensibility, into the front room, and pracedon a sofa.. HIS face presented'a idost awful appearance : his eyes were nearly blown out, his right cheek was laid bare to the bone, his nose was shattered, his left hand *as nearly' divided, and several of his ribs on the left side were fractured. Surgical aid was immediately procured, and Mr. Barry partly recovered, but not sufficiently to explain how the accident had been occasioned: it is conjectured to have been in the course of some experiments in the use of gunpowder, which it is known he frequently amused himself with. According to the accounts this morning, Sir. Barry is expected to recover.
During the storm which took place about midnight on Thursday, the lightning struck the wall of the parish stone-yard, Richmond Street, Lisson Grove, and rent it to the foundation for a space of thirty yards. The wall fell into the Regent's Canal, which it completely choked up.
On Monday, a woman was killed, and another had her back broken, by the accidental upsetting of the Leicester waggon; at the corner of Park Street, Islington.
On Monday, a man named Pfeiffer, a deserter from the Royal Marines, attempted to cut his throat, from dread of the punishment that awaited him. He was carried to Guy's Hospital, where he was seized with cholera, and died on Monday morning.
On Wednesday, a quantity of cigars and other tobacco, to the value of 4001. (there were four sacks full), was stolen from the shop of Mr. Parry, Covent Garden. Luckily the thieves were perceived, and the coach which contained the plunder Ivas seized within fifty yards of Mr. Parry's door.
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