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DEATH OF MR. WHITBREAD
MR. WHITBREAD
(From the Globe of Thursday)
Mr. Whitbread died this morning at his home in Dover Street. The porter saw him come down stairs at his usual hour, and his valet, on entering his dressing room, about a quarter to ten o'clock, found him dead. His death is supposed to have been occasioned by a fit of apoplexy. He was in the House of Commons on Tuesday last, but had not enjoyed his usual good health for some weeks. Society has lost in M. Whitbread one of its most valuable members, and in the cause of liberty, an able and intrepid defender. Bold and unaccommodating, his character bore the hardihood of antiquity; and in eloquence, strongly expressive, and decisive -- Of him it may truly be said, in the language of the Roman poet --
"Justum et tenacem propositl virum,
Non civium ardor prava Jubentiam,
Nec vultrus instantia tyranni
Mente quatit solida."
Mr. Whitbread was member for Bedford, which
he represented in several Parliaments -- He married Lady
Elizabeth Grey, sister of Earl Grey, by whom he has left a large
family.
The death of a man who filled so large a space in society; was
soon communicated in every part of the metropolis. It has
absorbed the interest of every other consideration, and has
thrown a damp and gloom upon the spirit of the town, in which it
is felt as a public calamity.
At twelve o'clock, Dover Street was crowded with persons of all
ranks and classes, some vainly hoping to find the report of his
death not true, and others to condole with his afflicted family.
Coroner's INQUEST
The public feeling for the loss of Mr.
Whitbread will be mat erially augmented by the following
melancholy account: --
"Last night, at eight o'clock, a coroner's inquest was held
at 55 Dover Street, Piccadilly, before W. H. Gell, Esq., on the
body of Samuel Whitbread, Esq., who was found dead near to his
writing desk, in his dressing room, about ten minutes before ten
o'clock yesterday morning. The evidence of John Weir, who had
lived with the deceased for twenty seven years, in the capacity
of butler, went to prove the hour at which he went to bed on the
preceding night, the hour of his rising and the situation in
which he was found dead.
The Jury, without the slightest hesitation, returned a verdict of
Insanity."
The deceased was seen by the porter coming down from his bed-room
at the usual hour. He went into his dressing-room, whither he was
followed in a few minutes by his servant, who discovered his
master in a state, which, from considerations unnecessary to be
explained, we forbear to describe. A razor, with which the
dreadful act was perpetrated, was found near the body.
Mr. Whitbread has left two sons and two daughters; the former are
at this moment on a tour to the Orkneys.
The following notice was affixed to the different entrances of
Drury Lane Theater yesterday afternoon: --
"The public are respectfully informed, that in consequence
of the sudden and much-lamented death of Mr. Whitbread, to whose
active and unremitted exertions they are principally indebted for
the rebuilding of this theater, there will be no performance this
evening."
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