Sir Rufane Donkin pat an end to his existence on
Saturday, at Southampton. Sir Rufane had for some time been labouring under mental derangement ; and had more than once told Dr. Haviland, his medical attendant, that he thought he should at some time commit suioide, but that he did not think he should have sufficient strength of mind to do it. He was usually attended by two keepers ; but on Saturday he retired to his room, and feigning to be sleepy, requested the man who was with him to leave him alone. The man complied, and Sir Rufane locked the door. When the keepers, and afterwards Dr. Haviland, knocked at the door, he snored as if asleep. They were alarmed, however ; and when nearly half an hour had elapsed, before a ladder .4ould be procured and his room had been entered through the window, he was found hanging by a handkerchief to the rail at the foot of his bed. An inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of "Temporary Insanity" was returned. By his first marriage, with Miss Frances Markbarn, General Donkin left an only son, who is married, and in the Army. He was married secondly, in 1832, to Lady Anna Maria Elliott, sister • of the present Earl of Minto. Sir Rufane had distinguished himself in his profession : he was at the taking of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and St. Lucie ; he was wounded at Ostend during the campaign of 1799 in Holland, and subsequently accompanied the last expedition to Copenhagen; and he was actively engaged throughout the Peninsular war, and had received a medal for his gallantry at Talavera. He had been upwards of sixty-three years in the Army. He was Surveyor-General of the Ordnance, a K.C.B., a G.C.H., and Colonel of the Eleventh or North Devonshire Regiment of Foot. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1832 and 1835 for Berwick, and was returned at the last election for Sandwich.
Colonel Fox, late Secretary to the Master-General of the Ordnance, has been appointed to the vacant post of Surveyor to the Ordnance.
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