Chit agIctroptiIid.
4•Theyoundation.stone of the Brixton Almshouses, to be erected in ism
commemoration of the passing of the Reform Act, was laid on Satur- day, by Lord John Russell. The number of .almshouses is to be one hundred; but the foundation of twelve only was laid. The company present at the ceremony was very numerous. After it was over, the gentlemen adjourned to dinner at the London Tavern.
The Subscribers to the Literary Fund dined together at the Free- masons' Tavern on Saturday ; the Duke of Somerset in the chair. Among the company, were Lucien Bonaparte, Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Macready, and Mr. Theodore Hook. The last-named gentleman, after the departure of the President, took the chair and en- livened the company with puns and witticisms.
The Criterion, Brighton coach, which starts from the Three Nuns in Aldgate, was overturned, on Saturday afternoon, with fatal conse- quences. Sir William Cosway, a gentleman of property in Kent, and
the opponent of Sir E. Knatchbull at the last election, overtook the coach as it was going down Gracechurch Street, and seated himself on
the box by the driver. As the coach was going over London Bridge, the horses took fright at a dray, which the man who drove it persisted an keeping in the middle of the road. In endeavouring to check the horses, the pole of the coach was broken, and knocking against the legs of the leaders, rendered them quite unmanageable. The driver exerted himself in vain to stop them ; and a man who was desired by the coach-
man to keep off, seized the reins of the horses just as they reached Stone's End in the Borough, and clung to them, till the coach was sud- denly overset. Sir William Cosway was in the act of creeping over the top of the coach to the back, with the intention of getting off be-
hind, just at the time of the overset ; and the unfortunate gentleman was thrown off with such violence, that his brains were literally dashed out. Another passenger, named Todhunter, was also very much hurt, three of his ribs being broken. There were three other outside pas- sengers, one of them a lady, who were all more or less bruised. An in- quest was held on the body of Sir W. Cosway on Monday, which was adjourned to Friday. Yesterday, the Coroner's Jury returned a verdict, " that the coach was overturned in consequence of the pole having been broken ; and
that there was no blame attributable to the coachman, who acted with the greatest propriety under the difficult circumstances in which he was placed."
The Times gives the following interesting particulars of the life of Sir William Cosway.
" He was formerly secretary to Lord Collingwood, and received a wound in the head at the battle of Trafalgar. Lady Cosway, the widow of the deceased is a daughter of Mr. Halliday, the banker, in St. James's Street. Sir William was the son of a baker of Devonport. His first empluyinent was in the Vie-
!nailing Office in the Dockyard, front which he entered the Navy. There
he filled successively the situations of captain's secretary, purser, tte., and eventually became secretary to Lord Collingwood ; by whom lie was highly re-
spected, and whose confidence he enjoyed in the highest degree. Indeed, so well did that gallant and intellectual officer think of Mr. Cosway. that he ex- pressed a wish that his daughter should marry him. The young lady was not unwilling, and every thing was arranged for the completion of this auspicious and highly flattering union, when, by one of those dreadful accidents from which Sir William was so often a sufferer, and eventually a victim, he had the ,iii-for- tune to have both his legs broken as le.• was driving one day through Temple Bar in a gig. His horse shied at a light tax-cart, coming in an opposite direc- tion, and started off with great speed; but being pulled on the wrong side, ran right upon the tax-cart, the shafts of which penetrated and broke both Mr.
sway's legs. This calamity was an awful one under his circumstances; and compelled him to confine himself to his chamber some years. The young lady had the constancy to wait no less than three years for his recovery ; but that being still regarded as doubtful, she married another. In a few weeks afterivards, however, Mr. Cosway's recovery was pronounced complete; and he then mar- ried the lady who is still living to lament his loss."
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