15 JANUARY 1853, Page 8

A commission de lunatic° inqukendo, touching the state of mind

of the Earl of Eldon, was held yesterday, at Shirley Park, near Croydon, his Lord- ship's residence by Mr. Commissioner Winslow and a Jury of seventeen gen- tlemen resident the neighbourhood, of whom Mr. Thomas Puckle, Chair- man of the Surrey Quarter-Sessions, was foremen. From the evidence adduced before the Commissioner it appears, that up to June 1861, Lorcl Eldon had performed all the duties of his station in the most satisfactory.. manner.' But in that year, it is thought from close study., his health gave way on the 4th of June 1851 it became necessary to call in Dr. Sutherland ;s and from that time Lord Eldon had been incapable of managing his own af- fairs. The characteristic description of the unsoundness of mind was, not pre-:. valent delusions, but a partial dementia, exhibited in great incoherence of conversation, .occasional evanescent delusions, and considerable excitement. The death of Lady Eldon, in November last, rendered the present inquiry imperative; as up to the time of her death she had managed the property of her husband, and had also managed him with great affection and tact. The evidence of Dr. Sutherland, Dr. Forbes Winslow, and Dr. Tyler Smith, con- clusively proved that Lord Eldon was of unsound mind. A deputation from' the Jury visited him, and no doubt remained on their minds sate his un- fortunate condition. They returned a verdict accordingly.