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Source: Bell's Weekly Messenger, No.1770, Sunday, February 28, 1830

Inquests.

On Friday morning, an inquisition was taken before Joseph Carttar, Esq. the coroner for Kent, at the Plough Inn, on Bromley common, on the body of Lieut. Edward Bassan, of the Royal Marines, who put an end to his existence by hanging himself. About half an hour before his death he wrote a letter, which was afterwards found in his pocket. The following is a copy :—

My dear wife,— I have only time to say that I shall suffer death for presuming to the Crown of England, as it is stated by some evil-minded persons.—I am, my dear wife, your's truly. feb. 23 edward bassan.

It was stated that the deceased had, for some years, entertained an idea that he had some claim to the throne, in consequence of a dream he had whilst residing in Sheerness, some years back, and had represented himself as a particular and bosom friend of the late Lavalette, and nephew to the Duke of Bassano; and, at the time of the funeral of the former appeared in the newspapers, he expressed his determination to go into mourning. The deceased was 35 years of age. The Jury returned a verdict of Insanity.

On Monday an inquest was held on the body of John King, Esq. Comptroller of the Army Accounts, at his late residence, No. 20, Grosvenor-place, Pimlico. The deceased was a brother-in-law of the late Bishop of Bath and Wells, and was at his office, as usual, in Whitehall-place, on the day prior to his decease. On Monday night he retired to his bed, and next morning his butler went to his bed-room, about eight o'clock, and found him a corpse. The deceased had been depressed occasionally, and took a medicine composed of camphor and juniper to exhilarate his spirits. There were no marks of violence on the body. Verdict—Died by the visitation of God.

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