i 
400 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
BSERVING a short time since, in 
a newspaper, that a tortoise-shell 
male cat was sold for the enormous sum 
of 253/. with an assertion, “ that it 
is the only one in this kingdom,” I beg 
deave to inform your numerous readers, 
that there is one in the possession of a 
person residing within three miles of this 
town, which I have seen: exclusive of its 
unusual colour, it is the-handsomest cat 
T ever saw. 
The person to whom it belongs is one 
who lives .by his labour, and I dare 
say would part with it for a reasonable 
price. 
--Your’s, &c. 
A CONSTANT READER. 
Yurinouth, April 14, 1808. 
——— 
Tothe Editor of the Monthly Mugazine. 
SIR, 
HAVE lately had the pleasure of 
perusing in your Magazine, some va- 
luable papers on the hue of conduct pro- 
per for a Grand Jury, and I should be 
happy if, through the same channel, the 
public conld be made acquainted with 
the legal and proper duties of a Jury, 
when called on a Coronez’s Inguest.; tor 
which information, no doubt, many of 
your Correspondents are sufficiently com- 
petent. 
We live, Sir, at a time when the re- 
mailing privileses of Englishmen should 
be thoroughly purged, aud cautiously 
guarded. And it is with extreme con- 
cern that I have long observed the neg- 
jected, relaxed, and corrupt, state of that 
important branch of legal enguiry to 
which TE have alluded; the proper busi- 
ness of the foreman and jurymen, assem- 
bled en this serious..occasion, is almost 
totally unknown to them: it is true, they 
are bid to enquire “ how, when, and 
where,” a fellow-subject, and a neigh- 
bour, came by his death; but I should 
think, that the same paper which sum- 
moned them together, might likewise 
contain sufficient snatter to make them 
more clearly acquainted with the line of 
conduct which it is their duty to pursue. 
Ata Coroner’s Inquest on which I was 
jately called, the greater part of the Ju- 
ry, till the business was nearly concluded, 
neither knew that we hada foreman 
among us, or that our proceedings re- 
quired such a person; and he, when 
called upon, appeared so grossly igno- 
fant of the commen procedure of the 
— 
Duties of Furies at Coroners’ Inquests. 
| Paes, 
court, that his unavoidable blunders did 
not fail to afford us merriment, and him-_ 
self confusion. 2 
tn cases of such consequence, I should 
think it proper that every obstacle should 
be removed, which is likely to prevent 
the court being composed of sensible and 
honest men; and if this he admitted, the 
_custom of drawing money from the pock- 
ets of the individuals who compose this 
assembly, cannot be too much repro- 
bated, or too soon abolished; for it is 
for this shameful purpose that strangers, 
or colés, as they are termed, are parti- 
cularly sought after, for the sake of the 
Jine, which it is the custom (for TI can- 
not think it lawful) im some: parishes to 
levy on them, and which; as soon as 
the verdict is given, is spent in the true 
English manner. J am by no means an 
enemy to conviviality, but I do insist 
that at such a time it is unseasonable; 
besides, my humble opinion is, that the 
money given by the parishes is quite suf- 
ficient for refreshment, though not enough 
for a feast; and it is possible that any 
thing farther than the regular allowance 
might degenerate into bribery. - fo 
Many mysterious and sudden deaths, 
within my own recollection, have passed 
off without the enquiry enjoined by Jaw; 
and such occurrences are more frequent 
than we suspect, perhaps, in consequence 
of the foolish fear which some people. 
feel of being stigmatised as “ meddling 
neighbours ;” from an ignorance of the 
Coroner’s, or constable’s place of resi- 
dence; or perhaps through the ignorance 
or avarice of the old women, who are 
sent as searchers of the cerpse. . 
But, if to prevent mischief is better 
than to ascertain how it-happened, the. 
succeeding remarks will not be thought. 
> { . 
out of place, or unworthy -the.ggnsider- 
ation of those concerned for public 
safety. Numerous are the accidents 
wh'ch daily occur by breaking in and 
racing herses in roads which are crowd- 
ed with children; by idle people shoot- 
ing of sparrows, and by those employed 
to break stones in the Surry-roads, and 
elsewhere, from which dangerous spline 
ters continually fly with great velocity. 
Another serious evil is in the neglect to 
erect a proper number of posts where 
foot-paths and roads run narrow, or where 
sudden angles are formed by old project- 
ing buildings, I once saw a fine child 
torn from the arms of its unhappy mo- 
ther, and instantly crushed to death, by — 
the wheel of a cart, as it turned the cor- 
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