comet at 133 1-3rd semidiameters SWITZERLAND.On the 20th of May, at half-past nine in the evening, one of the gaolers of the prison of Lugano, going his usual rounds, went into a dungeon where two prisoners were confined. As he was going out, one of them, named Pifferetti, accused of murder, attacked him from behind, put out the light, and plunged a dagger into his breast; the victim struggling and calling for help, the assassin repeated his blows. The wife of the wounded man called the other gaoler to the assistance of her husband. An officer coming up had the prison opened, and summoned the murderer to surrender. Meantime the town was alarmed, the drums were beat, and many persons assembled round the prison. The assassin, however, threatened the officer and the persons present, whose numbers increased every moment. A musket, loaded with small shot, which was discharged full at his head, only rendered him more furious, and he renewed his attempts to escape. The smoke of the gunpowder diminishing the light which a candle threw on the scene, he was on the point of effecting his object, when Duroni, the second gaoler, aimed a blow at him from behind, which Pifferetti so far avoided that it only injured his hand. The officer, M. Lecini, then fired his musket a second time at him, but the villain, nevertheless, made a desperate rush at the door; M. Sinlinee ran him through the body with his bayonet, but he did not even totter. wound given him with a sword, and heavy blows with a club, did not hinder him from brandishing his dagger with incredible agility. At length a young man, named D. Bertoli, seized him in his arms, threw him down, and after a struggle on the ground, wrenched his H A dagger from him, and despatched him with it. Bertoli was twice wounded with the dagger, but it is hoped that he is out of danger. The first gaoler who had received the wounds died soon after. 21. SUICIDE. An inquisition was taken at the King's Head tavern, in the village of Loughton, on view of the remains of a foreign gentleman, supposed to be Mons. Henri Soliere, a French artist of some celebrity, and lately resident in London. The body was discovered in a most secluded part of Epping Forest, and exhibited marks indicative of a stubborn determination to commit suicide. One ball had penetrated the roof of the mouth, and, taking its course through the brain, had come out above the ear, while another had lodged underneath the breast-bone. Circumstances led to the belief that the act was committed so far back as on the 12th instant; for, on that day, a letter was received by a friend of M. Soliere in town, bearing the Loughton post-mark, of which the following is an extract: "I left my home about six o'clock this morning," supposed to be the 12th; "I have been walking through the city, and onwards I scarcely know where, but actually find myself, now about noon, on the Cambridge road; I have passed the village of Woodford, and have touched nearly on that of Roundings: the country is covered with wood; the place pleases me much, it completely accords with my purpose" it is thought he meant suicide. The body was in so advanced a stage of decomposition, that the scalp and hair were quite detached from the skull. a At short distance from where it lay, two new pocket pistols were dis covered, one of which was loaded, and a lock of hair of a brown colour, apparently cut off previous to the fatal act; there was also a pocket-book, in which were inscribed the following extracts from Rousseau, which scarce leave any doubt of the gloomy intentions of the deceased: When life becomes an evil to ourselves, and ceases to be a benefit to others, we are at liberty to deliver ourselves from the burthen." "As long as it is good for us to live, we anxiously desire it, and it is only the sense of external ill which can change our wishes, for we all have received from nature a great horror of death." When the jury had returned from the Forest, whither they had gone to view the body, the following was the evidence laid before them : Robert Grant examined.-I live at Loughton; on Tuesday last, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, as I was looking for my geese through the forest, I observed the deceased lying on the ground; I at first imagined he was asleep, but, on my approaching him, I perceived a most disagreeable stench. I, in consequence, went to a brickfield in the neighbourhood to procure assistance with which to remove the body; on examining the place where it lay I found two pistols, an umbrella, a pocket-book, eight pistol-balls, and some powder. Mr. Davis examined.-I am landlord of the King's Head, Loughton; on Sunday, the 11th inst. between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, a foreign gentleman, bearing a strong resemblance to the deceased, came to my house and had a glass of sherry and a glass of port, and some bis cuits; after paying for them he departed, and proceeded along the road towards the wood where he was found; I saw nothing particular in his manners while he remained; he merely observed that the weather was extremely hot. Some further questions were now put to Mr. Davis, but nothing material was elicited; and, after the examination of two more witnesses, who spoke only in corroboration of finding the body, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide committed while labouring under insanity.” FUNERAL OF C. VON WEBER. -This morning, the last rites were performed over the remains of this distinguished composer, in the chapel, in Moorfields, with all the grandeur which marks the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church. The grand altar was hung with black cloth, and the branch tapers were also black. On the altar was placed the crucifix, and other insignia of the church, but the lights were not so numerous as upon the celebration of the ordinary mass. This being merely the service or recital of the prayers for the dead, the formula was somewhat changed, and of a much more measured and solemn character. On the right of the altar the officiating priest took his position, attended by a group of boys, dressed in sable habiliments; and some other clergymen also attended to assist in the service, and stood to the right of the altar. The following was the order of the procession of the funeral: Conductors on Horseback. Containing as Pages. Chief Mourner, The procession was closed by thirteen mourning coaches, and the private carriages of sir George Smart, captain Forbes, and Mr. Young. The procession proceeded at a slow pace through the New Road, City Road, &c. to Moorfields. The other mourning coaches contained Charles Kemble, capt. Forbes, Messrs. Willett, Fawcett, Robinson, Oliveri, Planche, Moscheles, Liverati, Braham, Forbes, Collard, Dalmaine, Chapman, Willis, Preston, Power, Lindley, Burke, Clementi, Hawsley, Bishop, Cramer, Shield, Burrows, Payne, Shellingsor, Walmsley, Major, Horn, T. Cooke, Robson, Rodwell, Woods, Robinson, Potter, Woodwell, Duruset, esqrs. Dr. Forbes, sir F. Stephenson, together with the Prussian consul, and a number of other persons distinguished in the musical world. On the coffin was the following inscription: the hills in the parish of Strachan, which assumed an alarming aspect. It is supposed to have originated on the east side of Mount Battock, one of the Grampians, from a burning turf left on the bank by some people who had been casting peats, for the purpose of lighting their pipes, on the previous daya frequent, though a foolish and dangerous practice. The surface of the ground is principally composed of moss, covered with heath; and this being completely parched by the recent drought, the fire spread rapidly and widely to the adjoining estates belonging to the earl of Aboyne and sir James Carnegie. On Sunday last, it had extended to a depth of from five to seven feet over a surface nearly seven miles in length and five in breadth, comprehending Mount Battock, Camlehill, the head of the Water of Ant, Petershill, and the Valley, down to the Stone of Clochnabean, which was that day enveloped in flame. The excessive heat from such a mass of burning matter, by preventing all approach, rendered it impossible to adopt any efficient measures for extinguishing the fire, which increased every hour. The inhabitants of the parishes of Strachan, Birse, and Aboyne, and the overseers of the respective proprietors, made every effort in their power without effect. Serious apprehensions were entertained for the extensive forest of Glentanner, towards which the flames were approaching, particularly if the wind had veered to the south-southeast. A part of Mabie moss had been on fire for several days past, and amidst all the exertions that were used by Mr. Howat and his people, the progress of the devour◄ ing element was not arrested for some days. How the fire originated nobody can tell, but already half an acre of meadow and several roods of hedges were totally destroyed. 26. FUNERAL OF THE EMPRESS ELIZABETH OF RUSSIA. At page 35 an account has been given of the splendid ceremonial of the funeral of the emperor Alexander, and now, three months afterwards, the Russian capital witnessed a similar display of mournful pomp, as exhibited at the obsequies of his imperial widow, Elizabeth Alexievna, who died at Bielev, on her route from Taganrog to Moscow, on the 18th of May, in her forty-eighth year, having never recovered from the deep affliction she experienced at the loss of her august consort. At five o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th, the funeral procession entered St. Petersburgh, where it was received with every honour due to the rank of the deceased, and with every demonstration of sincere sorrow, by the immense throngs assembled to behold the grand, but melancholy, spectacle. As soon as the procession arrived at the city barrier, it was met by the imperial family, the members of the holy synod, the high clergy, the clergy of the court, and the ladies of the order of St. Catherine, appointed to attend the funeral car, the military governor-general, the commandant, and their aides-de-camp and officers under their orders. His imperial majesty, accompanied by a numerous staff, all on horseback, had also arrived to receive it. After the prayers for the dead were recited, the solemn march commenced; all the bells tolled the funeral knell, and minute guns were fired from the fortress, and from some cannon which were placed on the Aboukhoff bridge. The procession was divided into sixteen sections, each preceded by a master of the ceremonies on horseback, wearing a crape scarf, white and black. The general arrangements were the same as those at the emperor's funeral: the same car was employed as on that occasion, without any other alteration, than adding the empress's cypher to that of her consort. The recollections awakened in the minds of all present by the sight of this vehicle of mortality, were heightened by the affecting spectacle of a long train of the elèves of the Female Patriotic Institution, and other female public schools, who, arranged in deep mourning, and forming four ranks, followed the military part of the procession. Immediately behind the car, was the late empress's own state carriage, adorned with a crown, and drawn by eight horses, in most splendid gilt trappings. By eight o'clock the procession reached the cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, and at the same instant a black standard was hoisted at the fortress. It was here, and not in the Kasan church, that the body was to lie in state. A sumptuous catafalco had been constructed under the direction of M. Monferand, combining simplicity with magnificence: where, beneath a purple canopy emblazoned with silver stars upon a gold ground, were deposited her imperial majesty's remains, for the space of a week, during which period service was performed twice every day, and a guard of honour, composed of ladies of high rank, stationed around the body day and night. On the morning of the 3rd of July, the final ceremonies took place at a little after eight, the emperor and empress arrived at the cathedral, accompanied by his imperial highness the hereditary grand duke, his royal highness prince Charles of Prussia, duke and duchess of Wurtemberg, and the princes their sons. When their majesties had taken their places on the top of the catafalco, the usual prayers for the dead, according to the ritual of the Eastern Greco-Russian church, were read over the corpse; after which the members of the imperial family paid their last tribute to the mortal remains of her late majesty: then the great officers of the court appointed for that duty mounted the catafalco, removed the coffin, and, preceded by the metropolitan and the clergy, carried it towards the tomb, into which it was let down with the usual formalities: and a discharge of artillery announced to the inhabitants that the mortal remains of their empress were consigned to the tomb. 28. ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN. The lord mayor proceeded in state to St. Botolph, Aldersgate, where he held a wardmote, for the purpose of electing an alderman in the room of the late alderman Cox, when sir Peter Laurie, who lately served the office of sheriff for London, was unanimously elected. 30. THUNDER STORM. A thunder storm passed over the northern suburbs of the metropolis, and did considerable damage. Judging from its effects, the storm extended about two miles and a half in breadth, reaching at one time from the New Road to the crest of Hampstead Hill. At a quarter to three, the tempest was at its height. Two dense clouds were seen approaching each other, and midway between Primrose Hill and Highgate, they came in |