Page 224 - Reading Mercury

to tenpence, on a representation of his case being made to his old commander the late
Duke of Wellington.

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Sat 14 April
SUDDEN DEATH OF THE DOWAGER MARCHIONESS OF DOWNSHIRE
We regret to have to announce the death of the Dowager Marchioness of Downshire
who died suddenly on Saturday at her house in Lower Grosvenor-street. The deceased
lady, who was Maria, eldest daughter of the fifth Earl of Plymouth, was married in the
year 1811 to the late Marquis of Downshire who died in the year 1845. She was a lady
of most amiable disposition and kind manners, and much beloved and esteemed in a
large and distinguished circle of relatives and friends.

ELECTION OF ALDERMAN
On Easter Wednesday, according to ancient custom, the corporation of this town
attended divine service in our parish church, after which they proceeded to the
Council Chamber of electing an alderman, in the room of W W Wheeler, Esq., whose
term of office expired on the above day when William Heelas, Esq., jun. was
unanimously chosen alderman for the ensuing year.

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Sat 21 April
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION
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On the evening of the 12 inst., a lecture in connexion with this Institution, was
given in our Town-hall, by Mr. George Grossmith, on “Wit and Humour.” As we
have recently had occasion to notice in eulogistic terms Mr. Grossmith’s feature on
the same subject in Reading, we need not enter into a detailed account now, merely
stating that Mr. Grossmith, by his humorous illustrations of his subject, and excellent
mimicry, fully sustained his high reputation as a lecture, and highly delighted his
audience, which, we regret to say, except the members of the Institution, was small.
We are sorry for this as we think the efforts of the Committee and Secretary of the
Institute to provide the opportunity for the enjoyment of so pleasant an evening’s
instruction and amusement, deserving a more extended patronage at the hands of the
town’s people. The Institute, we are happy to say, is in a much more flourishing
condition than formerly, which was the chief inducement for once more trying the
success of a lecture, the committee having discontinued them for years past, on
account of the loss to the funds of the institution, which they entailed from the want of
more public support.

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Sat 5 May
INTERNMENT OF FRANCIS SOAMES
This town presented a solemn appearance on Wednesday last, the day appointed for
the internment of the late FRANCIS SOAMES, Esq. for nearly 20 years past a highly
respected inhabitant. From the commencement of the day, the shops were partially
closed, and as the time appointed (half past one) arrived, business was suspended with
scarcely an exception. The funeral which was conducted by Messrs. Heelas, was in
accordance with the wish of the deceased, of a “plain and inexpensive” character, and
consisted of a hearse and three mourning coaches conveying the family and the clerks
of the establishment; a considerable number of the inhabitants of the town and
neighbourhood following on foot, in token, we are sure, of a most sincere esteem for
the departed. The loss is evidently felt to be a severe one; the deceased having both as
a private gentleman, and in his professional capacity as a lawyer, most deservedly

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