The Newport Gazette

Extract of a letter from Oxford, Sept. 16.

"I am sorry to acquaint you of a melancholy accident which happened yesterday at Nuneham (about five miles from this city) the seat of the right hon. Lord Harcourt. His Lordship (Earl Harcourt) went out for a walk in his park, as he frequently did about noon; not returning at his usual time to dress before dinner, to which time he was always remarkably punctual, the family became uneasy: Near an hour being elapsed beyond the time of his Lordship's general return, the family became more alarmed, and sent out every way in expectation of meeting him, but he could not be found. More persons were then employed, fearing some accident had happened to his Lordship. After about two hours in search, his Lordship was discovered to have fallen into a well, and appeared to be quite dead. He was immediately carried to his own house, about a mile from the spot where the accident happened, and the medical gentlemen from this city hurried over as fast as possible; but alas! in vain, for no assistance could prevail, as the accident was supposed to have happened three hours before his Lordship was found. This unhappy catastrophe is supposed to have happened as follows: His Lordship in his walk near home was generally accompanied by a favourite dog only; the dog, in running about, accidentally fell into this old well, which was quite over grown with sedge, so as not to be discovered: his Lordship, with his usual humanity hanging his coat on a branch, came to its relief, and in stooping to get out the dog, his Lordship fell into the well head foremost where he stuck quite fast, in which manner he was found. The place was about eight feet deep, and about three feet of water in it. This melancholy event has a universal concern all over the country, as his Lordship was universally respected by all classes of people."