f February, 1828, Theodore Lane,
who then resided in Judd Street, Brunswick Square, called upon his
brother-in-law, Mr. Wakefield, a surgeon of Battle Bridge, intending to
proceed in the latter's gig to Hampstead, to join a party of friends who
had gone there to spend the day. Mr. Wakefield having to visit a patient
in Manchester Street, Gray's Inn Lane, drove there with his
brother-in-law, and this was the last time he was seen alive. Close to
the place was a horse bazaar, which the artist appears to have entered
by way of passing the time. The horse and trap were there, but no trace
of poor Lane; and on search being made, his body was found lying
lifeless at the foot of the auctioneer's stand. He appears to have
wandered into the betting-room, and by some unexplained means or other
fallen backwards through an insufficiently protected skylight. The
clever head was battered so completely out of recognition that he was
only identified by his card-case. That Lane was a man of unusual promise
is shown by the fact that amongst the subscribers for the benefit of the
widow and children of the deceased, we find the names of Sir Thomas
Lawrence, president of the Royal Academy; F. Chantrey, R.A.; George
Westmacott; Cooper, the celebrated animal painter; and Leahy, the
painter of the celebrated picture of "Mary Stuart's Farewell to France."
The remains of this ill-fated, talented young fellow lie in the burial
ground of old St. Pancras.

FOOTNOTES:

[23] "Fifty Years of my Life," by George Thomas, Earl of Albemarle,
vol. i. p. 270.

[24] "Annual Register," 1813.

[25] _Ibid._ (Chronicle), 342.

[26] See the letter of the Princess of Wales, "Annual Register," 1813
(Chronicle), 342.

[27] See speech of Mr. Whitbread, "Annual Register," 1813 (20).

[28] "Annual Register," 1813 (Chronicle), 345.

[29] "Annual Register," 1813, p. 24.

[30] Whitbread.

[31] Sir John and Lady Douglas.

[32] Letter from the queen to the Princess of Wales of 23rd May,
1814.--"Annual Register," 1814, p. 349.

[33] So called because he carried home with him, in sundry bags, the
cases pending his judgments.

[34] Wade's, "British History," p. 765.

[35] See "Greville Memoirs," vol. i. p. 24 (February 24th).

[36] "Annual Register," 1820, p. 135.

[37] _Ibid._, pp. 131, 132.

[38] "Greville Memoirs," vol. i. p. 28.

[39] "Fifty Years of my Life," by George Thomas, Earl of Albemarle,