Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1850 - 1851 - 1852

---

George Heath Serjeant-at-Law  - age 71/72               1779-1852

Julia Anna Harrison (ne Heath) - age 43/44              1807-1879
Rev. John Moore Heath - aged 42/43                        1808-1882
Douglas Denon Heath - aged 39/40                          1811-1897
Rev. Dunbar Isidore Heath - age 34/35                     1816-1888
Commander Leopold G. Heath R.N. - age 33/34      1817-1907
Emma Jane Heath (later Whatman) - age 29/30       1821-1884

---

Monday 24 February 1851
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette

Bloomsbury County Court.
The Boxmoor Collsion - Bishop v The London and North-Western Railway Company
(Before D.D.Heath Esq., on Friday) This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a gentleman residing in Ultster Terrace, Regent's Park, to recover from the defendants the sum of £5, as compensation for damages sustained through the negligence of their servants.

From the evidence of the plaintiff it appeared that in the month of January last, hearing that a valuable hunter he had in Northamptonshire had met with an accident, he, on the morning of the 14th, accompanied by Mr.Turner, a veterinary surgeon, left town by an express train on the above line, to ascertain the extent of its injuries, promising to return home to meet a party of friends at dinner at half past 6 o'clock.
To return, they took two-first class tickets at the Wolverton station at 2 o'clock, being led to believe from the company's time table that they should reach the Euston Square terminus at 4.

On arriving at Boxmoor the train ran into some cattle trucks, and by the collision plaintiff was thrown forward, his hat being literally smashed and himself much shaken. On alighting he saw the fragments of the shattered trucks lying in heaps in front of the engine, and observed only four or five of the company's servants, all of whom were engaged in attending to some passengers who were wounded and bleeding. - - - It was for the expense thus incurred and the loss of his hat he now sought to recover.
-Mr.Giffard contended that the expense was his own act, without waiting a reasonable time to see if he could be conveyed by the company; and called a witness, who proved that the train was in London within 20 minutes after the plaintiff.

- The Judge thought he had been too hasty, and should therefore only award him 16s. the price charged for the hat, and 23s. he had paid for his and Mr.Turner's tickets to town - Judge for £1. 19.

---

Saturday 5 April 1851
Sun (London)
Institution of Civil Engineers. (William Cubitt, Esq., President in the Chair)
The following papers were announced to be read at the meeting of Tuesday, April 8th:  - - - "On the Nominal Horse-Power of Steam-Engines," by Commander Heath R.N.

---

Monday 26 May 1851
Sun (London)

Coast of Africa.

Our correspondence from the coast states that since the new treaty with Brazil the slave trade has received a great check, and the commerce with Brazil has nearly ceased in consequence of slaves being the only article given in exchange for rum and tobacco. A sail of any nation is now rarely seen. By news from the various slave stations, we hear that they are in the most deplorable condition, in consequence of the strict blockade maintained by the squadron and boats. The largest dealer in Porto Novo says that if he can dispose of those slaves he has on hand he will abandon the traffic for ever; but his word must not be taken.  

Flying Fish, 12, Commander Patey, has done the best on the coast. She is a perfect man-of-war, and Captain Patey is one of the best cruisers on the coast. In all she has taken nine prizes - the last a full one, off Prince's Island, on Christmas day. - - - 

Niger, 12 (guns), screw-sloop, Commander Heath, was off Whydah.

---

Monday 23 June 1851
Morning Herald (London)

COAST OF AFRICA, 

The last accounts state that little had been heard of the two commanders in chief of late. Captain Adams (senior officer), of Gladiator, 6, steam-frigate, was cruising off Benin, April 1; her tender, Jackal, steam-vessel, under the command of Lieutenant Beddingfield, was at Fernando Po with the consul; the squadron was remarkably healthy. Archar, 14, screw-sloop. Commander Strange, was off Lagos; Flying Fish, 12, Commander Patsy, was cruising off Porto Novo; Harlequin, 12, Commander Wilmot, was cruising off Palmas; Niger, 12, screw-sloop, Commander Heath, was cruising off Little Papo; Prometheus, steamsloop, Commander Foote, had been sent from the Bights division to Ascension for provisions; many of her crew had been sickly. 

---

Monday 25 August 1851
Morning Post

Law Notices - This Day

Metropolitan County Courts. - Sitting Days Appointed for the Present Week.
Bloomsbury, Portland Road.(before D.D.Heath Esq.)
Wednesday, August 27; Thursday, August 28; Friday August 29; Saturday, August 30.

---

Monday 1 September 1851
Morning Post.

Law Notices - This day.

Metropolitan County Courts. Court Days Appointed for the Present Week:
Bloomsbury - Portland Road
(Before Mr.D.D.Heath Esq)
Wednesday, September 3rd, Thursday, September 4; Friday, September 5.

---

Tuesday 9 September 1851
Morning Post

Law Notices - Metropolitan County Courts
Sitting days appointed for the present week.

Bloomsbury,Portland Road
(Before D.D.Heath Esq.) Wednesday, September 10; Thursday September 11; Friday, September 12.

---

Friday 12 September 1851
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette

By letters from the coast of Africa it is stated that the Penelope steam-frigate, Commodore Bruce, was a Prince's Island on the 31st of July, about to sail that evening for the south. The slaver cruising squadron was perfectly healthy.

We regret to announce a melancholy catastrophe which occurred at Badagry on the 27th of June. It appears Commander Heath, of the Niger screw steam-sloop, with Assistant-Surgeon Duffus, and a boat's crew from the Niger, had been on shore to assist the people who were wounded in the late affray between Badagry and Lagos, and were returning to their ship when the boat capsized in a heavy surf and Mr Duffus was drowned.

Commander Heath was exhausted when taken out of the water.  Every precaution has been taken to insure the safety of our missionaries and others at Badagry. The Bloodhound iron steam-tender to the steam-frigate Sampson, Captain L.T.Jones, captured an empty slaver in the New Calabar river on the 7th of July, which is the only movement recorded among the slave traders. 

---

Tuesday 16 September 1851
Moring Post.

Law Notices - This Day
Metropolitan County Courts
Court days for this Week - Bloomsbury, Portland Road, before D.D.Heath Esq., Wednesday Sept.17, Thursday Sept.18, Friday Sept.19.

---

Wednesday 8 October 1851
Aberdeen Press and Journal

Drowned in the surf at Badagry, coast of Africa, on 27th June last, John Milne Duffas M.D., Assistant-Surgeon of H.M. screw steam-sloop, Niger, and only son of Mr William Duffus, Stewartfield, Old Deer. It appears Mr Duffus had been on shore for the laudable purpose of affording professional aid to the natives who were wounded in the late quarrel with the people of Lagos; and along with Commander Heath and a boat's crew from the Niger, was returning to their ship, when the boat was capsized in a heavy surf.

Mr Duffus was a young man of considerable acquirements, and most amiable disposition. His premature death is deeply deplored by his relatives and friends, and sincerely regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

---

Letter From Rev John Moore Heath to his brother Leopold regarding the ill health of their father George Heath (who died 2 months later, 22 Jan 1852).

Enfield 
11 Nov: 1851

Dear Leo,
You will get little but tears and sorrow from any of us in this month’s packet I fear.  The worst of our apprehensions are now pronounced to be realized and there is no doubt dear Papa has got a fatal and incurable disease which will carry him off, probably in a very short time, and a lament certainly after very excruciating suffering.  The most merciful event, and the one therefore that one fain to pray may be his lot, is that his life may be terminated by the indirect operation of his disease, - ie by its interference with the respiration or some other organs, before it develops its own horrible nature to the fullest extent.  

We are all now considering when, and how best to inform him of the state he is in.  The information will be, I believe, by the depression of his spirits, the very worst thing for accelerating the progress of the disease; but I feel no doubt it must be done now it is certain that his doom is fixed; and especially in a case like his I think it would be wrong to conceal it too long, where I fear the mind is far from being prepared for absolute submission to the Will of God.  

I fear this struggle for him; more than any thing else.  He seems to me to exist so entirely in this life only, to be so absolutely given to all its interests, that the severance which has to be made will be very peculiarly terrible.  It is most extraordinary that, though occasionally alarmed, he does not seem to have the least guess at the state he is in.  Poor man.  He does however, often look forward to death as near.

He told Mrs Whatman that he thought when he parted with you that he should never see you again; and I believe it was so; for he was certainly very depressed.  

Poor Leo.  I pity you much for the distress these letters will be to you; but I almost think I envy you too for being by circumstances removed from witnessing what will be very dreadful to all of us to have to see, and quite unable to help or alleviate. 

Your ever affectionate brother.
J.M. Heath. 

---

1852

---

-