MELANCHOLY DEATH ON A PLEASURE PARTY THE SHANNON.

  Sunday last a party of young gentlemen, in this City, went upon a boating excursion down the river, taking basket luncheon, and intending return by nightfall, with the up tide. Their craft was an open row boat, and it was observed to contain Mr. Hildebrand, of the bank of Ireland, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Joyner, of the Provincial Bank; and Mr. Devitt, of the National Bank, all Clerks in those establishments in Limerick. The early part the day was fine, and they enjoyed themselves about Tervoe and Bunratty, until evening, when wind and rain indicated cheerless night. Mr. Joyner got ashore at the Clare side of the river before dark, and hastened back to Limerick,as it was his turn of duty to sleep at the Provincial Bank house. The others did not succeed in bringing up the boat to the quays, from which they were long distance. Seeing probable they should remain all night on the water, under cold and rain, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Devitt got out of the boat at Coonagh bank, and made the best of their road home, the last of the party, Mr. Htldebrand, having said he would keep to the boat, and return in it, as he had borrowed the boat and was answerable for it. The unfortunate young man lay down in this exposed craft for the night, with a piece of sail canvas over him, incapable of exertion, and perhaps unconscious of his danger. Next morning, before breakfast, one of the party walked down to see after their companion, Hildebrand, where they had separated the night before. The boat was there, but it was deserted. Mr. Spain, of Cecil-street, alarmed for the safety of his lodger, employed two fishermen to seek for him, and the unfortunate victim of this water excursion was found soon after stretched upon the slob at the river side, evidently dead for some hours. It is supposed that upon recovering from fatigue and temporary stupor he perished in the effort to gain the land, and the morning found him a cold corpse, not far from the boat where he had been left by his friends. The body was removed by the Police to Barrington's hospital on Monday, for inquest.— Ceverus Henry Hildebrand was the eldest son of Mr. Henry Hildebrand, of Westport and Clifden, an extensive merchant. He was a fine clever young man, about 23 years of age, and though not more than six months in the Limerick Bank of Ireland office, he had formed the resolution of going to Australia, much against the wish of his family, having applied for a fortnight's leave from the directors spend with his family in Mayo before leaving the kingdom. His father is expected in Limerick this night-or tomorrow morning to attend the funeral, which is fixed for Friday morning. The peculiar and distressing circumstances of the death of young Mr. Hildebrand have caused profound sensation in the city, and the greatest sympathy is felt for the sufferings of his parents. Mr. Fraser, Agent of the Bank of Ireland, Mr. Goff, manager of the National, and Mr. Strong. Inspector of the Provincial Bank, attended the inquest yesterday, where a number of respectable citizens also congregated.

THE INQUEST.

  Yesterday Thomas Costelloe, Esq., Coroner, assisted by Aldermen Watson, and Quinlivan, held an inquest on the body at Barrington's Hospital.

  The following jury was sworn—Richard Raleigh, Wm. Clanchy, John Peacocke, Jeremiah Ryan, Francis Lacy, Michael Dunphy, Stephen Ryan, Patrick Synan, David Meanv, Andrew O'Meara, John Lavan, Thomas Bourke.
  Dr. Bourke, whose testimony was as follows—l examined the body of the deceased, and found no marks of violence, there was discoloration of the skin, near one of the hands, which may have been caused by friction or pressure ; such marks are not unusual on persons found under similar circumstances. am of opinion that death was caused either by apoplexy or suffocation.
  James Herrot, strand fisherman, on being examined, stated that on Monday he and another were called on about 2 o'clock, by Mr. Spain, to go down in search of Mr. Hildebrand; found the body at bank, lying upon the stones; the tide was then out; the boat in which deceased stated to have been left the night before was tied to tree, within few yards of where the body was found ; the oars and sails were in the boat; also basket, containing bread, meat, whiskey, and other refreshments; the boat belonged to the brig Ocean ; the tide was then out; owing to the place where the body was found, witness is opinion he was suffocated in the water, the place being quite shallow.
  Dr. Spain examined—Deceased lodged with me ; also, Mr. Ellis, who was in company with him the day before ; Mr. Ellis told me early on Monday morning that Mr. Hildebrand remained in the boat, and would not leave it; finding that deceased was not coming up, I sent the boatman in search of him.
  Mr. Hannibal Ellis sworn—Went down the river on Sunday morning at nine o'clock with Mr. Hildebrand and four others Mr. Hildebrand managed the sails of the boat, and I steered it ; heard him frequently say that he was accustomed to manage boats ;we were at Bunratty about 4 o'clock, and left soon after ; the wind changed when we came to Coonagh ;it was then ten o'clock at night ; we found that we could not pull the boat up farther, and determined to leave her there for the night; Mr. Joyner left about two hours before that, as he said wanted to sleep in the Bank in the absence of Mr. Franklin; he went out a mile below Coonagh the Clare side ; we fastened the boat up at Coonagh, and we agreed to go ashore, and asked Mr. Hildebrand if he would come with us, but he refused ; we asked him several times to come, but he said " no," that he had borrowed the boat, and that he would remain there all night ; he desired us to go home, and as we were aware that be was able to manage a boat, did not think it dangerous to allow him to remain himself
  Coroner—Did you not consider it dangerous to allow man to remain by himself at that hour of the night ?
  Witness—We heard him say that was accustomed remain out at night, and that he had remained out in an open boat at sea ; if he had expressed the slightest wish that should have remained with him during the night, we should have done so,but he said " go home, ye fellows " he was very stout, hardy, able young man.
  Coroner—What quantity of drink had you ?
  Witness—We brought some cold meat and bread with us. a gallon of bitter ale, and about a quart of whiskey made into cold punch. We bought whiskey Bunratty, which was not touched, and which was found after in the boat some of the ale was found afterwards,
  Coroner—Were you all perfectly sober?
  Witness—Yes, were much fatigued and wet ; Mr. Hildebrand was sober, and if he were not able to take care of himself we would not have left him by himself ;he rolled the sail about him ; we fastened the boat, and I promised to be down with him at five o'clock the following morning to assist him in getting up the boat. Unfortunately I slept beyond the time ; but at half past eight when Doctor Spain awoke me I went down and saw the boat, but could not discover the body. Deceased was a man of temperate habns.
  Mr. John F. Lucas deposed that he asked deceased was he not afraid of catching cold, but he replied— " There's not the least danger, I'm used to it."
  Mr. Joyner swore he was acquainted with Mr. Hildebrand since he came to Limerick ; went down the river on Sunday as far as Bunratty ; witness was in hurry home, as he wanted to sleep iu the Bank that night ; got out near Tervoe.and came home by the bank was perfectly sober, and believes the others were so too.
  The jury returned the following verdict— " We are of opinion that Ceverus Hildebrand came his death from or suffocation, superinduced over exertion in an open boat ; and are of opinion that the conduct of the party who accompanied deceased, with the exception of Mr. Joyner was both unfeeling and uncharitable in walking off and leaving deceased in such a place and at such time of night "
  Mr Frazer, of the Bank of Ireland, Mr. Goff, the National Bank, and, in the absence of Mr. Franklin in London. Mr. Strong, Inspector the Provincial Bank, attended the inquest.
  Mr. Hildebrand was remarkably well conducted, and his melancholy death is universally regretted by his family and friends.—Limerick Chronicle.