Death of a giant

In Cockspur-street, Charing-cross, aged only 22, Mr. Charles Byrne, the famous Irish giant, whose death is said to have been precipitated by excessive drinking, to which he was always addicted, but more particularly since his late loss of almost all his property, which he had simply invested in a single bank note of 700.

In his last moments (it has been said) he requested that his ponderous remains might be thrown into the sea, in order that his bones might be placed far out of the reach of the chirurgical fraternity; in consequence of which, the body was shipped on board a vessel to be conveyed to the Downs, to be sunk in 20 fathom water. We have reason, however, to believe that this report is merely a tub thrown out to the inhale.

Our philosophical readers may not be displeased to know, on the credit of an ingenious correspondent, who had opportunity of informing himself, that Mr. Byrne, in August 1780 measured eight feet; that in 1782 he had gained two inches; and after he was dead he measured eight feet four inches.

Neither his father, mother, brother, nor any other person of the family, was of an extraordinary size.