The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-24 00:00:00

FEMALE.

.DISTRESSIIiC ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BT A

On Thursday evening last, between the home of six and seven
o'clock, pin interesting and wen-deemed young woman, about 18
sears of age, entered the shop of Mr. Foreman, who sells coffee, in
Broad-street. Bloomsbury, and after taking a seat in an obscure
part of the shop, she requested Mr. Forman to let her have a sight
of the paper, which being ghee to her, die sat foe a shoo period,
and then called far a mug of milk, which was immediately brought
'to her. !less manners and appearance being of a superior kind,
struck Mr. Foreman forcibly, and he considered it rather strange
that he should have such a visitor (the shop being generally resort-
ed to by the lower order of society in that neighbourhood), and he
was induced to pay particular attention towards her ; and after she
had been there about five minutes, be observed her to take some-
thing from her pocket, which she poured into the milk, and drank
it of and then proceeded over to Mr. Foreman, of whom she re-
quested another mug of milk ; but prior to his filling it, he looked
into the mug, and perceived a white sediment at the bottom, but
not suspecting the unfortunate creature of having administered
any thing improper, he again furnishel her with the milk,
which she instantly consumed, after having shook the mug, to mix
the remains of the poisonous drug, which she had previously put
into it. After drinking it, she proceeded to bee former seat, *here
she remained a short time, appatently in the greatest anxiety. She
gradually became pale, and a cold perspiration dropped from her
countenance, and she fell back In strong convulsions, and an exces-
sive quantity of froth came from her mouth. Mr. Foreman im-
mediately proceeded to her assistance, with some other individuals
in the shop, and, from 01 the circumstances, they felt no doubt
but she had attempted to poison herself, and a surgeon wee sent
for, who arrived in a short period, and had her conveyed to St.
Oiles's workhouse, where Mr. Burgos, the parish surgeon, with
the greatest speed, administered strong antidotes, as she was la-
b*unng under the symptom:id baying taken arsenic ; and a quan.
tity of corrosive matter was brought from the stomach. She was
partly recovered from iier stupor, and opened her eyes, when she
gased wildly around her, and commenced crying ; but could not
speak. She was put into bed, and every necessary assistance af.
forded her, and she has ever since been in a state of stupor, and un-
able to give any account of herself, but occasionally would shed
tears. Mr. Foreman, on returning t the shop, beheld a letter ly-
ing on the seat, directed to an individual of the name of James
Hudson. He immediately carried it to the workhouse, where, on its
being opened, it began by addressing the person, "Dear James,"
it contained the duplicate of a ring and a lock of her hair.
The letter proceeded to state liar since he had last seen her,
her mind had been in a state solely arising from his
having forsakes her. She had some past endeavoured to
see him, but finding it Inwood to do ols, she determined on this
desperate remedy of ;main an end to those miseries to which she
had been brought by herd pieced Nang.. This was the last
from,letter he would receive from and she would be dead before he
received it ;and she trusted that he would receive the inclosed
ring—the first pledge of his affection towards her, and that he would
keep Block of her hair, which accompanied it, as a keepsake. The
letter concluded by wishing him well, and was signed " Mary
111`Carthy."
We yesterday visited the workhouse, and saw the unfortunate
young woman, who then was in a meet dangerous condition In bed,
and was perfectly senseless and considerably altered in her appear-
ranee. Every inquiry was made in consequence of the above letter,
and the mother, who was traced, attended her daughter yesterday
at the workhouse, and was considerably affected at beholding the
afflicting situation of her child. She is a respectable old lady ,•
and it appears that some time since her daughter funned
an affection for a young man whose return of love appeared to be
equal to that of her own ; and, from what could be ascertained,
the unfortunate young woman was led to believe that 'matrimonial
alliance would be the ultimate consequence; and this was strength.
ened by the gift of A wedding-ring„ &c. ; but in this prospect she
was disappointed, and the pawn who had corresponded with her
forsook her, which preyed very mulch on her mind, and she be.
came melancholy and dejected : she (the mother) had not seen
her for some time past. She sat by her daughter during the whole
of the day ; but the unhappy young woman was so materially af-
fected by the deleterious draught which she had taken, that she
was unable to recognize her palest ; and, while she lay on her bed,
her eyes were continually fixed on one spot, as if involved in com-
plete stupor.
Mr. Burgess and the parties connected with the establishment are
rendering every humans assistance, in order to restate the poor
ammo