The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-30 00:00:00

.:IFFECTI.VG SUICIDE.

On Tuesday hat a suicide of an affecting nature took r:ate it
Godalming. The deceased, Mr. Edward Chapman, was the to
ea gentleman of coneideration, residing at Croydon, and ham;
bemaced at the mercantile house of Mews. Paxton, teekeuti:
Ind Co. in the City of iLondon, at an early age, conducted bipgav
with so much propriety. and attention as tie gain the esteem of these
gentlemen, to win their confidence, and finally to be ester. ed ti
them in a situation in the counting.honse °lithe highest
For some time his conduct was marked by the mane clove sprbes.,
lion and devotion to business for which he had been previously dig.
tinsuished ; but, as his connections In life were most resptelbie,
the number of his acquaintance daily eolleged, and his income,
which increased with hisiseamotion, gavelihn the means of toi&-41
with them in scenes of pleasure. from which his limited mews be.
fore debarred him. The love of pleasure has been the were el
ruin to many young men, and the ardent and gay temperature of
poor Chapman was not proof againet its allurements. One nem
led to another ; extravagance dissipated blot resources, until peen.
niary difficulties, and habits which he could not shake off, recanted
his principles, wad eventually prevailed over his integrity. Tit,
confidence of Messrs. Paxton and Co. jeft him the com.surd of
their funds. It would seen that this wretched victim to rico laud
folly took advantage of their goodness, and made small peodatiots
as his necessities compelled him. These peculation' be connived,
by management in his accounts, to keep undiscovered. la tzte bs
was led into more serious cfpenses--the love of play—the terf, et.
gaged his attention ; and his ruin is said to be accelerated by me
of those thoughtless connections where the heart and feelings of •
young man become enslaved to one calculated to be the blessings(
man, but in this, as. in many other instances, proving his mins
eur,-7. The depredations on his employers' capital became of COCE•
derableamount—it is said 3,0001., and hapman's ingeauitv was me-
central in concealing it. One cannot help being surprised the nick
practices as these can go on under the strict and systematic testis
London merchant; but in concerns of great magnitude, coalface
must of necessity be placed in some nelson, and it was the emits
of the wretched man in question to see that the accounts of Menta¢
clerks were correct rather than have his own subject to ion:nein
Vice and virtue were strangely combined in this unhappy rata
disposition, and though perhaps his good actions may 'dills
same of hypocrite to that of a more criminal character, yet. is jos
tics to him, let the good be recorded with the bad. Thee an
many instances given of his actions which would do honour to the
most refined and generous mind. To stun up this sketch, Edward
Chapman was of gentle and refired manners, combining all the
graces of good breeding to the charms of a cultivated and improved
mind. He might have been an honour to society and a crelit•
his own family, but strong passion., weak principles, and the as
bounded love of pleasure have brought him to a disgraceful and ars
timely end, and his name—the name of an honourable fateilv..•
now branded with infamy and reproach. It appears timid,*
three weeks aicce he drove up to the King's Arms Inn, st Gods).
ming, from Brighton Races, in a very handsome dtnnet, =died
he should have occasion to stay a few days. His habits weren't'.
lar, and he was supposed to be, by the inhabitants of the town srd
the people of the ban, a Gentleman escaped from tunnels toa few
days enjoyment of the country.
On Saturday sennight a handbill was put up at thePost.offix
that town, describing his person, and offering a reward of lOL
his apprehensior. On Monday evening he uw this record eis
shame and guilt, and, on Tuesday, about four o'clock. he ma
to Sand-lane, and at a spot called Love Baru, he committed du
act of suicide.—From the appearance on the body, and the rustle
in which it lay, the wretched suicide must have been knediegt
the time of the dreadful act, and the pistol put into the mouth ed
discharged. Death must have been instantaneous, as the body
presented no symptom of a struggle having taken place: it sr.
peered to have fallen forward, and remained, with the had thebth
averted, in the exact•situation in which". it fell. The fete vas
emonely disfigured. The hole through which the bail panel wee
perceptible in the upper palate; being discharged in the muds.
bad not force enough to pass through sate skull t and at muted
afterwards, oh the back of the head being owed by the iquettn.
en have struck enainst some of the hardest Wpm Cl the dub ad
to hive rebounded to the cavity of the brain, where it was herd,
and by which the instantaneous death was caused.
The Corona's Jury returned a Verdict, that he committed the
act in a tit of temporary derangement. The next day, a fried who
had heard of his situation, arrived at Godalniirg with 300 pawn,
intended for his immediate necessities.—A few shildnp only rat
found in .the deceased's pockets. Such was the affecting tank&
Lion of this young man's life.