The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-23 00:00:00

SUICIDE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—While reading an account of the inquest
held on the remains of that silly lad Hawes, and I
speak of him and feel towards him as one of the
public, the following ideas occurred to me :
The number of suicides seems to have increased
lately, I will not say alarmingly, because there is
nothing to fear for from such a circumstance, ex-
cept the character of this nation for common sense.
Suicide being only a method of quitting this state
of being it says nothing in favour of human nature,
that what has been repeated momentarily, ever
since the world began, should, at this time, be
looked upon with horror, surprise, or regret, ex-
cept it be attended Vtith some criminality, some
exhibition of human weakness, or some loss
to the public. I confess, mankind never
appeared to me so nearly on a par with
their less privileged fellow-creatures, than to-day,
when reading an account of a conversation at the
inquest, concerning the inclosure of the gallery of
the Monument with a wire cage—ornamented, too !
As much as to say, Now, do keep down, little
animal, or you'll spoil these pretty things over your
head !
So far, however, as suicide is peculiar as a mode
of terminating existence, I think it should excite
ridicule, nay contempt. I would wage my existence
that there exists not one individual possessing a
human soul, who would not suffer the most thorough
pain, the most lasting misery, rather than subject
himself to the contempt of all men. And is
not suicide contemptible ? In those who commit
it upon what may be called principle, to avoid some
trouble or misery, it is cowardly, in the last degree.
A man knows what he has to suffer, generally ;
but no one can die certain of his fate ; and it is
in the shape of doubt only that fear can exist in a
generous mind, or be at all rational in any—be-
cause in that case it is a fear of no object, in par-
ticular. Now, when, from very fear of an object
which lie can appreciate, a man rushes to a condi-
tion of which he can have no certain knowledge,
to insanity alono can his mind resort from the im-
putation of being the most utterly contemptible
thing that could be in the form of intelligence. As
to those who commit suicide in a frame of mind
like that of Hawes, who seems to have been de-
lirious only in so far as not to be unable to desire
notoriety, the motive will be contemned by all who
can deplore the aberration of reason which
produces it. It does not appear that
Hawes had any cause to destroy him-
self; but that he was always of a hypochondriacal,
half-delirious turn of mind. Nor do lin the least
doubt but that he looked forward with a degree of
pleasure to the notoriety which his singular death
would give him, though it should be after his be-
coming unable to enjoy it. Many, greater than he,
have fallen into a similar error. _ _

But this mania for self-destruction being certainly
an evil, how are we to check it? Why, when you
see a man fall to the ground from an elevation of
two or three hundred feet, hold an inquest to as-
certain how he died ? The fact itself is not
enough to inflame the curiosity of mankind ;
feed that same curiosity with a long investigation
•f what every body knows, and surprise all men by
returning a verdict of " temporary insanity ;" that is
the way. There is no danger whatever, that, among
the crowd who may resort to the said inquest, some
half a dozen, perchance, may think what a glorious
thing it would be to have an inquest held on the
body of one who had had the courage to shoot. his
brains out, or had had the magnanimity to jump a
few feet, in order to be in eternity.
Far be it from me, Sir, to deprecate such an in-
quiry, in cases of suicide, as may answer the ends
of justice, when there is a possibility of the murder
turning out to be a homicide. But lam convinced
that, in the majority of cases, where inquests are
held on suicides, they do no manner of good, and
they often do harm. What on earth was the use
of holding an inquest on the body of Hawes ? If
such a feeling as that of contempt for the folly of
the lad, could be infused into the public mind—
would it not be the best preservative against a re-
petition of such scenes ? Would it not do good to
consign such candidates for fame into oblivion ?
Nothing could have a better effect, than for a man
to believe that, if he committed suicide, he should
be treated with entire neglect by the sympathies of
the public. But the inquest in question was sug-
gested by curiosity in conjunction with custom; it
tended to diffuse curiosity and to excite pity; two
passions that will induce plenty of fools to desire
the exercise of them in their own behalf.
I am, your obedient Servant,
Oct. 21, 1839. J. J.