The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-04 00:00:00

" ' To whom it may concern :'—

" Right or wrong, God judge me, not man. For be my
motive good or bad, of one thing I am sure, the lasting
condemnation of the North.

" I love peace more than life. Have loved the Union be-
yond expression. For four years have I waited, hopod, and
prayed for the dark clouds to break, and for a restoration
of our former sunshine. To wait longer would be a crime.
All hope for peace is dead. My prayers have proved as
idle as my hopes. God's will be done. I go to see and
sharp the bitter end.

" I have ever hold the South wore right. The very nomi-
nation of Abraham Lincoln, four years ago, spoke plainly
war—war onSouthern rights and institutions. His election
proved it. Await an overt act!' Yes, till you are bound
and plundered. What folly! The South wore wise. Who
thinks of argument or patience when the finger of his enemy
presses on the trigger ? In a foreign war I, too, could say,
" Country, right wrong.' But in a struggle such as ours
(where the brother tries to pierce the brother's heart), for
God's sake choose the right. When a country like this
spurns justice from her side she forfeits the allegiance of
every honest freeman, and should leave him untrammelled
by any fealty soover, to act as his conscience may approve.
" People of the North, to hate tyranny, to love liberty
and justice, to strike at wrong and oppression, was the
teachings of our fathers. The study of our early history
will not let me forgot it, and may it never.
" This country was formed for the white, not for the
black man. And looking upon African slavery from the
same standpoint held by the noble framers of our constitu-
tion, I, for one, have ever considered it one of the greatest
blessings (both for themselves and us) that God ever be-
stowed upon a favoured nation. Witness heretofore our
wealth and power ; witness their elevation and enlighten-
ment above their race elsewhere. I have lived among it
most of my life, and I have seen less harsh taoatment from
master to man than I have beheld in the North from father
to son. Yet, Heaven knows, no one would be willing to do
more for the negro race than I, could I but see a way to still
better their condition.

"But Lincoln's policy is only preparing the way for their
total annihilation. The South are not, nor have they been,
fighting for the continuance of slavery. The first battle
of Bull Run did away with that idea. Their causes since
for war have been as noble and greater far than those that
urged our fathers on. Even should we allow that they
were wrong at the beginning of this contest, cruelty and
injusticeha.ve made the wrong become right, and they stand
now (before the wonder and admiration of the world) as a
noble band of patriotic heroes. Hereafter., reading of their
deeds, Thermopylm will be forgotten.
"When 1 aidfA in the
Brown capture and execution of John
(wlio was a murderer on our western border, and
wivl, by the way, has since been made a god), I was proud
Of my share in the transaction, for I deemed it my duty,
and that I was helping my common country to perform an
act of justice. But what was a crime in poor John Brown
is now considered (by themselves)as the greatest and only
virtue of the whole Republican party. Strange transmigra-
tion ! Vice to become a virtue simply because more in-
dulged in.

"I thought then, as now, that the abolitionists were the
only traitors in the land, and that the entire party de-
served the same fate as poor old Brown, not because they
wish to abolish slavery, but on account of the means they
have ever endeavoured to use to effect that abolition. If
Brown were living I doubt whether he himself would set
slavery against the Union. Most, or many in the North
do, and openly, curse the Union, if the South are to return
and retain a single right guaranteed to them by every tie
which we once revered as sacred. The South can make no
choice. It is either extermination or slavery for them-
selves (worse than death) to draw from. I know my choice.
" I have also studied hard to discover upon what ground
the right of a State to secede has been denied, when our
very name, United States, and the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, both provide for secession. But there is no time for
words. I write in haste. I know how foolish I shall be
deemed for undertaking such a step as this, where, on the
one side I have many friends, and everything to make me
happy, where my profession alone has gained me an income
of more than $20,000 a year, and whero my groat personal
ambition in my profession has such a field for labour. On
the other hand, the South have never bestowed upon me
ono kind word ; a place now whore I have no friends, ex-
cept beneath the sod ; a place now where I must either be-
come a private soldier or a beggar. To give up all the
former for the latter, besides my mother and sisters whom
I love so dearly (although they so widely differ from me in
opinion), seems insane ; but God is my judge. I love
justice more than I do a country that disowns it ; more
than fame and wealth ; more (Heaven pardon me if wrung)
than a happy home. I have never been upon a battle-field
—but oh ! my countrymen, could you all see the reality or
effects of this horrid war as I have seen them (in every
State, save Virginia), I know you would think like me and
pray. the Almighty to create in the Northern mind a sense
of right and justice (even should it possess no seasoning
or mercy), and that He would dry up this sea of blood be-
tween us, which is daily growing wider. Alas! poor
country, is she to meet her threatened doom ? Four years
ago I would have given a thousand lives to see her
remain (as I had always known her) powerful and
unbroken. And oven now I would hold my life as naught

to seo her what she was. Oh ! my friends, if the fearful
scenes of the past four years had never been en-
acted, or if what has been had been but a frightful dream,
from which we could now awake, with what overflowing
hearts could we bless our God and pray for his continued
favour. How I have loved the old flag can never now be
known. A few years since and the entire world could boast
of none so pure and spotless. But I have of late been see-
ing and hearing of bloody deeds of which she has been
made the emblem,:and would shudder to think how changed
she has grown. Oh ! how I have longed to see her break
from the mist of blood and death that circles round her
folds, spoiling her beauty and tarnishing her honour. But
no, day by day has she been dragged deeper and deeper
into cruelty and oppression, till now (in my eyes) her once
bright red stripes look like bloody gashes on the face of
heaven. I look now upon my early admiration of her
glories as a dream. My love (as things stand to-day) is
for the Sonth alone. Nor do I deem it a dishonour in at-
tempting to make for her a prisoner of this man to whom
she owes so much misery. If success attend me I go penni-
less to her side. They say she has found that ' last ditch'
in which the North has so long derided and been endea-
vouring to force her in, forgetting they are our brothers,
and that it is impolitic to goad an enemy to madness.
Should I reach her in safety,and find it true, I will proudly
beg permission to triumph or die in that same ditch' by
her side.

"A Confederate doing duty upon his own responsibility.
"J. WILKES BOOTH."

The Suicide of Admiral Fitzroy.

Yesterday Mr. W. Carter, one of the coroners for the
county of Sumy, resumed the inquest which had been
formally opened on Monday evening on the body of Ad-
miral Fitzroy, who died by his own hand on the morning
of Sunday last at Lyndhurst-house, Upper Norwood, un-
der circumstances which were partly narrated in The Sun
of Tuesday. The inquest was held at the White Hart
Tavern, in the neighbourhood of the deceased gentleman's
residence, before a highly respectable jury, summoned from
among the principal inhabitants, and of whom the Hon.
Plantagenet Pierrepont Cary was elected foreman.
The sad event has cast a profound gloom over the whole
neighbourhood, where the deceased Admiral was held in
high esteem, alike by rich and poor, as well for his genial
and amiable qualities as a man as for his great repute in the
branch of science to which he had especially devoted him-
self, and which had made his name a household word to
the whole seafaring population of the country. Only a few
weeks ago he attended an evening meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, of which he was a valued member,
at Burlington House, and took part in the discussion which
arose on the projected expedition to the North Pole. He
appeared then in high health, and the whole audience lis-
tened to what he said on the subject with evident interest
and pleasure. He was a man of fine presence, with a hand-
some countenance, and although just turned 60 years of
age, he looked 10 years younger.
At the inquest yesterday Mr. Farrel-, solicitor, was pre-
sent to watch the proceedings on the part of the family of
the deceased gentleman.
The principal witness called was Mr. Frederick Iletley,
M.D., and Fellow of the College of Surgeons, residing at
Norwood. He said :—On Sunday morning last, at half-
past 9, I was called to Lyndhurst-house, the residence of the
deceased gentleman. Entering a dressing-room, I saw him
lying on his back, with his head close to the sponge bath
on the floor in a corner of the room. I noticed that he
had received an injury in the throat. He was alive. He
appeared to recognise me, but he did not speak. I attended
to him, and did all that was necessary. The nature of the
injury was an incised wound, extending from the left side
of the neck to the right ear. From the nature of the wound
the instrument appeared to have been used more than once,
although there was only one principal wound. I saw a
razor in the bath, in which was also a quantity of blood—
three pints at least. The razor produced might have caused
such a wound. The wound was in such a position that he
could have inflicted it himself. The windpipe was somuch
severed that he could not speak. I saw nothing indicating
that any person had caused the injury but himself. I an-
ticipated his death. He survived an hour and three quar-
ters. I had a knowledge of the deceased professionally
from the 18th of April. On that day he consulted me with
regard to his health. I was with him on that occasion
about an hour and a half, and my deduction was that he
was suffering from failing health in consequence of over-
mental fatigue, which had brought on great depression of
mind, and consequent wasting of the body. I was acquainted
with his position and vocation. These were likely to induce
great mental and bodily depression. I also formed the
opinion that he had a weak condition of the right side of the
heart, and of that I informed him. On that occasion he
asked me how far he might continue his work with safety
to his health and a view to his recovery, he observing
that he had consulted me principally on that point. I gave
him to understand that he should suspend his work tem-
porarily. Ile begged me to allow him to answer several
letters that ho had received. I told him that he had not
power at that time—meaning not mental power. There
was apparently no acute disturbance of the mind at that
time, but he was in a state that insanity might nriso
I prescribed for him in regard to his bodily health, and
did all that was necessary in regard to his mind. On the
21st I saw him again. On that day I was sent for to go and
see him immediately. He was then seriously-ill, and I found
him in a drowsy condition, resulting from a dose of opium
he had taken to produce rest, in consequence of a sleepless
night ho had had, following a most exciting day. I saw
him frequently in the course of that day (the 21st), and on
the following day he was relieved of the effect of the opiate.
I saw him &Lily from the 22d of April up to Thursday last.
I am not aware that he did anything at all in that
interval. In fact, I should have considered him at that
time incapable of .following his profession. I had a long
walk with him on Thursday, but his mind was not iu a fit
state to bear excitement. He had called at my house on
Thursday, and on his return from a walk I met him. We
then spoke about his condition, and he asked me to give
him a point blank opinion about it. I felt it advisable to
giva him an answer. Tha opinion asked was whether he
should give up his work or not. That was always the
question he put to me. My reply was, that ho was quite
incapable of carrying it on, and that if ho attempted serious
consequences would result.

The Coroner—What did you mean by serious conse-
quences ?

Witness—That is exactly the question the Admiral put
to me, and I replied that the result would be a condition of
the brain that might lead to paralysis. Ho said ho was
grateful indeed to me for telling him so, for it might
save his life. When I saw him on Thursday he was
better than he had been a few days before. He was, how-
ever, in his usual depressed condition, which was always
the character of his malady. From the conversations I had
with him the idea of his committing suicide did not enter
into my mind. There was no distinct reason for my appre-
hending it.

The Coroner—You did not think it necessary to place
him under any restraint, or to give any special orders ?
Witness—No.

The Coroner—Looking at the act itself, and the charac-
ter and position of the wound, is there any doubt on your
mind that ho has taken his own life ?

Witness—None at all. My opinion is that he was led to
the commission of the act by a power over which he had
certainly at tho time no control, and that he was not then
of sound mind. (To the jury.) I did not see him on Fri-
day or on Saturday. He was in town during the whole of
Saturday. If sufficient excitement follow on fatigue of au
overworked brain paralysis may occur at once.
The Coroner—Would it induce sudden delirium ?

Witness—Not unless there was also a fatigued condition
of body. Delirium would occur under those circumstances;
but ordinarily fever is not an adjunct a a state of mind
and body like that of the deceased.
The Coroner—But you are quite sure the act was don•
when the mind was not in a condition to render him re-
sponsible ?
Witness—Decidedly so.

Elizabeth Whyman, a domestic servant of the deceased
gentleman and his family, was recalled. She said she saw
her master alive at 10 o'clock on Saturday evening. He was
then in the dining-room, and all the family wore with him,
consisting of his wife and two daughters. Witness took
a light into the room before putting out the gas. The
Admiral had been from home that day. He left at half-
past 3in the afternoon and returned at 7. Between his
return and 10 she saw him just before ho dressed for dinner,
again at dinner, and afterwards at tea. She heard him say
he had seen Captain Maury. His conduct seemed strange
and witness remarked upon it to a fellow servant. He
answered in opposition to what was said to him. He had
seemed strange for some time past. She had heard him
say he was tired ; she understood from the fatigue of the
day.
The Rev. Francis William Tremlett volunteered to give
evidence, and he was heard. He said—l am a clergyman
of the Church of England, and reside at Belsize-park,
Hampstead. I knew the deceased very well. 1 first heard
of his death on Monday. I had been with him on
Saturday. Ho was at my house on that day, and
also on the Wednesday or Thursday previously. Ho
remained an hour and a half. He often came to see
me. He came also to take leave of Captain Maury,
who was about to proceed to the West Indies, and who had
been a personal friend of the deceased for many years.
Both Captain Maury and I had a conversation with him
about the state of his health. Maury said, "Fitzroy, you
want dynamic force," alluding to his nervous state, and
meaning by that expression nervous power. The Admiral
turned to me and said ho wanted to have my opinion. I
replied that I quite agreed with Maury. The Admiral asked
on what ground I had formed such an opinion. I replied,
" You know you cannot make up your mind upon any sub-
ject. He said, "It's quite true; I cannot." I said, " Your
nervous system is unstrung ; I see it by the twitching of
your hands, and I judge from what you yourself have told
me." He said he was affected with noises in the ears, and
was generally unable to sleep at nights. I replied that
those were alarming symptoms in his condition. I urged
him to resign at once his post as meteorological officer of
the Board of Trade. I had had many conversations
with him before upon that subject. I had also many oppor-
tunities of judging the nature of his avocations, and I know
they were most laborious. Ho left my house before Captain