The Sun.
London, England, 1829-05-30 00:00:00

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JCOTCH MARKETS.
EDINBURGH CORN MAIIKKE—May 27.
We had a middling supply of Grain to-day, every Ppe.-
cies of which sold readily. Wheat and Pease Is. lower
Oats tid. up ; Barley as last market-day.
Wheat. I Barley. I Oats. I Pease.

Beef, per lb. ...Os. 3.1. to Os.6d. Fresh Bttter,lb.s.lod. to 18.01
Mutton 0 4h 0 6 Salt Ditta-.. 0 7 0 8
Veal 0 4 U 6 Ditto, per cwt. 060 70 0
0 4 0 6 Eggs, per doz. 0 6 0 0
Lamb, per qr. 2 II 4 0 OatStraw(kp'.) 6 0 7 0
Tallow, cwt.... 31 3 32 11 Wheat Ditto... 7 0 0 0
Quartern Loaf 010 011 Barley Ditto 6 0 6 6
Potatoes. 111 b. 0 5 0 0 Hay, per st._ 0 6 0 7

THE LATE SUICIDE AT MONTMOItENCY.

We noticed a few days since a shocking instance
of murder, followed by suicide, which took place at
Montmorency, near Pads. Le Vodeur, of the 20th
instant, contains a very extraordinary document con-
nected with this case, in the shape of a communica-
tion from Stephane D., the suicide himself, dated on
the morning of the catastrophe, and purporting to
be an exact account of his thoughts and feelings
during the last three days of his life. The length
of the article precludes our giving entire this melan-
choly record of the effects of a morbid sensibility
upon two young person;, who hare fallen victims to
a romantic temperament and over-heated imagina-
tion ; but we extract the most remarkable passagee.
The letter, which was received by the Editor about
noon on the 29th of April, accompanied ,Aith a re•
quest fur its immediate insertion, runs thus :

" And I, too, am determined on writing a work,
the title of which, at least, shall possess a claim to
originality—" The Three Last Days of a Suicide.'—
It needs no preface, and will be very brief, as I
have actually no more than three days to write it in,
part of which must be employed in those occupations
which I shall have to engage in up to the last mo-
ment. Nor will it be devoid of interest, as lam my-
self at once its author and hero. Since yesterday,
Thursday, the 23d of Aril, I have decided on
:1
dying, and Monday next, the 27th, is the day on
which I have fixed for putting my design in execu-
tion. It is far from my wish to inflict on my readers
the ennui which is the bane of my own existence.—
My
heart has been incessantly the prey of this rul-
ture, which, inseparable from its victim, has accom-
panied nie from.the arms clone female to those of I
another. But let me, not anticipate—
" I married Mademoiselle P—, after a court-
ship of eight months; she was well adapted to make
me happy, had not the romance of my diposition
rendered happiness of impossible attainment.
- He then goes on to describe the commencement
of his acquaintance with Laura, to whom he was
introduced by his friend D'Am ; the latter was
attached to her, and requested him to keep an eye
over the object of his affections during his absence.
Then we lave the old story of Werther over again:
and even his account of his first interview with
Laura, together with his description of her person,
bear so strong a resemblance to those of Goethe,
that it is impossible not to discover that he had be-
gun to identify himself with that author's hero. He
falls violently in love—a correspondence ensues, in
the course of which he ascertains that his passion
is returned : his friend discovers his perfidy—re-
proaches him with it, and represents to Laura, who
has already yielded to his rival's desires, the confu-
sion which their liaison will excite in an innocent
family. The. same reflection has by this time oc-
curred to Stephane himself, and as he professes still
to feel a great regard for his wife, he is shocked at
the pain her knowledge of it will inflict upon her.
Then it is that the idea of suicide appears first to
have occurred to his mind, and be hints it to
Laura in some verses ; a conversation follows on
the subject, in which the matter is at first treated
lightly, when, on the 21st of April, he receives from
her the following letter
" I look forward to the future with alarm : if you
really love me, you will not hesitate; I hold life in
detestation, and see in it nothing but a continuation
of torment ; to live without you is impossible, I
should be for ever the prey of inquietude. Be it
so, then, I must die ; I feel a secret pleasure in the
thought. What have Ito regret ? My relations ?
They will prefer the intelligence of my death to
that of my dishonour. If you have any thing to
regret in the world remain in it. I shall complain
no more; and I have courage sufficient to quit a
life which is become insupportable. I have reflected
long and deeply : I can have no enjoyment without
you, every thing is opposed to my happiness. I
wish to die. Reply to me on this subject.
" Your friend, LAURA."

His reply was a brief one—
" You know my determination, it is to follow
you in all things—it is unchangeable."
He then declares his intention of committing to
writing an account of the remainder of his time on
earth, and commences by a description of his own
person, as contained in a passport granted him when
at the age of twenty, about a year since ; the por-
trait which he draws is, as in the case of his mis-

.ress, not without personal advantages, and he then

goes on.

" Thursday, April 23.

" At six this morning I was in la rue d'llanover,
she did not keep me waiting. Iler appearance was
us if sleep had been a stranger to her, her air was
nevertheless cheerful. Oa her arrival I was care-
lessly smoking a cigar, but removed it immediately,
the smell of a pipe is unpleasant to a female. ' Have
you any news for me Yes, I shall die on Mon-
day." And without me ?" I shall not have that
grief to suffer.' You will die happy ?" Yes, on
Monlay: Every thing around me from that mo-
ment appeared idle in my sight, and I gazed with
pity on the people whom I saw running about occu-
pied with their various concerns."
0 0 0 0 , ,

The conversation continues.
" ' You quit life, then,' again I asked, ' without
regret ?' ' Yes." And without fear ?" I do.'
Of hell ?" I believe not in it—after death the
soul becomes resolved into nothing; what think you
of a future state?' My friend, I hope to return
upon earth.' I comprehend ; you believe in the
metempsychosis: Not exactly so; the doctrine of
metempsychosis supposes the soul of man to enter
into the body of an inferior animal—my belief is,
that it will animate another human flame. I consider
this world as a theatre in which the same performers
are constantly re-appearing on the stage in various
characters, having only changed their dresses behind
the scenes.' "
o• 0 0 n

Let us change the subject; how shall we die ?'
' I will shoot you first, then turn against myself the
weapon that has destroyed you!" And if you
should miss me ?" Fear not that; my hand will be
steady estough: At least, do not point your pistol
at my head; it would disfigure me.' Ah, coquette
to the last ! no, I will level it at your heart.' . . .
"A nursery maid passed with an infant in her
arms. Ah !' cried Laura, with a deep sigh,
what need of all this cure ? when that infant is
grown up perhaps she will become a suicide like us !
unhappy parents, you know not what trouble you
are heaping up for yourselves !" Farewell !—On
Monday !' She disappeared, and I was in a desart.
9 9 0 0

• " I applied to my task and wrote for four hours;
my wife entered. Pauline,' said I, lam going
to take a journey on Mondayr How. • For one
day only, and to a good purpose : I shall obtain a
situation.' Of value ?" Six thousand francs, at
least." Impossible ! you would look more cheer-
ful were it so." It is true." Oh, how happy it
will make our relations ; how happy it will make
ourselves; ah ! had our dear little Stephune lived !'
I felt as if she had plunged a dagger in my bosom

. -
0 if 0 0 0 n
" After dinner I fell asleep. You have awakened
me from a singular dream,' said I to Pauline. I
thought you were a widow, and about to be married
again. wished to prepare her for the event."
He then goes to the theatre, and afterwards to a
friend, whose assistance he requests in making his
will, on the plea that he is about to be engaged in a
duel—then recommences writing, and describes the
sensations which he experienced, at hearing his un-
conscious wife laugh heattily 'at the comedy which
they had just left, and the humour of which had only
served to confirm his own perceptions. He receives
a second letter from Laura.
" Stephane—all is decided; I ant more resolved
than ever. I have entered upon a career too painful
for me not to seek to quit it. The more I consider,
the more plainly I-see this is the only way left us;
otherwise I must renounce you. You know this to
be impossible : my determination then is immove-
able. I have but one regret : I wept yesterday

much on thinking upon my father; but to-dai 1-11,rd
firm and resigned. Adieu, my friend! At nale
on Monday—Think of me!

~,- LAU~'~~.

To this he replied:—
" Laura, you wept ! Have you not over----rdelidt
Tour courage ? To-morrow you will see. 31)„""t4
'father—distrust your own heart ! My arrangenle-0
are made—my weapons prepared! think that rof
have only to choose between dying by the hand

your lover or your assassin." na
Ito then goes to purchase a pair of pistols,
the thoughts of his aunt and some other relat"),
cross his mind, without, however, effecting 16
change in his purpose. They will prefer, he
to hear of his death, rather than of his disgrace..,
At six he again goes to th.! theatre, and descrn
himself as entering into the spirit of the scene,,,
conversing cheerfully with a friend on the Obi.
of the piece, after it is over. At six the folloolt
morning he rises, takes leave of his wife, and It
out on his pretended journey. His last
dated " Monttnoreney, April 29th," where he t„.
pears to have been staying two days with his 113, •

tress :
" It is four o'clock ; two weddings are being Le.
lebrated in the rooms immediately beneath that
which we have not quitted since Monday evetlinc
We hear the sounds of their music and of t"hilb
mirth, sounds which will be so soon mingled st,
the report of the weapons of death. Come, 14'
quick, get ready an article which may exhibit to the
world the confusion among the waiters anct..pt
cooks of the White Horse Hotel, flying with Pio
pitation from their stoves, and cautiously creepingid
the place whence these reports proceed. DePt-s
the consternation of the young married coup
which will so soon give way to an air of satisfaetiet
inasmuch us this interruption to their ball will earrc•
them the sooner to each other's arms. Be
, lit°;
amazed at the levity of my tone, I cannot 114 the
my hand and my glances rest with delight on 1.0,
weapon which lam about to discharge into mY ho
breast, after having pierced the heart of Laura,
is at this moment smiling on me. But then,
aunt Pauline! Paul—Paul—Pauline !—Adietl7
adieu !" the
Thus concludes this extraordinary epistle;
bed
Editor states that a courier was instantly dielotc:l%.
to Montmorency, in the faint hope of preventinir
double crime. On his arrival no noise had been
heard in the chamber, nor was it known
they were still in it, or whether they bad walk::
out. On knocking no answer was returned, ante
difficulty was found in opening the door, from t'l,
circumstance of the bed having been drawn,aer7d
it on the inside; but when an entrance Was effele
a dreadful scene presented itself. The two bun;
lay stretched on the ground covered with blou'eb
two chairs were near them placed opposite .4,644(
other; a handkerchief was tied over the elL'ir,
Laura, whose heart had been penetrated by a td. C•
afP"
The hand of the wretched young man appearei
wards to have become unsteady; his yvounubefe
lower down in the body, and he appeared e°, fele,
died in great agony, from the contortions of to,
tures. The pistols were lying on the tteased
whetbeei
stained with blood; near them was a note acw,,," toe
to the inn-keeper, apologizing for making his ""
bey
the scene of their destruction, and stating that too
had gone out with the view of accomplishing t
purpose in the neighbouring wood, but that the co
was so severe Stephane had feared lest its bee
render his hand unsteady ; the note ended by nig
queathing the shawl of Laura to one of the chaeo,
ber-maids. The report of the pistols had nge
drowned in the noise of the music, nor had anY
any notion of the precise moment when the es'
trophe took place.