Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-08-07
GUILDHALL

A TALEoF MISERY. Yesterday an elderly fema le
wasted almost to a skeleton, was brought before
MIR Alderman Carrot, in consequence of having
made two attempts to drown herselfat Black fri.
ar's bridge on Sunday night.
Brown watchnian on duty at the bridge, stated
| that about half-past twelve Sunday night a
gentle nan observed the prisoner to rush down the
stairs leading 20 the water, and suspecting from
her wild & agitated manner that the unfortunate
woman meditated self destruction the gentleman
followed, and seized her in the very act Of pune-
ing into the tide, She was brought up and after
| some remonstance allowed to depart but instead
of proceeding up BIidgc-street she went on the
bridge itself, and when nearly at the cent? e. she
clambered UP on the balustrade. Brown saw
her, and running towards the spot laid hole of
this miserable being, whose life and sufferings
one minute more would have terminated She
was perfectly sober; but declaring her fl rm de-
termination to commit suicide, she was taken
to the Compiler.
The constable here minated that the hus-
band of the prisoner was in attendance, when
an old man stood forward.
" What cause, said the alderman, "prompted
you to attempt destroying YOURSELF"
| The prisoner buried her face in the bosom of
fine little boy she held in her arms, and sobbed
dreadfully for few moments; at length raising
her head, she exclaimed, wildly" Oh, God, did
L not endure till could endure no longer? Did
not suffer till nature could suffer no more?
Have not six long weary months passed with.
out ever having stretched my side upon bed ?
Nothing but the bare boards TO lie on !; nothing
to cover me and my babes but the rags we had
on by day-no, not even a blanket Did not
endure all this! and yesterday ay yesterday, TWO
penny loaf to support FIVE helpless children, my
husband, and myself, Oh, do not blame me /
could not bear it any longer"
| The husband, turning round to his wife, said
In tone of earnest expostulation, &" but YOU
should have considered your life was not your
own, and that the being who has been pleased to
visit us with our affections has power to relieve
us. have suffered as much as you have, vet
have enduredit and surely, Mary, twas moi
Bind In you TO think of leaving your children
motherless. 1t was very wicked indeed; and
hope sir" added the old man, turning to the
alderman" that you wiilremonstrdte with her.
| The alderman asked hun, to give some nc eoun
ofhmself; when he made the following reci
tai -. t'.i sfd' t'|
His name was Kenyon, and he, as well as hi
wife were natives of Irsan nd He served an an
premiership to a hair-dresser in Dublin whence
he removed'to Liverpool where he was house
keeper for twelve years and gained settlement
In 1905 he came to London and subsequently,
went out with the expedition under Lord Elk
mouth. He returned home with Lord Percy
brother TO the Duke Of Northumberland after tn
lcaPture of Genoa: and after II years service wa
discharged unpensioned. He had several ties
tlmoDials OF character from Lord Percy and other
| AZ SSNcidA IcSpeCtdOle houses IN Lon
don, but short time ago ruptured blood yesse
I'D the head; in consequences of which he was il
Guys Hospital, under the care of Sir AstIe
Cooper, and subsequently Mr.. Bransby Coopei
for year and half. When he was focoyere
he found himself destitute Of every thing, an
struggled through the last six months witt
famine and distress of the most appalling Kind
tie had twelve children, Eve ofwhom are still
burthen on him. He resides at No ~, Turnmil
street, ClerkenweD, and applied to the parochio
authoritles there, from whom he received Is. Sd
per week, but which was afforded him for onl
a short period. ~.
Aid. Garrat-Wsuld not tho parish YOU live,
IN pass you to your settlement in Liverpool
They would, sir" replied Kenyon i" but
trusted IN God that would get out of my mise
ries; and if possible, world rather do any thin,
Than return as pauper."
respect your feelings on that subject We
lry much observed the alderman, but il woul,
DO better 70 do that than perish.