Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-26
WINCHESTER, fVA.) Nsxcb 10

y.
| Most .Metanctoly Epent.-Never have wa been
called on to record an event SO truly meancholv-..
one Which has produced strong, soul-stirrins
sensation in our town--as that which il now becores
our duty to relate The amiable the hiebminde,
the intelligent Doctor Stephens r. Beatty is no more,
he fell in the prime Of life, in the commencement of
career when gave promise of unsurpassed useful
ness; and he fell by his own hand. But let us calm
our feelings, and relate, well as we are able the
particulars oftiiis heart-rendiEg deed.
Hr. Beatty returned to Winchester in December
last, utter absence of some months i'm the State IF
New York and the District of Columbia Pa hnd
been severely affected with dyspepsia, and had pur-.
sued for some time very abstemions regimen bv
Which his bodily frame was exceedingly reduced.
we have been told that for half wear he had NOT
tasted meat, but that he had confined himself solely
10 fnrinaceous articles, and those in exceeding small
quantities About the middle of February he be.
came suddenly alarmed at his extreme emaciation
and the continuance of the disease and resolved to
use more nutricous die yet such was the stetc Of
his stomach arising from long abstinence thai the
change produced translation of the excitement TO
the BRAN, causing perfect frenzy and conning him
10 that bed which at length witnessed his dissolution
For the first weeks his life hung upon the Sian
derest thread But by the skill of his physicians aAd
the great of his attendants the rgor of his dis
ease was abated, and his body began to assume n
beautiful tone. For two weeks before his death.
save on the day tey preceding that event lid
eau mad no ntervas OF deilrinm. and his fathers
iamlly were conSratuatng themselves upon the sure
prospect or his recovery. But how vain are all earth
ly caculatons-how deusye all the most warmly
cherished hopes OF happiness which rest subunary
objects. Although DIR. b. was evidently recovering,
yet 1t was deemed proper that some attendant should
always be with him; and this caution had been faith
fully observed until the fatal morning of "Wednesday
last.
Dnring the night, his father and a little bow This
grandson, bout eight years DID, hadsept in the room
with him, and he had rested soundly and had given
no indications of alienation of mind.-A little after
day break his father arose TO go market leaving
the child to stay in the until his return. Almost
Immediately after he went out Dr. 3. requested the
child to hand his trunk to him, snying he wanted
to get book from it. The child did So and obser-
we'd his uncle to take from it what he thought was
book, open it, take out something and put the book
back. He then directed him to return the trunk to
its place, and laid down as if TO sleep. On bis faith
| ers return from market, he looked INTO the room
saw his son lying tranquil ard directed 20 noise
be made, lest he hs-distnrbed Ait how useless Was
that caution! Not all the thunder Of eesi S.;5S
have disturbed him in that seep-a sleep only to be
broken by the trump of the arcange! Shortly after
yards bis sister went to his bedside, spoke to him,
and receiving no answer became alarmed and upon
examination discovered him 10 be dead. He had ta-
Ken from the trunk razor, with which he had cut
the femaral aerytt its commencement in the inner
mart of the thigh, performing the operation wth the
utmost sain--p<,.h must have followed in one min
ME-
Thus fell pr Stephens r. Ieatty, in the 18th wear
of his age of the most amiable, moral aud pr ON
slng young men which our town hes ever produced.
Che deep sympathy felt for his unttnely end YVES
manifested 10 the large concurse of citiznns who at
tended his funeral yesterday afternoon, and in the
general gloola THAI prevailed the lenghened proces-
sion.