The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-01-25


HE SIEUR v, ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE-Tbe
resolution which it supposed had been formed by
hofey, the accompce OF Fieschi, of starving himself
10 deat is not the FIRST example of the kind on record
The same mode of suicide has on several former occa
slons been successfully adopted BY accused and con-
demned persons. Ii has been remarked that the horr;
Die fortunes ct hunger do not produce elrium or even
annlhation OF the intellectual faculties, except when
violently imposed by power superior TO that Of the VIC
tIm The suffering, on the contrary when incurred for
the purpose of suicide, and endured with energetic bur
atal deiermnaon seems 10 excite and nvigorale the
moral faculties, aud to increase the acuteness of the
senses. In spite Of the exhaustion and prostration
OF the physical organization, the immaeriai portion of
the system acquires renewed strength, and attans an
Hconsiderable Development of power.
very curious example Of suicide by means of star
vation, occurred some years age in Corsica. During
the elections, the Sieur v rushed into the electoral
college armed with dagger which he PLUNGED into
the breast of man who had done him some injury.
The man fell dead his feet. This ASSASSINATION was
committed in the full light of day, and in the presence
OF an assembled multitude Never was an act of Italian
cendetta more signally executed.
was tired, found guilty, and condemned to
DEATH His high spirit and resolue character were well
known; and II was suspected that he would seek by
voluntary death, evade the disgrace of perish;ns
on the scafold. He was therefore vgiIanty watched:
ana every precauon was taken to deprive him of the
means of putting an end TO his existence
de resolved to sarve himself 10 death during the in
terva which elapsed between the sentence of The Court
OF Asslzes and the reply which the Court of Cessation
wonid make to the appeal he had addressed 10 il.
lie had succeeded in conceaing from the observation
OF his laers portion of the food with Which thew sup
Piled him. so as to make it believed that he regularly
took his meats. After three days abstinence the panes
OF hunger became insupportabe.
II then suddenly occurred 10 him that he might the
more speedily accomplish the object he had in view
by eating with avdity. He thought that the state of
exhaustion to which he reduced would unfit him
TO bear the sudden excess and that il vould ;nr,ablv
an arja 81 II
sngly sal down fDtle food c ne bad laid aside, snd
ate voraciously, choosing in preference the heaviest
things The consequence was. that he was seized with
violent tit of Indigestion from which contrary 10 his
expectation, the prison doctor speedily cured him.
lie then resumed his fatal design. He suffered again
what he had undergone before. The torture was al
most beyond his strength. His thirst too was infoera-
Bile. Ii overcame his resolution He extended his
hand towards the jug of water which had been naced
IN his CELL He drank with avidiiy and to use his own
expression he lras restored TO- life, i.s. ~, 5s
10 avoid yielding again TO similar temptation he
daily took the precaution of overunins the inc of
water which was broughtto him. Lest he sbouid he
induced to raise to his lips he threw down with his
foot, not venturing TO touch il with his hand.
In this manner he passed eighteen DAYS.
Every day, at different intervals he noted down in
ms album minute account of his sensations. He
counted the beatiBgs of his pulse and marked their
humber from hour 10 hour measuring with the most
scrupulous attention the gradual wasting ohs strength
In several parts of has me ancbolv zaee,f he decsrs
that fet harder bear the apones otbirs than tos
of hunger He confessed tbath. was frequently on the
point of yielding to the desire ofdrinking. He never
| theless resisted.
He was surprised to find bis sight become more and
more clear, strong and accurate lit appeared 10 him
like the deyelopemeRt of new sense The nearer he
approached his latter moments, the his power of
VISION seemed to increase. On this subject he thus
expresses mself4" II appears as though could See
through the thickest WALL" f. -
His sense of feeling likewise attained the most ex-
quisite senshlity. His hearing and smelling improved
IN similar degree. His album contains many curious
statements on these subjects.
The Sieur - had devoted some attention to anafo-
my and physiology; and he attributes the increased
acueness OF his senses 10 the way in which
nal irritation acted on the peryous system.
His ideas, he says, were numerous and clear and
were very different from any thing he had experienced
IN moments of excitement or intsxlcation. They were
all directed to logical investigation whether he apned
them TO analysis of material objects or TO philosopbic
contemplation. He also felt himself inspired with !,
singular aptitude for mathematical calculations sudv
for which he had previously felt very little inclination
Hon to go a COurting-A correspondent of the
United States Gazette, writing from the Old Coonv h
mentioning the maternity of the Quincy Adamses. in.
GLIDING two of the Presidents Of the Union saws d
John Adams, you remember is the same of whom the
tradition is current that he got Ills wife, Miss Mullins
by undertaking TO messenger or mediator for his
friend, the gallant Captain Sandish (ratber more
gnHant than gallant, by the way, it would seenJ John
was handsome and genee and delivered his message
! IN style which fascinated the fair damseL Miss
Priscilla that fixing her eyes his charming face she
could restrain when he finished the interesting qsery
Prhee, John, why not speak for yourseIf?'' which, OF
course: settled the matter for all postety President
and all. How do you think he could do otherwise
Dr. Thatcher tells me enough else, but not how the
lucky rogue made his peace with the Captain. John