The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-19
/ III. II Il DISP ATCH
"ADabsDAf MORNING nav a. -
.'essins Suicide of a well Knoxxu
"r'ter.-Letter from Deesas.a

"r'ter.-Letter from Deeeassa
"ehry william Herbert, better known as s.p,snx
FORESTER, who for the past tweutyave vsars he.
written several works of fesion aud trea,iss an
ea'ae. '' various kinds, Committed suicide Mondav
morning at the Stevens House, groadwav NV
sofs' 10y shooting himself In ihs heart Win a
pistol lie at one time published tho American
monthly Magazine, in lonne ctlon with Char,o.
fesho Hoffman, and has written for nearly eyerv
t'.eraFy periodical of character In the country -
Az the inqnest p. II. Anthon, a friend of the da
ceased, Was examined, and from bis testimony ua
take the following:
II came TO see him because he eomuained of fa.,
ing very lonely On account of his wife having laf,
MN and on yesterday hs told me there was iat
W. noah nis VIE 10 hr Lo@rey, lawyer in Mas.
sau sheet, deciiniag any further intercourse wi,b
atm. All the evening he talked of kiilny Lina
se'. rms had been prevalent theme with him
ior sorne time; he told me yesterday exenin. tin,
.e "oolu eo 10 the cemetery In Newark, where he
ast parted nom her, and there shoot himself us
Kept walking about the room 4, er we cgma haat
he said he wonid kill himself on the day n1 ~
month 10 which he married his wife: he wss ma
req on Tue 10Th February last; did not remember
that yesterday was the 10th of the month wb;Ia
se were yet talking in the room he went into hi.
Deurooni, and heard something like the spannng
OF pistol; he came ont instantly, and said. =
to'a soh would do NJ he dropped on the floor
lie left two letters, which were identified AZ HIS
handwriting One of them was directed to tbs
press Of the United states,' and contains these
passages:
Before going to my account, would saw a fe
words TO the Press of America. and to its c0ndnct
oTs. as TO men among whom ] have for many years
been more or less associated.
II have my faults, my faiings; have done nv
share of evil in my life, as all men have done.
perhaps have done my share of good likewise
''of my private history, few men know any
thing, fewer still know much-uo one knows the
whole; it cannot concern the public to know aDy.
thing. As writer let me be judged; as a man let
my God judge me.
II implore not praise, not favorable construc-
tion-l impiore silence. For what / have to ae-
count with God, let me account with God and not
with man, who may uncertainty perceive and dis
tinguish facts, but certainly cannot perceive
causes or divine notions or Intentions.
Il have done many things wrongly ,rnany things
OF which am ashamed, many things of which |
have sincerely repented, many things under the
pressure and temptation of poverty and necessity,
10 which am not accustomed by my condition
which / hope should not do again under any
temptation.
Il am very sorry. | have been weak at times and
have faien-who has not done so!
For justice sake, for charity's sake, for Gods
sake, let me rest. l bear an honorable name. |
have sriven hard, In great trials, n great tempta
tions. in a foreign country, in a false position
among men who did not. perhaps could not syn-
pathze with me. to keep it houorable-as You
would have your own names honored and your
sons preserve them to you, charge you do not
dish0nor mine Few will miss me when | am
gone; probably none lament me--so be it. Only.
| iBplore yon, do not misinterpret and maiigu me-
II have the means, believe. if they be careful.
ty managed, to pay everything that owe, aud
perhaps to leave Il small surplus.
Remember, now. all you that would assail me-
That my back Is turned f0TCref; that henceforth
can diserove no sander that is spoken of me: that
with me no witness can be evermore confronted
that from no accusation. how false SO ever can
prove myself not guilty. OF all cowardice, the
most base and cruel s to strike the dead, who eau
make 10 defence or answer.
''liemember, also, when You Judge me- that of
all lives, mine has been the most unhappv
"No counsellor, no friends no conutry have been
mime for six and twenty dreary years; every hope
las broken down under my foot as soon rs it
touched it; every spark of happiness has been
yneBched son as 1t has been handled.
If have sIuned much and sorroweG much,
have also iGfed much more perhGps than | have
either suned or sorrowed 1t s the last drop that
oVerfows the golden bowl, the last tension that
breaks the silver chord. My last hope is gone-rny
last love and my life go together-and so, good
nj sht to HENRY HERBERT
MAY Is, 1858"
The cause of the suicide was unhappy difficult
ties with bis wife, which be mentions ia a letter to
tue coroner, saying.
"My life, long, cad and solitary and weary and
without object beyond labor to earn a living
for the day, has become utterly hopeless hateful
and uuenduraby.
"A hope had been kindled in my breast; my
home had got a>lght 10 it brighter than sunshine:
my life had purpose; loved her unusterably hap
piy--al this has been dashed down, all is lost
fnrever-home, hope, sunshine. She let life go
likewise, since henceforth it is but another word
tor torture.
II would not deny falsely one fault of which /
ccnscious-especally at this last moment-I
would not deuy that erred toward her, who m this
day shows that l loved more than life.
81 die in perfect peace and charity with all men.
I beg forgiveness of all those against whom have
sinned. forgive all those who have sinned against
me, even the woman who called at my own house
and set my wifes thoughts first against me; in proof
OF it, am sure know her, Yet do not name her
name. / beg God to forgive me, as forgive all
my enemies. l die in perfect faith and trust in
my Reaeemer, and believe that in Him | shall
have eternal life.
Yours, WILLIAM HERBERT"
The deceased was born in England, in 1872, and
came to this country about quarter of a century
ago. His father distinguished Dean in the
Church of England. Mr.. Herbert leaves q widow.
to whom he had been married but three months.
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