The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-27
From the Newark ~. j. Advertiser, May Is.
THE SUICIDE OF H. W. HERBERT.

hlledl
From the Newark ~. j. Advertiser, May 1s.
THE SUICIDE OF H. W. HERBERT.
Our whole community was startled last eve
ming By the announcement of the suicide of
Mr.. Henry William Herbert, late of this city.
A secret hope was felt that there was some mis-
take about it, but the full and saddening details
which came fex hours later confirmed the
anpounceinept-develop the most affecting
tragedy our people have ever felt an interest
in. The act was evidently committed under
the Influence of e lorg protracted melancholy,
amounting almost to frantic despair; this was
the consequence of domestic difficulty opera
ting upon exquisitely- mind, which
unfortunately ran to extremes Of Joy or eorrow,
all through his unhappy life. Indeed, those who
have only seen the occasional results of this
uncomfortable impetuosty of feeling, and look
ed upon his unusually stalwart frame, have
never given him credit for the better nature
which overwhelmed him in sorrow at the reac
ton.
Though 80 long a resident of the United
States, ne preferred to remain British subject,
and indeed always manifested strong uation.
al feeling and pride in his noble ancestry.
Shortly after his arrival in the United States,
he married lady from Maine who has now
been dead about ten years; by her he had
son, now about 10 years of age, who is in the
Military Academy at Woolwich, England. Mr..
Herbert received from bis father for some years
an annual income of one hundred pounds a
year, to contribute to his support. On the
death OF his father, the money was placed in
the hands Of trustees in this country for the pur-
pose OF erecting homestead suited to his own
taste, which should be set apart for his use
during his life, but which should revert to his
son on his death, and not be responsible for his
debts. Accordingly, about ten years since he
selected a beautiful little spot, two miles from
Newark, on the Bellevilie road, on the banks
of the Passaic, just at the foot Of the celebrated
Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The passerby would
hardly notice the house, it is 80 completely i'm
bedded In shrubbery and trees. The grounds,
though covering but one acre of land, are q
bunch of hilock, and arranged with romantic
taste. The house is built in the Gothic STYLE,
though it seems now somewhat diapidated ex.
tsrnally. He had it tastefuly furnished and
decorated with embems AID implements of
sportsmanehip, and supplied with fne library.
expanding on the whole about IS 5000 BE
named his place the Cadars," from number
OF tall cedars which skirt the road that winds
along the river just by his door. Here he has
lived for the last ten years clone, until his mar,
riage recently.
The incidents more Immediately affecting his
mind comEpenced with his second marriage.
which occurred at the House of Prayer, in this
city, on the l6ih os February last the rector,
Rev. Mr. Shackleford, perfor ming the ceremony.
The bride was Misc Adela R. Budlong, a young
lady from Rhode Island, with whom Herbert
had formed Sudden and romantic attachment
during visit she was making in New York
1t appears from his own statement to the wri-
ter of this, about the time of the occurrence,
that he relieved her from an assault of some ruff
fan in one Of the New York avenues, and &C
companied her to her hotel; correspondence
followed, and resulted in the wedding, which was
comparatively private, only four gentlemen OF
this city being present by invitation, with two
from New York, in addition to the brides
mother and brother. They came from New
York the P. NJ. train, which was delayed BY
an accident fer about an hour on the way, and
it was lac in the afternoon when the ceremony
was prefcrmed.
The parties proceeded immediately to Mr..
HeIberts cottage at "The Cedars," and for a
time they were perfectly happy in each others
society. Some SIX weeks after this ceremony.
the reptile spirit of calumny crawled into his
quiet home it is alleged that some one. repre-.
scented to be lady, took occasion, probably
without any idea of the tregic result, and pour.
ed into bis wite's mind a recital of the worst
features of his hfe, iii the usual exaggerated
gossip, and on his return he found her alone
and melancholy. She told him what had pass.
ed, but refused to reveal the person; this fred
Herberts ihhammnble temperament, and in the
heat CT HIS lmpetucsi!y he threatened to de-
stroy hlnseit It she did not reveal the name
She, in turn, became frantically alarmed, and
unturQH a er1al hinod
hemorrhage of the lungs This'in turn alarm
ed Herbert, who did all be conld TO restore her
health and relieve her mind, bat from that mo.
ment she determined to leave him, and did 30
during his absence i'll New York.
According TO his representations, he passed
out CT bis back gate, which leads into the Gem.
etery, and she accompanied him to the fence,
bidding him an afectionate adieu, with a kiss
On his return, she bad gone, and the full gush
OF desolahon and despair unbalanced his sensi-
tive mind. he strove in vain to bring her
back, and thinking it would promote the object,
he left his cottage, which he thought might
have been too lonely for her, and took apart.
ments at the Stevens House, N. Y, (late Del
monieos,) near the Bowling Green, bringing
with MN choice books, the portrait of his frat
wife, and some select articles. Here he used
every effort in his ingenuity to recover his wife.
but she steadily refused to meet him, and final
~ instructed her attorney to inform him that
she would receive no further communications
from him. This last drop overlooked the cup
OF his bitterness; the future seemed all hope.
less; he then meditated his own destruction.
he complained bitterly that his Newark
friends neglected him; that he could not walk
the streets without being sighted, and repeated
that he was tired Of life. Shortly after leaving,
he adv ertised in the Newark Adrerfiser that IF
his creditors-and there were many of them
would send in their applications to Mr. Joseph
Howe, Of No. "a William street, New York,
they would be satisfied. His remaining furni-
ture was handed over to one of his largest
creditors, and the house given up to be let.
He leaves an aged mother, living in England !;
q eister, who was married in this country, and
sailed in the last steamer; and a brother, who is
Governor of the Channel Islands besides his
con, before alluded to, in the British army.
THE TRANSPORT OF AFRICANS TO THE
FRENCH WEST INDIES