Star. — 1818-02-14 (London, England)

DEATH OF SIR RICHARD CROFT.  It is with great pain, t,tl many accounts, that we Word the premati.re death of this Gentleman. We '!rave for many years considered the frequent and assiduous publicity given by the Press acts of Suicide injurious to public morals, as tending to familiarise diseased minds to the contemplation of the most dreadful crime which man, as a mature, tan commit against Nature t—a contemplation calculated to act as a stimulus and excitement which can produce nothing but evil. In consequence of this view— and we earnestly wish that Public Journalists would gave it due consideration-74n every instance in which we could persuade ourselves that by our silence we could keep a fact of this kind from the knowledge of even a single individual, we have uniformly forborne to rec•rd at in our columns. _ _ _  Indeed, we are firmly persuaded that the Legisla.J tore would render an essential service to morality— to the State—to mankind generally, by prohibiting the publication of apy act of suicide, or of any gross crime against 14/`,ire, under the most severe penalties. But, as the la* and practice stand at present, this is one of the instances which cannot be hid from a single individual in the Empire ; and, therefore, our silence would answer no purpose whatever, but only to keep some Readers ignorant of the fact for a very few hours. _ _  Sir RICHARD had been called in to attend the ad. coucAment of Mrs. THACKERAY, the wife of the Rev. Dr. THACIRRY (one of the King's Chaplains), who had come to town to be delivered at the house of her sister, Miss-Coxrot:, No. 86, Wimpole-street, Cavendish-square. The labour of Mrs. THACKIRAY was greatly protracted ; and on Thursday morning her situation became so critical, that Sir litcnAmo wished to have further medical aid. Another Gentleman having been called in, it was their joint opinion that the result was uncertain. Sir RICHARD became more and more alarmed every moment ; for ever since the liunented event at Claremont he had suffered greatly in his spirits. On some of the family expressing their anxiety, he struck his forehead, and said, " If you are anxious, what must I her Many other expressions escaped him, indicating intense feeling, and apprehension, amounting occasionally almost to distraction. At other times he was calm, and Mrs. THACKSRAY had no knowledge of his fears. Early yesterday morning he left her room, and was shewn into an apartment, that he might lie down and repose himself. He had scarcely slept for several nights. Here were the fatal instruments of his death. Dr. THACRRRAY is accustomed to keep loaded pistols by him at night; a brace were on the back of a chair. The unhappy Sir RICHARD (who, if he had waited two hours longer, would now have been rejoicing in his success) in a moment of phrenzy seized on the instruments of death (so inopportunely presented to his view) and discharged both of them through his head.—His death was instantaneous.  An inquest was held last night at eight o'clock, by THOMAS STKRLINO, Esq. Coroner for Middlesex, on the-body of the deceased, at the house of Mr. TaAcKsaity. The servants of the house were ex} mined, and described the report of the pistols, and the circumstances under which the body was found., Doctor LATHAM, Mr. FINCH, and some other intimate friends of the deceased, were also examined. From their evidence, it appeared that ever since the lamented death of the Princess Cu A a Lorre the deceased 1 bad suffered excessiveanxiety ; that his mind was every day leaving him ; and that be was at length reduced to a most distressed and desponding state.— The inquiry lasted about two hours, and, after a charge from the Coroner, the Jury returned a verdict of insanity. The inquest was conducted with the greatest secrecy. A Beadle was stationed at the door to prevent the entrance of any persons except the Jury and witnesses. At half-past ten, last night, a coffin was carried to Miss Corrores house. At a quarter before eleven, the hearse drove up from a neighbouring Mews, and the corpse was immediately put into it. There had been some apprehension of a crowd, and the watchmen in the neighbourhood were prepared to preserve order; but there were few spectators. The hearse drove into Saville row, and the body was carried into the house of the deceased through the garden entrance. A young gentleman and lady of his family had first left it in a hackney coach. .  Sir RICHARD WAS in his 57th year. LadT CROFT, who survives him, has been for some time in a very delicate state of health. Her Ladyship is a daughter of the late Dt. DENMAN, and sister of Mr. DENXIA the Barrister. He has also left three sons and a daughter. One of the sons is in the army, in which he served with great eclat in the late war on the Continent.  Great numbers of the Nobility and Gentry sent their enquiries to Burlington-street, as soon as the report of this melancholy event began to circulate. Mrs. TRACKERAY, we are happy to say, was safely delivered of a floe girl yesterday by Dr.