The Sun. — 1830-02-16 (London, England)

THE LATE SUICIDE IN HIGH LIFE. (From the Observer.) "We have two reasonsfor, laying before our readers the full and complete series of accusation, explanation, and recantation, which our eminent cotemporary, the Times, has been compelled to put forth during the week. The first is, that it contains all of fact, or of insinuation, which we have not already made public ; and the second is, that these facts, and these insinuations, are contradicted—we wish we could add, refuted—by the authority, and under information acknowledged to be received from the family and connexions of at least one cf the parties most interested. Hating all slander, or mere scandal, full as much as our cotemporary—less anxious, perhaps, to fasten guilt on a person already sufficiently obnoxious, because less called on to justify great previous censure—desiting ant to see venial offences too severely punished, nor to snake innocence more suspected—we yet felt it our duty, for the sake of public morality and public decency, to advert at a very early period to the rumours which, for nearly three weeks before, had been bandied about in every circle where it. could he mentioned with the shadow of .propriety. This we did, we repeat, not that spleen or mischief might be gratified, but that those who felt themselves accused might have an opportunity to put forth a defence ; • that, if innocent, they might make that innocence appear ; that, if guilty, they might be compelled to retire from society, and save our wives and our families from the profanation of their example. Loving trials much, but honour more, we shill now proceed to show why it is, as the Times acknowledges, that the public does not go with them in this matter—and why it is, that although its editor may he satisfied of the innocence of the parties, and of the injustice of the imputations against their character, the great mass of the people have failed to adopt his opinions. We cannot bring ourselves to insult the well-known Integrity of the Times, or to pander to the purposes of those who wish to cast a shade over the reputation of the press, by alluding to the means through which it is vulgarly supposed that the convictions of its editor have been produced. We take it as it is acknowledged, and shall not stop to inquire whether his judgment has been influenced by evidence, blinded by the brilliancy of a diamond star, or biassed by private or political feelings. We are aware that after the melancholy event which has just taken place, this is a most ungracious task. When, however, there seems to be on one side a disposition to set public opinion almost at defiance, and when, on the other, there is a bold demand for inquiry, we think we may be justified in a slight invasion of rigid delicacy, and that we are in some degree at liberty to express our opinions on the nature of the defence which has been put forth, and of the inadequacy of the explanations yet presented to the world. Passing over all introductory declamation, te Times says, It is most unfortunate, when people of unpopular character are in that rank of life that they can, of necessity, obtrude themselves where they please, and drop in upon those whom they may choose as associates at will— it is, indeed, unfortunate for the persons who are thus distinguished ; for it cannot be but that the potent guest will impart to his friends a portion of the peculiar regard which adheres to himself; and that aptitude which may unfortunately exist to believe ill of him, will, of course, extend itself to those with whom be establishes relations perhaps of only ordinary civility." Now we pause here, and ask gravely, to what meridi in is language like this to be applied'?" Do we live where the cast of the handkerchief is the symbol of love and of power, or are we under the protection of those laws, and acknowledging the customs of that society in which even the lowest female in the empire commands her own company, and possesses the power to reject all attentions which are disagreeable to her? Are we to be told that a person, little careful of public opinion certainly, but not peculiarly obnoxious to public censure, has been in the daily habit of passing from Kew to Hampton to force his civilities on a female relation of a family who believes ill of him,' and who were aware of the unpopular nature of his character? Are there no means by which a gentlewoman, after the opinion of her husband was strongly expressed upon the subject, can refuse such civilities, and intimate her desire to be relieved from them' Are there no mean, by which such a guest can be excluded from the privacy of a chamber? Difficult indeed it is to explain circumstances like these; but still more difficult will it be to explain the continual repetition of such visits, after they had excited the marked attention of all who witnessed them—after they had produced a partial estrangement of the affections Of the husband, and after a promise had been given to abstain front all intercourse in futuree— a promise given at the request and through the intercession of a relation, whose wishes are commands. We say nothing of the marked displeasure exhibited by the wife of the visiter when she heard by whom the apartments at Hampton were occupied, and by whose intercession they la butc e tnooo iomiri or ut asn es ei noc on ttibi oe oecs Lot we must take leave to had been procured. We ct ruarorge :Tee becameisliclt phuals,l oe e; nr: observe, that an intercourse like this, persevered in contrary to the express desire of a husband, and in defiance of the wishes of a wife, and in disobedience of the commands of a relation, requires more than the production of one or two affectionate letters, to free it from the imputation of impropriety. We can understand the effect which may be produced by isolated communications, when read without an understanding of the circumstances which produced them, or of the. situation of the patties at the time they were written. By something of this kind must the acute mind of the Editor of the Times have been led to a conclusion which, indeed, the mind of every virtuous and honourable man must have been anxious to adopt, that the lady was