The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1824-08-05 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.  We have received intelligence from a Gentleman at Brighton, who was an eye-witness to most of the facts he details, of a most melancholy attempt b 7 a young female of great personal beauty to commit suicide. The circumstances under which she was instigated to this act of desperation are peculiarly distressing, and the apprehension for her safety is the more alarming, from a second, but unavailing, repetition of the attempt. It apneas that this beautiful young woman maintained an unbh inished chat racier until a few days previous to the firbt attempt she made to destroy herself. She had been sonic time past under an engagement to a wretch, to whom she yielded under a promise of immediate marriage. With a brutal disregard to her feelings, and base abandonment of his own plighted faith, and after a sacrifice, in which he at least ought to see nothing but what was /table and disinterested on her part, be flung his victim " like a loathsome weed away"--denerted her, and left Brighton. Stung with disappointment and despair, and feeling that it is not life, but the condition of living, that makes human existence supportable, she resolved not to survive the ruin of her reputation. She determined on self-destruction ; and accordingly on the night of the cad of August, at ll o'clock, she plunged from a retired part of the West Cliff at Brighton. It was a clear moonlight night, and it providentially happened, that one of the preventive pinta was near the spot. lie saw a female form plunge into the waters, and with that generous and noble intrepidity which has ever distinguished the naval cliaracter of this countri, he plunged after her. With considerabledifficulty he succeeded in seizing her before she was drowned, and " buftleing the billows to, her rescue," be bore her in his arms to the temporary bar- • rack, situated on the West (lilt close to the artillery fort. The officer in charge of the party gave immediate attention to the unfortunate unknown, and the sailors' wives were aatirluous in administering every assistance in their power. Mr. Pitt, a surgeon, residing in the neighbourhood, was in instant attendance, and with a promptitude and anxiety that reflect much credit upon him, pursued those means for restoring suspended animation that have been so successfully pursued by the Humane Society. After several hours of anxious vigilance he bad time satisfaction to observe his exertions were crowned with success, and that the liepless female was restored to life. The prais:worthy and hitherto successful exertions of Vector Pitt to preserve her life had, however, well nigh proved unavailing, from a circumstance which occurred the following morning, and 1 which we would term an accident, did we not feel it to be a highly reprehensible neglect on the part of those who per-1 witted it. The attendant, most unthinkingly (not to use I a harsher and more appropriate word), left the room. The I poor injured surf ter immediately bethought herself that this was a fitting opportunity for putting her fatal design into execution. Finding herself alone, she immediately hung herself to a staple in the wall, and would inevitably have perished but for the timely arrival of some persons in her apartment. I A gentleman high in the naval profession, who has take las indeed all persons must, an intent.' in the fate of this unfortunate female, correctly and humanely conceiving that it was not medical advice she needed now, but that it was morn requisite " to administer to a mind diseased," acquainted the Curate of Brighton of her deplorable situ. ation. 11-e arc happy to learn that she has been benefited • by the ii.struction and consolation &Worded her by that Rev. • t ientlanan, and gradually becomes more calm and collected. iVe at present forbear horn mentioning name*, until the • • particulars of the case are more fully investigated; for we apprehend her friends have not yst been informed of the! catastrophe by which she had determined to tear herself from their society and the world. The wretch who has ! wrought this ruin has not since been heard of ; the seduction is one of peculiarly aggravated atrocity, loaded and d —d by every circumstance of guilt—without one redeeming palliative to retrieve It from the most condign 1 abhorrence.  The Master's Mate or the port, and men in charge of the preventive service, desetve the highest commendation fur th,. active sad available assistance which they rendered on this distressing occasion.