The Sun. — 1839-10-23 (London, England)

SUICIDE  TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.  SlR,—While reading an account of the inquest held on the remains of that silly lad Hawes, and I speak of him and feel towards him as one of the public, the following ideas occurred to me : The number of suicides seems to have increased lately, I will not say alarmingly, because there is nothing to fear for from such a circumstance, except the character of this nation for common sense. Suicide being only a method of quitting this state of being it says nothing in favour of human nature, that what has been repeated momentarily, ever since the world began, should, at this time, be looked upon with horror, surprise, or regret, except it be attended Vtith some criminality, some exhibition of human weakness, or some loss to the public. I confess, mankind never appeared to me so nearly on a par with their less privileged fellow-creatures, than to-day, when reading an account of a conversation at the inquest, concerning the inclosure of the gallery of the Monument with a wire cage—ornamented, too ! As much as to say, Now, do keep down, little animal, or you'll spoil these pretty things over your head ! So far, however, as suicide is peculiar as a mode of terminating existence, I think it should excite ridicule, nay contempt. I would wage my existence that there exists not one individual possessing a human soul, who would not suffer the most thorough pain, the most lasting misery, rather than subject himself to the contempt of all men. And is not suicide contemptible ? In those who commit it upon what may be called principle, to avoid some trouble or misery, it is cowardly, in the last degree. A man knows what he has to suffer, generally ; but no one can die certain of his fate ; and it is in the shape of doubt only that fear can exist in a generous mind, or be at all rational in any—because in that case it is a fear of no object, in particular. Now, when, from very fear of an object which lie can appreciate, a man rushes to a condition of which he can have no certain knowledge, to insanity alono can his mind resort from the imputation of being the most utterly contemptible thing that could be in the form of intelligence. As to those who commit suicide in a frame of mind like that of Hawes, who seems to have been delirious only in so far as not to be unable to desire notoriety, the motive will be contemned by all who can deplore the aberration of reason which produces it. It does not appear that Hawes had any cause to destroy himself; but that he was always of a hypochondriacal, half-delirious turn of mind. Nor do lin the least doubt but that he looked forward with a degree of pleasure to the notoriety which his singular death would give him, though it should be after his becoming unable to enjoy it. Many, greater than he, have fallen into a similar error. _ _  But this mania for self-destruction being certainly an evil, how are we to check it? Why, when you see a man fall to the ground from an elevation of two or three hundred feet, hold an inquest to ascertain how he died ? The fact itself is not enough to inflame the curiosity of mankind ; feed that same curiosity with a long investigation •f what every body knows, and surprise all men by returning a verdict of " temporary insanity ;" that is the way. There is no danger whatever, that, among the crowd who may resort to the said inquest, some half a dozen, perchance, may think what a glorious thing it would be to have an inquest held on the body of one who had had the courage to shoot. his brains out, or had had the magnanimity to jump a few feet, in order to be in eternity. Far be it from me, Sir, to deprecate such an inquiry, in cases of suicide, as may answer the ends of justice, when there is a possibility of the murder turning out to be a homicide. But lam convinced that, in the majority of cases, where inquests are held on suicides, they do no manner of good, and they often do harm. What on earth was the use of holding an inquest on the body of Hawes ? If such a feeling as that of contempt for the folly of the lad, could be infused into the public mind— would it not be the best preservative against a repetition of such scenes ? Would it not do good to consign such candidates for fame into oblivion ? Nothing could have a better effect, than for a man to believe that, if he committed suicide, he should be treated with entire neglect by the sympathies of the public. But the inquest in question was suggested by curiosity in conjunction with custom; it tended to diffuse curiosity and to excite pity; two passions that will induce plenty of fools to desire the exercise of them in their own behalf. I am, your obedient Servant, Oct. 21, 1839. J. J.