The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1835-07-31 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.  MELANCHOLY.SUICIDE. On Wednesday evening -hist'considerable sensation was created in the neighbourhood of the New Ceinetry, iu censer quenve of 1 person of respectable appearance having been found in the grounds there with his throat cut from ear to ear in the most horrible manner. He was not quite dead when discovered in this awful situation, but-ire a few minutes afterwards he. ex. pired. It was subsequently ascertained that the unfortunate man was, Mr. J. F. Mercer, a gentleman of 'most respectable family, who, some time ago, carried on the business of a wine merchant in Chesterfield. near Sheffield, and had latterly been connected with the firtit.of,Arrowbmith and Rider, in the same. business, in Manchester. He arrived in Liverpool about a fortnight ago, (during the races,) since which time he had taken up his abode at the house of Mr. Roger Backhouse, the Wil liam the 4th, in Williamson-square. From his unaccustomed absence from Manchester, and not having written home, his wife, who has a large family, became uneasy, and on Wednesday morning a friend of his came over to loiv.expool ler the purpose of requcstiu' him to go home. His friend found. him 'at' his liotel, and on the afternoon of the evening the shocking deed was committed he promised to return with his friend to Manchester by the five o'clock train. About four o'clock the same evening he left his friend, at the same time shaking hands with him, and stating that he would be punctual to the time the omnibus started for the railway. At the hour deceased was expected, his friend ( Mr. Street, of Manchester) received the following letter, which had evidently been written before deceased left the Walk= the Fourth, because the date of 29th of July to be subsequently inserted, and before he departed he inquired the day of the month:— Liverpool, 29th of July, 1833. " My dear Friend,—Since you left me my mind has become' ten times moreoverburthened than ever, for the more I think of matters, both public and- private, i find myself the less capable of bearing up against them. But before I write further upon this melancholy subject let me entreat you, in almost my last dying words, that you do not, under any circumstances, make known this letter only to my dear wife and children, which God in Heaven I hope will, in the utmost distress, give fortitude to and assist under my unfirtunate extermination, which ha, been chiefly brought on by three years and a half repeated insult . upon insult, tyranny upou tyranny. After every exertion within. the limits of most men's powers had been put in force and effect by me for the benefit of others, and that too without giVing the slightest seeming satisfaction. Again, private pecuniary matters have also very heavily borne upon me, and of which I can see no earthly prospect of ever extricating myself from ; I have therefore come to . the full determination of putting a period to my existence in the Rock Cemetery, where I hope you Will find me, and see me buried; and may the Almighty God have mercy upon my hurried away soul ; and may he be pleased, in the event of my wife's, or either of my boys deaths, to take them into his holy keeping, from whence there is no return, is the best prayer I can offer for them. The conduct of Mills upon this occasion has been extremelY unfriendly as well as unmanly, notwithstanding which I forgive him, and hope to die in perfectpeace with all mankind. I should wish my warmest gratitude,. to be offeredso Mr. John Wilkinson and family, arid also to, Mr. Henry Wright, and his fauidy, both of. vrtiOnillaYe•heen,, very great friends- to me, not only personally but in the way a business. Accept also, my dear Sam, the same from thoisc', hands which will very soon be no more. "F. J.