The History of Suicide in England, 1650–1850, Part II vol 6 by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9781000559699
Google: WIxNEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2021-11-18T02:48:22+00:00

Letter to Hoey’s Dublin Mercury, 15–17 August 1771

For the DUBLIN MERCURY.

Mr. HOEY,

HAVING seen in your paper of Tuesday the 13th inst. August, published from one of the London papers, a copy of a letter from the unhappy Mr. O’Neil (who lately committed an act of Suicide) to Bingham Ellison, Esq. No. 3, Suffolk-street, Charing Cross, London; and being apprehensive the publication of such a letter will be, by way of president,1 dangerous to weak minds, as it may reconcile to others the crime of suicide, though not insane, founded upon the same false principles which seems, through insanity, to have seduced the unhappy sufferer, Mr. O’Neil, to lay violent hands on himself; that is, first, that prudence had decreed the act he was about to perpetrate. Secondly, that it is a folly to think men must be crack’d, or non compos, to put an end to themselves. Therefore, with a view of the preservation of others, by stopping any ill effects that might proceed, by way of president, from such mistaken notions, and false principles; I shall with the greatest humility submit, and endeavour to shew, that the very principles laid down by the unhappy gentleman as his security against his doing wrong, and are in themselves self-evident of his being insane. In the first place, from the authority of Mr. Locke, madmen argue right from wrong principles.2 Next, that the act of suicide was decreed by Providence, must be a false principle; supposing such decree to be unalterable; otherwise, such a principle would take from God his great attribute of Omnipotence, such as a power to will; for until the act is done, it must be inconsistent with our own notions of the Omnipotence of God, to say, it is will’d; and with reason, to say an act is done, before it be done: and that I am right in my reasoning, is consistent with all the writings and true notions of divinity, in the necessity of prayer to God, for his protection and mercy; and would not any other doctrine wipe offall sins from our actions, and leave us with impunity (as decreed by God) the ravage, plunder, and destruction of one another, as our lost and vicious desires would lead; and must not the man be considered as non compos, who would attempt to argue upon other principles, than, that he ought to be gratefully thankful to God for his being and preservation, and that true reason could never lead him to his own destruction, or the injuring his neighbour.

Sir, you will oblige your friend, by publishing the above in your paper.

BENEVOLUS.3

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