Since I am upon Tragical Events, I will mention a Thing to you that lately happen’d in England, and which I was assur’d by the English Gentlemen, in our Return from Versailles, is a certain Fact.
One Richard Smith, a Bookbinder, and his Wife Bridget, were about a Fortnight ago found hanging in their Chamber near their Bed-side, about three or four Feet Distance from one another; and in the next Room, their Daughter, who was but two Years old, was found shot thro’ the Head. There were three Letters left upon the Table, of which the following is the most material; and I send you a Copy of it, because it will let you into the Stoic Character of the English Nation. ’Tis directed to Mr. Brindley, a Bookbinder at London, in that which is call’d New Bondstreet.
Cousin Brindley,
‘These Actions, consider’d in all their Circumstances, being somewhat uncommon, it may not be improper to give some Account of the Cause, and that it was an inveterate Hatred we conceiv’d against Poverty and Rags; Evils, which through a Train of unlucky Accidents were become inevitable; for we appeal to all that ever knew us, whether we were either idle or extravagant; whether or no we have not taken as much Pains to get our Living as our Neighbours, altho’ not attended with the same
We apprehend the taking our Child’s Life away to be a Circumstance for which we shall be generally condemn’d; but for our own Parts, we are perfectly easy upon that Head. We are satisfy’d it is less Cruelty to take the Child with us, even supposing a State of Annihilation, as some dream of, than to leave her friendless in the World, expos’d to Ignorance and Misery. Now in order to obviate some Censures, which may proceed either from Ignorance or Malice, we think it proper to inform the World, that we firmly believe the Existence of Almighty God; that this Belief of ours is not an implicit Faith, but deduced from the Nature and Reason of Things: We believe the Existence of an Almighty Being from the Consideration of his wonderful Works, from a Consideration of those innumerable celestial and glorious Bodies, and from their wonderful Order and Harmony. We have also spent some Time in viewing those Wonders which are to be seen in the minute Part of the World, and that with great Pleasure and Satisfaction, from all which Particulars, we are satisfied, that such amazing Things could not possibly be without a first Mover, without the Existence of an Almighty Being: And as we know the wonderful God to be Almighty, so we cannot help believing but that he is also good, not implacable; not like such Wretches as Men are, not taking Delight in the Miseries of his Creatures; for which Reason we resign up our Breaths unto him, without any terrible Apprehensions, submitting ourselves to those Ways, which in his Goodness he shall please to appoint after Death. We also believe the Existence of unbody’d Creatures, and think we have Reason for that Belief, altho’ we don’t pretend to know their Way of subsisting.
We are not ignorant of those Laws made in Terrorem; but leave the Disposal of our Bodies to the Wisdom of the Coroner and his Jury; the Thing being indifferent to us where our Bodies are laid: From whence it will appear how little anxious we are about a Hic jacet; we for our Parts neither expect, nor desire such Honours, but shall content ourselves with a borrowed Epitaph, viz.
‘Without a Name, for ever silent, dumb,
Dust, Ashes, nought else is within this Tomb.
Where we were born or bred, it matters not,
Who were our Parents, or have us begot.
We were, but are not: think no more of us;
For as we are, so you’ll be turn’d to Dust.
‘It is the Opinion of Naturalists, that our Bodies are at certain Stages of Life compos’d of new Matter, so that a great many poor People have new Bodies oftner than new Cloaths: Now as Divines are not able to inform us which of those several Bodies shall rise at the Resurrection, it is very probable, that the deceased Body may be for ever silent as well as any other.’