APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 611 



s^iame, Caroline! so long as the 

 gentlemen were over their wine, not 

 to spare me one short moment, to 

 make my death easy ; but I forgive 

 you, nor will I repine at my unhap- 

 py loc. Had you seen my brains 

 scattered on the earth, you could 

 have taken my letter from my cold 

 hand, and read it with composure, 

 without shedding a pitying tear. 



" P. A. S." 



Extracts from the letter, dated 

 Sunday Morning, two o'clock, 

 March 26, 1S09. 

 " Now that I have settled, as 

 well as my agitated mind will allow 

 me, all my earthly affairs, I will 

 devote my last sad moments to my 

 ever and for ever beloved Caroline, 

 provided the contents of your let- 

 ter, I expect to find at the cave, 

 does not compel me to kill you, as 

 well as myself, which I hope in 

 heaven it will not. I came firmly 

 resolved to die; I have exerted all 

 my energy to live, but without you 

 it cannot be; all my religion and 

 fortitude I had used to possess, has 

 now left me, and indeed I am a 

 wretched mortal; and yet I feel not 

 the least fear of death, but can with 

 pleasure and composure quit this 

 life, for it is impossible I can suffer 

 more, and if you doubt me still, 

 which I shall believe you do, if you 

 say one other word about your let- 

 ters, I think I shall be tempted to 

 take you with me, to that other and 

 that better world you talk so much 

 about ; where we shall be united, 

 never, never to part; then, indeed, 

 we shall enjoy that bliss your cruel 

 parents deny us here; but I fer- 

 vently hope your letter will be kind, 

 and give me another solemn vow 

 never to be another's, then I can 

 die alone and contented ; but if you 



give me room to suspect that you 

 will ever become any one's wife but 

 mine, the thought will be certain 

 death." 



" I am contented to die, and fer- 

 vently do I hope you may be able 

 to live, and live happy, and some- 

 times think of me. I have from my 

 heart and soul forgiven all who have 

 injured me, andhopethey will grant 

 me their forgiveness. I feel not the 

 least resentment against any one, 

 and I feel I can die happy." 



A short note, containing only the 

 following expressions, was found in 

 Mr. Sharp's pocket, after his death : 

 — " Caroline, Caroline, shame, 

 shame upon you ; not one kind line 

 at parting, cruel, cruel girl, adieu 

 for ever !" But it is supposed that 

 on seeing her come at a distance, 

 he hastily thrust it into his pocket, 

 and wrote in pencil the following 

 words, which were found lying in 

 the room : — I cannot live, and fear- 

 ed I should not have had resolution. 

 I shall do it with more composure 

 thanlcould possiblyhave expected." 



The letters written tomiss Shuck- 

 burgh were scattered about the 

 room ; those written by her were 

 sealed up under cover directed, sir 

 Stewkley Shuckburgh, and placed 

 in a cupboard in thesuramer-house. 

 The pistol with which Mr. Sharp 

 shot miss Shuckburgh, he threw to 

 the opposite end of the room ; that 

 with whichhe destroyed himself lay 

 close by his right hand : he had two 

 other loaded pistols, oneinhispock- 

 et, and the other was placed by the 

 letters in thecupboard — he had also 

 six bullets in his pocket. The co- 

 roner's inquest was held the next 

 day, and a verdict was returned of 

 lunacy respecting Mr. Sharp, and 

 that miss Shuckburgh died by his 

 hand. She was not at all disfigur- 

 2 ii2 ed 



