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Letter to Editor
March 25, 1818
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A New York subscriber to The National Intelligencer encloses an article from the New-York Daily Advertiser dated March 7, 1800, detailing the suicide of merchant James Locke, attributing it to bankruptcy woes and dashed hopes for a National Bankrupt Law before Congress.
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TO THE EDITORS.
NEW-YORK, MARCH 10.
The inclosed, on the death of James Locke by suicide, is from "The New-York Daily Advertiser" of the 7th March. If you can find room to give it a place in "The National Intelligencer" you will confer a favor on one of your subscribers.
Mr. Editor—In looking over the New-York Gazette of Saturday last, I noticed the death of James Locke, by suicide. Knowing the respectability of his connexions, it may be gratifying to them to learn the cause of his untimely exit, and to find, that, notwithstanding his life had been checkered by misfortune, he had not mingled in vice to corrupt his mind or darken his understanding. Mr. Locke was a respectable merchant, but like many others had become a bankrupt. The mildness of the laws of New-York induced him to fly to this city with his family, and, after he had availed himself of all the benefits they afforded, he found himself exiled from his friends and home, without the aid of those commercial facilities he would have received from his friends had he been in his native state; he therefore despaired of success in business, until the prospect of a National Bankrupt Law had elevated his hopes, (with many others) too high to be disappointed. He saw the course the bill before Congress for a National Bankrupt Act was about to take, and fell a victim to suicide.
A FRIEND.
March 7.
NEW-YORK, MARCH 10.
The inclosed, on the death of James Locke by suicide, is from "The New-York Daily Advertiser" of the 7th March. If you can find room to give it a place in "The National Intelligencer" you will confer a favor on one of your subscribers.
Mr. Editor—In looking over the New-York Gazette of Saturday last, I noticed the death of James Locke, by suicide. Knowing the respectability of his connexions, it may be gratifying to them to learn the cause of his untimely exit, and to find, that, notwithstanding his life had been checkered by misfortune, he had not mingled in vice to corrupt his mind or darken his understanding. Mr. Locke was a respectable merchant, but like many others had become a bankrupt. The mildness of the laws of New-York induced him to fly to this city with his family, and, after he had availed himself of all the benefits they afforded, he found himself exiled from his friends and home, without the aid of those commercial facilities he would have received from his friends had he been in his native state; he therefore despaired of success in business, until the prospect of a National Bankrupt Law had elevated his hopes, (with many others) too high to be disappointed. He saw the course the bill before Congress for a National Bankrupt Act was about to take, and fell a victim to suicide.
A FRIEND.
March 7.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
James Locke
Suicide
Bankruptcy
National Bankrupt Act
New York Merchant
Congress Bill
What entities or persons were involved?
A Friend
To The Editors
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Friend
Recipient
To The Editors
Main Argument
james locke's suicide resulted from despair over bankruptcy and the impending failure of the national bankrupt bill in congress, despite his respectable character and avoidance of vice.
Notable Details
Respectability Of Connexions
Mildness Of New York Laws
Prospect Of National Bankrupt Law
Bill Before Congress