L30/14/86/4

Sent from Grafton Street 21 August 1776, received 9 September:

1776

From: 1776 To: 1776

Cannot account for or excuse neglect in not writing to you. "Last Thursday night, or rather Friday morning John Damer (?) shot himself at Stracey's bagnio in Covent Garden". Knew him well and disagree with those who say he was a likely person to do such a thing; "a man of equal spirits, neither high nor low". Not likely to kill himself from ennui but "I am persuaded that was the case, tho' many people think it was from the distress of his circumstances. He owed about £40,000 and was bound likewise for the debts of his two Brothers, which might amount to as much more". but had £5,000 a year from father and £20,000 a year settled on him; Lord Milton had agreed to pay his debts upon conditions which might be disagreeable - to give up £2,000 per annum of income and go abroad for a certain number of years - but would a man of such great prospects kill himself because he must go abroad for a few years on £3,000 per annum? Circumstances of death " in some degree disgusting and indecent" and show indifference to public opinion which some find commendable - disagree. Ignored decorum in life and death. Spent day as usual; morning in walking, riding and lounging in a glover's shop in Berkeley Square; not know where he dined or what he did from 4 pm. until 7 pm when "he was seen going into Griffin, the Gunsmith's shop in Bond Street, where he bought a pair of pistols, which he put into his pocket, as they were very large ones, the man suspected by his carrying them away with him, that he was going to fight a duel". Walked in park, declining company of Boothby by which has convinced the Prince that he was mad; at 9 pm went to Stracey's in Covent Garden, had 2 girls and a child fiddler as usual, supped with them; at 2 am. dismissed the girls with a guinea apiece; told the fiddler to return in 20 minutes; "He took that opportunity of destroying himself" presumably painlessly as he had not fallen from chair. Coroner's verdict - lunacy. Mrs Damer was at General Conway's and came to town knowing nothing of the matter; Charles Fox stopped her near Foley's house, prepared her for bad news and would not let her go home until she was joined by Lady Harriet Foley. Lord March is to have Lord Cathcart's place and Lord William Gordon, Lord March's. I go tomorrow to Ossory's and thence to Scotland returning mid-October. Next session will be busy; East and West Indies will furnish material enough for business. James has gone to Italy for at least a year. (Sic).

item

Damer, John,
Milton,
Griffin,
Boothby,
Damer,
Conway,
Fox, Charles,
Foley,
Foley, Harriet,
March,
Cathcart,
Gordon, William,
Ossory

suicide, DEATH, Covent Garden, debt, gunsmith, guns