Star. — London, England, 1820-05-01 00:00:00

I I I ' i i ~ PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. yousr. OF COMMONS. SATURDAY, APRIL •_9. The Sr.:at:lß took the Chair at !::.If-past three o'clock.- Lord George- lleresrord appeared at the Lir, and iitf4tmeS the House, that be had it in command from his Majesty to allsrize them, that the King wenld be graciously pleased to receive theil Ad dr.:ss, in Carlton Palace, it four o c!o?.lt this d::y. On the le.. , tion of 11r. AactyriiNcyr it was or..7ert.e. that ro fvr a ivaio Bill should he recei•rcil :fter the s:h . of May ; tutor resit a lirst time after the 7.011 t of that month ;- - and that no flepr.:t should be received alter the 19th of June. Oa :he motion of 31r. A NOT. it *as ruck red that tha: part of his MajsAty's Speech whl:h referred to the arrange s:lent of the Civil List should be :.::ca int., consideration on Too.;day nest. Sir “1.!01161:. notice, that on Wed in:xt be would propose a V cf Seamen for the present year, in the Committee of Supply. On the motion of Itk. AItsi:TAIN.:,T, the usual Sessional Or d4 for arranbrmcnt of 'loci:es:mi.:orders was made. Mkt a quarter before four ilouse adjourned until Monday tit-At. The Srra s.:c thin pracecile.l in A:ate to Ca-slton Palace, ac companied by ihc .dove: told Seconeer . , for the iurpose of pre senting the Adre:s of Fol:s,ta his l'ilaj,:sty. _ _ _ . . 114 E EN i N LONDON, MONDAY, AY 1, 1320. 13T. AZi . D ST. at the. Szo,::: Ey.thativ. W.:have this day the painful t;:‘,lc of recording the inflicti,.:n of the awful sentence of the law on the five uidiappy n.ca, Arthur ?hist!mood, Janles lugs, John T7v:was Brunt, Rickard Tick!, and William Davidson, convicted if 11'0 Treason., Sa:urd.ty the COMMON SETIJEANT, in conse crience of having been written to by the LORD CHAW rEurin on the subject., made his report to the KING in Council, of the eleven men convicted under the late Special Commission.- The Judges who tried the prisoners likewise attended. After two hours' deli bet ation, and hearing the report of the trials, the fol lowing were ordered for execution on Monday (this mot ring) in front of Newgate, viz.—Arthur Thistle wood, Jumesjirgs, John Thomas Brunt, Richard Tidd, ; ! Thvitison. As the warrant contains a remission of part of the sentence of those who were executed, and may' not be uninteresting, we Subjoin an extract from it: " And whereas we have thought fit to remit part of the sen-. terse, viz. the dividirg the bodies of Arthur Thistlewood, James JoLa Thomas Brunt, Richard Tidd, and William David son, severa:ly imopor ports: our will and pleasure is, that exe ctti,:z: he done upon the said Arthur Thistlewood, James Irgs, J:elin Thomas Brunt. IL hard Tidd, and William Davidson, by their I).:i:tg drawn and hangcd, and having their heads severed from their botliett, according to the said senter.ce only, at the usual pl..ce of executior, on Monday neat, the first day of May s land for so doing this shall be your warrant," &c. _ _ Mr. llttowN, the Governor of Newgate, received • the warrant at seven o'clock in the evening, and, ac companied, by Mr. PULLEN, the Under-Sheriff to Sher ?IPA n K INS, immediately went.to the condemned room, in which were sitting those who were ordered for execution, attended by eight officers. When he cr,•ered they ruse in the most respectful manner. He lrel.l in Lis haw.' the Royal warrant, of the con- . of which they appe.med conscious. A dead revailed, but there was not the slightest agi . tatieu observ,ible in tli'c countenances or manner of any ooe cf pnsoneni.. • _ BnowN addressed them in the following %void , It is my painful duty to communicate to you that I held the Recorder's warrant for the exe cution of you, Thistlewood, Ings, Brunt, Davidson, and Tidd, on ".,li:nday morning. I lope and trust that the slant time you have to remain in this world will be employed by you in makinB prepatation for that to which y,,u am going." Thi,;;;:wr,A imme,l:ateiy Ond in the calmest man rcr)—" The sooner we go, Sir, the better. Our wish is to die as soon as possible." The others said rot a %void. There did not appear the slightest shade in the countenance of any one of them. They looked :it each o:::er intently, and continued to stand. bROWN and Mr. PuLLEN +v cited, in the expecta tion that soma request would be made, with respect r.:l-araticn, but a profound silence ::axing followed the avowal of Thiitlexvood, Mr.Bßows az length said, lf any cf you wish to have the assistance of a Cleq4mnn of any pet stnision, during your prepara tion, I,n. tr.e know it, and I shall apply to the audio ri: yhy hick tarn con. inced you v.. ill not be refused: , Not a Nv cr d wn, uttered by coy one of the prisoners. Mr. llnow N then said, " Let meentreat you to give u;) Four thought. to the contemplation of the change -11 you arty about to undergo. Your time in this is short ; devote it to repentance and prayer to tl:nt 11Ett.:c who will not desert you at the moment of s. ''.a from thii world." 11:-• did not speak nor make any Mr. Bao - ocu tl.en left the room, and the miserable Trier. 1u: tied ail;:tv to the conversation in which they ILO been e!igntsd before he entered., without any reference to ti:e tidirgs they had just heard. 2 fir. linowri I,OW' went to the room where the six onsfirators Who pleaded ; ; uihy were confined. He entered with the warrant iu his baud, as . he had done in his visit to those who were to die. &range, Coop er , Brat - Porn, and Gild/rise, seemed panic struck the inA.lnt they ‘a , s: him—they fixed their eyes intently pptat him, and, for a minute or two, could scarcely •be said to breathe. !Filson . and Harrison, on the •Fontrary, were quite unmoved. Mr. DRowN, pver their names, then said, " I have to inform you that the Royal mercy has been graeionsly extended you--your lives are spared." Strange, Cooper, p rat: llnm ; and Gilchrist, instantly fell on their knees, gave thanks to Gob, and' ejaculated aloud various other incoherent expressions of the most fervent gra titude. In this manifestation of their feelings they presented a marked contrast to Harriscn and Wilson, who continued still silent and indifferent, looking with an expression of surprise at their companions, now lost in joy. Mr. BitowN now stated more particularly, that Strange, Cooper, Bradburn, Harrison, and Wilson, were to be transported for life, and that Gilchrist was respited during his Majesty's pleasure. "As to your other unfortunate associates in crime," he con tinued, " I mean Thistlewood and the others, they are ordered for execution on Monday morning." Wilson, who before had appeared perfectly cal lous, now exclaimed, " !Lb! our poor friends ; I am indeed sorry 'for them." Harrison said nothing ; the others were too much occupied with the joy of their . own escape to bestow a thought upon those who were to forfeit their lives. Mr. 11RowN said, " One most remarkable circum stance attending your case I cannot help mentioning, and, if you have any feeling, it must make a deep and indelible impression upon you. Those very pelt sons against whose lives your hands were about to be raised, arc the men by whose intercession your lives have been saved." The prisoners, with the exceptions already men tioned, expressed their due sense of the obligations they %re; e under. The Sheriffs immediately set about making the necessary arrangements for the execution of the five unfortunate men condemned to die. From an early hour yesterday morning the Old Bailey resounded with the " dreadful note of preparation." Carpen ters were employed in erecting an addition to the usual scaffolding in front of the Debtors door of the prison, which became necessary to the carrying into effect the decapitating part of the sentence; and, to prevent the possibility of a recurrence of the dreadful scenes that took place at the execution of Holloway and Haggerty, some years ago, strong wooden barriers were directed to he raised at short distances around the scaffold, and across the differ ent streets and lanes leading to the Old Bailey. Great prai,e is due to the Sheriffs for the latter part of these arrangements, calculated most effec tually to prevent any rush of the crowd, or any in terruption of the awful business which was about to be transacted. The Old Bailey and neighbourhood were crowded with people during these operations, to whom, when night came on, the scene assumed a particularly heart. sickening aspect. The knocking of the ham mers, the grating of the saws, the glare of the torch lights, the moving to and fro of the workmen em ployed on the scaffold, the hollow murmurings of the many groups occupied in descanting in various ways on the mei its of the unhappy men, to whose disgraceful end these preparations were designed 'to give the due solemnity of public example, all tended to awaken feelings of the most subduing description. At day-break this morning, we found the scaffold ing and barriers all completed, and numbers of per sons, some of whom had taken their stations since midnight, already assembled to be witnesses elf the execution. The Sheriffs had very properly reserved the space within the barrier next to the scaffold for the reception of a large body of Special Constables, and other persons necessarily present on the occa sion, so that the populace generally were kept at a distance of from fifty to sixty yards from the scaffold. As the morning advanced, the multitude increased rapidly ; and before seven o'clock every spot, win dow, or house-top, 'which could cOmmand.a view of the execution, was crowded to excess. The persons accommodated at the windows of the houses in front of Newgate paid for their places, some of them as high as a guinea, and none less than five or seven shillings. A more numerous assemblage of persons was never perhaps witnessed on any similar occasion; thousands, who could not get within sight of the scaffold, remained anxiously , waiting in the avenues leading to it. In addition to the whole Civil Force of the City, a large body of Military was drawn around the place of execution. A troop of the Horse Guards was sta tioned on Ludgate-bill, at the end of the Old Bailey, another in Skinner -street, a third in Newgate-street, and a fourth ,in Bridge -street, which moved into the Old Bailey just as the execution was about to commence. . A battalion of the Foot Guards, and a number of piecesof artillery were also stationed in Great Surrey street, Bbckfriars-road ; one of the latter was ad vanced to Ludgate-hill, shortly after the criminals were thrown off. The firemen of all the different Offices were likewise in attendance at their respective esta, blishments, to act as Special Constables. Detachments of Guards had for several days oc• cupicd the interior of Newgate Prison, and every precaution had been taken by the Governor (Mr. Brown) to secure safety and tranquillity amongst its wretched inmates. The unhappy culprits were con fined in separate cells. The six prisoners who had received the Royal cle mency, had been previously removed to another part of the prison, under the care and superintendance o: a turnkey. The four before mentioned, viz. Strange, Cooper, Bradhurn, and Gilchrist, continued to ex press themselves in the most grateful and enthusias tic terms, that their lives had been saved through the kind and benevolent interposition of those illustrious personages Whose lives were intended to fall sacri fices to their diabolical project; but Wilson and Har rison persisted in the most obstinate indifference to the mercy which had been so graciously extended towards them. Daring the night and morning, they became all excessively uneasy, acrd while they wept for the ignominious fate of their companions, they expressed a wish that they might have been partici pators in its consequences, horrible as they are. Thistlewood, Ingt, Brunt, and Tidd, refused to be assisted by any religious Gentleman of any sect whatever; but Davidson, whose condemnation seemed to have produced an extraordinary change in •his sentiments, yielded to everything suggested to him by the Rev. Mr. COTTON, who has been constant in his attendance upon him. Early in the morning he was visited in his cell by that worthy Divine, who, at Davidson's particular request, administered to him the Sacrament. After this ceremony, so grateful to departing souls, had been performed, he appeared in a comparative state of happiness, and was perfectly resigned to the awful fate that awaited him. " In the course of Sunday, the unfortunate delin quents :•ere visited by several members of their re spective families : Brunt, by his wife; Davidson, by his wife and children; and Tidd, by his daughter. Their separation was, as must be naturally supposed, of the most trying and heart-rending description.— Mrs. Thistlewood and her son took their long, and List farewell, at about half-past seven o'clock on Sunday evening. They were accompanied by Mr. Griffin, the zealous friend of the convicts—she was deeply affected, and was scarcely able to sustain herself. No one, except the families of the prisoners, were allowed to see them. Alderman WOOD ap plied for admission, but Mr. Bnowx felt it to be his duty to refuse, having been instructed to admit none who had not received a special order from the Privy Council. All the deluded maleflictors slept during the night, and some of them soundly : they were attended by the City Constables. Ings, whose mind it seems im possible to divert from the original object by which he was actuated, often made declarations of the most :errific nature : amongst these, he wished that his body might be' conveyed to the King, and that his Majesty, or his cooks, might make turtle soup of it! Mr Sheriff 'tont wEto, and his Sub-Sheriff, Mr. TURNER, together with the Junior Sheriff, and his Sub-Sheriff, arrived at the Court-House early in the morning. The LORD Mayon, Mr. Alderman WOOD, M.P. Alderman FtowEß, Lord ALVANLEY, Lord CHETWYND, and many persons of rank and distinc tion, arrived shortly after, and proceeded to the Go vernor's house. A number of persons were a,:ovitteel to the top of the prison. After the Rev. Mr. CorroN had administered the., Sacrament to Davidson, he proceeded to the cells of the others, to ascertain if they were anxious to receive any of his reliiiotts instruction or assistance, but they peremptorily refused the kind offer. Thistlewood was invited to take a glass of wine, but he refused. The same offer was made to Davidson, and he readily accepted it ; having previously said—" The KING, and GOD bless him !" with a firm voice, he drank the contents of his glass. At half-past seven o'clock the Sheriffs and atten dants, forming a melancholy procession, proceeded from the Governor's house to the room attached to the cells in which the prisoners had hen confined ; and in a few minutes the prisoners Were ushered into their presence, to be disencumbered of their mana cles, which were of a very podderous description. , Upon the introduction of Thistlewood, Mr. Alder man' WOOD went up to him, for the purpose, we un derstood, of proposing some questions to him re lative to Edwards, the spy, and accomplice. Thistle wood appeared desirous to make some communica tion regarding that contaminated individual, but Mr. Sheriff RornwELL interposed, and objected to the propriety of such conduct. Mr. PA RK ss thought the conduct of the worthy Alderman highly consistent, and an altercation ensued, but as the subject, we un derstand, is likely to undergo a Parliamentary dis cussion, it is unnecessary 1:r us to say any thing further upon the matter„ unpleasaht as it must have been to all parties upon so momentous and awful an occasion We may, however, observe, 'that Thistlewood him self appeared a little disappointed at the interposition. At a quarter before eight o'clock, every interior preparation having beeps completed, the tolling of ' the melancholy-toned bell of Newgate announced the approach of the delinquents, fully prepared to meet that fate to which the outraged laws of their country had doomed them. The cavalcade was headed by the Sheriffs ;.every eye was riveted on the culprits ; and, in a few minutes, a slow but solemn step brou . ht them- to the foot of the scAfold, pre pared to expiate their offences. Thistlswood was dressed in a black coat and waist coat, blue pantaloons, and list shoes. Tidd came next, he wore a blue coat, a striped waistcoat, breeches, and boots with the tops cut from them. Ings had on a butcher's jacket and cap, with trowsers. Davidson was dressed in a blue coat, coloured waistcoat, breeches, and high gaiters. Brunt wore a cap, a coloured coat and trowsers. Thiitle%iood appeared sullen while the preparations were making for him upon the platform. Ings, who stood at the bottom, in the lobby or hail, said, " Well, I care not for all you can do to me; I have been a good man all my, life—that's all I can say; and now I am going to be Ranged ;—‘44 Aerer mind r He then immediately, in a mo i st vociferous tone, struck up, " Oh ! death or liberty 1-0 h give me death or libei! 7 Some of those near him advised him to be more co.n posed ; but his answer was, " I would rather die in chains than live in slavery." . . . Tidd now turned round to Davidson, and shaking him by the hand, said, with a smile upon his coun tenance—" Well, my hearty, how do you do ?—Good bye, GoD bless you!" Davidson returned the bless ing, and they shook hands most cordially. Ings then addressed the following words to these that surrounded him Give my hest respects to George the Fourth, for I go out of the world with no animosity to him. I have alw:.)s acted upon the principles of a man, and so will I die !" Ile then shook hands with Brunt and the others, and ran up the steps)) astil y. Brunt, who had been talking to a person near him, spoke as follows to that person :—gi I have been in the habit of taking snuff, but I gave away my box last night, and I am obliged to keep it in a paper now_ give me a pinch from it—let me take one more be fore Igo out of the world." His friend immediately complied with his request. Davidson often spoke of the res'pectability of his family, and upon the hardness of his fate, and on going out upon the platform, with a firm air• and voice, said, " GOD bless you all, good bye." Brunt, who had been often looking out upon his companions during the time the Executioner was adjusting the ropes, Scc. said, " Where will they put me,•Lwonder? in a place where I shall sleep, I sup pose !" lie then mounted the scaffold. What we have just related passed within the wars of the prison. We come now to the scene as exhi bited on the outside. The Executioner and his assistants, at about twenty minutes before eight, brought out the five coffins, in which the bodies of the prisoners were to be deposited, and ranged them along the newly-erected platform, which the List part of the sentence rendered it neces sary to raite. A block was also brought out, and placed at the head of the coffin, which lay opposite !o the place where it was expected Thistlewood would be executed. An axe was laid near the block, though it was not intended for use,• and a great quantity of sawdust was scattered about. Th Executioner hav ing given notice that he was ready to perform the most dreadful part of his duty, Thistlewood was in formed by the Under-Sheriff (Mr. Tufttau) that he was the first who was to ascend the scaffold. Thistlewood immediately walked up the ladder with a fiim step, and advanced to the further extre mity of the scaffold. There was a general murmur in the crowd upon his appearance, but there was no expression of sympathy or sorrow. He held in his band an orange, which be frequently :put to his mouth. His countenance_bad undergone no change since his trial. The same evidence of a disiatisfied mind was observable in his countenance. Ile looked round without curiosity, and then down upon the few spectators who were allowed to stand within the paling. The executioner proceeded to fasten the tope round his neck, and Thistlewood assisted, but without ostentation. Some of those to whom the face of Thistlewood was not familiar, imagined that he gave proofs of .the fear of death upon the scaffold, but in this sup position they were much mistaken. At•the moment that he has been hard uttering his dangerous poli tics in safety, and declaring his determination to • i stand or fall by them, the expression of his features was the same; and Tliistlewood with the rope round his neck, was the same Thistlewood that appeared so conspicuous at Smithfield. Mr. Cozybra approached him while the Execu tioner was making his awful arrangements, and spoke to him upon the subject of his thoughts of hereafter. Thistlewood shook his head, and said he required no earthly help upon that subject. He then sucked his orange, and looking down at the Officers who were collected about the scaffold, said, in a firm voice— " I have but a few moments to live, and I hope the world will be convinced that I have been sincere in my endeavours." The figure of the unfortunate man, which naturally is not good, had undergone a change for the worse: it consequence of the pressure of the rope with which his arms were fastened behind, his shoulders were raised to a degree th a t closely ap proached deformity. The Executioner having placed the cap upon his head, and fastened the rope round the beam,looked towards the Sheriff, and immediately Tidd ran up the ladder. Several voices shouted out Huzza but the applause was evidently occa sioned by the bold and fearless manner in which the wretched man advanced to his station. He turned to the crowd who were upon Snow-hill, and bowed to them. He then looked down upon the coffins and smiled, and turning round to the people who were collected in the Old Bailey, towards Ludgate-hill, heaved to them. Several voices were again heard, and some in the crowd expressed their admiration of ' Tidd's conduct. The rope having been put round his neck, he told the Executioner that the knot would be better en the right than on the left side, and that tir Fain of dying might be diminished by the change. He then assisted the Executioner, and turned round his head several times for the purpose of fitting the rope to his neck. He held an orange in his hand, II and sucked it during the preparation. • The next that appeared upon the platform was Ings, and the manner of Lis appearance struck some with admiration, but the majority of the vast multi-