The National Register. — London, England, 1812-08-16 00:00:00

510 EXECUTION. It is to be lamented that, probably through inattention, J. Wool. man Thompson, anti Catherine Forster, sentenced to die, the one for forgery, and the other for taking a false oath in administering to a seaman's will, should have been ordered for execution on the m'.rning which ushered in the Prince Regent's birth-day. It was doubly un fortunate, not only because such a day should have been one of public rejoicing, not of death, but because it created a lively and too conti• dent hope in the bosoms of the wretched culprits. that a ray of mercy would beam from the throne upon them, and that if their offences did not admit of pardon, they should nut at least have to mix their ex piring groans with ter.- pealing notes which proclaimed the returned anniversary of their Prince's birth. Many exertions were made to procure a respite, and as late as eight o'clock on Tuesday right. Thompson and his Family, (for he hts left a wife and three children,) still confidently expected it. He had therefore but little time to prepare for the awful hour of dissolution, but he improved it by prayer with the worthy Ordinary, the Rev. Mr. Ford, and on Wei. nesday morning appeared full of resignation and faith. Catherine Foster, whose hopes had expired more early, on finding her liu-band's petition rejected, had more time for preparation, and was still more composed than her unfortunate companion. A little after eight she ascended the scaffold, attended by a Roman Catholic clergyman, who bad at last convinced her of her guilt, for it was long ere she could be made to understand that she had committed a capital offei:ce. Contri tion and perfect resignation were now impressed on her interesting and rather handsome countenance, and the fervency with which her eyes were raised in prayer to Heaven, apparently totally unconscious of the crowd below, bespoke the sincerity of her repentance, and the abandonment of all earthly hope. She continued to pray for a few minutes, until Thompson arrived, who ascended the scaffold with rather an hurried step, and on reaching the platform, cast round a wild melancholy look, but soon recovered all his firmness, and walk ing up to his miserable companion, shook hands with her, as far as their pinioned state would allow. when a glance passed between them of more than mortal intelligence; a glance which, more power ful than words, seemed to say, " departing spirit, that plungest with Me into eternity,blessed be thou - and may we meet again in the realms of everlasting happiness !" He then tesumed his place, and the 0 rdi. nary placed the cap over his eyes, and adjusted the rope on his neck, whilst the executioner performed the same office on Catherine Poster. Meantime the Birthday bells pealed merrily at a distance, w hilst that of Newgate alone tolled the deep and awful knell of death. This contrast affected the spectators ; but not visibly, at least, the culprits, who, it the midst of their prayers, were suddenly launched into eternity. Forster seemed to die instantly ; but Thompson clasped his hand: together, and pressed them to his breast, heaving convulsively for about fifteen minutes in apparent agony. He was in the strength of lift, of a gentlemanly appearance and pleasing countenance. Both culprits were about 94 or 35 years old, and genteely dressed in 'mourning. When it was ascertained that they were dead. the bands that pinioned their arms were loosened, and a disgusting scere presented Itself several men and women hastened to seize the cold dewy hands of death, and apply them to their necks or knees to cure various dis. olden. Why should such an indecent and useless custom be allovie I to prevail among the people ? It' its suppression should curtail Jack Ketch's prides, and he should require a compensation, would it not be preferable to increase his regular salary, than to wink at or encou. rage such a superstitious practice ? DYING DECLARATION. joists T 111011117•011 on the morning of exeutiticm, (his irons being Inocked off,) addres sed Sheriff Birch in these words :—" Being now at liberty, permit me to avow, in the presence of God, in whom I rely for eternity, that I am innocent of any wilful act for which i am about to suffer : If I am not, may my soul, in less than half an hour be consigned to hell." Upon this, he dropped on his right knee, and calkd God to hear his prayer. He then turned round to Mr. Poyethu r the Under-Sheriff; and thanked him for his kind attention during bus confinement in the cells; and turning to his brother, (who bad attended him during the night in his cell,) requested him, in pre senee-of tb. whole, to publish a true and candid statement. The bell ;i6w tolling, he proceeded through the yards to the scaffold, with # fartinide rarely witnessed by any belonging to the prison. ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. Vaolll.l Ova ans.—Samuel Colley, the driver of the hackney coach, No. 246, was brought to Bow-street Office, charged with aid 1m g and abetting in violently ass a ulting Mrs. Grace Birch, a widow lady, of Bedford -street, in the Strand, who stated, that l a te on t h e night of the bth instant, she was returning horns by Leicester square, when the Prisoner accosted her which way she was going: she told him; and he said he was goinginto the Strand, and would give her a ride, which induced her to get into his coach. A man also got in the each, who, in a abort time after the coach had drove off, began to take Worms WA* w4k bas ad *WIPP* M) MIVOIS sFIIP4 i he, AUG. 16. attacked and violently assaulted her, and gave her arveral bruises. She cried out violently, but the Prisoner woutd two con though she had no doubt he ha:l heard her cries. Thn p insteat'l of going towards the Strand, drove to Soho-square, man forcibly took from her pocket an India silk pocket hatlikerchirf , jumped out of the coach. and then ran Away The Ptiso.ier denied knowing the ina - I ; but the Prosecutrix said she heard him call the man brotner ; and she had every relson to believe he WAS the water. :nan belunF•ng to the stand of coaches in Leicester-square. The Pri. soner admitted he was the coachman. He was committed to New Prison, Clerkenwell ; and in case of his fi.tding ball, he was i)rdered to give 24 hours' notice. Thursday, a woman named BRUCE. in the neighbourhood of Lamb. street, Soitalfields, was charged, at Worship -street, ..von and nearly starving her child, seven years old. It aopeareol tha- chained it by the leg, and kept it on bread and water, and potai.. l :, so that it appeared a mere skeleton, and was riot header than an ii.fa t six months old.—The delinquent, who is pregnant of her thirteento child, was admitted to bail. Ou Monday m- , rning Daniel Davis, pur.uant 16 his sentence, for selling forged bank notes, was execute! at the New Prison, Horse. monger-lane. Front the moment of his conviction, he entertained no hope cf bring reprieved, and therefore prepared hirnsell to inert, with becoming fortitude, that fate which the law had doomel him to ake% On Sunday last, about the midille of the day, Sir JOHN ST. ALBANS and family stopped, wi It a harotiche and four, atid two post-chaises and pair, to change horses at Newrn.in's. the Green Man, at Brlle I on their arrival, two y .ung Ge,,tlemeit i.mpecl out of tl:e t atri.w, and went into one of the stibles. .eeing some puppies, one of them imprudently stooped down to look at them, when the bitch flow at him, and tore his upper lip. A surgeon was immediately called, and fortunately found the lip had not been entir.ly sevirated, consequently there are great hopes of its uniting, but a small part of the lip was en. tirely off: Wednesday a man employed as a carter was ch..rged at Union Hall, with driving over and kit ling toe intaut child of M,. Brooks, of Rod ney-street, Great Suffolk-street, t h at m ruing. It appeared that the servant of Mr. Brooks was crossing the street wilt the ch4d, a boy about two years old in her arms, at the time the prisoner was con ing along, driving a cart drawn by two horses. He was standing li r in the cart with the reins in his hand, when one of the horses ran against the girl, knocked tier down, and the wheel of the cart ver the child, killed it on the spot. The girl cried out to the prisoner to stop, but he, calling her a b—ch, bade her get out of the way, and, whipping his horses, endeavoured to drive otf. He was, however, secured, and brought by Collingbourn before the Sittini! Magistrate, by whom he was committed for re.examination, till the result of the Coroner's Inquest shall be known. BEAVER HATS. GENTLEMEN'S LIGHT BEAVER HATS. at the very low price of One Guinea, of a superior quality to any yet offered to the Public, mmtuftetured spot an improved principle to keep their !tape, being the pleasante4 Hat ever wort, at Taylor's Original Light Hat Mattufactory, No. 7, Tichhorae-street, top of tits Haymarket. Opera and Livery Hats equally cheap —A great assortment of Gra. tionsca's Hatt, of every description, always ready to put on. YORK-STREET, COVENT GARDEN. NUNN & BARBER beg leave to Inform the Nobility, their Friends, and the Public in general, that the remainder of their Va .• STO, K, consisting of Black and White Laces, Muslin', Dignities, Irish Lione.s, Shirting, Calicoes, Plain and Figured Barmets, Satins, &c. now selling of at very reduced prices, fur BEADY MONEY.-Ihey beg most respectfully to request that all debts due to the Inn of N. & 11. may be discharged without delay, at No. 5, York street, Covent Garden. TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. A Graduate of an University, having been for the last four years as PRIVATE TUTOR is a family of respectability, i4tes to engage ht this capacity in a Gentle:n*os Family. Besides the Clasidcs, the French and Italian Lingnages, which be speaks and writes fluently, he teach.. all those branches of illa.hetuatics which ate useful and requisite to Gentlemen of Naval, Military, or Mercantile pursuits. The most satisfactory references will lie xiven. Letters• poet paid, directed to LB, No. Upper Berkeley-etreet, Portman-square, will be daly attended to. SINGULARLY ADVANTAGEOUS STATE LOTTERY. HORNSBY & CO. ever mindful of favours many year- past received from the public, beg leave to observe, that the Lotto) , is big with important Chances, and solicit their favours on the present occasion. iekets and Shams are Is great variety, and at the lowed prices.—Tbe Drawing highs oil the Mb of Scp• temacti — Daly 10 9 04kb Tickets.— A Blank can gain 1,b0,0 , 1). — Orders b) p int of carrier executed on the same terms as if present.—Schemus gratis, at their old established Office, 26, Cornhill. LADIES RIDING HABITS and TRAVELLING COa B. CLARK. No. 37, Golden-square. begs leave to inform Ladies go in g into the Country, and others. that they may be supplied with Riding Habit s and Travelling Coats at a very short notice. S. C. particularly recommends his Habits for Tra veiling, being made on an improved plan, which for eonvenience si.d facility of putting on has never been equalled. His Travelling Coats for open or elute car` rieCos base also beets much admired for t‘..'r convenience amid utility. YOUNG) GINTLENIBN's ARAB. lIVSiAR, and other Fancy and Phis Dresses, are made e• the shortest settee, dhe the greatest varlet , . Ladies waited en la the country at a distance not exceeding twenty mil's, giviag three days notice, sad a reteratos le Sews. es way be igstracted MI! I .esett fp ikaie iseereives. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.