The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-03 00:00:00

THE RESPITE OP THE coirricr MORGAN.

On Thursday morning the intelligence wan re-
ceived in Bristol that the royal clemency had been extended
towards Robert Morgan, sow in the Bristol gaol under
sentence of death for the milder of a policeman. It will
be remembered that varioas memorials to the crown had
been signed, praying a reprieve for the unhappy man.
Amour others Mrs. Wickham, the widow of the ill-fated
constable, memorialised in favour of the offender who
had Paned her and her family all their bereavement
and distress. The widowed mother of the condemned,
who was her only son, also supplicated that mercy
might be shown him. AU them memorials were
forwarded by Messrs. Clifton and Brookiog, the solicitors
who had conducted the defence, and who very kindly sub-
sequently continued their exertion, on his behalf, to one of
the city u.embers, the Hon. F. H. F. Berkeley, who duly
presented them at the Home-offios. Mr. Berkeley had also
written to the Home Secretory, Sir George Grey, asking
him to appoint a day for an interview with as influential
deputation, who were prepared to wait upon him from this
city to support the
,prayer of the niernorieliats. Other
memorials in Morgan 'a behalf, signed by magistrates and
seeder:mu of position in this city, had also. we believe,
been forwarded to the HOOIS-Ofiioe. An the par
-
Coolers of the painful ma* were doubtless removed by
the authorities, and it will appear, from transcripts of two
important doe:emote received in this city yesterday, that
the memorials had the desired effect. The governor
of the gaol. Mr. Gerdiser, resolved the following authorita.
five notification :—" Whitehall, Dec. 31, 1862. —Sir, —I
have to 'Toffy to you the QUM'S 00111111111411 that the
notion of the sentence of death passed on Robert Morgan,
now in the gaol at Bristol, be respited until further sigoinca-
tion of her Majesty's plea:art.—H. W ADMCGTON." The
same post brought the sorrowing Mrs. Morgan a similar but
at the same time more explicit communication from the
I Home-office. The document is sa follows :—" Whitehall,
Dec. 31, 1862.—Mary Morgan,—The Secretary of Suite for
the Home Department having considered your application
lon behalf of Robert Morgan, I have the satisfaction to se-
quaint you that he has felt warrented, under all the ClreUM-
stances, M advising her Majesty to commute the prisoner's
sentence to posal servitude for life.-1 am' your obedient
servant. H. WADIANGTON.—Mary Morgan, 2, King-street,
Brietol."

Imn.edtately on the reoeipt of his despatch, the consi-
derate sod humane governor of the gaol communicated
the purport of it to the wretched mac whom it most
nearly =mined. His conduct, we may remark, during
his inoarceratiou has been uniformly good. He has exhi-
, bited a quiet, thoughtful demeanour, evincing sorrow
and repentance for the (deuce be bad committed, and
paving marked attention invariably_ to the scriptural
exhortations of the chaplain. His meek reply to
the judge, who, in paesiog sentence upon him, prayed that
God might have mercy on him, showed much religious
feeling. His conduct since Lis sentence lass berm irre-
proachable, and still of the same placid. patient, end
Wistful description While he hoped that be might not
he amented, and believed that efforts would be made to
save him, he expressed hie iutention Dot to buo himself
up with anticipations that might prove to be fallacious.
He received the intelligence relative to the day appointed
for his execution with becoming fortitude, though not
without emotion. Oa Thunder, when the good sews,
which must have proved very weimose to him on that
New Z'eu's morning, was conveyed to him. hie emotion
was much more intense. When he had somewhat recovered,
be expressed himself most thankful to all those who had
exerted themselves oo his behalf, and finally be intimated
that it should be his endeavour to make his future life an
atonement for the put— Western Daily Press.

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