The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-06 00:00:00

EXRCU7'ION.

Another example of mime was made yesterday morning, by the
execution of three unfortunate beings, at the usual place, in front
of Newgate.
Their names were John Willietteut, aged Thew Davit,
24; and John Reading, 32. Williams was envied on the Lth
ult. of a burglary committed on the night of the 20th April. in
the house of John Anderson. EMI. at Chelsea, and maltreating
one of the inmates shit a crow-Thar; Davis suffered for a like
offence; and Reading was convicted of stealing in w dwelling.
hone.
Os Saturday the relatives and friends of the sufferers took •
last and lung farewell of them. The meeting and separation of
Reading and his wife and two children were affecting in the
extreme.
Davis and Williams slept a good deal in the course of the night,
but Reading only dosed at intervals, between which he indulged in
his devotional exercises.
. . . .

About six o'clock yesterday morning they were bmugl t from the
condemned cell into the press moot, where the Rev. Mr. flake
was in readiness. They walked with a firm and steady step, and
a ere assisted to their seats at n long table or desk at the catmint
end of the room near a fire, each being provided with a period vo.
lame, which he perused with eager attentiveness. Sonie water
was placed before Mein, and Williams drank once or twice pretty
heartily. About half-past seven the Rev. (hdinary joined Mr.
Baker, and administered spiritual relit f to the unftrrtunate men,
who listened to his discourse very studiously. Shortly after the
two Sheriffs, Sir P. Laurie and J. B. NWhitaker, Esq. arrived.
and then the operation of pinioning commenced. It lailat Williams
ran undergoing this eeremony,Davis paced the mom, with his hands
clasped, in a harried step. Reading walked slowly to and fro with
Mr. Baker, die former repeating the sinner's prayer in an audible
voice, and occasionally lifting his eyes to !leaven, and exclaiming,
" Where shall Ibe by and bye." Williams having undergone
the task of pinioning, took his seat on a form ; then Davis was
made secure, after which be approached Sir Peter Laurie, and said,
that be had one request to make before he left the world. Sir Peter
told him to name it, and, if possible, it should be complied with.
Davis then said, " I understand the clothes in which 1 em hanged
bet:times the property of the executioner ; now all I want to ask is,
'that
the clothes I now have on may be given to my young woman,
after lam no more." The worthy Shetiff replied, =the would
take care that his wish should be granted. " Then I die mashed,"
said Davis. After Reading had been pinioned, he took his seat by
the side of his unfortunate companions ; they all shook hands and
kissed each other. The awful throng then moved front t"e room
towards the fatal scaffold, preceded by, the Sheriffs, and the Rev.
Ordinary; next followed Williams, then Davis, and next Read-
ing,
who was still attended by 111 r. Baker. As the procession
passed through the dark sanding passages, the prison hell began to
toll, and the Ker. 3/e. Cotton read the funeral serviecin a very int-
pmsive and solemn manner. On reaching the door leading to the
platinrui, the procession halted for a few momenta, when H inland
mounted the stage first with a firm step ; beat followed Davis. who
bid all present farewell, and fervently shook hands with 31r. Baker.
saving, " (oil bless you. the world will loses good man when you
are no more." When he reached the plattorin, he bowed several
times to the populace. and then took his station next
Reading was that lest up, and stood by Davis. After every thing
hod been adjusted, the I Winery drew a white hankerebiel from
his pocket as a signal, the drop till, and the world closed upon
them for ever. it Whims and Reading died almost immediately,
hot Davis. who was very light, seemed to linger a few moments.
On Sunday, 3lr. Cotton, the Ordinary of Newgate, delivered a
most 'flirting discourse, in the chapel of that prison, in (VOW.
quence of these young men being ordered for execution on the fol.
lowing morning. from Galatians, ch. vii. r. 7. After enlarging on
which, he addressed the unhappy culprits to the following effect:—
"As this 13. A the last sermon they wee doomed to hear, he trusted
that they would be able, in their present melancholy situation. to
look to that benign Saviour, who had taught them to believe that
there was mercy in store for the sincere penitent, and who had
pardoned the dying thief. invoking that he would pity their con.
dition, forgive their sins, and conduct them through the valley of
the shadow of death, to the region of eternal blessedness." At the
=elusion the unhappy men shook several of their late companions
by the hand, and retired from the chapel to have a parting inter-
view with their friends, who were in attendance.

SINGt I.AR Act.' DE XT.—Yesterday week, a little girl.
in Hahne, aged six years, when in the act of carrying a dish, fell
into a hole under the stain, when the dish broke, a sharp point of
it entered the jugulat vein, sod she almost instantly bled to death.
.Vart..f!cder Csardiart.