The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-01 00:00:00

Exzetitip, N.

- .
Yesterday morning, at elskelciock, the awful sentence
of the law was put into execution upon Henry Fauntleroy.
From the earliest dawn, the streets leading to Neweate were
crowded to excess. Tlsr windows opposite the gaol were
let at extravagant priecs-L-the rods of the houses also fetched
considerable prices, and not a single spot was unoccupied
that could command a view of the awful scene shortly
about to be exhibited before the assembled thousands. On lid
similar occasion do we remember to have seen public
curiosity brought to so high a pitch of intense interest;
and, in truth, it was a scene that can never be erased from
the memory f those who witnessed it—it would require a
heart steeled against every human sympathy not to have
contemplated it with the deepest emotion. Humanity, in
ordinary instances, instinctively shudders at the idea of a
sudden and ignominious death. This in-born instinctive
feeling, which we have written in our hearts, and which is
inseparable from our nature, arises within us, as in the
present instance, with renewed and augmented force, from
a consideration of the accidental circumstances by which
the sufferer was surrounded in society. To behold a man
doomed to the dreadful death which Mr. Fauntleroy
suffered yesterday—who but a few days ago moved in a
respectable, and even important station of life, by rank,
by profession, and by education at least a gentleman, pre-
sents as powerful a picture of melancholy contrast in the
condition of human existence, as it i: perhaps possible for
human imagination to conceive. There are other con-
siderations which are calcuisted to awaken a sympathy for
the fate of this unfortunate person. illiatever may have
been his faults, to his oodntry they are expiated—death
has set its seal upon them • but amidst his imperfections
it should be remembered he was not without his virtues.
Actions that bespeak a kind and generous heart. are
recorded of him, and even in the bour of adverse vicissitude
there were not wanting honourable men to tender the testi-
mony of their good opinion and esteem towards Lim. The
excusable observance of the good old maxim, " Da mortnis
nil nisi bonusn," naturally leads one not to deny the sacred
ti.
sad immunities of the grave, even to the unfortunate who
are no longer of this world. It may be permitted one to be
the palliator of that ot which be would not, could not, be
the apniogist. These sentiments arise from that pity that no
breast could refuse to feel for Mr. Fauntleroy, at the time
he stood under the beam, and the revolting ceremony of his
melancholy mode of dese,h was in act of preparation. The
" iron scourge" of feeling that afliicu d bun at this moment
was infinitely more painful thin " the torturing hour" that
ID'ld it; feature
watt Turgb.sed with horror and with
a sine. Uri eihirtiliterr.eit kiblett;eltieria:rkbots,
his visage was of the roost eleadly piliel line, and Le stood
motionless as "monumental bronee." He was attired as
on the day of his trial, in a snit of full Mack. His frame
was kts robust than on the day of his trial, owing, of
course, to the great agitation and anxiety of mind he had
undergone since his conviction.
There were, we regret to state, a sot of fellows, in the
neighbourhood of the scene of execution, bawling papers,
purporting to be a full and true account of the execution,
before it actually took place, and whilst the unfortunate
man was in a state of suspension. This miserable mode of
making peace cannot be to wvercly deprecated.
At a quarter before eiglit o clock, the Sheriffs arrived at
Newgate, and. proceeded immediately ito. the risoner's
room. The prisoner gently bored to them on perceiving
that they were present; but he made no observations. -entsining as
if his thoughts were wholly hem on prayer and eternity. Besides
the Ordinary of Newgate, the Rev. Mr. Cotton, there were the
Rev. Mr. Spriagett, and Ma. Bak. r, with the prisoner. Mr.
Spriogett, as we hare alrraily mentioned, had remarried all night.
Mr. Baker returned to the prism about four o'clock yesterday
morning.
The sherifil soon afterwards caused it to be intimated that the
hour for the float close of the prisoner's sufferings approached. and
that they must proceed to the upper condemned room. Dlr. taunt.
leroy was so absorbed in reflection, that lin did not hear the cem-
tnumeation. Mr. Baker repeated the Sheriff's intimation. Mr-
F. gently bowed, and signified that he was prepared. Mr.
Sprinott end Mr. Baker conducted the prisoner from his apart-
ment, end though he walked somewhat firmly hut slowly, they had
to guide hit steps, as he kept his eyes constantly closed.
It was about ten minutes before eight o'clock, when they arri red
in the upper condemned roam. Mr. F. retained his resigned firm-
ness. The Rev. Mr. Cotton read the customary Service in an im-
pressive tone. One of the Sheriffs' teen proceeded to pinion the !
primer, by tying the elbows behind. This ceremony seemed for 1
a moment to sictute him, but the emotion was transitory. lie
clasped his hatitir very fervently, and versed his brows once or
twice, as if ejaculating,—" NVell, Lard !—' thy will be dorm !' "
lie resumed his rteadiness of countenance, keeping his eyes cloned.
but his head ermerrhat elevated. His hands reatained clasped,
and, except raising them up and down two or three times at most,
he never afterwards refired them. While the ceremony of pinion-
iag was performing. Mr. Baker, in particular, was very earnest in
prayer with the prisoner; and now and then there were slight Mill-
rtiWn. that he acknowledged the influence of, and joined in, the
supplies ions for mercy. But ht did net appear to utter one word,
nor did l'e say any thing. except very resignedly breathing " Yes,
yes!" Ininng the whole of it.:, titalle, both in his room and in the
upper condeni,-e apartment, he did neceince spriest to look around
loin to observe who wine present. To this wofia hemmed wholly
dealt: he appeared to have lest all anxiety to reenenize any one;
i at titres he lofihed as if he endured prayers of robins, rather !
I than that he joined in them : his eo Nuance showed as if, gene- '
rally. I, was more occupied with his eilnle and prayers.
' But leis whole demeanour rims mar 'Joining and twig; there
i was nothing like ((Tort to dill !ay piety; and yet his Sermon:A was
eliarseteriard by decent and exemelary resignation. In this room,
though capable of holding an intnimse nue:lice of persona, there
' were only about twenty preens kresent, chiefly cons "trig of the
' Sheriffs, the Governor. reeerni it • tteir officers, end ',ht or tan
! gentlemen. amongst whew 1,,i sir (Isrler Flower, Bat.
i Almost immediately after St. Sepulabre's clock had struck eight.
I the Sheriffs pri.c.nded. to leave the room, and they were followed
by the Ordinary, end then the it:ismer. supeorted by Mr. Sprin.
gets nn his right arid Mr. Barer on his left. He still kept his eyes
cored, and those gent"emen had to reside him. lie walked vs ry
upright, with measured and rather flines!. but untrenibling, steer.
lies ill veined wrapped in prayer and nflections. Ile proceeded
i very c'elibt reedy doreu the I,:rcral ireireases sod along the various
1 parooncs, tile ti 'cods rear hint irking rare that he did not miss trey
of the steps. Ile never o.:ca *poke., On approaching the long
y r-sitge which is in direct conoeuthintion with the lobliy of the
debthro• door, fronting which eialefeinrirs are executed. the Rev.
Mr. Cottonicomnieneed„ is aloud. solemn, and deliberate tone, the
cummencenient of the Funer:d Simko :

I am t:.e re..orrectien the life. with the Lord ; he that
be::eveth thou,,:li he were (had, yet shall he live. And who-
t)( ver and hi I,eem h in me, shall never die."
The p;.,oner was evident:), roused, for a moment, from his own
hr the solemn imenvnee of this div:oe romise. Re
r,•mly rriled hie eluted hard*, and lonics hat declined Ids head,
in hlks.n of hehei.
T 1:; Rev. :lir. C.m en et17...17:::e1L, as the procession moved along,

,‘n of

to real thz IS trial Service :
%.• tl.at n s Redeemer liveth, and that he shall etantl.„ at
the latfrr day, upon the evrth," tit
While the Orli:tar, wes nroceetting with this service, the tolling
of the prison boll ecnninenea it began to toll just as the risonet
hail appmaehed the gme lending to the pastor communicating
with the itehtore-dorr lobby ; the tiro sound, in punt-111.m hail
an appalling (Mixt on :11 present. It ocemiooeil n rnomenittry
puns... in the intitmeholy proeeseit,i. and Y.r. Fairitirmy tel the
Puililmnots of the she., k, wid the c. r.eirry ci its intinistion t how
ever. the pracestion ctuitinued course through the lobby, the door
of which, leadlng oi to the pies f trrn, wa instantly opened. The
ttin..rills and other officers rentaired in the lobby.
The Rev. 51r. C. uton ptheeeded first on to the platform. Ile
t'. 'Duet by the. inhume+. the Rey. Mr. spris..ett, and 51...
!teller, still contlrieimg tot earl side of biro and their support
of holt I- -.or, rititinned trove

l~: ~'~.

rein his nett posture and solemn step. Ile took his station im-
mediatelyunder the rope. with his clasped hands projected before
him, and his head elevated, but with a perfectly unmoved counte.
ranee. Be seemed quite unconscious of the surrounding multitude.
The Rev. Mr. Baker, at this moment made some remark, or joined
in prayer with Mr. Fauntiemy ; and towards the close of Mr.
Baker's last communion with him. the prisoner vow faintly uttered,
we rather breathed rut, Yes, ye-4, yes!" He wide no other oh.
serration; he spoke not to those about him; lie seemed to have
nothing further to impart, or to do in this world. lie appeared
calmly to await the closing of the scene. The last awful prepara-
tions then commenced. Mr. ibeln began to loosen the prisoner's
neckerchief, but it was finally taken off by the executioner. The
cap was next drawn over his face, the rope adjusted around his
neck, and after that hail been done, the executioner tied the
prisoner's neckerchief over the cap. and acmes the eyes. The
prisoner still remained immoveable ; continuing the *Mutat al.
ready described. The itcv. Mr. Cotton resumed dm reading of
the funeral nervier; and once or twice that part of the cap which
covered the prisoner's mouth was raised, as if he were repeating a
word or two, or saying ." Amen I" While the scm-ice was •er.ding,
the platform dropped, apparently only about IS or 11l inches; but
the drop was so meetly and sudden. that the body was not agitated
by it. Wr observed but oneconeulsive motiOn, when the shoulders
were only afield,' raised.
So early as twelve o'clock on Monday night the awful prepara-
tions were commenced fire the dreadful ceremony, and the workmen
were emfloyed in erecting six beery barriers, one of which extended
from the corner of Newgate.street to the top of Skinner street, and
two intermediate ones between that aye! the seeflidd. Three others
were placed down the Old Bailey towards Ludgate-hill, and each
were guarded by a party of constables to prevent the square be.
tween each bamer getting tun crowded, by which judicieus precau-
tion the populace would be enabled to escape, would there have
been soy necessity for it.
IS one **clock there were onwards of two hundred persons as.
senibled in the Old Bailey, who seemed resolved on securing their
.dues, by keeping oo the spot all night, but it being intensely
cold, they altered their opinion, tend went home to their bed one
by onc, till they all dispersed.
. . . . . .

'At three ieekick, thole persons who paid for their seats at the
windows of the dwelling-houses commanding a view of the ma.
chine,began to arrive, and by four, or half-pot, al! the moms front
top to bottom were filled. Many respectable-looking females 'etc
Very piomlnerit at the windows, all attired in deep black.
Soon after four o'clock, the dreadful engine was drawn from the
Old Bailey Court.vard by two horses, and pl4ccil opposite the fatal
door. The meh began to prepare it for the awful business that
was to take pier', and having fixed the beam and enclosed the
whole with iron chains, they strewed a large quantity of sawdust
on the floor. which they continued to repeat at intervals.
The multitude new began to arrive from all ring of the me.
tropolis and its suburbs, and by half-past floe there were more
persons assembled than we remember to have seen on any recent
occasion of this kind. The space between Flert.lsne and the crd
of the Old Bailey. In Nevrgue-street, was literally choked up with
persons of every denomination, amongst whom were a gaeat num.
bee of females.
About half-past six o'clock, the Marsha'men, and Herring. the
conductor of the City Police, arrived, and were met by at least
three hundred and forty extra constables, who were placed in
diTerent stations to preserve order. By seven. Mews. Brown and
Cope, the two City Marshals, arrived on horseback, and took their
stations in the circle round the scaffold, which Wns well guarded by
constables.

The mob now became almost incalculable, and up to the fatal
hour they continued to pour in from every three-00n, by hundreds ;
it extended es roam-downward. as far as Ludgate:till, and upwards
as far as the gates of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in Smithfield.
Skinner.strect, Newgate.street, and thltspur-str, w, were also
thronged, and the coaches c-ruing into town were obliged to take a
circuitous route, to get to their destinations.
In Oiltspur.street there were numerous carts and waggons platted.
which were tilled with persons who bad paid to get up; and just as
the clock was about to gintre awful warning. anti every eye was
turned towards the spot, the ilhafts of a cart broke, and dime in the
body, men, women, and children, were thrown out over the hone.
This accident alined great confosinn and alarm, but no material
injury was sustained by arty person. Shnrtly ftheT, a hackney.
coach broke down under its load, and a young man had his arm
dislocated.

Every window and the tops of the houses were thronged with
spectators.
Precisely at four minutes and a half peat eight o'clock the un-
happy man ascended the fatal scaffold. 111 r. Fauntleroy stobd firmly
with his face towards Ludgate-hill, and seemed to he repeating a
prayer. The executioner mounted the steps behind, and placed
the cord about Ws neck. As soon as the drop fell, a gentleman,
dressed is black, who was sitting at Mr. Allcroft's window, the
King of Denmark public-house, burst into tears, sad was obliged
to be assisted out of the room.

The body. after hanging one hour and one minute, was cut
down, and placed in a shell, and carried into the interior of
hiewgate, preparatory to its being fetched away by the frlends of
the deceased.
We sbewhi imaging there Irmo weeely NOON ;ersons lumps*
bled on the ores:don t and **Mg to theexceltrerretstineut., Mei
were made, no nisterial aecitllnt happened.
The crowd conducted themselves with the greatest decorum, and
silence was only interrupted on Mr. Feuntlemy ascending the seer.
fold, by a man that stood close to it, who exclaimed very vehe-
mently, " (hid bless you !"
About half-past four, a heavy shower of rain descended, which
compelled a part of the crowd ttiseek shelter. A little after flee it
cleared up, and these who had Bud begun to resume their places
around the inmest !rimier.

.
Mr. Faintlerny wrote letters of thanks to the Governor of New.
Rate, the Sheriffs, and Mr. Barrett, for their humane and unremitted
attention to him during his imprisnament. He left his spec.
titles to Mr. Baker, as a memorial of his esteem; his writing.
desk to Ilerris, the turnkey; and, as we said before, his ring to
Mrs. Harris, as acknowledgments of the great kindness they had
shewn him in his captivity.
When the cap was taken off his face, there was no appearance of
convulsion ; the countenance was quite placid.
The Ordinary declared, after the execution, that he never wit-
nessed so much liminess since the death of Tidd. who was hangrd
for treason with Thistlewood. Mr. Fattatieroy's hand, when he
WWI upon the scatrohl, was as warm ns that of a person under ordi.
nary circumstances. The hands of nmst persons who die by the
law are, when death approaches, cold and clammy.