The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-10 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF JOHN THURTELL.

The preparations for the execution of the sentene of the
law were continued during the night of Thursday, with
the utmost industry. At a meeting of the Magistrates in
the course of the evening, it was finally resolved, as we
stated yesterday, that the execution shoeld take place at
twelve o'clock at noon, in front of the mill-door of the
gaol. The workmen wee actively employed as noun us
this resolution was adopted, in carrying it into effect. Tie
new drop erected on this occasion, for the first time, oc-
cupied a spa* of 39 feet in length, and 14 feet in depth.
Its height was about seven feet. It excited great curiosity
amongst the inhabitants of the county in general. As so
much has been said about the cause of its erection on thi,
ocevion, we salty as well state that the old gallows,. fur-
merly used, was so decayed by age as to be rendered unfit
for service.

Daring the night the erection was guarded by two
javelin-men, there being some persons constantly engaged
in examining it. It was painted a d irk lead colour, glad
partook of the solemnity of appearance which was suitable
to the melancholy purpose for which it was constructed.
Round the drop wns sn indosure, within which the gentle-
men .of the press were admitted, and beyond that a space
was kept by the etimitabki, who formed a barrier with
their stalls. At eleven o'clock all the preparations were
fully completed. l'insuant to orders specially issued by
the High-Sheriff, no p.rson was permitted to go within the
prison ; lint every facility was afforded outside, and every
communication freely made that could gratify the just cu-
riosity of the public.
To preserve order, the whole pos..e emnifnfes was in
attmdance, and the general inattagement of the Hertford-
shire constables was judiciously confided to Ruthven, Ili-
' shop and Upson, the Miners of Row-street.

INTERVIEW RSTWEIN 'TIIIIRTELL AND THE
MOH SHERSI7.

The tonsmuniestiou which illburna was so urgent to
make to the High Sheriff, was to prefer a request that his
body, after death, might not be handed over to the sur-
geons fot dissection. •He stated to the Sheriff that he had
no fears or prejudices upon such a subject, and that his
only motive for entreating his intrrferenee at all was, out
of some tionmonetion which he entertained in the declining
moments of fife, towards the feelings of his unhappy
parents. It was his anxious wish, he said, to make this
small atonement for the misery he hail brought upon
them, by endeavouring to avert that which would give
them an additional wound to what his ignominiout end
would inflict upon their aged hearts. The High Sheriff
assured him that he was not insensible to the nature of the
appeal which had been addressed to him, and which he
had come with the utmost readiness to listen to; hut that
it would be rerehensible i•. hint were he for one moment
to leave the prisoner in the false hope that his interiumition
in such a matter w,:uld he of any avail. Ile was hut an
officer of the Crown, who had no power to control er
amend its injunctions, but whose sole duty it was to see its
commands strictly executed. It was net, therefore, to him
that such a petition should be preferred, but to tin ('town.
The Sheriff then aslod him if he hail any complaints to I
make, or any observations to offer upon ally other topic.
The prisoner answered that he had none ; he was per-
fectly satisfied with the conduct of all those persons who
hail exercised power over hint since his apprehension,
and was fully resigned to the fate which awaited him
He was anxious, if possible, to abbreviate the time which
must elapse before his execution, And the only feeling
which oppreased him was. a sem: of the degradation to
which he had been brought, in the latter days of his life,
which affected those he was about to leave behind him
more than himself. Ile once more expresktl his abhor-
nnce of the conduct and character of his late associate
Probert, with whom he said he would not exchange places,
' for any thing life could afford. He spoke with touch
ing about his father and mother and family, whom he had
wished to tee before he thtilly left the world. His guilt
, he did not deny, although he del not positively admit it ;
nor did he make any disclosures touching any of his guilty
.
companions.
I HIS CONDUCT ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

The deportment of Thurtell on Thursday night was highly
gratifing. His manner and conversation were those of a
sincere and penitent Christian ; they were calm, collected,
' and re.igned. He was most attentive to the spiritual
cuusolatiow.afforded hint by the Rev. Mr. Franklin, who
remained with him for several hours on that night, and at.
intervals cutiverstil with him on religious subjects and
read to him prayers, in which he fervently joined.
, The sun of .lr. Wilson was extremely sedulous in his
attention to him also. Dui ing the absence of the cler-
gyman he sat with him, and read various passage's
from Scripture and other books of devotion. Mr. Wilson
has evinced since his committal a kind and compas-
sionate sympathy fer him. In the .course of the night
an incident occurred which 'hews his succeptibility
to acts of kindness. :VI-. Wilson, jun. eicressid a
wish to have a lock of his hair, riven by himself, as a
token of remembrance of him. Thurtell seemed somewhat
surprised at the request, and regretted that it was unworthy
his acceptance. It was, however, he feared, the only token
of gratitude he could present: In a minute or two after-
wards
he drew from his waistcoat pocket a snnfr-box, and
said, " Yes, I have this left, and I request your acceptance
of it, as a slight and trifling token of my thanks for your'
i kind and unremitting attention." Pressed upon him, as it
was in this manner, Mr. Wilson could not decline the
present. • It was of slight value, but the motive of
the donation was creditable. He continued alone in
his cell for some time previous to his retirement to'
rest, in reflection and prayer. At one o'clock he threw
himself on the heel, keeping on his under garments, and

covering himself with a quilt. Ile slept very soundly, as
on the night before, and when Mr. Wilson went to him in
the moniing at seven o'clock, he was fast asleep. In the
conversation which he had with 'Mune'', which was very
slight, from an unwillin:_mess on the part of the gaoler to
disturb his mind at that awful moment, he made use of
the following remarkable txpreit=ion:—" I have had many
odd dreams since I came here, but it is very angular that
I have not once dreamt dwarf that business." Although
there were no other admission of his guilt, this allusion to
the fatal deed for which he was about to die, is too mani-
fest to be mistaken. Breakfast was provided for him, but
lie evinced no desire to eat. He sucked an orange, and
took no other refreshment.

On being informed that the High Sheriff was in attend-
ance at the gaol, he repeated his expression of thankful-
-111.14 to him, but evinced no desire to see hint, or make any
communication to him or any other person. Ile expressed
a deep concern for his family, and felt for the affliction his
*munitions death would give them. His thoughts and
conversation, however, during the morning, were en-
gaged in prayer. At ten o clock he was conducted to
the chapel. Hind was also brought from his cell to at-
tend at prayers. The Cnder-shcrilf, Mr. Wilson, and
the two convicts, were the only persons present. The
Rev. Chaplain administered the sacrament to them.
Previous to the administration of the sacrament to Thur-
tell (who joined in the prayers of the Clergyman with the
tilos: fi rvent piety and religious resignation), 3lr. Franklin
was desirous to satisfy him that his sense and knowledge
of religion were such as to qualify hint for the reception of
this sacred rite. .lecordingly, he reminded him of the re-
ligious instruction which his mother give him, and asked
him several questions as to his belief in ('hrist as the re-
deemer of man, his belief in a future state of rewards and
punishments, and in a day of general judgment. To these,
questions, which the Rev.(lent. propounded as they occur in
the Catechism of the Protestant Church, Thurtell gave
nearly the precise answers of the book. His manner of giv-
ing them was fervent and sincere, and his whole deportment
in chapel was marked with deep and religious attention.
Hones manner was, as it has Leen since his committal,
dull, inert, and apathetic. Ile seems insensible from terror,
and susceptible of no feeling but fear. After prayers this
day. Thurtiell spoke to hint, and feelingly forgave all that
was past. He wished to die in peace with all mankind:
he then took Hunt's hand—he cordially pressed it between
both his own, and said " Farewell, God bless you, Joe!"