The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-09-13 00:00:00

ScIITION OF
ANDREW HANDIA AND JOHN BAIRD,
FOR HIGH TREASON.

SIETTEXIIVI 0.
The preparations for the execution of these oafs/desalt
men having hems completed the previous night, this 'worm-
ing the scaffold appeared to the view of the ielhabitanta.
(hi each side the scaffold was placed a coffin, at the head of
Mho•b was a tub Sliest with saw-dash, destined to receive Ilse
brad; to the side of the tuts was affixed a block.
The clergymen of the town r the Reverend Doctors Wright
and Sewall), tad the Reverend Mr. Bruce, throughout the
ennilisemeut of the prisoners, were unremitting in their
duties. The morning was spud almost welch, in devoliose
and reflections suited to the awful situation of the primmer'.
About eleven o'clock a troop of the /eh dragoon guards ar-
rived from Falkirk, and were assisted by the 13th foot quar-
tered in the Castle.
At one o'clock, the Sheriff's Depute and Substitute of
the county of Stirling, accompanied ha the Magistrates,
anti preceded by the town and Sheriff offce►s, weut in
procession from the Town-House to the Castle, to receive
the Prisoner, at the Castle-gale. They were met by the
Lientensint-Govenior, General Graham, when the• Sheriff
demanded the Prisoner., Birdie ■mid Beard. The gates
were thrown open, and a strong party of the 13th re-
giment, nosier the immediate command of Colonel Sir
William Williams, marched out and formed two line.,
one on each side of the road. A squadron of the 7th
Dragoon Guards were already drawn lip outside the Castle
gsde, and, when the prisoners arrived, formed outside the its
(entry, and also in front and rear of the procession. The
prisoners, who were deceutly dressed in black clothes, with
weepers and crape, attended by the three Miiiisters of
the Established Church, now came out of the Castle, and
mounted the hurdle with a firm and undaunted mien.
They bowed to the crowd all around, and particularly to
the Lieut.-Governor and Fort Major. When the procession
bcgau to move, the prisoners 'mug the last hymn in a very
audible and distinct mauricr, amid rooting...lto do so, except
its the influx part of the Castle Wiwi, till they arrived at
the prison, is, front of which the scaffold was erected. liar.
die looked up and smiled—Baird surveyed the dreadful ap-
paratus with etruestuess but composure. The decapitator
was ~l iced in the herdic with his (ice to the horses anti the
hatchet in his hand. The prisusters had their hacks to the
lowers, and both, but especially Hardie, limited eagerly and
keenly at their veiled compassion, het they did out address him.
The processioo, after arriving at the frout of the Prison,
halted ; the troops drew up, forming three sides of a square
around the scaffold ; the prisoners, wills the Magistrates and
Ministers, proceeded to the Court-bowie, where nearly au
hour was spent iu devotional exercises. Dr. Wright first
read a Psalm, and prayed—Dr. Small gave out part of the
blst Psalm, which the prisoners sung with much devotion,
Hardie giving out the line and leading the singiug; Dr.
Small afterwards prayed—The Rev. Mr. Bruce then gave
out the 130th Psalm, which waggon im like manner, Hardio
reading the lines and leadiug the singing.
The conduct of these min while is. the Court-room was
most calm and um.ssuming. Ruth, and particularly Hardie,
seemed less affected by their situation than any other penes
present; his baud, while he held his book, never trembled.
Some refreshment bring offered, 11 el relic took a glass of sherry
and Baird a glass of port. Hardie said somelliin, the ex-
act import of which we could riot collect. He begged the
Sheriff to express their gratitude lo General Graham, Major
Peddle, must the public authurities, fur their humanity and
attention; It, then bowed to the other persons present, sod
drank off the whole of the contents of Hire glass. Baird then
addressed himself to the Sheriff, and begged to convey seu-
laments of a ►imilar nature.

The post having arrived, the Sheriff notified that no hopes
of respite were left, and that it was necessary to proceed
with the rentainiug operations. The exectitiouer was called
in to pinion the prisoners (their irons had been taken off
when they left the Custle. This they submitted to, almost
with cheerfulness, ard declaring they were now ready to pro-
ceed to the scaffold. The scaffold was prepared with all the
insignia of death. On each side were placed the coffios with
the block for decapitation ; the flour was covered with
saw-dart. After a short interval, Baird addressed the
crowd i• a very appropriate manner, aud begged them to
read and study their Bibles as the word of God, and to read
them seriously, and with prayer for the spirit of God to en-
lighten their darkened understandings; he made no re.
ference to the course which brought him and his anfortn-
nate companion to the situation in which they were now
placed. He tkciared himself coufident in salvation through
the merits of his Redeemer. Hardie then addressed
the audience, but was out so distinctly heard as Baird;
lie said, that Irons the time he bad the good for-
tune to be a l'i.isoner, he bad been led to think of
the importauce of his soul, and of the necessity of a Media.
tor; that although be considered himself condemned for
adherence to justice and truth, yet he relied solely on the
merits of his Redeemer. At the words justice and truth,
the mob expressed some shunts of appralvation, and there
was a munieutaty stir us if the titilitaly bad acted. It
seemed rattier the panic for having doue what they
could not approve of, for neither the cavalry nor 'artistry
made the sit:Thirst motion. The ropes were now affixed to
the prisoners aud to the transverse beam, after wind. Mr.
Bruce prayed very fervently, and at twenty minutes to three
o'clock they were hunched into density. They hardly ex-
hibited any atingle.
After banging half an hour, they were cut down, awl
placed upon the coffins, with their necks upon a block; the
beadsman then came forward; be was a little man; he wore
a black crape over his face, a hairy cap, and a black gown.
On his app. trance there was a cry of murder. He struck
the neck of Hardie thrice before it was severed ; tbeu held
it up with both hands, " This is the bead of a trai-
tor." He severed the bead of Baird at two blows, held it up
in the sante manner, and used the same words. The coitus
were then removed, and the crowd peaceably dispersed.