The National Register.
London, England, 1820-05-08 00:00:00

tenance. While the final arrangements were ota¢u►g
by the executioner, Mr. Cotton stood beside the
wretched man, and continued exhorting him to pray.
and alim put some questions which could not be dis-
tinctly heard ; but we►e understood to he, if he repented
of his crimes/ lie exclaimed ;sr hell times, "No ; not
.it all l" He was also heard to say, " I shall soon know

the last grand secret."
Tidd was the next brought out. He ran swiftly up
the steps, and bowed around, with a hardened smile
There was a partial cheering when he made his appear-
ance.
logs then came out. The conduct of this man was
truly horrible. The moment he had taken his station,
he moved his head to and fro, and cried " huzza" sett-
ral times He then commenced singing, "0, give me
death or liberty!"—Hare there was a partial cheering
from a few ragamuffins on the roof of an opposite house.
He condoned now and then exclaiming—" Here we
go, my lads—you see the last reinaitis of James Inas—
remember I die the enemy of tyranny, and would sooner
die in chains than live in slavety." When Mr. Cotton
addressed hint, he said laughingly, " I am not afraid to
go before God or man ;" then addressing himself to the
executioner, tie exclaimed, " Now. Old Mau, finish me
tidy:—Put the halter a little tighter, it ntay 6144" He
then, as well as he could, waved a hankerchief, and said
he hoped Mr. Cotton would give hint a good charactei,
Just before the rope was a.,justed, he said to an officer.
" Give my respects to George, and tell him I go out of
the world without any animosity towards him. I never
intended him any harm." Ile asked if this was the gal-
lows on which people were usually hanged, and observ-
ing the coffins, said—" I suppose there are for us."—He
requested that an officer would desire Mr. Harmer to
publish his defence.
Davidson. the man of colour, and Brunt, came out
last. The behaviour of the former presented a gratify-
ing contrast with that of his companions. His deport-
ment was mild, yet firm, and he prayed with great fer-
vency. Whets he stepped on the scaffold, he said to
those within, " God bless you all t good bye." He
joined in the Lord's Priyer, and said, " God bless the
King I" He repeatedly expressed great penitence for bis
crimes
Brunt said very little, but was as hardened as any of
the rest. He said Just before he came out, that he 11
no snußboz, but he had some snuff in his waistcoat
pocket. and requested some sander by to get souse out
for hint, as his hands were tied. Tbis was done with
great coolness. He said he wondered where the, would
put himk that he supposed it would be somewhere tbat
he would sleep well. He added, that he wools. make
a present of' his body to King George the Fourth.
Thistlewood, just before be was turned off, said. is a
low tone to a person under the scaffold—" I have now
but a few moments more to live' and I hope the world
will think that I have at least been sincere in my en-
deavours "
Tidd said to Ings, about the same moment—" How
are ye My.llearty ?"
About six tontines after eight the signal was given by
Mr. Cotton, and die unhappy men were launched into
eternity. Thistlewood died almost without a struggle.
logs struggled extremely, and appeared to sutler much.
It is a remarkable fact that just as the fatal signal was
' about to be given, logs was observed to join Davictson
in prayer.
When the bodies had been suspended exactly half an
hour, the executioner and an assistant appeared on the
Kaiald to prepare for the revolting ceremony of decapi-
tation. Tisistlewood was the first cut down, and being
placed with his head on the block, an eminent medical
professor, it was supposed, disguised in a rough jacket
and trowsers, and a mask on his lace; ippeared with an
amputating knife, and in a few moinents 'lie head was
severed from the body, and given to the excel, loner's
assistant, who held it up by the hair, and turning north
and south, and then to the front of the scaffold, exclai toed
three es. "This is the head of Arthur Thustlewood,
traitor." The body with die head was then placed on
a coffin. The same ceremony was perionned w ith Tidd,
lugs, Davidson, and Brunt, in succession. The opera-
tion was performvd with great skill, and in as short a time
as possible. The operator was loudly hissed and groaned
at by the mob, and some atrocious expressions were
applied to him. The universal groans, acc soled
by some female shrieks, whets he first co iiiiii raced upon
'fhistlewood, had an awful effect. The bodies were
soon arms removed to a room in the prison.
When the malefactors first appeared upon the scaffold,
there was a signal given, upon w hien the troops stationed
in the adjacent streets drew as close as possible to the
pla.c of execution. The Lord Mayor was at the Lon-
don CoHee.house in readiness to rove his assistance in
case of riot; and placards were prepared, on which was
printed, " Remember. the Riot Act has been read
disperse in niediately." These were to have been exhi-
bited to the crowd ti there had been any necessity for
reading the Itool. Act, not we are happy to state that there
was he SliAlleSl 111(k:111011 of disorder amongst the
;Aide, and tutu they tlisi.ersed quietly when the dread
html beetle had fmaliy closed.
We regret to add, however, th it a serious aceides t
oceurr.ii by Inv falling of a part of the soling, of St.
Sepulchre's church, cm ss lids a Kraal moonlit.: of people
boils sexes had climbed. Several wire a..i rot/ hurt,
and it was reported mat two women were killed, but we
could not ascertain the truth antis. li ,s as a matter o
snitch surprise that an otiraorditiary a .tivr oi women,
some well dressed, were preSelll St tilts 10,1 bl ass
In
exhibition.

The following are copies of three letters sent by
lngs. . hey will, we have no doubt, be highly ac-
ceptable to our reader,
10 Mrs wiry:.
"My dear Celia—l hardly ha., w ow to begin. or wha to
t
say, for the isms 01 tyrantstor C,Ol, :11y Clear,
this ib the hut Lima you will ev.-. -me trot,' . I "ore you will
ierfoun your duty without dr.ny, wt ado for the benefit ot
yourself and children, which I have exiolaiticd to you bcfore.—