The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-17 00:00:00

THE CONVICTS UNDER SENTENCE OF

DEATH IN THE COUNTRY.

On Saturday evening a meeting of the mechanics of Lon-
don, convened by means of a placard posted throughout
the city, took place at the I'aul's Head, Cateaton•street,
for the purpose of considering the proper mods of pro-
ceeding to implore the Royal mercy towards the unfortu-
nate individuals sentenced to die by the Special Commis-
sions in the country.

At half-past six a ♦ery considerable number of persons,
mostly mechanics, were assembled, when a gentleman, who
afterwards stated that his name was Chalmers, and that he
was an importer of foreign biscuit, in Lower Thames-
street, addressed the rneeing. He avowed himself to be
the author of the placard, and that from motives of hu-
manity he had adopted this mode of convening th• me-
chanics and working classes of the metropolis, with a
view of making a more energetic and effectual effort than
had yet been made to implore the Royal clemency on be-
half of the unhappy persons, whose acts, whatever might
have been their provocations, had exposed them to the
severest penalty of the law. He lamented the difficulty
there was of stirring vffectudly in this humane cause ; and
stated that he had been obliged to apply to nine printers
before he could find one who would consent to print his
placard.

Mr. CUALMERS was unanimously voted into the chair,
and a very long and tedious discussion took place as to the
best mode of getting a meeting together; some were for
fixing upon the Rotunda, some for the Mechanics' Insti-
tute, and others for a meeting in the Open air. The latter
at length prevailed; and a Committee was appointed to
fix upon the proper &ice and time, which was to be an-
nounced as speedily as pos4ible by public advertisement.
Upon the whole, the proceedings were conducted in a
decorous and creditable manner.

EXECUTION OF TWO OF THE CON.

DENINED CONVICTS.

WINCHESTER, JAN. 15.

Having reported all the proceedings under the
Special Commission in the counties of Hants, Wilts,
and Dorset, it became my painful duty to attend
the execution at this city. A respite had been
granted for all the condemned convicts, except
James Thomas Cooper and Henry Cooke. The in-
telligence was communicated to them on Thursday.
Eldridge had made up his mind far more than any
of the others that he must suffer; he was, therefore,
very much affected on hearing that a respite had ar-
rived for him; he fell on his knees, and with tears
of joy addressed a prayer of thankfulness to
Heaven. The others were also overjoyed, but
but the effect produced on them was not so great as
it was or: Eldridge. Only two out of the six convicts
can read or write, the others are miserably ignorant
of every duty. Cooper and Cooke had entertained
strong hopes of mercy until they heard that a respite
had arrived for their companions, the circumstance
of some being spared seemed to aggravate their grief,
and they gave themselves up to despair. The Rev.
Mr. Zillwood, the Chaplain to the prison, has paid
them the most anxious attention. On Friday night
he left them in a more composed state of mind.
They slept well during the night. At six o'clock
this morning they were called for the last time to see
the dawn of day. The Rev. Chaplain shortly after
joined them, and they paid every attention to his in-
structions. They were, however, iu a miserable
condition. Cooper appeared to suffer more inwardly
than Cooke, who wept aloud. A little before eight
o'clock Mr. Zellwood left them—the executioner

then entered to perform his duty of pinioning, &c.
The clock having struck eight, Mr. Zillwood went
to the door of the room in which the unhappy men
were, and being told that all was ready he com-
menced reading the burial service. The prison hell
at the same moment beginning to toll, the melan•
choly procession then advanced—some of the officers
going forward, then Mr. Zillwood, followed by
Cooke, after whom walked Cooper. At this mo-
ment, as they passed me, Cooke was sobbing out
and crying, " Oh, that it should come to this !
Lord have mercy upon me !" His countenance ap-
peared to be rather flushed, he also staggered, or ra-
ther rolled about as he walked along. Cooper
seemed to be in the greatest state of anguish within,
but did not exhibit his grief in so loud a manner as
Cooke ; his countenance had a most strange ap-
pearance, it seemed to be of a kind of yellow, livid,
and death-like cast, produced by the dreadfully
agitated state of his mind. He walked with a very
staggering step. As he approached the scaffold, he
glanced his eye at the prisoners in the yards on either
side of him. He carried a book in his hand, and re-
peated the service after the Rev. Chaplain. On
their arrival under the drop, which had five hooks
attached to it, the Chaplain shook the hands of each
(Cooper retained his hand within his grasp for nearly
two minutes), repeating, at the same time, That
beautiful prayer " Unto God's gracious care and
protection I commit thee ; the Lord bless thee and
keep thee ; the Lord make his face to shine upon
thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up
his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
The service was then resumed, and on Mr. Zillwood
giving the signal, by inclining his book to the
ground, the drop fell, and these unfortunate men
ceased to breathe in this world. Cooke did not
struggle at all, but the muscular action continued to
move in Cooper for some minutes. I understand
that it was imagined it would have been necessary
to have carried both the chlprits to the drop, they
were so completely unnerved. Cooper had ex-
pressed his intention on Friday evening to address
his fellow prisoners; but this meaning be said he
had nut sufficient strength. The way to the drop
is between two yards of the prison. Previoustido
the execution the prisoners were all ordered out, and
the doors locked. On the right hand yard were
about 140 of those who had been convicted at the
of
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obliged to support themselves
appeared sensible of the very narrow escape they
had had of being placed in the same dreadful situa-
tion. Holdem ay was not brought out, as he is only
respited till the sth of February, when it is ex-
pected he will suffer.
The crowd outside did not exceed 300, and the
majority of those sere boys, and nearly the whole
of the others were special constables, who hid been
ordered to be in attendance at seven o'clock. I heard
many of the crowd say they would give a guinea
out of their own pockets for a reprieve. Directly
the drop fell, most of them immediately left the scene.