The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-12 00:00:00

THE BERMONDSEY MURDER.

The wretched convicts, Manning and his wife, at-
tended Divine service in the chapel of Horsemonger-
lane Gaol yesterday, for the last time, when the Rev.
W. Sloman Rowe, chaplain of the prison, preached an
eloquent and most impressive sermon, in the course
of which he made frequent and pointed allusion to the
unhappy criminals, and exhorted them, by all their
hopes of mercy hereafter, to unburden their con-
sciences, and truthfully confess the enormity of the
crime for which they have been so righteously con-
demned. The usual service of the prison chapel com-
mences at nine o'clock in the morning, and there was
no deviation from the rule on this occasion. The
other felon prisoners and the debtors confined in the
gaol having entered the chapel and taken their re-
spective places, the condemned prisoners were
introduced in charge of the respective male and female
officers appointed to attend upon them. The culprits
were so placed that the one could not observe the
other ; Manning being seated on the male prisoners'
side, and his wife on the opposite side, where the
female prisoners sit. The visitors' gallery was
exclusively confined to the visiting justices, of whom
there were several present. Mr. Keane, the
governor, occupied his usual pew. Mr. Moore,
the deputy-governor, and all the other officers of the
prison, were also in attendance. The convicts, on
entering the chapel, took their seats without betray-
ing any extraordinary emotion ; but as the service
proceeded they became much distressed, and during
portions of the reverend chaplain's sermon they both
wept bitterly. The usual morning service was read
by the reverend chaplain, who took occasion to desire
the prayers of the congregation on behalf of the two
convicts. The prayers having been concluded, and a
hymn sung, the rev. chaplain entered the pulpit, and
commenced his sermon, selecting as his text for illus-
tration the second verse of the 65th Psalm :—" 0
thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh
come." The rev. gentleman opened his discourse by
remarking that if all his hearers knew how short a
period existed between them and eternity they would
each feel the necessity of so living as to be able to
assist each other, and thus entertain a well-grounded
hope of assistance hereafter, through the heavenly and
divine grace which the blessed Redeemer had graci-
ously thrown in the way and placed at the disposal of
all who chose to embrace it. How much more
forcibly did this apply to their unhappy brother and
sister, whose days were numbered, and who had but
a few hours to live. He implored them well to
consider this, and se to conform themselves that they
might hope to be assisted and strengthened to meet
their approaching end; and, above all, he beseeched
them to banish every thought of this world, and con-
fine themselves to the consideration of that which
would so shortly open upon them. The reverend
preacher then proceeded to dilate upon the importance
of repentance to all sinners, after which he addressed
the two convicts especially, expressing an earnest
hope that they would, both by contrite repentance
and an undisguised confession of their sins, prefer
the only claim they could have to be forgiven their
transgressions, and made fit partakers of that
heavenly place where none but truly repentant sin-
ners could enter. That the mercy of God was all
sufficient to pardon the most guilty criminal, if truly
penitent, was sufficiently shown in the Epistle Gene-
ral of St. John, where they were told, that "If we
confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous-
ness." And again they were exhorted in another
place with these cheering words, " Come unto me
all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
The reverend gentlemen then proceeded at some
length, and in a very impressive manner, to point out
the necessity of an energetic repentance, in which
the whole heart should be laid bare—contrasting this,
the only proper course for the Christian, with that
adopted by hypocrites and dissemblers, whose punish-
ment hereafter would be everlasting misery. If they
examined their hearts, how many sins would arise in
the consciences of each, for be sure that sin would
always find a voice in the recesses of the human
heart. Whatever deceptions and wickednesses might
be practised by mankind upon their fellow-creatures,
they might be sure that sin would only be hidden for
a time, and that offences would meet with a due
reward in an after state of existence. The reverend
gentleman, after further illustrating the text in a
general manner, again addressed the convicts,
assuring them that their hope of salvation depended
solely upon their true repentance, and beseeching them
to embrace the opportunity without delay of laying
their hearts open before God, who then invited them
and not to lose one moment of the short period
allotted to them for existence in this world. The
reverend preacher concluded an eloquent discourse in
these words, " God be merciful to you both, and to all
of us sinners, and teach us to look to Jesus, the
sinner's friend, as the only true source of absolution
for our transgressions."
The two convicts, as before stated, were deeply
affected during the delivery of this sermon, and
occasionally, when the rev. preacher addressed them
personally, they gave utterance to the intensity of
their sufferings by sobbing audibly. Even after their
removal from the chapel they remained exceedingly
depressed, and hopes are entertained that the reverend
chaplain's forcible address will not be without its
effect on the consciences of both the criminals. We
should mention also, that not only the two convicts,
but also the other ; prisoners and the magistrates
present were very much affected by the sermon.
The vicinity of the prison presented the appearance
of a fair yesterday, and the housekeepers in the
neighbourhood netted a large sum by letting seats,
business in this particular not being suspended on the
Sabbath.

MANNING'S LAST APPEAL TO HIS WIFE.
The reverend chaplain of the gaol visited Manning
at an early hour on Friday morning, for the purpose
of offering the wretched man all the consolation in his
power. Manning received the reverend gentleman's
exhortations in a very becoming manner, and during
the interview added considerably to the statement he
had previously made to IMr. Rowe on the subject of
the murder. This statement, which will not be made
public until after the death of the convict, covers
twenty-five pages of foolscap paper. Several circuna•
stances of a very extraordinary nature are disclosed
in this document. During the convict's interview
with the chaplain he again urged the reverend gen-
tleman to use his utmost endeavours to induce his
wife to see him, which Mr. Rowe promised to do. At
a later hour he addreased the following letter to the
chaplain, reiterating his request on this subject :
" Friday Evening.
"My dear Sir,—Feeling an earnest desire to be
at peace with all men, and with my wife in particular,
before the close of our :earthly course, which is so
rapidly approaching, may I ask it of you as an act of
kindness, to learn from her whether an interview may
not take place, as it is truly awful to contemplate
the wickedness of any one who shall enter the pre-
sence—the awful presence of God without being at
peace with all nten. As such interview would, I
think, be calculated to bring peace and comfort to us
both iu the next world, do, in the name of God, let
we implore of you to ask her to grant this last request
for the sake of her poor soul. Sir, if you could ven-
ture to du this for me, I hope you will promote it.
" I remain, my dear sir, yours obediently,
" FREDERICK GEORGH MANNING.
" The Rev. W. S. Rowe, Chaplain."
This letter was handed to the female convict on
Friday night, by Mr. Rowe, but it had no effect, as
she persists in her refusal to grant her husband an
interview unless he first commits himself to the ver-
sion of the circumstances set forth in her reply to a
previous letter.
Mr. Binns had an interview with Manning on
Saturday morning, and communicated the result of
his endeavours to obtain a commutation of the capital
sentence on his behalf. Manning had entertained
great hopes of his success, and when be learnt that
all the means which had been tried had failed he ap-
peared greatly dispirited.
MANNING'S LAST INTERVIEW WITH IRS

BROTHER.
At four o'clock on Saturday afternoon the convict's
brother, Edmund Manning, had an interview to take
his final leave of the wretched man. He was intro-
duced to the condemned cell by the chaplain and Mr.
Keane, the governor. On observing his brother
enter, the convict rose, and advancing towards him,
said, "How do you do, Edmund ? lam glad to see
you." In reply to his brother's inquiries, he said
that he felt perfectly happy, and resigned to his fate.
Ile added that he slept well, and was not at all dis-
turbed during the night, in proof of which he ap-
pealed to the turnkeys in attendance upon him. He
asked his brother if he had seen Dlr. Binns, and
whether he was aware of the unfavourable result