The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION ON

MONDAY.

Yesterday morning, preparations were being made in
the court-yard of the gaol of Newgate, for the execution
of Robert Marley, the wretched convict who was sen-
tenced to death at the last sessions of the Central Crimi-
nal Court, Old Bailey, for the wilful murder of Richard
Cope, who died in the Westminster Hospital, from scalp
wounds and a compound fracture of the skull, received
by him on the evening of the 28th of October last, in
Parliament-street, Westminster.
The only person who has visited the wretched man
since his condemnation :and removal to the condemned
cell, has been his sister, when he seemed but little moved
at her presence. She promised to see him again this
(Saturday) morning, for the last time befora his execu-
tion.

The convict converses freely with the officials of the
prison, and two warders have been in constant attend•
ance upon him, night and day, to prevent him commit-
ting any violence or injury upon himself. He seems to
he cheerful, and almost unconcerned at his awful posi•
tion
The Rev. Mr. John Davis, the chaplain to the gaol,
has been unremitting in his devotional attention to the
convict, who has frequently listened with earnestness to
the rev. gentleman's discourse.
Mr. John Weatherhead, the governor of the prison,
received final orders last evening from Sir George Grey,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for
carrying out the last sentence of the law, which will
take place at eight o'clock on Monday morning next.
A. large body of mechanics and labourers will be
occupied from six o'clock this (Saturday) morning
until the afternon in fixing the usual massive wooden
barriers round the front of newgate, opposite the posi-
tion occupied by the gallows, which will be brought
out of the Court-yard at two o'clock on Monday
morning. Strong beams and iron-work will be placed
along either side of the Old Bailey, from the corner
of Newgate-street to the front of the Court-house, to
keep back the immense crowd of persons that is ex-
pected to be present on the awful occasion.
Orders were also issued yesterday afternoon by Mr.
Daniel Whittle Harvey, the Chief Commissioner of
pu
other
blic
thieves
from
who de-
the City Police, for sections of constables to be
to i n
attendance at an early hour on Monday morning,
predationsprevent
f accidents
the andavi protectswell
m ob the
and
generally attend in large numbers on such occasions.
The condemned sermon will be
preached to-morrow
(Sunday) forenoon, at 11 o'clock, in the h
gaol, by the Rev. Mr. John Davis, the chaplin.
Numerous applications have been made by persons
of distinction, and other respectable individuals, for
tickets of admission to the gaol to hear the condemned
sermon, and for permission to be present at the ex-
ecution of the wretched man - but only
a few of the
,
civic authorities received authority for the admission
from the Chamberlain's Office,
Guildhall.
The Sh • eriffs (Messrs. M h. and Keats) and the
Lord Mayor will be present ec
e present to-morrow, as customary
on such pai •
nful occasions, to hear the sermon.

STATUTE LAW COMMISSION.—The expenditure between
the years 1831 and 1855, sanctioned by the House of
Commons, upon royal and other commissions, for digest-
ing, &c., the statute laws, escceded eleven hundred
thousand pounds. Yet after all this our statute book is
" wholly undigested, and devoid of any system or ar-
rangement whatever. '—Civil Service Gazette.
REBUILDING OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.—We Mir
derstaud that a contract has been entered into, within
the last few days, with an eminent builder, for the
rebuilding of Covent•garden Theatre, and that the work
Rill be immediately proceeded with.