The Sun.
London, England, 1804-09-22 00:00:00

j'')/11VSON, ER.

His Mpoeseer having-been graciouslypleased to
extend his mercy to this remarkable charadter,
may not he improper to lay before our Readers cer.
taro occurrences of his life, of which we have been
informed. This we arc induced to rin, as well in
justice to the man himself, who, however unfortu.
nate Ile has been in the choke of his mode of life.
has evineed that he possesses qualities which would
do honour t s a more elevated state, as in explanation
of the motives which-operated on the feelings and
liberality of the late Minister in promising, and of
the present Minister in procuring, fortim His MA-
E,TY's most gracious pardon.
When the Exeedition to Holland took place, in
Auguat 1797, Jon NsoN was a..prisoner in the New
jail, in the Boroigh; whence be effeged his
escape in the middle of the day,.. in a most intrepid
and daring manner. He proceeded then without'
delay to-Holland, and rendered the most essential
services to our Troops, as well on 'keit landing, as
afterwarOs its conveying to them, amidst innume.
rabic diilicrelries, ammunitioo and provisions, of
V.hioli they would at one period have been wholly
destitute if it had not been for his exertions. He
liar consequently recommended strongly by the
much.lametsted Sir RALPft ADERCEOMBY and the
DUKE of YORK, for a pardon to the then Prime Mi.
eisr, ‘,Mr. FITT, through whose influence he be.
came to objeCt of Royal clemency. .
Unfortueately, however, the want of some regu.
tar livelihood, tempted him to embark once more in
the illicit profession of a smuggler, for an an in
the exercise of which, he was again committed to
prison in the Fleet. From this place he also cad.
ed his escape in a manner so wonderful as scarcely
to be credible, though ascertained beyond the possi.
bdity of doubt, on the recent trial of the, Warden
of the Fleet for suffering his escape.
Though new at liberty, he found himself pre_
Eluded from the possibility of attempting to profit
ITV h;s ingenniri in his illicit traffic, on, this tide of
the water, where alone lie had contemplated a pro.
speet tsi success. He, therefore, made the best of
his way to Ilodand, riod, whilst the Peace lasted,
aided, io,that couptry the efforts nt hie old assn.
dates in this, its—the prosecution of their contra.
band traffic. , . •
Upon the renewal of hostilities, however, lOW/.
SON'S well, known skill and intrepidity. rendered
him an object of the gnemy's meet vigilant atten.
tion, He Was assailed by unjustifiable perouasi
and meOaces alternately, so ieduce or compel him to
enter inns the service of France, but in vain. His
determined and honourable refusal to acquiesce in
thy base proposals, caused him to be immured in one
of thoSe dreadful dungeons whiCh still exist in Hol.
land, so much to the disgrace of that Country.
During a severe cot finement of nearly twelve nomths
its such • a prison, Isis fortitude and loyalty under.
went the severest trials, but remained unshaken.
settlement of 6001. in his family was offered to him
ineffedually r as the, prier of his engaging in the
infameus attempt to invade his native Court.
tw y ; and he sheaved equal principle and rem.
Intikm in his cootempt of the th0,,,,t, th..t hi.
life ~hoeei te the totleit of lilt obstinacy. In
what manner this extrasirdinary, .'man at lint h
relem,ed himself from the miseries of his situation,
or by what singular effort of ingenuity and courage
I.e has succeeded in regaining his liberty, has not
yet transpired. Not being aware 4)1 the benevo...
leet iotenti,oi of Government ter reward his uncom.
Mon and versevering loyalty with a full pardon,
he has diretied Isis course to Ainerici ; and the
E,.emy have sufficient reasons to keep the secret to
themselves.

Yet,, whatever might have been the means of his
t'eliwerance; every patriotic bosom will rejoice, at
his success; and join us in an. ardent and, sincere
wish, that the great And repeated mercy he has ex.
retiereed from the Goveinnient of his Country, will
!tempt him to :return, and unite with his Country.
men in dricrice of their common rights, to which he
tn,inifelted so unshaken an attachments at a time,
when his life was forfeited fur an offence against
the Laws of his country.

In the course of last week, we mentioned the
circumstance of a person of the name of Pickering,'
at Peckforton, in Cheshire, having been wounded
in a shocking manner by a gun discharged at him
through a window, while sitting in his own house,
and which, as was then supposed, was intended .for
the d'es trutlion of the Game.keeper of Sir T.. MOS.
tyn, who hoarded with him. Events, however,
which have since.taken place, have proved that
supposition erroneous ; and the following-melan.
Only detail is, wt.. believe, the true explanation of
this very horrible business : A person of, the name
of Marsh, who'had been a widower about 9 years,
and had formerly kept a small
„farm in the neigh.
bourhood of Berston Castle, about the middle of
last week put an end so his own existence, by
placing a loaded musket to his ear; 'having previ.
ously 'fixed 4 string to the trigger of it, by means
of which he discharged it and occasioned hisinstant
death. Affixed tothe button of his coat was found
'a paper comprising his will, and txplaining the
reasons
,of his rash coquelt. It seems that an illicit
connexion had subsisted for eleven years: between
this; unhappy man and the wife of Picketing, who,
as he states in that paper, had frequently importuned
him to poison her husband, in which event she
would marry him l Vot,finding an oppOrtunifrof
effetting this diabolical purpose, he had fired at him
through the window with, an intent to kill him.--
But the miserable victim Pickering still languishing,
the wife had rrefusetl,:to,decamp with Marsbagree.
ably to his niislics, and ai but feeble exi,e4Litions
were entertained of Pickering's recovery, and sus.
picions began , to arise concerning ,his
existence became insupportable, and he had recourse
to the dreadful expedient of stiicitht.--(Pverled
Yesterday there was tin lequest-helcrat.the Mary.
le.bons Workhotise, in the New Road. an the body
of John Leonard, Coachman to M 1,6 Fenwic4. lie
suddenly expiretion Wednesday evening in Qxittid.
street. Vettlitt-,—".DieV hy the ,visitation of God!„