The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-26 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF PATRICK FORBES.

This tragic event took place on a scaffold erected on
the north side of the gaol, in front, of Carliol-street,
at eight o'clock on Saturday morning, in the presence
of an immense number of pasons.
• Oa the preceding evening an interview, which of
' course was of a painful and distressing character, took
place between the unhappy culprit and two of his
chillren, one of whom, his eldest daughter, is in ser-
vice in Northumberland-street. From this period he
gave himself up entirely to Lis devotions, in preparing
himself for the awful change which speedily awaited
him. Daring- the night he Was visited by his spiritual
advi.ee, the It v. F. Bethlre, who again attended at
six this morning, when he administered the list rites
of the Roman C oholic Church, the holy communion.
We are informed that he appeared fully alive to a
sense of his approaching end, and satisfied those
around him as to his preparation fur death.
At, six o'clock crowds were f -und loitering about
the scaffold ; and from that hour till the time of exe-
cution immense numbers continued to arrire until an
assemblage variously estimated at from fifteen to
twenty thousand, was congregated.
The conduct of the crowd presented no new or pe-
culiar espect. The jeer and the laugh went round
as usu3l. Still it ought to be stated that some por-
tions of the vast aesemblagc behaved in a quiet and
decorous manner, having attended evidently from
mere motives of curiosity.
Immediately after the clock of St. Nicholas had
struck the hour of eight, the fatal procession was ar-
ranged from the condemned cel', in which the cul-
prit had undergone the ordinary process of pinioning
to the scaffold. The.convict was decently attired in
It suit of black, with a cross suspended on his breast ;
his appearance was wild and dejected, and as he
:ivalk.d along he lifted his eyes to heaven arid uttered
such cliculatory observations as " Jesus have mercy
on me," ‘" Mother of mercy pray for me," " Ml' Saints
pray for me," " Christian f.-ienda favour me." Mr.
Bztham read the service of the Church suitable
for the occasion. This was continued for two
or three moments on the platform, the poor
sufferer being on his knees, and with intense earn-
estness and fervour breathing out " Pray for me
—Mother of Jesus pray for me," "Jesus have
mercy," "Jesus have mercy." After the brief in-
terval thus spent in prayer, the executioner proceeded
with his duty, the cu'prit being held up under the
gibbet by two officers (one of whom wore a Waterloo
medal) until his neckerchief was taken off, the cap
drawn over his face, and the fatal rope adjusted.

When all was arranged, the preconcerted signal was
given—the prayer, " Jesus have mercy," " Jesus
have mercy," repeated by the sufferer, his hands b-ing
firmly clasped ; the drop fell, and he was launched
into eterni-y. Some confusion fur the moment arose,
owing; to the rope being rather too slack, which drew
forth loud execrations, yells, and hisses from many,
but the great bulk cf the people witnessed_ the spec-
tyle in melancholy sadness. According to the ordi-
nary practice, th. body hung an hour, awl was then
cut down and interred R ithia the precincts of the
prise n.