The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-24 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF THREE SPANIARDS,

RICHMOND, AUG. 18.—Yesterday being the
day appointed for the execution of the three
Spaniards, convicted of piracy and murder on
board of the brig Crazyford, they were taken
from prison about eleven o'clock, and conducted
to the place of execution by the volunteer com-
panies and the city guard, which were ordered
out for the purpose, and a large concourse of
persons. The scene which the progresa of the
procession presented was truly imposing. Seated
in the waggon, placed in the middle of a hollow
square formed by the military, and which con-
tained their coffins, their hwiliating posture,
frequent orisons, and appearaffle of devotion and
suffering, exhibited them as objects which, in
spite of their crime, did not fail to inspire pity.
The multitude which attended was immense.—
The criminals, from their dress, a blue robe,
covering the head, and extending to the feet,
were conspicuous to the most distant spectator.
When mounted on the scaffold, the Catholic
Clergyman, and the interpreter (Dr. Lemosy)
joined them in prayer ; at the conclusion of
which the interpreter, addressing the public at
the request of the prisoners, explained that the
prisoners declared that they were not only guilty
of the crimes for which they were condemned, and
were now about to suffer punishment, but of
many other crimes ; that they begged pardon of
the public, and asked them to join in their last
prayer. The prisoners then declared themselves
ready to safer the punishment ; whereupon the
Rev. Mr. Kerr addressed the assembled multi-
tude, which by thousands lined the declivities
contiguous to the place of execution, now in
dense masses extending as far as the eye could
reach, and, here and there, in clustering groups,
stationed on various elevations for the purpose of
having a better view of the scene. The Minis-
ters descended from the scaffold, after having first
bid adieu to the prisoners. The Marshal then,
in discharge of his duty, adjusted the fatal cords,
and descended from the scaffold, when, at a
given signal, the
cordssupport
b y of
whichthe
re-
moved, and the
were suspended gave way, and the unfortunate
Pepe and w
Casor ro
wretches were • •
precipitated to the ground. The
horror which this occurrence occasioned caused a
rush among the crowd, and a press which was
nearly fatal to a few persons. The
coolness of
the military, however, instantly restored order,
and the officers who officiated, and who
regretted
endeavoured the occurrence which they had voured to
prevent, qUickly repaired this accident, when the
two prisoners were again suspended
less than
five minutes, and after a few convulsive motions,
finally which became fainter and fainter, expired.
—Amerzcan Paper.

Mathews, the Comedian, is in the possession
of the finest portrait of Colly Cibber known to exist.
The Poet, Player, and Dramatic Writer is painted, we be-
lieve, by Sir Godfrey Knellcr, a three-quarters length, in
the character of Lord Foppiiipton. The beat bust of the
laureat is at Strawberry Hill. He appears in a cap when
old ; it is coloured from the life, and said to be extremely
like. Cibber gave this bust to Kitty Clive, the celebrated
actress; and her brother, Mr. Rafter, gave it alter her
death, to Mr. Walpole.

Saturday night, 11 o'clock, Sept. 22.
Notwithstanding the very gloomy and unfavour-
able
stat e of the weather this morning, so great was the
attraction of this superb and truly British spectacle, ,
that the crowds in attendance this morning to wit-
ness its exhibition infinitely exceeded those who
were yesterday present on the lines to view the in-
spection of the Royal Marines. A little before 11
o'clock the dock-yard gates were thrown open, and
the public admitted without distinction. The ar-
rangements of the Commissioner did him the,great-
est credit ; nothing was omitted, nothing unforeseen
that could add to the splendour of the imposing dis-
play. On either side of the ship two galleries were
erected, containing five tiers of seats each, rising one
over the other; and, to guard against the possibility
of the fair visitants being inconvenienced by any un-
favourable change in the weather, awnings composed
of sail-cloth were thrown over the roof, and lengths
of the same material were extended along the rear.
On the right side of the George the Fourth, an ac-
commodation ladder was erected, which from the side
of the dock, judging,by the length to which it reached,
must have been at least 40 feet in height, in order
to enable every one who felt an inclination, without'
the slightest partiality, to ascend and examine the
interior arrangements of this splendid " ocean's bul-
wark.". Above 10,000 persons at the least took ad-
vantage of the permission, and, with a view of facili-
tating their egress, and preventing cpnfusion, there
was another ladder, which extended from the middle
deck, and reached the ground at about five yards dis-
tance from the former, and by this they descended.
The George the Fourth, for her magnitude, is
perhaps one of the finest models of naval architec-
ture that has ever been floated, even from a British
dock-yard ; she will mount 120 guns. Her tonnage
is over 2,000, and nothing that modern improve-
ment could suggest has been forgotten in her con-
struction. Her stern is circular, and built, we be-
lieve, on the principles laid down by Sir Robert
Seppings. The principal part of her cabin furni-
ture, such as the companion-ladders, doors, drawers,
&c. are composed of mahogany. The hand-rails to
the leading ladders are of burnished brass, a mate-
rial which is also used in some of the mouldings; in
la word, without going into more minute details, she
is in every respect worthy of the patriot Monarch
with whose title she is honoured. With every care,
and all proper deference for his Royal guests and
noble friends, Mr. Commissioner Cunningham had
a railed platform covered with sail-cloth, and green
baize laid down, froM the door of his residence to a
neat pavilion prepared for the reception of the Lord
High Admiral and his. Duchess. They, however,
did not make their appearance until shortly before
the launch took place ; but to prevent the unavoid-
able tediousness of waiting, two of the garrison
bands were stationed in the yard, who wore away
the time by playing several martial airs, and the fine
band of the Marines were also in attendance on
board the vessel.
When high-water was announced, an almost ner-
vous anxiety pervaded the collected multitude, but
a few moments, however, intervened, when their
Royal Highnesses were seen approaching, followed
by a numerous retinue of Adniirals, General Officers,
and the Nobility. The moment they were observed
the atmosphere was rent with shouts of applause.—
" Long live the Lord High Admiral," " Success to
the George the Fourth," and other cries of a similar
loyal cha'acter, were heard, among the " hum of
myriads." At twenty Minutes past oils her Royal'i
Highness reached the edge of the water, and, from
an elevation constructed for the purpose, flung, with
remarkable precision, a bottle of wine at the ship's
stern, naming her, and wishing her success. The
blocks were almost instantaneously removed, and
though there appeared to be some delay in her ad-
vancing for a moment or two, which the impatience
of the crowd magnified almost into so many hours,
she slid off the ways amidst the most astounding
shouts, and took possession of that element of which
she is so superb an ornament. The Union Flag,
the Admiral's, and the National, floated on the
breeze.
When the George the Fourth left the dock, the
guns fired a salute from the ramparts, and the bands
struck up " Rule Britannina." There were at
least 500 persons on board, who must have found
some difficulty in reaching the shore, as the accom-
modation ladder was removed, and the height from
the deck to the surface of the water was of a fearful
depth.
Immediately after the launch, their Royal High-
nesses proceeded to Bulley-hill, near Rochester, the
seat of Sir Henry Blackwood, G.C.8., to spend
the afternoon. Amongst the distinguished persons
present, we noticed Prince Leopold, the Earl of
Darnley, and several other of the neighbouring
Nobility, and we cannot conclude this account with-
out adding, that the day passed with the greatest eclat
(ANOTHER ACCOUNT FROAL A EHIP-BUILDICR.)
Being present at the launch of this beautiful ship,
lam induced to send you the particulars. In con-
sequence of its being understood that the Lord
High Admiral the Duke of Clarence intended to be
present, great preparations had been long made, in
the erection of booths, &c. for the accommodation
of the company.
On Saturday morning the gates were thrown open
for the admission of the company, and I think for
the last 30 years I never remember to have seen
more persons assembled, some of whom were of the
first respectability.
I should here observe, that about half an hour
before the launch, the Duchess, accompanied by
many highly distinguished personages, proceeded to
the head of the ship, for the purpose of naming her;
a bottle of choice wine was produced, on it was writ-
ten, "Part of the stock of Lord Nelson's wine, which
he haul on board his ship at the memorable battle of
Trafalgar," which the Duchess broke against her
bows, wishing success to the George the Fourth.
This ship is of the following dimensions :
Feet In.

Length, extreme 242 2
Ditto of the gun-deck 205 5/
Ditto keel for tonnage l7O 11
Breadth, extreme 53 6
Moulded 59 9
Depth in hold 23 2
Ditto from the keel to the top of the figure head 57 0
Ditto of the stern
Burden in tons, 2,602 14-94ths.
Number of guns on the Lower Deck ...32 32 pounder guns
-Middle do. ...34 32 ditto
Upper do. .. 34 24 ditto
Quarter do. ...10 82 carronades
Ditto ... 6 12 guns
Forecastle ... 232 carronades
Ditto' ... 2 12 guns

Total
The George the Fourth is by the same mould as
the Prince Regent, and is built with a round stern.
I have before offered an opinion on the utility and
strength of slaps constructed with circular sterns,
the accuracy of which opinion every succeeding ship
so eonstructed has corroborated,
Was there ever a better plan invented for strength
than that of making a cask, so firmly united without
nails or any other fastenings but the hoops, that it j 5
almost impossible to break it to pieces. Thus is it
to a great degree, with ships built on the present
the ia)tlaelrlnk,srpentsdseinrgt
hfreosmhipsi,dlei
tteoraslliyd eaproeauknidngtl: bow
ae plan,
This arrangement, united with the diagonal riders,eask
makes the whole fabric one substantially connected
body, a greater proof of which cannot be needed,

than that when a ship of the above dimensions was
formerly launched, it was usual for her to break her•
sheer, or, in other words, for each end to drop seve-
ral inches in the course of a short time, while now
Sir, ships built on the present plan, preserve their
sheer for many years. This speaks volumes.
I take this opportunity of stating the above, to
show that the persons who conduct the civil de-
partment of the navy are not so egregiously in error
as some of the writers in the present day would en-
deavour to make the country believe ; the remarks,
indeed, of some of those gentlemen on the experi-
mental ships lately built, are insulting to common
sense. With respect to his Majesty's ship the
Acorn, whose construction has been so much the
subject of animadversion, I would observe, that if
the constructor had been called upon to secure for
her no other quality bufthat of fast sailing, he might
haaj easily effected this to an eminent degree; but
the Acorn was to be able to fight her guns in a heavy
I sea, they being sufficiently clear at the water's edge
for this purpose. Again, had her bottom been
formed as fine or sharp as a revenue cutter, where
was her cargo to be stowed for a voyage round
Cape Horn, or any other distant place ? Let the
country wait the result of a few months' more trial,
and hear the impartial opinion of the honourable
Commodore, and then say which ship's construction
shall have the preference.