The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-25 00:00:00

MILITARY EXECUTION.

On the fatal morning, he washed and dressed
himself—(a soldier sentenced to be shot for attempt-
ing the life of the Quarter-master when in a state of
intoxicatior,)—and tied a piece of black crape round
his arm. He took some pains in the adjustment of
his Oodles and hair, and then went to prayer, in
which every one of the guard joined him, al-
though in a separate room. 'When the first
trumpet sounded for the execution parade, the
notes seemed to linger on the morning breeze,
and a death-like predominate over the atmostpherc,
which chilled the blood of all assembled. Not a
voice was heard ; all was hush and quiet, save the
workings of the fond bosoms of his pitying com-
rades. These plainly bespoke the horror they
felt in the contemplation of the approaching scene.
The prisoner affectionately took his final leave of all
the guard, warning them by his sad fate to beware
of that accursed liquor which had sealed his doom.
He seemed composed and calm. The soldiers turned
out with evident reluctance : they at last reached
the place of the sad cwastrophe. The regiments,
both of which were European, then formed three
sides of a square, of which the shooting party, with
the coffin, formed the other. Scarcely was this ac-
complished, when he heard the dismal sound of the
muffled drum, and the doleful notes of the band
playing the Dead March in Saul. The procession
thus moved on :—Provost-Serjeant in front, on
horseback, followed by two file of soldiers. 'I hen
the Clergyman, in his sombre garments, with the
prisoner, both in earnest prayer. After these followed
the shooting party,—one serjeant, one corporal, and
twelve privates. From the spot where the guard-
room was situated to the place of execution, was a
good quarter of a mile, and the reader may be as-
sured that we did not drag the poor fellow to his
last situation on earth. He took his own time,
which was slew, but firm and steady. He entered
on the right flank of the square, and passed along the
front of the line to the left, the soldiers resting
upon their arms reversed. The sobbing of many
of the men could be distinctly heard, and some
could not even look upon him as he manfully
paced along the front of the weeping lines. The
native troops turned their backs on him as he
passed, and many of them wept aloud. The poor
fellow himself looked like one long since dead, but
he evinced great fortitude and resignation. When he
brought round his left shoulder on reaching the left
of the line, what a sight was before him ! - His
place of execution, his coffin of rough-wrought
shell, and his executioners in the persons of
his affectionate comrades. These could not stagger
his reliance on Divine mercy, on which alone lie
now reposed. He knelt down by the side of his
coffin and prayed for a short time. He then em-
braced and bade farewell to his heavenly instructor,
who wept most piteously, calling upon Divine mercy
to receive the soul of a penitent sinner. The cri-
minal's eyes were then bound and his death-warrant
read. During the reading of this fatal document
he exhibited great and unshaken firmness, clasping
his hands and holding them fixed against his heart.
Scarcely had the last word of his death-warrant
vibrated on his ear, when the signal was giveu.
When the shooting party came to the " Present,"
every eye was turned from the dreadful scene ; but,
of the well-understood signal, six or more of the
men fired, and he instantly fell, five of the shots
having lodged in his heart ! He struggled but
little ; but when the vital spark was about
to leave its earthly abode, he gathered his
knees up to his chin, upon which some few invo-
luntary shrieks were heard from the ranks, when the
provost-marshal shot him through the head, that he
might suffer no longer. A whisper then went
through the ranks—" He's dead ! he's dead !" The
army broke into file, and every man passed him at
slow time. This was a ceremony more afflicting
than most people would imagine ! and to add to the
melancholy exhibition, the clothes of the poor fel-
low had taken fire. When we passed he was nearly
enveloped in smoke ; but his last breath had long
since fled, and he suffered not. The last words he
uttered were, " Oh God ! protect my aged mother!"
Thus ended the short and sad career of one who,
but for a passion for drink, might have lived to be
a bright ornament of his profession. lie was in
the evening committed to the grare.—Shipp's
Menwirs.

We have heard, that a petition to the King,
against the Roman Catholic claims, is now in course of
signature in this town. It is, we believe, circulated pri-
vately.—Liverpool Albion.
COVENT-GARDEN THEATitE.—Miss Paton
re-appeared here last night for the first time for two years,
in 'Weber's well-known opera of Oberon. She was re-
ceived with great applause, and looked paler and thinner
than