Star.
London, England, 1819-01-04 00:00:00

EXTRAORDMARr EXECUTION.

EDIRBURGH, DECEMBER so.
• One of the most extraordinary outrages happened
to-dity, that has occurred since the celebrated Por-
teous mob, and might have been very similar (at least
in this day's exhibition) had there been military pre-
sent, or the old Totvn Guard. The case of Johnstone,
condemned some time kgo for the daring robbery of
a Mr. Charles, a eandlemaker in this city, has, from
various circumstances connected with it, occasioned
very considerable ii:terest in this city, and his execu•
don this day was looked forward to with particular
anxiety, especially from the novelty of the place of
execution, and the rumour of an intended rescue.—

The execution took place at the west end of Saint
Giles's Church, near to the site of the Old Jail, on a :
temporary scaffold, composed of the materials of the
gibbet used in the execution of the boys concerned in
the riots on the Ist January, 1813 ; and the prepa•
rations for, and erection of which, kept a crowd
daily collected around the spot the whole of Men-
day and Tuesday, and to the time of execution this
day ; at that time the crowd was immense, the
whole of the Lawnmarket being impassable.
When the culprit appeared upon the scaffold, at
.about ten minutes before three P. N. the press was ex-
tessive, and he seemed to possess a confidence, from
the manner in which he eyed the surrounding multi-
tude, that he had some friends among them. After
spending a few minutes in devotion, in which he WAS,
assisted by the Rev. Mr. Tarr, he ascended the plat-
form, and dropping the signal, in a few moments he
was turned off. But here his execution did not end ;
whether, from the negligence of the executioner, or
from some other cause at present unknown, he was
kept on his tiptoes for a few minutes. His situation
being perceived, a person, from among the crowd,
jumped upon the scaffold, and cut die rope, immiali-
ately making his escape. The Magistrates and guard,
together with the Police attending the execution, were
then hailed by showers of stones, and the scaffold was
taken possession of by the mob, amid loud and re,
peated huzzas, and the body attempted to be carried
off. In this the crowd succeeded so far as to Wing him
(still alive) down the Luckenbooths to nearly oppo-
site the Police-Office door, when he was seized by a
numerous body of the Officers and men, and carried
into the Office, where he was kept till a detachment
of the 88th regiment was brought from the Castle,
who cleared the streets, and at a quarter before four
o'clock, the poor wretch was carried from the Office
by four men, and instantly appended to the gibbet.
At this time he was manifestly much lixhausted,
but he suffered many convulsive pangs before he ex-
pired ; and what rendered this last scale truly horri-
fic, was, that in hoisting him up to the gallows, his
face was left wholly uncovered, and it was not till
some moments after he had been finally turned off
that a handkerchief was thrown over his face. The
whole scene was truly affecting, and brought tears
from many eyes. Johnstone was a carter, and seemed
to be about twenty-four years of age. He had been
' repeatedly in custody on various charge's, and was
only liberated a few days before he committed the,
' robbery for which he suffered.

AMOTHER ACCOUNT.

EDINBURCiIi, DECEMBER si.

Yesterday, pursuant to a sentence of the High Court
of Justiciary, Robert Johnston was executed on a plat-
form erected at the west end of the. New Nor th Church,
in front of the New County Hall, Lawn-market, for
the robbery of Joust CHARLES, candle-maker, on the
morning of the 25th October last, near St. Patiick's-
square. The unfortunate culprit was brought from
the Lock-np-house to the place of execution about
twenty minutes before three o'clock. attended by two
of the Magistrates, the Rev. Mr. TAIT, of the College
Church, and Mr. PoarEous, Chaplain of the Jail,
.several City Officers, and the Public Executioner.
After spending some time in prayer with the Clergy,
men, Johnston mounted the platform with alacrity-
looked boldly round him, and, having assisted the
gxecutioner in adjusting the rope, &c. he gave .the
fatal signal, and the drop fell. A painful and dis-
graceful scene immediately ensued. The rope was
observed to be too long for the fall of the drop, and
the unfortunate culprit rested with his toes upon the
platform.' A loud shout of horror, with cries of
" Murder!" burst from an immense multitude assem-
bled; and instantly a shower of stones, thrown by
persons in the crowd, compelled the Magistrates and
-Peace Officers to abandon their stations, and no one,
but the criminal remained upon the scaffold—the
Magistrates, Clergymen. &c. being omitr the neces-
sity of retiring into the perch of the Tolbooth Church,
adjacent to the Writers' Library, and from thence,
through the aisle of the High Church, into the Police
Office. Another cry of " Cut him down—he.is alive!"
succeeded; and a person of respectable appearance
sprung upon the platform, cut the rope, and the cul-
'o44lll down, in a reclining position, upon the scat.-
fold, after having been suspended about five minutes.
A disgraceful scene of outrage and riot ensued.—
and
of the crowd broke through the railin<,
and took msession of the platform, where they lifted
up Johnston, took the ropes from his neck and arms,
and the cap from off his face, which they threw
imong• the multitude below; they then loosened a
part of his clothes, and finding him alive delibe-
rately carried him off towards the High-street; while
another party tore the coffin prepared for the crimi-
nal to pieces, and threw the fragments against the
windows of the church, endeavouring also to demo-
ish the fatal apparatus, which, however, was found
too strong for them to accomplish their object. A
Lieutenant of l'olice was severely cut on the brad
with a stone ; about ten of the Officers were more or
less hurt by the mob; and the Executioner, who was
for some time in their hands, sutlered severely. In
the mean time the Police-Officers rallied in aug-
mented force, and retook the criminal from the mobs
at the head of the Advocates'-close, carrying him into
the Police-Office alljacent, where he was immediately
attended by the Surgeon belonging to the Establish-
ment, and bled in both arms, and in the temporal vein,
by which the hall•sespended animation was restored
but the unfortunate man did not utter a word.
Bailie PATTISON. now, attended by the Superin-
lendant of Police, proceeded to the Castle, from
whence they soon returned with a strong military
guard of the Stith, or Connaught Rangers, and dis-
possessed the mob of the platform. Atter fully three
qUarters of an hour had elapsed, the criminal was
again brought Furth, borne by six men and, while

the .executioner was preparing a new'ropi; the rain
Paovosr went round.the place in front of the crowd,
whom he exhorted to peaceful conduct, lamenting
the unfortunate occurrence which had taken place,
but observing that the Magistrates had a painful duty
imposed upon them, which they were bound, under
any circumstances, to fulfil. The rope having been
again adjusted, Johnston was suspended for the se-
Icond time ; but on this occasion also, the executioner
performed his office in such a bungling manner, that
the body had to be raised up, while the rope was
shortened by turning it several times round the hook.
Another shout of" murder," and " shame, shame,"
broke from the crowd ; but the place was now well
guarded with soldiers ; and fortunately no farther
outrage was attempted. Johnston was observed to
struggle very much ; but his sufferings were :u un
end in a few minutes. The soldiers, who behave.'
throughout with the utmost proprie.y, remained on
the spot until the body was cut down ; and as it was
then about dusk, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Johnston was 22 years of age, and had been often
punished by the Police Court for petty depredations,
previous to the daring robbery for which he suffered.
Hi.; father and mother are decent people, who keep
,a shop in this city. They visited their unhappy son
for the last time on Tuesday, when he expressed him-
self fully resigned to his fate. The mother has since
then been in a state almost bordering on distraction;
and her feelings may be better judged of than de-
scribed, when some part of the crowd yesterday ran
and informed her that her son had been rescued and
had escaped.

On Saturday the dispatches were closed at the East
India Noise, and delivered to the Pursers of the fol-
lowing ships, viz.

For Bombay and China—Marquis Camden, Captain T. Las-
sies; Charles Grant, Captain H. Seers; Lowther Castle, Cap-
tain C. Molinari(; Inglis, Captain T. Boaaanaite; the EfAt42
Capt N. N war ; and Vansittert, Capt. R. S. Dammam&
Passengers per Lowther Castle.—Mears. Hyde and Blair,
writers ; Major Parlby and Lady, Lieut. Terrell, Mrs. Mark,
Miss Fordyce, Mr. Brie Messrs. Reynolds, Wright, Laseelles,
and Willoughby, cadets, for Bombay.
Per Inglis.—Mr. H. iornidaile, writer; Lieut. Breton.; Mr.
Diann, free mariner ; Mr. Dowell, cadet, for Bombay.
Per Esser.—Messrs. T. and O. (iidley, cadets, for Bombay.
Per Charles Grant.—Mr. Assistant-Surgeon Smyttan and
Lady ; Dr. Sproull and Lady ; Mr. Gray and Lady ; Captzis
Salter; Lieut. Goodridge, Misses A. and I. C. Pettinger, Mr.
Scott ; Mr. Smith, cadet, for Bombay.
Per Marquis Camden.—Mr. Wills, free mariner; Mr. and
Mrs. Baster ; Miss Parkhurst ; Messrs. Blackley and Hardy,
cadets, for Bombay.
Per Vansittart.—Messrs. Boyd and Glass, writers ; Lirut.
Rybot ; Mr. Corstorphan, free mariner ; /4lessrs. Peyton, BarVes,
Sanderson, Johnston, and Seton, cadets, for Bombay.
The Mary, Wittaisads master, from Limerick to
London, ran on shore on the G sodwin Sands on h
21st ult. when the greatest part of her cargo, consist-
ing of butter, beef; pork, linen, &c. was taken out by
the boats from Deal, and its vicinity, and has not
been restored to the owner.

The coach with the Foreign Mails did not reach
Dover on Sattirday till near three hours after the
usual time, owing to the thick fog on the road.
• The following letter has been received by a mer-
cantile house in Glasgow, from their establishment
in St. Thomas's, dated November `23:--4. Something
decisive will in all probability soon take place un the
Spanish Main. The accounts Wrn o the Oronoko are
satisfactory, so far as regards the numbers and equip-
ment of the Independent forces by Laid ; and they.
haVe never before mustered so respectable a force by
sea. BRION has assembled at Margaretta 2.5 sail of
armed vessels ; and report says, and it is credited,
that he was joined by Loud CocueANE on the 14th
instant, with five armed vessels: this force, directed
by so enterprising a character as his Lot d,hip, ought,
in a short time, to achieve the independence of the
province. If they succeed in getting possession if
Porto Cabello, which it is thought will be their fine
object, the Spaniards will be obliged to abandon the
contest."

Saturday se'nnight, as Mr. Km; EDT, b.oti!,e stew-
ard to the ltight 11011.1)11N FONTER, WAS proceeding
from Collor' to the Market of Drogheda. when about
Collonbeg, his horse, was a spirited animal,
became restive, reared, and loosing hts balance, fell
back, and killed him on the spot.

JAmEs MONTGOMERY, ESQ.—We are reques*to
state, that THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, of Jan. 1,
price 2s. contains, among many other excellent Pa-
pers, a very interesting Memoir (accompanied by a
.triking Likenes4) of this distinguished Poet ; and
that a new Edition of the Number for December 1,
containing the Portraits and Memoirs of her late MA-
JesTr, and of Sir SAMUSL ROMILLY, is also now
ready for delivery.
CORN-EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, JANUARY 4.

Although we had but a small supply of English
Wheat this morning, and that chiefly of land car-
riao samples from Essex, yet the was not so
brisk as cn Friday, but last Monday's prices were
Obtained for that of fine quality. The dulness expe-
rienced in the sale of Wheat to-day, is owing to the
Ports remaining open for importations from abroad
till the 15th of February. Fine Barley-supports the
prices of this day week, but the demand was very
trifling, and only fine samples could, be disposed ot.
Oats fully support last week's pricei, but sales we:e
not so brisk as on Friday. Beans-and Peas go iff
very slowly, having but few buyers of those articles,
and a very large quantity at market :
CUILKENT PEICCSAS inimm :

INC USU. Small Beans. 64s Toe
Wheat, Kent and .. Tick ditto 62s ex*
Kwex 7os lirSit Oats, Potatoe 344 Ws
Suffolk • 70s 78s Poland tai NO
Norfolk
Bye.— .. . ......... ....Ns 56s Flour, per Sack
tits Ws Rapebeed, y.e r Last 4:4465 246 Barley ( w) Ne
Malt 76s Ws roasts*
White Peas 49. 16a Wheat, Dantzie ...... ~TCs 1.2 s
-----, Boilers ... 60. 666 Baltic Rcd, Ilawebro' or ' '
Grey Peas 69.s tiGs I *erne°, !Brabant red 6Os 721
AVER .%0E PRICES of Clip in England and Wales. 11, gi
the Hi:tarns received in the week ending Decembet :6, 18. i!
Wheal Rye. 1 Barley. i 0.45. 1 lk.:ins. I reser.
.S. d. s. d. b. d. s. a. s. d. s. d.
79 5 60 8 64 3 35 5 72 11 73 3
The Average Price of Sugar, from the returns made in tie
week ending the 30th December, 1818, Is 495. aid. per cwt.
SMITHFIELD MARKET, JAN. 4i.
Beef .......4s od to 3s 4cl I Veal lit Od to 7, Od
Mutton .. ..5s Otk.to 6s 6d Pork
Beasts 2960—Calvet 120—Sheep and Lambs 19420--Pigs 24u.
IiAV AV STRAW PER LOAD.
114 y LS Os to EV Os 1 Straw ...Lt 8s to 2 161
!'lover G Os to P Os Kasten ... fis 00s to 0 ws '