Star.
London, England, 1826-06-07 00:00:00

OXFORD SU

MER CIRCUIT.

(The lion. Mr. Justice BUR/LOUGH, and the Hon. Baron GA IIROW.) ,
Abingdon, Monday, July 3. Shrewsbury, Tuesday, July 18.
0/ford, Wednesday, July 5. Hereford, Wednesday, July 26.
Worcester, Saturday, July 3. Mdnmoush, Monday, July 31.
Stafford, hursday. July 13. Gloucester, Thursday, Aug. 3.
Such of our Readers as are interested iii the arrangements of the
Orford Circuit, will observe that they vary very materially from
former appointments. This, we understand, has been occasioned by
the necessity of giving several more days than usual to the county of
Salop, fur the trial of some causes there of great importance.

EXECUTION.

....•,..,W4l 4.

This morning the awful spectacle of the execution of
four men was exhibited in the Old Bailey, which was
crowded. The culprits were, Joseph Taylor, aged 31,
for the crime of horse-stealing; James Johnson, 20,
Robert Savage, 23, and Joseph lienfield, 24, for burglary.
The offences for which they suffered were not marked
with any unusual enormity, except thtre being a plu-
talky of charges against all.
The conduct of Savage upon his trial and condemna-
tion was of the most outrageous and violent description ;
he uttered the bitterest imprecations upon his prosecu-
tors, and abused the Recorder in the vilest terms upon
being called up to receive sentence.
Beafield was concerned with him in the same bur-
glary, and demeaned himself with much greater pro.
priety, but evidently had acted under the influence of
considerable cunningness of disposition, knowing the
hopelessness of his case.
Snce the arrival of the warrant of execution the un-
happy men devoted themselves to religious exercises
with the utmost assiduity, particularly Johnson and
Taylor, who awned most pungently to feel their
situation. Savage had been some weeks confined to his
bed in the prison infirmary, with a rheumatic affection,
and upon being informed that his doom was fixed, the
fierceness of his disposition seemed to relax, and he de-
voted himself to prayer and meditation.
Taylor had once, it is said, moved in a sphere of
respectability, and was a man of remarkably genteel
appearance; he was this morning dressed in a new black
coat, white waistcoat, drab breeches, and top boots, and
altogether had the manner and- demeanour of a far-
mer. The awful cei emony of taking leave of their earthly
connections occupied their attention off Monday and
yesterday, and after this was over the unhappy men
devoted themselves to constant entreaty to that DIVINE
BEING who alone could extend the sacred attribute of
mercy to them hereafter,
They spent the greater part of tl e night in prayer,
and appeared not to regard the morning's approach.
—Toe Rev. Mr Cotton and Mr. Baker attended them
from six o'clock this morning, and shortly before eight
o'clock the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was admi-
nis ereJ to them with every mark of sincere penitence.
—Mr. Sheriff Kelly and his Officers, with their black
wands, arrived at the prison at eight o'clock, and pro-
ceeded to the Press-room, when the Sheriff and a
group of Gentlemen waited some minutes, during
which interval of time the voices of the culprits were
heard mournfully singing the Psalm of David to the
iIiLMIGHTY fir mercy," Oh, my GOD, from the depths
in this moment of agony do I cry for mercy; have
mercy, oh, Great Goo pity me." The effrct of this
ascending through the arched and gloomy roofs of the
prison was peculiarly solemn. Taylor was first intro-
duced and pinioned, he was perfectly composed, and
merely said something in a low tone of voice to the She-
riff, when he sat down. Benfield was then introduced
by the Officer, his face had a hectic flush, but displayed
a seeming indifference to the awful expiation he was
about to maker which amazed every one present; he
was dressed in a frock coat, and was a remarkably fine
young man. Johnson looked wretchedly haggard, but
was composed, and said he was happy and resigned.
The wretched Savage was the last that entered the
Press-room, he looked pale, but walked with such a
decent composure that deathi appeared ditarmed of its
terrors. There was something of the bravo in his man-
ner. While in the Press-room, not a single audible
word was uttered by any of the culprits, and the same
abstractedness or taciturnity was preserved to the last
moment of their existence. Mr. Baker sought to draw
from Savage and Benfield some answer as to their feel-
ings at that moment, but their answers were short and in-
audible. They ascended the scaffold with the same_firan-1
ness, particularly Savage, who bounded actively up
the steps. At half-past eight o'clock all was complete,
and the.drop falling, the world closed on them for
ever. They appeared to die without a struggle. In the
crowd were many who appeared deeply to sympathise
with Savage and Bonfield, and calling on them by
name, pronounced a fervent benediction.

The Half Yearly Coupons of the French Three per
tent. Certificates, signed by Messrs. Roirmscono, lia•minns, of
Paris, falling due on the 214 June, and payable to bearer', wW be
paid on that and every succeeding day, at the Counting House et
Mr. N. M. Rornscnn.n, free of all charges.
In her New Romance of Geston de Ntnedtville."
Mrs. Rescuer' has, for the first time, resorted to Supernatural
Agency. Tbs horrors and mysteries in her former weeks were
.o:ways, as our Readers know, traced to natural causes; but ber
t..st Romance is rendered unusually solemn by the repeated appear-
a,:ces of an awful visitant from the Grave!

A shocking and fatal accident occurred at Newton,
near Manchester, on Friday last. Robert Johnson and
George Hyde, and a son of the latter, were employed
in whitewashing and repairing the interior of a house
inhabited by one Chadwick, a shawl weaver. They
had finished the lower rooms, and one side of a chamber
above, when, in removing a bed, the boy found a pistol.
" Let me look at it," said Johnson, so the boy gave it
to him. "It is not loaded," he observed. 6. Oh, no,"
said the boy. Whereupon he touched the trigger; it
flashed, went off, and old Hyde groaned, and fell upon
the bed. He said, " Oh, Robert, I thought it had
-.nmething in," and immediately expired.