Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-17


seemed struck with conservation Harrison
and Wilson showed no symptoms Of agita-
ton, but appeared rather to despIse than TO
piy the depiorable condition Of their COM
panions, and uttered not word expressive
of hope or tear.
Mr. Brown then informed Them that mer-
~ had been extended to them, and that their
lives were spared.
Strange. Cooper, Bradburn, and GilchrIst
Immediately fell on their knees. and after
pause, gave utterance to incofIeren' ana I'M
INELIGIBLE expressions of gratitude. Har-
r;eon and Wilson were still silent, and appa-
rently unmoved.
Mr. Brown said have now to show you
the dark side of the picture Your unlorsu
nate miserable companions IN crime whc
,rere tried are ordered Tor execution on Mon
dav morning; and you, Harrison, Wilson,
Cooper, Strange, and Bradburn are to be
transported for life.
Wilson, who before had appeared per-
fec,ly cal!ous, now exclaimed, All /! our
moor friends; am indeed sorry for them.
Harrison said nothing The others were loo
much occupied with the JOY OF their owa es-
cane 10 bestow thought upon those who are
TO forfeit their lives.
Mr.. Brown said. There is one OF the
most remarkable circumstances attending
your case that ever took place upon any oc-
rasiop and, if you have any feeling, 1t must
make deep and indelible impression upon
Won. Those very persons against whose
lives your hands were about to be raiseo,are
the men by whose intercession your liVes
have been saved
iiIchrist has been respited, wiihoutmen-
t;on Of The communication of punishment.
Each man was then placed under the care
of two persons who were engaged tor that
nurpose. The Rev. Mr.. Cotton, the ornlna-
~ of the gaol, hao repeatedly communen
with them in the course Of the afternoon
Int as we stated on Saturday, he was inca
pable of making upon them that impression
which. as minister of the gospel, ne feit II
his duty to attempt. They were deafto all
his arguments; they persisted in asserting
their disbelief in the divine origin OF Christ,
and declared themselves 10 be confirmed
Deists. Yesterday morning the Rev. Mr.
Cotton again paid them visit, and spent
some time i'm each Of their cells. Davidson
alone seemed to feel thenecessity OF seeking
consolation in religion, and, although he had
previously protested himself to be a de's''
he requested that he might be permitted 10
have the attendance ola Wesleyan munster.
Mr.. Brown lost no time in attending to this
wish. and Immediately sent for a gentleman
of that persuasion, who would. it was hoped
he enabled to effect change in his seht-
men,s. Davidson also begged to te allow
cd pen and ink, and sheet OF paper.-
This was granted, and be wrote letter to
the Earl of Harowby, which was delivered
in the course of the day.
While these occurrences were taxing
place within the goal, the exhibition WIN
out was not destitute of interest. The sun
dav papers had announced the period liked
for the execution, and as this was accompa-
MED by speculation that scaffold was I"
be erected on the top Of the prison, upon
which the ignominious sentence was 10 DE
performed, thousands of persons locked TO-
wards the Old Bailey, and continued to 90
SO during the day, assembling in groupes
for information, and not unfreauentiy Indui-
cling in language disgrsceful to themselves
and alarming to those who felt anxious fof
the peace of the metropolis.
1t appears that an intention did exist, IN
the first instance, to erect scahold upon
the top of the goal but, upon reconsldera-
t;on. II was considered unnecessary TO de-
part from the ordinary practice, and 1t was
therefore determined to execute the culpnts
at the usual place, namely, III front OF
what is called " The Debtors Door. =
That part of the sentence which directed
that " they should be drawn upon hurdle
TO the place of execution" it was resolved,
from the difficulties which would attend its
observance, TO dispense with. Mr.. Sheriff
RothwelI, and Mr.. Under Sheriff Turner.
who attended at the Office of the Secretary
of State, on Saturday, 10 receive their IN
nj n