American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-10-10
LIFE AND DEATH OF AN EDITOR.

FROM LONDON TAPER.
An inquisition was held on the body Of SAM
SON PERRY, Esq. gentleman who was formerly
connected with the public press, both Ga proprietor
and editor, and who we'll known in tic political
circles. The deceased had lat:ery become reduced
in circumstances; but although very considerably
in debt, his creditors entertained the highest opn
ion of him he was obliged TO so into the White
cross street prison; and while he remained there
his affairs were put in way Of settlement, and ON
Tuesday last he was ordered to attend in the In
solvent Debtors Court. On his way Ia yVestnin-
ser for that purpose, the turnkey who accompanied
him consented to allow him to call on his wife liy-
ing in Southampton street, Bloomsbury, where the
deceased had occupied house twenty-five years.
Having taken some reGreshment, he proceeded to
the Court, and no opposing creditor appearing, he
was declared entitled TO his discharge. He returned
from the Court TO Southampton street merely to
dinner, as the officer who accompanied him was
under the necessity of taking him back to the
prison, from whence he would have been dis
charged on Wednesday, had he lived. Mrs. Perry
had prepared some dinner, to which he sat down,
laughing and making some humorous observation
but at the moment he was conveying part of . lamb
chop to his mouth, he fell back in his chair excaim-
ing " Lord have mercy on US = and instantly expi-
red. Surgeons we're sent for, but OF no pvail--ths
vital spark had He'd and on surgical examination
OF the body, it discovered that his death was
of the heart. He was seventy eight years OF age;
and gentleman stated TO the Jury that the deceas-
eds life full of vicissitudes he had been opu-
lent and extremely poor, he had friends, and was
suddenly bereft of them, and had many narrow es-
capes with his life in situations of imminent perils
land times OF great danger, one OF which the gentle
man related Mr. Perry was during the French
Revolution, no less than nine times IN French pr-
sons, and was confined, during the reign of Robes
pierre, with Thomas Paine, and condemned TO
death by the ferocous assassin, without the then
thought unnecessary form OF trial. He escaped this
dreadful doom, by the following most sngularly
fortunate circumstance. His prison door was hung
upon swivel, and could by the least motion be
turned round. The custom was 10 marx with red
chalk the cells Of those who were condemned to die.
Il This was adopted in his case but the gaoler
when leaving the cell on the morning appointed for
leyecution accidentally let the door turn round he
ltook notice that the :" mark OF Death" was turoed
INSIDE, instead OF being out and before he had no
tccd the circumstance, the officers Of execution
rived in the prison. and took from every cell mark
ed with the chalk the victims Of revolutionary fury
and perceiying Mr.. Perry's cell rot marked, they
Ipassed it ; and when the gaoer again came round.
he was thunderstTnck, examining the door, TO
find the mistake he had made, bot before he had
time TO apprise any body of the circumstance, the
nfuraled mob had burst the prison doors in search
of Robespierre not finding him there, they shot
the gaoler, released the captives, who in short Pc
lrod. Robespierre bleeding led to the block and
there with his life, in measure, offer reribu-
Ition for his crimes. The Jury remarked on the
tsngularity OF this most extraordinary escape,
and lamened that gentleman like him should
have been reduced to such misfortune, and subse-
lquenty be so awfuy summoned into eternity.
II They returned verdict of-Died by the visitation
lof God.
Idleness is the mos, painful sensation Of the mind,
as ACCORDING tn GaLeg standing still is of the bodv