Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-28

began to rack his mind, and Strange expressions
to escape his lips. /, was on the morning oil
the Tuesday, on the very day preceding the
execution, that, after severe contest, he deslr-
ed TO see the chaplain, and 10 him made iuli
confession of his own guilt, and full declara-
ton of Wills innocence. The story which
Will had told was, it appeared, accurately COR
rect He the dying man, shot the excIseman,
whilst his brother cut his throat, having wound
ed Brockman in the hand when attempting 10
wrest the knife from him. Nor was this the
only piece of intelligence which he conveyed.
He exposed series Of frauds and crimes, IN
which Joseph Sly had taken an active part:
and the whole being carefully noted down ana
read over to him, he signed it as his dying de-
clara,ion. With grounds so clear TO act upon,
there was no difficulty whatever in obtai3ing
the royal pardon, the arrival of which had been
thus long delayed only by the absence from
town OF the Secretary Of Stale for the home
department. -
Little now remains for me to add. Brock
man, as matter of course, was set at liberty,
and his mental suHtrings during the period Of !.
his Imprisonment, especially since sentence OF
death was passed upon him, being considered
as sufficient punishment Of his offence against
the revenue, all charges from that quarter were
dropped From his mother the real peru OF
his case was, however, carefully concealed VII
many weeks after his return into the country;
nor was she then made acquainted with 1t, III
to keep it longer secret would have been OF
no avail; for the good woman's constitution
never recovered the in Jury which many weeks
of acute agitation inflicted upon it. She lived,
indeed, to see her son, not only restored 10 ms
former respect table condition in life, but put IN
command Of the very vessel which he had all
along been meant 10 command; and she DIED al
last blessing God for his mercies here, and
humbly trusting to be admitted as partlcipa-
TOR in his still greater mercles hereafter.
As to the Petleys, the younger oil the TWO
brea,hed his last Jew hours after his conies-
sion had been signed, and was buried IN the
church-yard of Maidstone. His bones were
not removed TO polute the cemetery OF his ma
tive parish, and no stone was erected 10 MS
memory. OF the others the fate is uncertain.
Zachallah, it is true, underwent his sentence,
and is doubtless herding at this day. with be-
inps as wicked as himself; but Of the father,
the sister and Tom, no account has reached us
Neither is any thing accurately known OF the
destiny of Joseph Sly. About six months at
ter these events read, indeed, in one Of the
London papers, tina, one Josiah Turpin, alias
Joseph SLY, had suffered the punishment due
TO burglary under aggravated circumstances;
but whether the person alluded to was my Tor
mer travelling companion, l had no oppor,unl-
ty to learn.
Of Will Brockman neva heard any thing
but what was favorable, from the moment OF
his liberation. His good sense soon taught
him to shake off the remains Of an attachment
so misplaced as that with which he had bound
himself to Harriet Petley; nor has he, as tar as
know, permitted any other 10 arise in its room.
The direction Of his trading voyages, which
are effected between London and Hamburger,
do not permit him to pay frequent visits 10 ST.
Alphage; but whenever he comes, he fails not
to bring presents Of rare and valuable articles
to me and 10 my household. OF course, COW
er is always laid for him at our table, aud 1t
not unirequently happens, that we refer back,
in our conversation over our wine, to past e.
vents On such he always touches with be-
coming seriousness and solemnity, and never
fails to thank God that he is no longer slave
to the habits, or exposed TO the risks, whi"h m
varisbly accompany the career OF The SNUG
GLER.