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


dungeon Go on, will follow you.'
Mrs. Brockman rose as she spoke, but her
weakness was such that she almost immediate
fell back upon the sofa. VI cannot walk yet'
| said she rain,ly "you must have me carried, and
glad, glad shall be to bear the fatigue even IL
i, be such" accordingly procured -FOUR stout
porters, and having caused her 10 he wei. cover
ed up, she was removed wlthout suhefinS dill!
serious inconvenience to prison.
shall not attempt to describe the meeting,
far less the parting, although was present al
both. They we're such as VIII not bear dell
neation in words The latter, indeed, was on
Wills part SO solemn, that trembed lest his
mother should surmse the truth; but 1t occur
red not 10 her, so just is the observauon:that we
believe what we desire, even Il fairgrounds oil
belief be ON the contrary side Of the question.
She remained with him about two hours, and
having promised not to come again I'LL the day
after tomorrow, she was borne back TO her a
partment.
Whilst I and my ,~o friends were thus en-
pIoyed, Mr.. oleader and the other gentlemen
who took so lively an interest in our affairs, were
strainine every nerve TO procure Information,
and to substan,iate their claim 10 an exercise OF
the ROYAL mercy As yet, however, all their ei
forts had failed. The Petleys, probably con-
scious that public suspicion was reused, had He'd
the country; of Sly no lidings were procured,
.excep, that it appeared on examinng his pa
ners that he had defrauded the revenue TO
large amount, and for long series OF years
No doubt his fears suggested to him that this
was the ground Of his arrest, for the real nature
of the charge against him had never been com
| municated Be that, however, as 1t may, no
trace OF him could be discovered, and hence AL
| idea Of saving Brockman was abandoned, not
bv me only, but by the rest. or this thought
| i, my duty 10 inform him. He received :he m
telipence with fortitude, but not without
| Danp: for there is vast difference between the
exnressjon Of an Indifference 10 life when death
appears remote and the feeling Of that indiiier-
| ence when tits actually near at hand. lie siroVe,
however, by every means which religion and
reason could suggest, 10 reconcile himself 10
fate apparently irremidiable | prayed with
him. administered TO him the sacramento and,
at his own earnest request, | spent the entire
night of Tuesday in his cell. From the moment
of Mrs. Brockman's departure, indeed, shut
myself up with him altogether, and painful as
this duty was, there were not wanting numerous
circumstances which gave to 1t degree oil even
pleasurab.e interest such as l could not have
anticipated. Tie fact believe TO be, that all
violent excitement is pleasing while 1t lasts; III
the excitementto which / was now subjected
there was no want OF violence, * hence, as well
as from contemplating the effect OF conscious
innocence upon a religious mind, cannot pro-
nounce the night spent in condemned cell at
Maidstone the most da,erminately miserable
which it has been my lot to spend. Tired ma
ture. however, gave way at last. Having So
lemnIy commended ourselves to the protection
of the Deity, we lay down upon mattress with
which the taller had humanity supplied US, and
| was not less surprised than delighted to per-
ceive, that long before my thoughts had attain
ed any degree of composure, my companion
was fast asleep followed his example as
ouickly as could, and slept also.
How long we had lain in a state OF uncon-
seriousness | cannot tell, but the early rays OF
the sun were just beginning 10 shine through
the rra,ings of the dungeon, when the rafting
of chains, and the drawing back OF oolis, dis
,urbed us. thought Brockman's hand shook
a little when he extended ii towards me, and
could perceive sort Of involuntary contraction
of the eyebrow, such as indicated severe inter-
nal struggle between courage and natural weak
ness. His breath was suspended too, I'LL the
door creaked upon its hinges, from the expec-
tati IN. no doubt, that il would open 10 admit
the cxccutioner. But instead OF the execution
er. the sheriff entered, and there was an rx-
preston in his countenance not usually exhibit
ted by the bearer of deadly }idings. We both
stared at him in silence.
"Young man." said he, stepping up to Brock
man, I" it gives me sincere satisfaction TO In
form YOU, that his majesty has been pleased to
order a delay in the execution OF your sentence,
,ill certain matters connected with The offence
of which YOU stand convicted, shall have been
more accurately Investigated. The blood rush
ed all a: once to Brockman's checks, and then
receded again. He gasped for breath, and but
that held his arm, would have fallen to the
Ground. elbow is this? cried |, beyond mea-
SIRE oyerioyed: what fortunate occurrence
has brought this about? Have you succeeded
in apprebending the fug tive, or what has oeen
done" "Not So" answered the sheriff, with
smile. "we have failed on all hands; but there is
Providence which preserves the innocent, and
it has wonderfully intertered IN favor o, TINS
yontb AS see that he is calm, the whole sto-
~ NAV be told at once. His innocence has been
clearly proved, by the confession OF one OF MS
associates, and here is the royal pardon, with
which an express has just arrived.
I will no, attempt to describe the scene which
followed, o. repeat the many congratu latory ana
admoni,ory adages to which WIZ was Compel
ed to listen, not only from the sheriff, but from
liz cb,,l.;r and even from the taller. Let me