The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-05

for it is right that should be judged Of By
my fellow men, as must one day be judg-
ed Of by my Creator.
In the confession which am now 10 make,
will spare myself the pain of publishing
my name to the world; it might be injuri-
Gus to many were to do SO, and it could
be OF advantage to none; but let it not be
imagined on this account that what / am
now going to relateis fiction, would to God
it were no more it is real-it is all true;--
and if the reader, with my story before him,
can give me any consolation, can whisper e.
ven single word of comfort in my ear.
entreat him not to refrain from doing SO.
For many years have been bearing bur-
den almost too great for human strength, and
the blessing Of the miserable will rest upon
him who shall tighten me of that load, though
but by the weight of single straw.
! About eight and thirty years ago, was
Student of Medicine in the University of Ed
inburgh, and in due time received my de
plona as Doctor of Physic. / then went
to Paris (according to the fashion of the day)
to spend few months in attending the Hos
p,taIs and Lecture rooms in that city, before
| finally settling as a practitioner in my ma
tive town in the north of Scotland. While
in Paris, met with young man, one Pierre
Luback, who had been my class fellow at
Edinburgh, and with him l associated in all
my professional studies and pursuits. We
listened together sedulously and attentively
to the lectures of our teachers; and we en-
deavoured afterwards, by practical expert
ments, to ascertain the truth of the doctrines
which we had been taught. 1t was our GUS
tom, in particular, on stated night each
week, TO practise dissection, according to the
instructions of our anatomical professor; nor
had we any difficulty in procuring subjects for
this purpose as many murders and other VIZ
olent deaths were then daily taking place at
Paris.-LubaCk and myself were enthusiasts
in o,ir profession, and we entered with eager5
ness and delight into all the details which the
practice Of it requires; and many we're the
bright auticipations OF future fame which we
ventured to entertain. Alas! how were these
anticipations, with regard to me, blighted in
a single moment.
1t was upon an evening, about the begin-
ming of the year 1873, that Luback and walk
ing through the environs of Paris, happened
to enter street where public execution
was just about to take place. The crowd
was great, and before we were aware, we
found ourselves in the middle of it, and al
Fmost at the foot of the scaffold. The crim-
inal. who was a young man, apparently a.
bout 20 years of age, stood on the front of the
| sSduOlds duh bShiuo Aihi WStS wv PiiSotos
one of them with crucifx in his hand and
the other bearing Bible. The young man
began to address the assembled multitude in
a low and broken voice, but he seemed to
gather confidence as he proceeded and the
whole crowd, as they listened to him became
as still and motionless as marble pavement.
He called God to witness that he Was inno-
cent of the crime for which he was about TO
die. II am poor" said he, "but have been
honest; and thank Heaven, in this my last
hour, tina. my conscience tells me not that l
have ever wronged any man. know that
it is now two late to hope for mercy in this
world, and / sheak not of my innocence in
the vain expectation that my life may yet be
saved, but trust that this my last and dying
declaration will induce my countrymen to
spare me their reproaches, till time shall
discover whether the oath which now swear
is true or not" He then again lifted up his
hands, and in the most solemn manner, pro-
tested his Innocence. l was much struck
with this scene. There was so much ear
nestness in the young mans manner. and his
countenance bore such evident marks of sine
certy and virtues, that / could not but think
he spoke truth. felt as if could have Civ
en- all that had in the world at that moment
to'have been the bearer of his pardon. The
young man having finished his address turn
ed round, and, in little while, the fatal pre-
perations were completed, the rope was pla
ced about his neck, and white cloth drawn
over his handsome and sun burnt counte3
nance. turned away faint and sick-heart-
ed, momentary pause ensued; the noise of
falling board wss heard and groan from
the surrounding multitude told me all was
over. Luback and fastened through the
crowd, after having cast q single glance at
1.-THE suspended and convulsed body, and we
could see from the sorrow depicted counte-
nance of all the bystanders how much the
fate of the unfortunate sufferer was lament
ed.
1t happened that the evening of this exc
cution was one of those which according to
the arrangement of our studies already men,
toned, was appropriated byus to the Prac-
Itice of dissection, and it was our intention
on this particular night to investigate new
and singular theory connected with the Or
. gans of respiration, which had been short
time before proposed by German profess
sor. The apartment which we had hired as
our tlissecting room was situated in an OBJ
scure lane in one of the northern outlets of
!. the city; and we had agreed with person
, who made his livelihood by the traffic, to
, hirnish us each week with fresh subject
4 L. ha &c fx,rb