American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-06-12

l hau mad SIX hours conversation about It,. l do
not believe showed--for | ain sure did not feel
| lt-either surprise or alarm. NV :. fortGne' how
ever, as the officer called it, was soon told. was
apprehended on the first of January; and the
Sessions being then just begun, my time came ra-
pidly round. On the 4th of the same month, the
London Grand Jury found three Bills against me for
forgery; and, the evening of the 5th. the Judge
exhorted me to "prepare for death - for $ there
was no hope, that, in this world, mercy could be
extended to me''
The whole business of my trial and sentence,
passed over as coolly and formally, as would have
calculated question of interest, or summed up
an underwriting account. : had never. though
lived in London, witnessed the proceedings Of n
Criminal Court before and | could hardly believe
the comp0sure, and indiference--and vet ciyility
for there no show of anger i'll temper
with which was treated together with the appar-
ent perfect insensibiIity of all the parties around
me, while | was rolling on-with speed which
nothing could check, and which increased every
moment-to my ruin was called suddenly up
from the dock. when my turn for trial came, and
placed at the bar; and the Judge asked, in tone
which had neither severity about it, compass
sion-nor carelessness, nor anxlety--n0r any char
acter or expression whatever that could be distn-
guished-s. If there was any counsel appeared for
the prosecution 20 barrister then. who seemed
to have some considerations middle aged-gen
AS he said lie would do-very s. fairly and for
bearinely - but. as soon he read the facts from
his brief, that only heard officer Of the gaol,
who stood behind me, say" put the rope about
nv neck" NV master then was called to give
his evidence; which he did very temperatel y-but
it was conclusive a young gentleman, who was my
counsel, asked few questions in cross-examina-
ton after he had carefully looked the indict
ment: but there nothing to cruss examine
upon-I knew that well enough-though was
thankful for the interest he seemed to take in my
case The Judge then told me, thought more
urayey than he lad spoken before,--ss That it was
time for me to speak in my defence. if had any
thing to says had nothing to say thought
one moment to drop down upon my knees, and beg
| for mercy but, again. thought it would only
make me look ridiculous; and oniy answered.
as well as | could. That would not trouble the
Court with any Defence Upon this, the Judge
turned round. with more serious air still, to the
Jury, who stood up all to listen 70 him as he spoke
i ind listened TOGO tried to listen attentlscly-
as hard as could and Net-with all could do
could not keep my thoughts from wandering
For the sight OF the Court-al 50 orderly. and
regular. and composed, and formal, ami well salts
fed-spectators and all--while was running OF
: with the speed Of wheels upon smooth soil dowf
!. hiIl to destruction seemed rs il the whole trial
were dream, and not thing in earnest. lhe
harrstcrs sat round the table. silent but utterly
unconcerned ,and two were locking over tieirbrefs
and another was reading newspaper; and the
spectators in the galleries looked On ana listened
; as pleasantly as though it was matter not o
death going on, but Of pastime amusement: an.
one very fat man. who seemed TO be the clerk o
! the Court stopped his writing when the Judge be
oan but leaned back in his chair with his hand
y in his breeches pockets, except once or twice tina
J he took snuff; and not one living soul seemed t
+ take noticeth they did not seem to know the TACT
= that there was poor desperate, helpless, creatur
d whose days were fast running out-Whose hour
. Of life were even with the last grains in the bo
y tom of the sand glass-among them, lost tn
I. whole of the Judges charge-thinking OF ! kno
not what IN sort OF dream--unable to stead
8 nv mind to any thing. and only biting the stal
ie of piece of rosemary that lay b, me = But
y heard the low. distinct whisper of the Foreman
= the Jury, as he brought III the verdict" 0uIi
ie and the last words of the Judge, saying
m that should be hanged By the neck until ";
as dead !; and bidding me "prepare myself Tor Il
~ next life for that ms crime one that admitte
Il of no mercy in ths.'' The jacr then, who hi
a stood close BY me all the while, put his hand quic
A. " upon my shoulder, in under voice, telling n
IN to Come along /" Going down the hall step
!, g two other officers met me and, placing me D
IS. tween them, without saying word, hurried II
across the yard the direction back to the Prise
nd AZ the door of the court closed behind us sa
On the Judge fold up his papers, and the Jury ben
Sc sworn in the next case. Two other culprts we
ms y. brought up out of the docks and the crer CALF
e' out fur--.s The prosecutor and witnesses again
'as James Hawkins and Joseph sandersol, for Bur
- ~ larry y
- - had no friends, if any in such case cou
4. have been of use to memo relatis cs but two
M whom-I could not complain of them-I was
ri once disowncd. On the day after my trial, 7
master came to me in person, and tod me- u
i. +" ne had recommended me to mercy. and shou
az try to obtain mitigation OF my sentence"
al don't think seemed very grateful for this as
~ ..naa [ thnnnlit that if he had wished to sIn