Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-18


TO me TO witness the GOODNESS and estrange-
ment of my destitute and bercaved children.
But rcpose confidence in the sacred promise,
that there is one who will be father to the
fatherless, and trust that they may be edu-
Gated in the nurture Of the Lord, and instruct
ed in the holy doctrines Of religion, SO as to
be useful in this world and happy in the next.
Although the evils Of this world are manifold
and heavy, and although its blessings arc con-
tcmpfiblc in comparison with those which are
in reserve for the righteous in the other yet
ties are sindored by death, which vibiate pain
fully on the heart of him who has even received
the promise OF lis grace. II was likewise Or
dained by him who infused that principle into
our nature, that man under the sorcst Affections
should entertain an eager, lingering fondncss
for those objects with whom the various rela-
lions ofsocal life connect him. find in the
faith that shall meet my Saviour, to whom
We all owe a responsibility infinitely more
dreadful than any human tribunal can exact, in
peace, consolation to dying man which is
"prized above all price" il is not the shame
of public prosecution, nor is il the ignominious
silence ofthe grave 10 which my body must
shortly be consigned, that strikes so deeply on
! my hear-but it is the withering frown Of
censorious world upon man who dies willing
but unholy victim to the laws Of his coup'ry
without the means Of excupating his memory
from the foulcst deed ofhuman wickedness. l
could have wished the termination Of my life
prolonged, that by kindness and affection to
those helpless orphans shall leave behind me,
to have vindicated my name from the reproa ch
| ofhavng brought upon them their wretched-
ness and their bereavement. II seemed from
| my birth that was destined TO move in the
! humble wa ks of human life. and that mistor-
tune hadsprcad her blightng shadows over my
existence; but now stand at a point in hu-
man life, from which can look beyond the
| narrow confines Of this world with humble and
| steadfast hope Of a better destiny. Standing
| as now do on the margin Of that narrow
| isfhmus tl.at 'eparatos time from eternity. and
which VIC must all pass at some period or 9TH
or, embrace this awful point Of my life to
| impress upon You the nothingncss Of this world
and the tremendous importance Of preparation
| tor the next. Devote your heart to that God
whose grace is promised to the humble as well
as the great-to him whose benevolcnce is
commensurate with his power And when the
! awful sound Of the archangel shall summon
the nations Of the earth to abide the decrecs
Of his just and merccul council, that our hearts
may then ming!e in eternal peace, is the de-
vout prayer of your unhappy son.
JOHN WOOD.
In this letter, the misguided culpri., neither
denies or admits his guilt; but from the terror
Of it, We should think that he intends 10 have
il understood that he is innocent Of the
crime with which he was charged, and Of
which by a jury Of his country, he was found
guilty Of the fact however, we have no
I means Of Judging; and whilst we would not ad-
vocate the infamy of murderer, We can ad-
mire his talents and respect his genius. We
learn that Wood was convicted on circumstan-
tial evidence only:-a kind of evidence TO
which jurors should listen with extreme eau
ton and circumspcction 1t appears to us,
that it is almost impossible that man, pos
sessing so many refined feelings as Wood evil
dently did, and they pervade this letter, should
ever become a wilful and wanton murderer
The letter is said to be the genuine production
of his own pen, and was borne TO his moth
er few days previous TO his dsgraceful
| execution.