The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-08

an octave palDPnitt Oh ABOUT loU EaSSs,
written with great panness and simplicity,
in an energetic, but loose, incorrect style,
displaying some knowledge of mankind,
great GOODNESS, perseverance, and decision
Of character, and ne small ooiquity or NOR
al principlc, united With many honorable
and elevated sentiments and feelings 1t Is
an unblushing avowai OF the most cool, de-
libsrate and unbendng system OF revenge
and or blood-thirsty violence. Not an adj,
mission OF guilt, not compunctlous visiting
OF conscience, is to be discovered throughout
all its details ct crime. The statements Of
facts are minute and plausible, and altho'
coming from condemned fslon, whose char
acter aud avowed conduct entitle him to little
credit; although abonndlng with adventures
almost too romantic for real life, they cannot
be read without interest, and scarcely, We
imagine, without an inclination Of the mind
20 regari! them as true. Considering the
circumStancesun under which it must have been
written, this pamphlet displays in its author
no interior intellect, but the sentiments it ex-
presses and the crimes it boldly avows,
must excite the abhoicace and call forth
the indignation Of every virtuous mind As
the work has been but little read in Tennes-
see, and as the transactions to which it re-
lates have excited very general interest, we
",
the public taste, to devote a few columns 70
an account Of its contents and some extracts
from its pages.
The author begins with stating that he is
condemed to die, and then proceeds with re-
spect to the character of his narrative:
II shall abondon all studied style. shall
only in laconic language record facts. do
not regard to die My fate has moved all
who stood allied TO me, by either ties Of kim
dred or friendship, more than it has me.
am satisfied. die for pursuing what the
dictates of my clearest ana most deliberate
Judgment had determined il Was At least JUS
tifabe in me to to, If not my duty to do nd
TOR Which, no guilty pAns 81 conscience has
ever yet reprovcd me, or the certain pros
uect ct death made me feel che least regret;
and If my death teaches i rcsptc, for the
lava Of my eanntrY, my example will be
not less serliccahlr, III teaching respect
for those law Of homer, 10 revenge the Viola
ton and outrage of which 80 freely die"
The sentiment and feelings here avowca
arc repeatedly expressed throughout the
work, and, no doubt, actuated the writer IN
which he seems to cXult and glory. lie gives
4 brict narrative CT the prominent events OF
his early life his education at school, his
professional studies, his first knowledge Of
Colonel Sharp, and his persevering and III.
tlmately successful efforts to become ac-
quainted with Miss Ann Cook, his future
wife, the source Of his crimes and the chict
Of his untimely end He says,
"Alinging with my acquaintance Of the
bar at Glasgow, and those attending the
courts there from Bowlinggreen, | was at
tracted by general burst Of generous indig
nation amongst them, towards Col Solomon
p. Sharp, of the bar from Bowlinggreen, tor
the seduction Of Miss Ann Cook of that
place. was acquainted with Col Sharp
personally, and somewhat intimately too, for
being greatly delighted with his elogueuce,
and designing to study the law myself, had
sought his acquaintance, and had expressed
some thought Of endcavoring to place my
self IN situation, where could stay under
his direction. should have mentioned to
MN my wish, but for this story about Miss
Cook. Now, was not personally acquant-
cd with Miss Cook. ! knew however the
Cook family by character, and had heard
the gentlemen of the bar, OF my acquaintance
from bowlnggreen, speak often III high and
enthusiastic terms Of Miss Ann Cook, tul
intelligence, &c.---and the more especially,
when the execration Of Col, Sharp for her
seduction, was IN the high tone, to which ii
was first carried among them. But there
90 yOuhS 5SHhiNttlai AVN Nv" green
at that time; room mate and bosom friend
of mine, who had been intimately acauaint-
ed with Miss Cook, and much devoted to
her.
This acquaintance, it seems, stimulated
BeaucEamp not only to detest Col Sharp
but also to admire ard also almost love Miss
Cook, whom, as yet, he had never seen
She came, however, soon after to live with
her mother in the neighborhood of his fa-
theirs residence, a secluded part Of the coun-
try, with view to retire from the world
and avoid the society Of all He determin.
ed to become acquainted with her, visited
her house, and notwithstanding an evident
desire on her part to avoid him, persevered
in his efforts to see and converse with her,
until at length, he made her an offer Of his
hand.
She refused it, but with such burst OF
feeling, as would have rendered her persist
ing in that refusal, tenfod more Painful
But She told me there was an insuperabe
objection within her own bosome to MARI,
age, but that her heart did not find that olj-
lection in me. In this, she long persisted
but would never tell me what that fatal bar
rier to my happiness was. At length, ! re-
solved to take no denial, but TO know the Sc
cret objection She then told me with firm.
ness, which spoke that it was the voice y
fate that the hand which should receiv.
hers would have to revenge the injury ;