The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-09-24

accordingly remained in his narrow eel
until his decease.
The curiosity excited amongst Strangers
to see this prisoner was a source Of in
come 10 him. Each spectator, before he
could behold him, was required by M'Caus.
land to pay him two cents, and then he
wouid proceed to exhibit his tall, stou,
body, long beard, delicate hands, &c. to
give history Of the circumstances that
brought him to the prison, TO sing, pray for
the visi,ers. &c. &c. The fees which he
collected from visiters amounted some years
as we have been informed, to sixty or sew
enty dollars. His story. his hymns and
his prayers, were uniformly the same. At
ter having completed these, however, he
was ready to converse and answer any
questions proposed to him. Eve'y
thing he said evidently proceeded from
honest opinions. Never would he acknowl-
edge that he had done wrong in murder
ing the woman; on the contrary he always
conscious of innocence a. had at coavnand
many passages OF scripture to jusnfy his
course. No doubt he was entirely honest
but he labored under strong religious dc.
lnsion. He was soldier in the Revolu-
tionary Army, and drew pension till his
death for his services therein. The mon.
cy he collected he distributed amongst his
children, with the exception Of what was
required to purchosesone few articles for
his own use and com!ort. lie had occu.
pied his cell so long that he had got hab-
ltUated to confinement and was as happy
in his situation as the rich and free arc in
theirs. On one or two occasions his keep
er proposed TO let him ont that he might
see the village for a few nlo,rcnts; but he
declined the offer partly because he beiev.
ed this would be contrary to the strict let
ter of the law and partly because he was
sensible he should return 10 his cell less
contented than If he never had left 1t. His
sense Of just ice was strong and PRACTICAL;
and his reasoning on other subjects than
religion evinced mind above the ordina.
ry mould Of nature. Had he been blessed
with an education, and his mind saved from
the shock-of religious ianaticism, mr.. NJ
COusand would have been as powerful
morally as he was physically. Even in his
old ige, after so long and enteebllng q con.
tinement, ibis bodily strength WINS unusually
great. lie could take no exercise, except
to walk across his cell few feet length
wise, which he did, regularly. Indeed, in
all his habits he was very systematic. lie
had his hours for retiring to rest, rising,
reading his bible and saying his prayers.
In the coolest winters he chose no ere; but
Kept himself warm by exerc ising his body.
After mr.. Dillingham; took charge of he
Jail, his family tatght him to read. This
acquisition he valued highly, and did not
mislmprovc it. But his Bible was bis chief
companion. This he read through in course
great number of times, but in all bis read
ing he found nothing but confirmation the
course he had taken in tho acts that brought
him to prison. Mr.. DIllngham's deccase
IN July last was great affection to him; q
may have been the means of shortening his
days. He regarded hun as hls best frlesd;
and when he was taken away he seemed
to have nothing left him worth living for.
On subject ofrelgion, atone, mr. NC.
no doubt, was insane; but moi much more
so, as we believe, than some Others who
pass TOR the most dcrout, and experiment
tai Christians we have amongst US. These
gloomy views religion which arc account
ed by many as the most orthodox, seem to
us calculated to produce that distraction
which leads to shocking consequences.
Mr.. M'Canslard was vory pious, too p:ous
indeed to make such Christian as is use
ful in the world. But his errorsWere honest
ones. and obtained for him what ne dcserv.
ed, the pity ofall who visited him. His case
is not without instruction for all teachers
and professor. Of n gloomy religion. Well
would it be for mankind would they profit
by it. Gardner Chronicle