Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-09-29

the utmost CONSERVATION. The British
army paraded In front Ut the fort, ex.
pecting an immediate attack. The
trooPs immediately sprang for their
horses, when 10! one poor red coat was
seen wandering alone, destitute Of a
horse. The cause Of alarm was soon
discovered, and both armies retired.
Our hero. after exhibiting his horse
in proud triumph for about two hours,
sold him 10 one Of the officers for five
hundred dollars, a reward worthy Of
one of the most bold. daring and cue
ocssinl enterprises O, which history
can bcast-Da!si0n Gas.
trial AND EXECUTION OF WALLACE
From Constable Mise,iiu.y-Lifc cf WaII.,c.
As the capture Of Wallace was an
event wholly unexpected by the EDg-
lisb, the news OF II, which spread with
the rapidity o. lightning, produced in
every part Ci the k,ngio,n, deep and
ni'ey.al eusation. Labour VI every
kind was abandoned, and people OF
all ranks iioeked 10 those points of the
road where II was expected the illus
trious captive would pass. At Car
lislc. the escort halted for the night |;
and the tower IN which he was secured
long afterwards retained hi. name
As the corf'ge approached London the
crowds became more numerous and,
ON entering the capital, his conductors
found their progress retarded by the
mu!tItudes tia; were collected; while
every elevation. however periious. from
which he could be seen, was occupied
with,,or chung 10 by anxious spectators,
eager 10 behold man who had filled
England with terror. and the fame Of
whose achievements had rcsoundcd
through every country in Europe. Az
ter .much exertion, the cavalcade at
length reached the house Of William
Defect, 4 citizen in Fen church street.
where their prisoner was lodged for
the night. From the circumstance Of
his having been taken to a private
house. rather than TO place Of greater
security. II has been imagined by some
that Edward intended to make last
effort to gain Wallace over to his in
tercst. This conjecture, however, is
not sufficiently supported by subse-
quent proceedings 10 entitle it to any
degree Of credit: and We are more in-
clined to believe. that the difficulty
which the party encountered in MAX
ing their way through the dense multi.
tudes who had blocked up the streets
and lanes leading to the Tower, may.
with greater probability, be assigned
as the cause for taking him to tho
house Of Defect,
The thirst for revenge existed too
keenly in the ruthless mind Of Ed W ard,
to admit Of much delay in the sacrifice
Of his victim. Though a consideration
for the opinion Of the more enlighten-
ed OF his subjects, aud the manner in
which his conduct might be viewed a,
foreign courts, obliged him TO have re.
course at least to the formality Of a
trial, the indecent haste With which i,
was brought Oh made the mockery Of
judicial procedure but too apparent.
The day after his arrival be was con.
Quoted on horseback from the house
which his brief residence had made the
scene Of universal attraction, to take
his trial in Westminster Hall. Ills
progress from Fen church street, &C
cordlng to Stove, appears 10 have been
a sort Of procession Lord John dC
Segrave, the fugitive Of Rosl,n, acting
as Grand Master Of England, and
/ armed cap.a.pic, rode on one side
while GeofIry Gle IiartIepoel, Recorded
Of London, equipped in similar man
Ber, rode OH the other. The Mayor,
ShcrIlIs, and Aldermen followed, at
tended By a number Ol ofiicia charac.
tiers on horseback aud on foot, arrang
ed according 10 their rcspec tive grades
On reaching the spot where the 90
lemn farce was 10 be performed, ht
b, was placed on the south bench of th,
great hall, and ~ consequence Of al
absurd report which had Decn CIrcU
lated ~ Esslabd Of a., hatin- ssiL
that he deserved 90 wcag a crown, %
that place crown Oi iaurcls was pul
upOb his head. The nOoic appearance
Of the man, joined 10 his calm and un
RULED demcanor, entirely dissrme,
this SILLY attempt at rIdIeule VI its ~
TENDED effect.
SIR Peter Malury, the Kings jus
tice, then rose aud read the indict
ment, wherein the prisoner was chsrg
ed with treason against the King o
England, burning Of towus. and slay
ing OF the subjects Of MS majesty. L,
the first Of tnose counts Wallace an
swercd, a. he bad never been the sub
Iject Of the King Of England, hc owe'
hin 40 allegiance. aud consequently
could be 90 traitor. As 90 the Oths
offences, he frankly admitted that u
the discharge Of BIS duty to his coun
try, he had done all that was stated
On this admission, the following afro
|, cious sentence was pronounced