The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-23

who had summoned me to visit him, had com-
 mitted series of forgeTies, for the last eighteen
 months, to a great amount, and with so much lsecfecyand dexterlty,as 10 have, till then,escap- led detection; and had, for the last few months,
 been enjoying the produce of his skiliul vIlany
 Ill the style witnessed-pa passing himself of. in
 the circles where he associated, under tie as- sumed name of aloucester.' The immediate
 cause of hs arrest Has forging the acceptaBce ] of an eminent mercantile hnnse to q bil! Of exs
 change for El5. Poor fellow. it was short
 work with him afterwards. lie was arraigned at the next September session of the Old Bai- l ley-the case clearly proved against him--he offered no dcfence-was found guilty and sen- fenced to death. Shortly after this, while read- ing the papers one Saturday morning at break
 fast, my eye lit on the usual gloomy annunciation of the Recorders visit to Windsor, and report to the King in Council of the prisoners found guilty at the last Old g;ailey Sessions--saII of whom,' the paragraph concluded, shis Majesty was graciously pleased to respite during his roy |al pleasure, except E--T--, on whom the law lis left to take its course next Tuesday morr- ing
 Transient and any thing but agreeable as had been my intimacy with this miserable young
 man, 1 could not read this intelligence with in- difference. He whom had SD very lately seen
 surrounded with the iife.bonght luxurics ot q
 man of wealth and fashion. was now shiveritgs
 the few remaining hours of his life in tie con-
 demned cells of Newgate. The next day, was
 just sitting down to dinner, when one oi the ser
 wants put note into my hand, requesting my attendance at Newgate.
 What on earth could the culprit have to say to me?-wfat unreasonable request might he put me to the pain of refusing fought Ilosee him at lle-wcTs questions which .iineessantiy proposed to myself during the evening; but felt
 unable to answer. l resolved, however, at last, to afford him the desired interview, and be at z the cell of Newgate ill the course of the next evening, unless my professional engagements prevented me. About 3 o'clock, tic refore, on Monday, after fortifying myself with an extra glass or two of wine-for why should hesitate
 10 acknowledge that apprehend much distress and agitation from witnessing so unusual q seene?-I drove to the Old Bailey, drew up op- posite the Governors house. and WAS received by him very politely.-He dispatched turnkey to lead me to the cell where my late patient,
 the sos-dtstasu Mir. Gloucester, was immured in
 chilling expectancy of his fate.
 Surely horror has appropriated these gloomy
 regions for her peculiar dwelling place. Who
 that has passed through them once, can ever onget the long, narrow lamp-it passages-t the
 sePnchral slience save where the ear is startled with the clangour of irep doors closing harslly before and behind-the dimley seen spectral l- 2 gure of the prlson-patrol gliding along with load led blunderbluss--and the chilling consciousness |of being surrounded by so many friends in hi-
 man shape, inhaling the foul atmosphere of all
 the concentrated crime and guilt of the mctro-
 polls My heart leaped within me to listen to |my own echoing footballs: and felt several times inclined to return without fulfilling the purpose of my visit. Ny vacciIlation was put all end to by lny guide exclaiming. Here we are, sir While he was unbarring the cell |door,I begged him to continue at the outside of the door during tbe few moments of my inter view with the convict.
 slIolloa! young man, there--here's Dr..
 come to see your said the turnkey, hoarscly,as
 he ushered me in. The cell was small and gloomy and q little lamp lying on the table, 5eij s;itsiieed e show the person of fhe cnl- prlt, and an elderly, respectable looking man, muffed in a drab greatcoat, and sitting gazing in supplied silence on the prisoner. Great God, it was his Fathcr! He did not seem conscious of my entrance; but his son rose, and icebly ask ed how was, muttcred few words of thanks, sunk again-apparently oyerpowcred with his feelings into his seat, and fixed his eyes on a page of the Bible, which was lying open before them. A long silence ensued for none of us seemed either able or inclined to talk. l con- Etemplated the two with feelings of lively inter-
 est. How altered was the young culprit before
 mo, from the gay sMr. Gloucester whom had
 visited in RegentStreet! His face had now
 ghastly, cadayarous hue; his hair was matted
 with precipitation, over his saIlow forehead; his |eyes was sunk and bloodshot, and seemed inca- |pable of distinguishing the print to which they were directed. He was dressed ip plain suit of mourning, and wore asimple black stock roulsd his neck. How snuddered, Winch 1 thought of The rude hands which were soon to unloosc itt