The Arkansas advocate., 1834-08-08

.fn accomplished pallaia.-One of the most remarkable criminals ever confined in the old Tolbooth, was the celebrated Will liam Bredie. He was man of respecta- bic connexions, and had moved in good society ali his life, unsuspected of any crim- inal pursuits. Ii Is said that habit of fre- quenting cock pits was the first symptom he exhibited of a decline from virtue. - Ills ingenuity as mechanic gave him fla tai facility to the burglarious pursuits to which he afterwards addicted himself. It was then customary for the shopkeepers of Edlnburg to hang their keys upon nail at the back oftheir doors, or at least to take no pains in concealng them during the day. Bredle used to take impressions Of them Tn putty Of clay, q piece off which fe would carry in the palm ofhis hand. He kept a blacksmith in his pay, of the name of Smith, who forged exact copies of the keys he wanted, and with these t was his custom to open the shops of his fellow tradesmen during the night.
 He thus found opportunities of securely stealing whatever he wished to possess.-- He carried on his malpractices for many years, and never was suspected, til having committed a daring robbery upon the ex- else office in Chessel's Court, Canongate, some circumstances transpired, which in- duced him to disappear from Edinburgh. Suspicion then becoming strong, he was pursued to Holland, and taken at Amster- dam, standing upright in press or cup board. At his trial, Henry Erskine his counsel. spoke very eloquently in his behalf representing in particular to the jury, how strange and improbable circumstance, 1t was, that man whom they had themselves known from infancy as person of good repute, should have been guilty of such practices as those with which lie was charged. He was, however, found guilty and sentenced to death, along with his &C., complice, Smith.
 At the trlal he appeared in fine full dress suit of black clothes, the greater part of which was of silk, and his department throughout the whole affair was completely that of a gentleman. He continued du- ring the period which intervened between his sentence and execution to dress himself well, and keep up his spirits. gentle man of his own acquaintance, ealing upon him in the condemned room was astonish- ed to find him singing the popular song from the Beggars's Opera, .'Tis woman se- duces all mankind" Having eontrived to cut out tie figure of q draugh, board on the stone floor of his dungeon, he amus- ed himself by playing with any one who would join him, and, in default of such, with his right hand against his Jeff This diagram remained in the room where it was so strangely out of place, til the destrue- ton of the jail.
 His dress and department at the gallows were equally gay with those which he as- sumed al his trial. As the Earl of Morton was the first man executed by the Maiden, so was he the first man who proved the ex- cellence of an improvement hehad former- ly made on the apparatus of the glbbet. This was the substitution of wllat Is called the drop, for the ancient practice of the double ladder. He inspected the thing with professional air, and seemed to view the result of hts ingenuity with smile of sat isfaction. When placed on that terrible and insecure pedestal, and while the rope was adjusted round his neck by the executioner, his courage did not forsake hm. On the contrary, even there, he exhibited sort of joyful levity, which though no exactly com posture, seemed to the spectators as indica- tive of indifference; he shufiled about, look ed gaIy around, and finally went out of the world with his hand stuck carelessly into the open front of his vest.
 GREAT FIRE IN NEW YoRK.--A destruc- tive fire broke out at one o'clock yesterday morning, at 2o9 Peal street, New York, which destroyed buildings and property believed to be over $200,o00.
 So rapid had been the progress of the flames within, before the fire was known without, that the entire buildings was aI- most instantly enveloped in flames before twenty persons had arrived on the spot.