Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-01-03
HAvRE-A VISIT TO NEvGATE.
FROM SKETCHES BY BOZ. l

The Condemned CeU.--We entered The fir
cell, il was a stone dungeon, eight feet long t
six wide, with a bench at the further end, III
der which were a common hearth rug, a bbI
and prayer-book. An iron candlestick wa
fixed in the wall at the side, and a small hig
window in the back admitted as much air an
light as could struggle in between Il doubI
row Of heavy, crossed iron bars. 1t containe
no other furniture ofany description.
Conceive the situation of man spendin!
his last night on earth in this cell. Buoyed u
with some vague and underlined hope of re-
prleye, he knew not why--induIgingmnoe is
wild and visionary idea of escaping, he knew
not how-bour after hour Of the three prece.
ding days allowed him for preparation has fled
WIN speed which no man living would deem
possible, for none but this diving man can
know tic has wearled his friends with en-
treaties, exhausted the attendants with i'm.
portuntIes-neglected, in his leverish restless
ness, The timely warnings of his spiritual con-
soieri and now the illusion is at last dispoled,
now that eternity is before him and built be-
hlnd; now that his fears of death amount
almost madnss, and an overwhelming sense
OF his helpless state rushes upon him-he is
lost and supplied, and has neither thoughts to
turn to, nor powerto call upon, the Almighty
Beng, from whom alone he can seek mercy
and !orgivness, and before whom his repent
ance alone can avail. Hours have ulided by.
ana still he SITS upon the same stone bench.
with folded arms; heedless alike of the fast de.
creasng time before him, and the urgent en-.
treaties OF the good man at his side The fee
bic light is wasting gradually, and the death
Ike stiffness Of the street without, broken only
by the rumbIlng Of some passing vehicle, which
echoes mournluIIy through the empty wards
warns him that the night is wearing last away.
The deep bell Of st. PauI's srikes-one! He
heard lit has reused him. Seven hours left A.!
tie PAGES the narrow limits of his eel with
rapid strldes-cold drops Of terror starting on
his forehead, and every muscle Of his frume
quiverlng with agony. He suffers himself to
be led TO his seat, mechanically takes the bible
winch is placed in his hand, and tries 10 read
and listen. No! his thoughts will Wander
The book is torn and soied by use; how like
the book he read his lessons in at school lust
forty years ago! He has never bestowed q
thought upon it since he left il as child; and
the place, the room-nay, the very boys he
used 10 play with, crowd as wildly before him
ASH they were scenes Of Yesterday; and some
forgotten phrase, some childish word of kind.
ness, rings IN his ears like the echo of one III.
tered but minute since. The deep voice OF
the clergyman recalls him To himself He
reading from the sacred book its solemn prom
lses OF pardon Tor repentance, and its awful de-
nuncia'ion Of obdurale men, He tails upon his
knees and clasps his hands TO pray. Hush
what sound was that? He starts upon his feet
II cannot be two quarters have struck; the
thlrd-the forth. lis! Six hours left. Tell
him moi olrepentance. Six hours Of repentance
for eight times six years Of guilt and sin! He
burles his face in his hands, and throws himself
on the bench.
Worn with watching and excitement, he
sleeps, and the same unsettled state of mind
pursues him in his dreams. And insupportabIc
load is taken from his breast He is walking
with his wife in pleasant field, with the
bright blue sky above them, and fresh and
boundless prospect on every side-how differ.
ent from the stone wall Of Newgate! She is
looking, not as she did when he saw her CorI
the last time in that dreadful place, butas shell
used when he loved her--long, long ago, before
misery and i'll treatment had altered her looks
and vice had changed his nature; and she is
leaning upon his face with tenderness and aE
lection: and he does not strike her now; nor
Yudely shake her from him. And oh how Glad
he is 10 tell her he had forgotten in that last
hurried interview and 10 fall on his knees
before her and (ervently beseech her pardon
for all the unkindness and cruelty that wasted
her form aud broke her heart? The sccneI
suddenly changes. He is on trial again; there
ire the Judge, and jury, and prosecutors, and u
just as they were before. How full"
he court is--whal sea Of heads--wilh gal "a