The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-06
THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

The introduction into the British Parliament
of Bill TO abolish the Punishment of Death has
induced the publication of several meritorious
works on the subject, and among them Of a trans
lation from the French of Victor Hugo's Last
DAYS of "a Condemned" This consists Of Sc
res of papers, supposed TO be the daily writings
during six weeks ola condemned criminal con-
fined during that period in the Biretre prison,
previous 10 his execution. These present a
powerful picture of the hopeless despair Of one
destined TO end his life on the scaffold. We
have not space for extracts from the argumenta-
tive part of the work, nor yet TO present more
than one of the many thrilling scenes which
Victor Hugo has depicted. From near the
close of the volume we copy an account of the
prisoners last interview with his little child, who
adds to his grief by not remembering him ; it is
powerfully written:
"My child looked rosy and happy, and her
| large eyes were brighton! she is so pretty
drew her towards me, raised her in my arms,
and, placing her on my knees, kissed her dear
hair asked, why is her mother not with herr
and learned that she was very i'll, and my poor
old mother also. Mary looked at me with as
constituent. Caressed embraced, devoured
with kisses, she submitted quietly but from
time TO time cast an uneasy look toward her
nurse, who was crying in the corner. Atlength
| was able to speak. Mary | exclaimed, my
own little Mary and ! pressed her violently to
my breast, which was heavng with sobs. She
uttered little cry, and then said, 'Oh, you hurt
me, SIR Sir il is nearly year since she has
seen me- poor child She has forgotten me
face, words, voice; and then who could know
me with this beard, this dress, this pallor
What! already efaced from that memory, the
only one where wished to survive! What
| already no longer father, am | condemned 10
hear no more that word, soft in the language
| OF children, that II cannot remain in the Ian
guage Of men, papa? And yet to have heard
it from that sweet mouth once more, only once
more, that is all | would have asked in the pay
ment for the forty years of life they will take
| from me.
Listen, Mary said TO her, joining her two
little hands in mine. DO you not know me y
She looked at me with her bright beautiful eyes,
and answered, oh! no, indeed Look at me
WE'LL | repeated, what! dost thou not know
who am 2 Yes, SIR she answered, you are
a gentleman Alas while loving one being on
earth. loving with all your deep affections hav-
ing that beng before you, who sees and looks at
| you, speaks and answers you, and vet knows
you not you wish for consolation but from this
one beng, who is the only one that does not
know that you require il because you are going
To die Mary ] continued, hast thou papa2'
Yes. SIR said the child. We'll then, dearest
where is he She raised her large eyes in as
constituent; 'ah, you don't know, sir, papa IS
dead; here she been TO cry; nearly lei the
little angel fall. Dead exclaimed, MARY,
knowes thou what IL is TO be dead z Yes, sII,
she answered. he is in earth and in heaven
And she continued of her own accord, i pray
to God for him every morning and evening al
mammals knees kissed her on the forehead
Mary, say 10 me thy prayers i could not sir;
prayer you do not say in the middle Of the day.
Come tonight TO the house and you shall hear
me say it,
This was enough, interrupted her. Darling
Mary II IS who am Thy papa You returned
she added, wouldst thou like me for thy
papaP The child turned away; No. sir. my
| papa was much pretter' ! covered her with
kisses and She tired 10 escape from my
arms, crying, Sir, you hurt me with your beard
Then placed her on my knees, devouring her
with my eyes, and continued. Mary, can'st