Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-05

precautions es, from the very first, proved
complete Illustration to their designs. Argyle
fingered tinidly in his own country, and final
ly, against the advice of Cochrane and Hume,
who were his Chief officers, made some unfor.
tunate movements which ended in the entire
tisOluton of his army, ard his own capture and
death. While this well-,neaning but weak
ncbeman committed himself to low disguise
in the vain hope of ciiecting his escape, Sir
John Cochrane and Sir Patrick Hume headed
body of20O men, formed out of the relics of the
army, and bravely resolved, even with that
small force, to attempt the accomplishment of
their original intenton--namely, march into
England They accordingly crossed the Clyde
into Renfrewsiiire, where they calculated on
obtaining some reinforcement. The boats on
this occasion being insufficient to transport tho
whsle at bnce, the first party, headed by the
two patriots, was obliged to contend, on the
opposite bank of the river, with large squad
ron ofmalitia, while the boats returned for the
remander after winch the united force eau
sed their opponents to retreat. The ff.ii.ia
returned, however, in great force, and the as
sault at a place called Muirdykes, in the parish
ofLochwinnoch. They were now commanded
by Lord Ross and Captain 'Clennan, and a
mounted to 1000 troops, while Sir John Co.
chranes men had decreased to seventy in mum
Der. In this predicainent they were called on
| by the royal troops TO lay down their arms ard
surrender themselves prisoners But preferinc
I the risk of death on the field to the tender
mercies OF vindictive foe, they rejected the
! terms with disdain, and, entering sheepfold,
used It's fral sod walls as defence against the
furious attacks of the enemy whom after keen
conflict, in which every man fought hand to
hand with his opponents. They at lehgth Sue
ceeded in beating off, with the loss of their
captain and some other men, while Lord Ross
was wounded. Cochrane, however, soon after
learned that the enemy was returning with
great reinforcement, and fearing that he could
not mitch longer defend himself on the field
retired with his trodps TO heighborng wilder.
ness or inornss, where he dismissed them, with
the request that each man would provide the
best way he could for his safety. For himself
having received two severe contusions in the
body during the engagement, and being worn
out with fatigue, he sought refuge in the hoese
of his uncle, Mr.. Gavin Cochrane, OF Craig
rntlv, who lived at no great distance from the
place ofencounter, This gentleman, however,
as it unfortunately happened, had married a
sister Of the Captain Ciennan killed in the late
battle, and, filled with revenge for the death OF
her brother, this lady secretly informed against
herEucst who was Immediately seized and re-
moved to Ednburg, where, AFTER being paraded
through the streets bound ard bareheaded, and
conducted by the comtron hangman, was lod,
ged IN the Tolbooth on the Sd of July, 1866,
there to await his trial as a traitor. The day OF
trial came, and he was condemned to death, in
spite OF the most strenuous exertions of his aged
father, the Earl of Dundonad who, having
received his title from the hands of Charles the
Second, had from motives of honor, never con-
spired against him.
Where is the tongue that can express ell the
, secret and varied anguish. that penctrates the
, yearning heart, when about TO leave forever the
warm precincts of mortality, to quit the loving
charities oflIfe, and TO have al!the cords which
bound it to existence suddenly torn nsunder
Natural strength Of mind may suffice 10 concea
, much of this mortal conflict, or even hide II al
together from tie eye of the careless observer
but still il is at work within, and grappes il
5 deadly struggle with the spirit,
: Such was the state of Sir John Cochrane
, mind on the night of his condemnation, whet
left once more to the gloomy solitude OF hi
1 prison. 1t was not the parting stroke ofdcati
S he feared, however sharp Tie was father
loving and Believed; and the thoughts OF tn,
e sorrow his children were doomed to suffer OF
4, his account wrung his heart, and burning tear
d which his own fate could not have called forth
d we're shed for them. No friend or relative ha
e been permitted to see him from the time Of hi
n apprehension but II was now signlhed 10 HIN
= that any of his family he desired TO connnni
It cate with might be allowed to visit him. Ans
s. ious, however, TO deprive his enemies of an ae
l. cusation against his sons, he Immediately cor
l. veycd TO them his earnest entreaties, and IL
e deed commands, that they should refrain froI
, availng themselves, Of this leave till the nigh
T. before his execution. This was a sacrhc
e. which it required his utmost torttude 10 max,
III and II had left him to a sense OF the most des
E. late loneliness, in 80 much, that when, late
" tho evanino he haarJ HE ,on t,snr unlnctp