Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-01-19

etfuis io corrupt the crow, md prepare thrn
Eur the indulgence at every evil passion since
the day bciurc our departure froOi New YORK.
had been but too successful. ! knew ihh,
lihc conspiracy was sill extensive; did not
know how extensive. | racapliulaicd To INN
the art, which he had used. lie was startled
by my telling hun that he had made the
ward room steward steal brandy, aud had
piyen il to the crew. lie said, 81 did not
make him .,cult." told him II was brought
M his request that he knew where u came
from aud II was, II possible, more criminal u"
-educc another 10 commit crime than to com
mt CRIME ones self lie admitted the JUS
ticc uf this view. lie turned again 10 say tn
mc, But are you not going too tar a:e yon
not going too fast +? does the law entirely
Justify y"u ?" replied that he had not con-
suited me IN making his arrangements TINT
his opinion could nn, be an urpr ndiced one |;
that ! had consulted all his brother officers,
his mcssma,cs included, except The boys. ana
| placed before him their opinion. lie stated
that il wns Just that he deserved death. lie
asked what was TO be the manner Of hs death.
! | explained il 10 him. lie objected TO IT, aud
asked ,n be shot. told him that could not
make any distinction brlwccn him and those
whom he had corrupted. He admitted that
this also was just. lie objected 10 the short
ness oi the time for preparations aud asked Tor
an hour. No answer was made Ia tins re-
quest hut he was not hurried, aud more than
the hour which he asked for was allowed Ia
rlnpse. lie T, Quesled that his face might b"
covered; this was readily granted, nnd he
was asked what II should he covered with
! He did not care. A handkerchief was sought
! tor in his locker; none but black one was
found, aud this brought for the purpose.
now ordered that The other criminals should
be consulted rs 10 their wishes ~ this pnrilcn'
lar. They joined in The request, and fr"ckS
were taken from their bags Ia cover their
heads. Mr.. Spencer asked TO have his irons
removed. This could not be- granted. He
asked for Bible and Prayer Book. They
were brought, and others ordered Ia be fnr.
nishcd to his accompllccs. 81 AIN a believer :"
he said. "Do you think any repentance nj
this late hour can bc acccptrd:" called To
his recollection the case Of tho Pcnienl thief
who was pnrdonrd by our Saviour upon the
cross. H. then read in the Bible, knceled
down and read in the Prayer Bn"k. lie again
asked II thought that his repentance could
be accepted. that The time was 40 short, and
he did moi know If he was really Changed
told hlm that God, who was al!-mcrcliul IA
well ns ull-wisr, could not only understand the
diff iluItes Of the situation but extend To him
such measure of mercy rs his nccesslics
might require. lie said, II beg your for
givcnrss for what have mrditated against
you" gave him my hand, and assured hlm
of my sincere forgiveness. | asked II had
ever done any thing 10 him 10 make him seek
my life, or whether the hatred he had cunc"iv
ed for me, aud Of which had only recently
become aware, WAS tos,crcd for the purpose
of giving himself some plea OF j''silicatlon.
lie sand, ''li WAS only fancy perhaps there
mglt have been something ~ your manner
winch offended me-" lie read over hat
had written down. had stated l,urrlcdly i"
the third person. "ilc excused himself by
saying tha, h. had entertained tine same idea
IN the John Adams ard the Potomac" lie
asked that that nigh, be- corrected: IL did
no, off it as all excuse, only stated il as
fact"
More than an holr had ,lapscd during the
continuance of TIN. scene. Th" petty officers
had been assigned according to rank 10 con-
duct the several prisoners io the gan9way.
At the break of The quarter deck is narrow
passage between the trunk and pumpwcll.-
Mr. Spencer and Cronwcll met exactly on
either side. | directed Cromwell To stop to
allow Mr.. Spencer To pass first. A, this mo
ment Mr.. Spencer himself paused aud asked
to be allowed ,o see Mr.. Wales. lie was
called. aud Cromwell now passed "n almGs,
touching Mr.. Spencer. N" one word was
now sand by Mr.. Spencer al the innocence OF
Cromwell no appeal was made by Cromwell
10 Mr.. Spencer To attest his innoccncc.-
When Mr. Wales came up, Mr.. Spencer. cx-
tending his hand To him. said, "Mr. Wales, |
earnestly hope you will forgive me for tam
pcring with your fidelity" Mr.. Spencer
was wholly unmovcd, Mr.. Wales Amos,
overcome with emotion; he rcphrd. 81 do
forgive yon from the bottom Of my heart, and
hope that God will forgive you also ~
"Farcwrllm exclaimed Mr.. Spencer; aud
Mr. Wales, weeping. and causing others iu
weep. responded. FAREWELL"
Mr.. Spencer now passed on. Abont this
time he asked for Mldshpman Rodgers
The message was carried TO Mr. Rodgers
but he had no orders 10 leave his station. ]
was only afterwards aware oi the r"quc>t.-
At the gangway Mr. Spencer mct Small
With the same calm manner, but with u \
nearer approach Ia emotion. he placed hun
self in font of Small, extended his hand,
and said. "Small, forgive me Tor leading you
into this trouble" Snail drew back with
horror. "No, by God Mr.. Spencer, cant
inrgive you" Ga IA repetition Of the req rest,
Small exclaimed IN searching VOICE, "Ah.
Mr.. Spencer, that is a hard thing for you To
ask me We shall soon be before The face
of & cd, aud then VIC shal! know all about it,"
| went To Small aud urged him to he more
gene rous- that this was no time for resent. |
meni. lie reented M once, held oui hls
hand 10 take the sill extended hand nf Mr. !
Spencer, and said with frankncss and emo
tIon, 8 do t"rg:ve you, Mr.. SPruccr! May
God Almighty forgive you also !" Small
now asked my forgiveness. lie was the one
of the three who was most enilllcd to com
passion. | took his hand and expressed my
complete forgiveness IN the strongest terms
that | was able. ] asked him what had
said or done to him to make him seek my
life? Conscious Of no mi Justice or provoca,ion
of any sort, felt that 1t was yet necessary to
my comfort to receive the assurance from
his own lips. II any wrong had been done
HIM, if any word of hnr>hness IN the impn-
licnce or excitement Of duty had escaped
me, was ready myself To ask also for Tor
giveness hnd hardly asked the question
be fore he exclaimed. "What have you done
10 me, Captain Mckenzie what have you
done TO nc, sir: Nothing, but trca, me like
man." told him, IN Justification of the
course ] was pursuing, that had high res.