Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-04-13

At tho request of several friends with great pleasure
insert the following letter from Reed of the unfortunate
sailors lately espcd by the President Our readers will per-
ceve has truth deeply impressed upon It's face and was
wreu as we are firmly convinced, without las he himself
says) a "Iay Of Eope' for pardon.
The statement he udcs 10 enclosed in the letter to
his father the only statement confession he has ever
made and he has we learn consistently maintained its TRUTH
throughout rc painful ordeal he has passed through Il
was published in the Republican of last month"; Active
er,ions will be made the pardon Of this truly unfo
tunae man. ~
RICHMOND, Va. April 4Tn 1852
Nv dear and aiiccunate Fathcr:-l redeem pro-
mise OF SEEDING you tue and accua'f statement {" e
unfortunate affair for which am to suffer death on the 9Th
of this MONTH which shall enclose in this, my last and
farewell letter to You Ny kind md generous friend und
schoOlma,e M--D-, has been TO Washington and pre-
sentrd my petition together with several letters of
mendation, the President for consideration, and has
returned without ray Of hope for pardon. | must say
he acted most nobiy und generously in my behalf,
but without effect, and for his kindness he has my
heartfelt thanks and which hope, my dear father and
brothers. you will reward and remember. He comes here
often me- and in grief goes away. Before you
ceve this my nel will be determined by The Judge Of
all The earth In few days the almost inevitable sentence
Of death will be put into execution that will either raise me
TO the heights OF happiness or SINK me 10 The depths OF
misery and while you read these lines Will be grooming
under the agoncs Of despair enjoying the peace OF the
the present disposition f my SOUL the great uncertainty
fear. No words describe my appchensions. Every
fear would perfectly overwhrm but for Gods declaTa
tion which says Though your sins be scarlet, they
shall be made white snow and in his great goodness
and mercy in sending his only Jesus Christ into this
wicked world be crucied atoning sacrifice for tho
red rupon of lost mankind. rightly imagined my
perilous situation until During my mssren life !
always had wrong apprchensions of my natnre and my
good God how have employed myself what have been
doing while the in its and the stars in their
have lent their beams, perhaps light TO the world OF
wool Oh in what folly have spent my time since have
been here confined and in what madness have spent III"
years have passed Truly, have The wonderful
works OF the Lord the mighty deep. Many Time have
been preserved from sudden dcath in different shapes.
which only served 10 make the hardened. have
often reoced hear the sound from each masthead OF
icrc she hlowsand would Jump into the whale boat and
laugh all dangers: then rush urionsy ana icaressy
alongside of monstrous whale, and with undaunted
courage would dart the hapoon or lance whilst his hukes
would be foauing dancing my head when almost
one toach from him, would have finished my existence
Scenes IKE these have often met and with FOOLISH cour
age dehed It's terors had thought oany state beyond
the grave nor the great tribunal to which must have 6ecn
summoned is this which makes death appear 10 me now
terrible or could still mock fear. 1t giving up
NV breath which shrink The terrible hercafIer-thc
something beyond the graye-a which reco. never
had Just apprehension of The socnnity Of DEATH mil
now the short space of time which have now got
live is fear far short to make my peace an offend
ed God but cast yself his absolute mercy through
The atonine sacrifice of The Redeener of lost mankind NV
dear YOU already bent beneath the load of years and
pc the tears anguish and for dear departed
mother have not yet been dried 10 family and
they again start afresh the OF the untney
md undeserved death of your prodgal son-but let my
blood be their skirts which have falsely and cruelty