Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-02-14
The Lat Days CT Jefteys one of tie Atro cious
Judges
From The Netc Voiumes Of Macauiay's History


OF EHgfdHd.)
Among the many offenders whose names were
mentioned in the course of these inquiries was
one who stood alone and nnapproached in guilt
and infamy. and whom wings and tories
equally willing to leave TO the extreme rigor of
the law. On that terrible day which was succeed
ed by the Irish Night, the of great city
disappointed OF its revenge had followed Jetfreys
To the dra Sbiidge Of the Tower. His imprison-
lnent not strictly LEGAL; but he at first accep-
ted with thanks and blessings the protection which
those dark walls made famous by so many crimes
and sorrows, afforded him against the fury of
the multitude. Soon, however. he became sen
sible that his life still in imminent peril.
For time he fattered himself with the hope
that writ of hdbeaS corpus would lberate him
from his confinement, aud that he should be able
10 steal away to some foreign country, and to hide
himself with part of his i'll gotten wealth from
the detestation of mankind; government
was settled there was no court competent to
grant writ of habeas corpus, and as soon rs the
government had been settled the habedS corpus
act was saep~ndcd Whether the legol guilt of
murder could be brought home to Jeffreys may
be doubted. Bat he, was morally guilty Of 80 many
murders. that if there had heen no other way of
reaching his lie, retrospective Act of Attain
der wou d have been clamoruusly demanded by
the whole nation. a disposition to triumph over
the fallen has neucr been one of the besetting
sin Of English men; bat the hatred OF which JEFF
freys was the object was without parellel in
our history, and partook but too largely of the
savagrness of hi, own nature.
The people, where he was concerned, were as
cruel as himself, and exulted in his misery as he
had been accustomed to exult in the misery of
conviets listening to the sentence of death, and
# families clad in mourning. The rabbe con.
greg ttcd before his deserted before his deserted
mansion in Duke street, and read on the door
with shouts of laughter the bills which announ-
ED the sale of his property. Even the delicate
women,who had tears for highwaymen and house
breakers hrea he'd nothing hut vengeance against
him. The lampoons on him which were hawked
about the town were distinguished by an atroo-
ty rare even in those days. hanging would be
too mild adeath for him; a grave under the gibbet
too respectable resting place; he ought to be
whipped to death at the carts tail; he ought to be
tortured like an Indian: he ought to devoured
alive.
The street poets portioned out all hi. joints
with cannibal terocity, and competed how many
pounds of steak might be cut from his well fat
tened carcas. Nay, the rage of his enemies was
such that in language seldom heard In England
they proclaimed their wish that he might go to
the place of waiing and gnashing of teeth. to
The worm that never dies, TO the fire that is never
quenohed. They exhored him to hang himself
IN his carriers. aud to cut his throat with razor
They put up horrible prayers that he might not
be able to repent, that he might die thu. same
hard-hearted, wicked Jetfreys that he had lived.
His spirit as mean in adversely as nsolent and
Inhuman in prosperity sank down under the
load of public adherence. His constitution,
originally bad, aud much impaired by intern,
prranee, was completely broken by distress
and anxiety.
lie was tormented by a cruel internal disease
which the most skiful Surgeons of that age
We're seldom able to relieve. One solace was
lett to him-brandy. Even when he had causes
10 Try ana councils to attend he had seldom gone
to bed SOBER Now, when he had nothing to
occupy his mind save terrible recoections and
terrible foreboding', he abandoned himself with.
cut reserve to his fnvorite vice. Many believed
hlm 10 be bent ON shortening his life hy excess.
lie thought 1t better, they said, to O., off in IA
drunken TT than to be hacked by Ketch, or torn
limb from limb by the ropulace
ono" he was reused from state of ahiect
dependency by an agreeable sensation. speedily
followed by mnrtyine disappointment. A
parcel had been left for him al the Tower. 1t
appeared To be barrel IF Chichester oysters, hi.
iAVonte daIntes. He greatly moved: for
'n,fe are moments when those who least deserve
au'cli n are pleased to think that they INSPIRE
1t. Thank God" he exclaimed Il have sin
some friends left" IL opened the barrel: and
ifnm among ii heap ii shells ont tumbled stou,
halter
IT does not appear that one of the hattcrcrs
or huh'"nS whom he had enriched out of the
fl"hder OF his victims came to comfort him in
tho day OF trouble. But he wa. not left in utt.r
solitude. John Tutchin, whom he had sentec,d
I" ne h'gged ev"ry fortnight for seven wears.
maze ms way INTO the Tower. aud presented
himself before the fallen oppres>or P,.or jeff
rays humhled to the DUST behaved with adi.ct
eiv'lty, and called for wine. Il ain glad. sir.n
he sud TO see you" And am glad" answer
ed the resentful whig, ITO see your lord,hip in
this place" Il served my master" said Jetfrevs.
Il was bound in conscience to do So" Where
was you conscience" said Tutchn "when Won
PASSED that sentence on me at Dorchesterl" 1T