Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-18
A REMARKABLE STORY.

TON "1lluStEallOHS Vi AAuHlSI A-LiCp W
Mr.. Ward, author of Tremaine:
The story of which we shall now ad-
vert has the double value of being told,
we presume, on Mr.. Wards personal
and of Illustrating the extra
ordinary chances on which human life is
suffered to depend. The circumstances
occurred to the we'll known Sir Evan
Nepean, in the Home department. The
popular version of the story had been,
that he was warned by vision to save
the lives of three or four men condemned
to die, but reprieved; and who, but for
the vision, would have perished, through
the under-Secretary's neglect in forward
ing the reprieve. On Sir Evans being
subsequently asked how far this story
was true, his answer was :-"The nara
tive romances little, but what it alludes
to was the most extraordinary thing that
ever happened to me-" The simple facts
as told by himself are these One night
during his Office as under secretary, he
felt the most unaceountable wakefulness
that could be imagined; he was in perfect
health, had dined early, and had nothing
whatever on his mind to keep him awake.
Still, he found all attempts to sleep i'm
possible, and from eleven till two in the
morning, he never closed his eyes. At
length weary of this struggle, and as the
twilight was breaking (it was in summer)
he determined to try what whould be the
effect of a walk in the park. There he
saw nothing but the sleepy sentinals.-
But, in his walk, happening to pas the
Home Office several times, he thought of
letting himself in with his key, though
without any particular object. The book
of entries ofthe day before still lay on
the table, and through sheer hstlessness
he opened it. The first thing he saw
appalled, him-s.A reprieve to be sent to
York for the coiners ordered for execu-
tion." The execution had been appoint.
ed for the next day. 1t struck him that
he had received no return to his order tc
send the reprieve. He searched the
minutes he could not find it there. Ii
alarm, he went to the house of the head
clerk, who lived in Downing street
knocked him up, CIEwas rnen pass ss.-0e1
and asked if he knew anything ofthe re
prieve being sent. In great alarm, tht
chief clerk could not remember. "Yol
! are scarcely awake" said Sir Evan, "re
collect yourself; it must be sent"
The clerk now recollected he had sen
it to the clerk of the Crown, whose busi
ness it was to forward it to York.
"Good," said Sir Evan. "But hav
! you his receipt and certificate that it
gomez"
mo"
''Then come with me we must fin
a him although it is SO early"
t 1t was near four, and the clerk of tn
/ Crown lived in Chancery Lane. Their
n was no hackney coach to be seen, an
t they almost ran. They were just in time
The clerk of the crown had a countr
house, and, meaning to have a long no
iday, he was at that moment stepping il
n to his gig to go to his villa. Astonishe
d at this visit of the under-Secretary
4 State at such an hour, he was still MOI
IS so at his business.
e "Heavens " cried he, "the reprieve
1t locked up in my deskT it was brougt
!, Sir Evan sent it to the post Office for tt
G truest and heetestexpress. The reprie'
a. reached York next morning just as Il
Of unhappy men were ascending the cart.
4: With Sir Evant Nepenn We full
se agree in regarding this little narrative
50 one of the most extraordinary that y
ss have ever heard. We shall go furth
es even than he acknowledged, and say tn
P to US it appears striking evidence of VIII
y, we should conceive superior interF
N sition. 1t is true that no ghost appea
n nor is any prompting voice audible; J
Sc the result depended upon so long 81
e, cession of seeming chances and each
IN these chances was at once so improbat
en- and so necessary, that We are aim
to compelled to regard the whole matter
as an influence not to be attributed to ms
.ss IF the first link Of the chair might p;
nd for common occurrence-as undou
th edly fits wakefulness willhappen wi
in, out any discoyerable ground in the st;
" of either body or mind-still what col
its be less in the common course of thir
IL than, thus waking, he should take it il
h his head to get up and take walk
en- the park at two In the morning! 7
Is il he had, ike others, contented hims
&c, with taking walk in his chamker, or
ilo joying the cool air at the window,
one of the succeeding events could ha
o. 4 A.