Eastern times., 1856-04-24
A Remarkable Story.
So mote it be

A Remarkable Story.
The following singular story is taken from
illustrations of Human Life,' by Mr.. Ward,
author OF Tremaine
"The story to which we shall now advert
has the double value of being told, we pre-
sumo, ons Mr.. Wards personal knowledge,
and Of illustrating the extraordinary chances
on which human life is sometimes suffered TO
depend. The circumstances occurred TO the
well known Sir"Evan Nepean, in the Home
department. The pop@a- 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 un-
der-Secrctary's neglect in forwarding the re-
prieve. On Sir Evans being subsequently
asked how far this story was true, his answer
was: The narrative 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 unaccountabe wake fulness 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 his
attempts TO sleep impossible, and from eleven
till two in the morning, he never closed an
eye. At length weary of this struggle, and
as the twilight was breaking lit was in sum
mer,) he determined to try what would be the
effect of walk in the park. There he saw
nothing but the sleep" "sentnels. But, in his
walk, happening to pass the Home Office sew
eral times, he thought of letting himself in
with his key, though without any particular
object. The book of entries Of the day before
still lay on the table, and through sheer list
lessness he opened it. The first thing he saw
appalled, him-'A reprieve 10 be sent 10 York
for the coiners ordered for execution The
execution had been appointed for the next day.
1t struck him that he had received no return
TO his order TO send the reprieve. He searched
the minutes > he could not find it there. In
alarm, he went to the house of the chief clerk,
who lived in Downing street, knocked him up,
Git was then past three,) and asked him if he
knew anything of the reprieve being sent. In
great alarm, the chief clerk could not remem-
Der. You are scarcely awake said Sir
Evan, 'recelect yourself; it must have been
SENT
The clerk said he now recollected he had
, sent it to the clerk of the Crown, whose busi-
ness it was TO forward it TO York.
Good said Sir Evan. But have you his
receipt and certificate that it is gomez
NO
Then come with me, we must find him a
though i; is so early 1t was now four, and
the clerk of the Crown lived in Chancery lane.
There was no hackney-coach to be seen, and
: they almost ran. They were just in time
The clerk of the crown had country house,
: and, meaning TO have long holiday, he was
at that moment stepping into his gig to 60 to
his villa. Astonished at this visit of the un-
der-Secretary of State at such an hour, he was
still more at his business.
up in my desk' 1t was brought. Sir Evan
sent to the post office for the truest and fleet
est express. The reprieve reached York next
; morning just at the moment the unhappy men
were ascending the cart.
With Sir Evan Nepean we fully agree in
regarding this little narrative as one of the
most extraordinary that we have ever heard.
We shall 90 further even than he acknowl-
edged, and say that, to US it appears striking
: evidence of what we should conceive superb
! or interposition. 1t is true that no ghost ap'
pears, nor is any prompting voice audible
e yet the result depended upon so long success
' sion Of seeming chances, and each of these
: chances was at once so improbable and so ne
I cessary, that we are almost compelled to re
: gard the whole as matter OF an influence no
/, to be attributed to man. If the first link O.
y the chain might pass for common occurrence
: as, undoubtedly fits of wakefulness will
y happen without any discoverable ground in the
. state of either body or mind--stil, what could
+ be less in the common course of things, thar
+ thus waking, he should take it into his heac
+ to get up and take walk in the park at two
: in the morning Yet, if he had, like others
il contented himself with taking walk in hi
t, chamber, or enjoying the cool air at his win
n dow, not one of the succeeding events coul'
IF have occurred, and the men must have beef
/, sacrificed. Or if when he took his walk, h