Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-05
Browns Interview with his Wife.


all j. quiet again rorr. of Bait. san.
Browns Interview with his Wife.
learn from Captain Avis, the jailnr, that
the interview between the prisoner and hls
WIFE. was characteristic Of the man, and the
directions gwen Tor the management and
distribution 81 his property embraced all
the minor details IF Il last will and tesla
mrnt General Talialerro WAS also present,
and Captain Brown urged that his wife be
allowed t. remain with him all night. To
this the General refused Ia assent. allowing
them but four hours. On first meeting they
kissed and afectionntely embraced. and Mrs.
Brown she'd few tears. but Immediately
checked her feeling They stood embraced
and She Sohhng for nearly five minutes, and
he was apparently unable 10 speak. The
prisoner only gave way for moment and
was soon calm and collected and remained
firm throughout the interview. At the close
they shook hands but did not embrace, and
as they parted he said "iud bless you and
the children" Mrs Brown replied, God
have mercy on you,' aud continued calm
until she lett the Room. when she remained
in tears few moments and then prepared
to depart The interview took place in the
parlor Of Captain Avis. and the prisoner was
free from manacles of any kind
They then sat side by side on the sofa. and
after discussing family matters. proceeded to
business. He stated TINT he desired his pr :
perty to pass entirely into her possession, and
appeared TO place full confidence in her abil-
ity IT, manage II properly Tor the benefit OF
his younger children. lie requested her to
remain at North Elba, in New York, on the
farm where she now resides. which belongs
to her. He was DESTROYS that his younger
children should be educated, and il she could
not obtain facilities for their education at
home, to have them ssnt to a boarding school
lie then gave direction. and dictated to Sher-
i'll Campbell his will, which directed that all
his property should 60 To his wife, with the
exception of few presents and requests
which he made. To one of his sons he gave
Il double spy-slass; to another one II watch; to
another he gave directions that he should
take tomb or monument that marks the
grave of his father, ut North Elba,
and have engraved on it his name,
age, and the manner OF his death--to
gether with the cause for which he had suffer
North Elba rs longaS his family resides there.
IL each of his children he bequeathed the
sum oi $50 aud to each of his daughters u
bible, to cost 80 each, - he purchased out of
money coming e. him from his fathers es-
tate: also, bible to cost So to be presented
Ia each of his grand-chidren: and that S5O
each be- paid to three individuals whom he
named, it they can be found if not, to
their legal representatives, directing the best
manner by which their present localities can
tie a>rcrinlurd.
During the course of the conversation Mrs.
Bsuwn asked hun il he had heard that der
rat Smith had become insane, and had been
sent 10 in Asylum at Utica. He replied that
he had read Of it in the papers, aud was sor
+, to hear it, but Immediately changed the
subject
The subject Of the death of his two sons
was spoken Of, and, Mrs. Brown remarked
that she had made some effort whilst ut llar-
pcr'- Ferry for the recovery OF their bodies.
~ which object she SAID Col. Barbour lad
kindly consented to give his assistance
Captain Brown remarked that he would also
like the remains u the two Thompsons re-
moved If they could hs found, but suggested
that il would be best 10 take his body with
the nodes o has four sons, and get pile of
pine logs aud burn them all together that
1t would be much better and less expensive
t, thus gather up all their ashes together and
take them to their final resting place. Sher-
III Campbell told him that this would not be
permitted within the State, and Mrs. Brown
objected Ia the proposition alt,,grther.
The PRISONER said that h, contemplated his
death with rumpusure and calmness. 1t
would undoubtedly bo pleasant to live longer.
tnt u, il was the vii Of Cid he should close
his career he wus content. Ii was doubt
less best that he should bs thu, legally muir
dercd Tor the good Of the cause, and lie was
pr.ua,el t. submit To Ills will without
murlner. Mrs Brown becoming depressed
a. these remarks, he bJ her cheer up, and
told her that his body would soon be with
her, and that they would be united again IN
Heaven
Win regard t. his execution. he said he
desired no religious ceremonies either III the
Jail or on til. sruti"id, from ministers who
consent to or approve Of slavery that he would
prefer to be accompanied un the ,cntfnld by
dozen slave children and "a good old slave
mother Gor. ~ Bait. Inner.
T,yuS MEgrU,ST>' IIrFN>ES Col. Ben