The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-17
Those who have read the histories of JosAru,

Those who have read the histories of JONATHAN
WILD and CLAUDE DUvAL will remember how
gaily these worthless bore themselves on the road
from the dungeon TO the gallows ENCOURAGED
by the excited crowd that followed the hurdle on
which they rode to execution, and which sur
rounded the scaffold from which they made their
last bow and final exit, the heroic scoundrels
passed out Of life with exemplary courage and
selfpossession. Hanging an everyday oc-
currence in those rough times, and people of all
classes and of both sexes, focked to the places
where these dismal tragedies were enacted. They
made so light of the punishment the felon vas
about to undergo, and were so vociferous in
applaudng his brave bearing, that he was, as It
were, compelled to maintain to the last calm
and defiant air. His reckless comrades, too. de-
rived no little consolation from such scenes.
They saw that worthless and degraded life vas
in some measure redeemed in the worlds ewes bv
gallant death, and every stout-hearted rascal
looked forward without dread to the hour when
he, too, might expiate his crimes amidst a sym-
pathizing and admiring multitude. In his ESSAY
upon the Increase of Robbers" published very
many years ago, FIELDING attributed the growth
of crime i'll London TO the manner in which exc
cutions were conducted. He said, "the day ap-
pointed by law for the thief's shame, is the day
"of glory in his own opinion. His procession
ito Tyburn, and his last moments there are all
triumphant; attended with the compassion of
1.-THE meek and tender-hearted, and with the ap.
ii-'------- colonization. a~I -------o-
''hardened. His behaviour in his present con-
"dition-not the crimes, how atrocous soeyer
(Which brought him to it-are the subject of
Contemplation. And if he hath sense enough
"to temper his boldness with any degree of de-
"cency, his death is spoken of by many with
"horror, by most with pity, and by all with
appreciation Nor were the ill-effects produced
by executions, so conducted, confined to male
factors and their associates. The whole popula-
ton was rendered more brutal by such spectacles,
and it is the boast of our age that the populace
has no relish for the disgusting and bloody
scenes which our forefathers delighted to
witness. THAcKERAY, when moralizing
about times changes speaks thus of Tyburn
hill "Were a man brought to die there now,
''the windows would be closed and the inhabi-
Giants keep their houses in sckening horror A
"hundred years back, people crowded to that last
'it. SWIFT laughed at him. grimly advising him
"to provide a Holland shirt and white cap,
Crowned with crimson or black ribbon for his
''exit, TO mount the cart cheerlully-shake hands
with the hengman and so-farewell GAY
"wrote the most delightful ballads and made
merry over the same hero. Contrast these with
'the writings of our present humorists Com
those nInralc md
"ours'
we are unwilling 10 think that THACKERAY has
congratulated US too soon upon our improved
morals and manners, but we are forced to admit
that he has selected an unlucky example by which
to illustrate the change. He asSuredly has erred
in this respect, if the English and American peo-
pie are as much alike now they were in days
gone by. Within fortnight we have been called
upon to give our readers an account of two exc
BUTTONS, which were conducted after the manner
OF the last century. That of HARDEN, at Belyi-
dere' we nave already commented on. The day
on which it took place was, as all know, gala
day in that quiet little village whose streets reek
ed with debauchery. and resounded with obscene
and rioous noises. But the circumstances sur
rounding the execution of Hicks on Friday, sur
passed, it is to be hoped any that have disgraced,
or will disgrace similar occasion in this country
The wretched being was carried upon the
steamer Red Jacket to Bedloe's Island, where
the galows erected. Two or three
hundred invited guests were on board, among
Whom were several aldermen and actors,
land many persons known by their connection
with pugilism." The estmable Marshal RYN-
DERs had determined, it seems, that his
prisoner should be escorted by congenial compa-
ny. There was a bar on board the steamer,
which was literally patronized during the trip"
ana In addition 10 these kind provisions for his
comfort, the prisoner and his party were conside-
raely taken up the river TO see the Great Eastern
before the former was taken down the river to be
hanged. But those who had managed to obtain
passage on the Red Jacket were not to be the sole
spectators of the hideous event of the day. The
Ch'copee was on hand with her full complement
of passengers whom the following announcement
had brought together:
ITO! FOR THE EXECUTION.-THE
- beautiful and commodous steamboat CHICoPEE
VIII eaVe this city on Friday morning. the purpose of
an on board an opportunity of witnessing the
execution OF John Hicks, the pirate The boat will lie
near the island until the ceremonies are over This will
pe hne chance for captains and scattering men gen
orally to view the exit of of the atrocious of
these scourges of their profession The CHICOPEE will
er1odrds run the North rirer as far as West Point
taxing IN view of the Great Eastern
The John 4. Lockwood was also to be seen
steamlng for the same point On this vessel was
assembled band of choice spirits, who were on
their way to meet the renowned HEENAN, who
was hourly expected in the Vanderbilt, and they,
TOO, proposed to 'le the island until the GER
"emonies were over" But we cannot enumerate
the boats of every shape and size which were that
morning rowed, sailed and padded to Bedloe' $
Island. They were clustered SO closely together
in front of the scaffold that the blue water could
scarcely be discerned between them, and the space
they covered was estimated by acres When
HICKS assembled the platform, the crowd, as it caught
sight of him, q commenced yelling and hooting,
and crying out to those on shore down in
front " Amid this uproar he was launched
INTO the other world, and the last thing he saw in
TINS, was the schooner which his murderous
deed was done. She had been repainted and re-
htted for the occasion, and some thoughtful being
mad stationed her where Hicks could not fail TO
see her. Her flag, on which her name was bla.
zoned, Haunted before him until his glazed eve
49,
were some of the incidents connected with tho
spectacle which the people are now and then in
vited to look upon for their ed6cation. These
evidences of the brutal tastes and depraved pas
sions of portion of our population are furnished,
re it remembered, from the wealthiest and largest
city on the continent-the very centre of our
civilization. As we reflect upon the ribaldry and
levity which characterized the mob at Bedloe's
Island. we Disposal tn Doubt u-botbn- n --o~aa
assemblage would have collected in London a
hundred years ago TO witness similar exhibition.
Certain it is, that if the present custom of execu-
ting malefactors in public is not soon abandoned,
the population of our larger cities will, within
very brief period, reach point of decentralization
that will preclude us from drawing any contrast
between this and by-gone generations that are
altogether favorable to the former
HE GREAT EcLpsE.-The eclipse of the sun,
winch takes place tomorrow morning, is one of
'ne great events of the year, and will be made the
means OF deciding many important points of scienti
nc interest. The Smithsonian Institute, in con-
junction with other societies have despatched ex-