New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-19

mt1d-s0 much the more easily, perDdpsi az cNoiy-
hCdys attention was drawn to Wilson, who was
stronger nan, ard who, attempting to foilow Robert
son. was seized by the soldiers and struggled no long
with them that the two who at last followed Rooer'-
son were too late. II was reported that ne nad main-
tanned his struggle that he might let h!s companion
have time. That might be his second thought but his
first certainly was to escape timse for saw him set
his foot on the seat TO leap over, when the soldiers
pulled him back. Wilson was immediately carried out
to the Toltooth and Robertson getting uninterrupted
through tie Parliament Square, down the back-stalrs
into Ire Cowgate was heard OF no more i' he arrived
in Holland. This an interesting scene, and by h
ing the public mind with compassion for the unhappy
person who did not escape, and who was the better
character Of the two had probably some influence III
producing what followed for wbentbe sentence against
Wilson came TO be executed lew weeks , 20
force the Town Guard whose duty is to attend exc
cutions under the order of a civil magistrate: -
There was a Captain Porteous, WHO by his good be-
havor in the army had obtained suoaitern commiS
sion. and had aferward when OH bali-pay, been pre-
ferred to the command of the City Guard. This man
by his skill III manly exercises particularly the gon
and by gentlemsnly behavior, was admitted INTO the
company Of his suPeiiors which eateo ms I'm na m o aau
much hated and feared by the mob oil Edinourgh.
When the day OF execution came, the rumor OF ae-
forctmentat the gaows prevailed strongly; and the
Provost Magistrates mot IN their own minus Ver!
,trono tbought il good to apply for three or
fonr eompauies of marching regiment that lay III the
Canongate TO be drawn up III the Lawnnaket astreet
leading from the 1olbooth to the GrassDafket the
nace Of execution, in order to overawe the mob by
their being at hand. Porteous who, 1t Is SAID had his
natural courage increased to rage by any suspicion that
he and bis Guard could not execute the law, and being
heated likewise with wme-ior be hhd dihed, as the
custom then was, between one and twO-became per-
fecly furious when he passed by the three companies
drawn UP in the street ss he marched along with his
prisoner.
north tide of Grassmarkel for his pupils and me, in
the second hoor about seventy or eighty yards west
ward of the place Of execution, where he went In due
time 10 see the show; TO which had no snail aver
sion having seen one at Dumfies, the execution OF
Jack Jolnstone, which shocked me very much. When
we arrived at the house, some people who were look.
ing from the windows were displaced, and went to
window III The common starr ABOUT Two ieet below the
level of ours The street is long and wide, and there
was very great crowd assembled The execution
went on with the usual forms and Wilson behavedina
manner very becoming bis situation There was not the
least aprcarunce OF an attempt 10 rescue but soon
after the eH ecuoneer had done lis Duty there was an
attack made upon him. usual on such occasions, by
the bows and blackguards throwing stones and dirt IN
testimony of their abhorene9 oi the hangman. But
there wac no attempt to break through the guard and
cut down the prisoner. Ii was generally said that
there wac very tle if any, more violence than had
usually happened on such oecasious Pprteous, how
ever naned with wine and jealousy, thought proper
10 order his Guard 10 fire. their mnskets being loaded
with spgs snd when the soldiers showed reluctance,
saw Linn turn 10 them with threatening gesture aud
| an nAaned countenance. They obeyed, and hred
bpt wishing to do ne little harm possible, many Of
,bnm eeYaeS their pieces the effect Of which wasthat
| some pcople were wounded in the windows and one
unfortunate lad, whom we had displaced, was KILLED IN
the stair-window by slug entering his head. His
name was Henry Black lourneyman tailor, whose
bride was the daughter Of the house they were in She
tainted away when he was brought into the house
gpeechiess where he only lived Till nine or ten O'Clock
Ne had seen many PEOPLE women and men, fall on tic
street and at hIst thought was only through fear,
end bv their crow ding another TO escape. Bat
Uben The crowd dispersed saw them lying dead or
,rou,ded and had no longer any doubt OF what bad
happened The numbers were said to be ght or re
kiIIed ard double the number woundedi but this was
never exactly known.
peorle to tie last and Tie state Of grief and rage into
which their inds were thrown was visible in the high
commotion that appeared Ia The multitude Onr tutor
was very anxious TO have all safe In our lodgings
but durs not venture out to If 1t was practicable
10 20 home / offered TO GO went; and soon returned,
offering TO conduct them safe 10 our lodgngs, which
were only half way down the Lawnmaiket by what
was called the Castle Wynd, which was just NJ hand,
to the westward There we remained safely, and
were not allowed TO stir out any more that night TIL
about pine o'clock when the streets having long been
ouiet we all grew anxious 20 learn the fate Of Henry
BLACK and Nv a. allowed 10 60 back 20 the house L
took the younger Maxwell with me, and fond that he
had expired an hour before we arrived. a single slug
had peetrated the side Of bis head an inch above the
ear The sequel of this affair was that Porleons was
tried and condemned to be hanged but by the inter.
cesson of some of tue Judges themselves, who thought
his case bard he repneyed by the Queen-ltegent
mer acted weakly designed 10 have removed him TO
the Castle for greater security But plot was laid
| and conducted by some pertons unknown with tho
greatest ecresy policy and vigo to prevent that de-
sign by forcing the prison the night before and eXee
ing The sentence noon bin themselves which 10 effect
uate cost them from eight at night Till two In the morn
ing; and vet this plot managed sodexterony that
they met with no interruption, though there were five
CON panies of marching regiment lyihg In the Canon
| gate.
This happened On the 9TH Of September, 1876; and
urepogeessed were the minds )f every person that
| something extraordinary w9ull take Place that day,
that J. st Pree;oDpans, nine miles from Edinburgh,
| dreamed that saw Captain Porteous hanged III the
| Gy1issnarket. got up betwiXt six and seven and
went TO my fathers servant who thrsshing in the
| barn which lay on the roadside leading 10 AbeIhdy
| and North Berwick, who said that several nen ON
hor sebaek had passed about FIVE III the morning, whom
having asked for news, they replied there was nohe
but tfat Captain Porteous had been dragged out OF
prison and hanged on dyors tree at two clock that
morning
Some uneasiness was given to the Government
| by this bold and lawless act, ard it was repre-
sented as part Of plot against the Government
| itself But not one of the murderers was ever
dscoyered and, twenty years afterward, two or
| three persons returned to Scotland who were
supposed to be of the number.
The personal sketches he gives Of some Of his
companions who have made great names in liter
ature are exceedingly interesting. Here is
pleasant picture;
It was alse In one Of those years that Smoett visited
Scotland for the first time after having left Glasgow
Immediately after bis education finished, and his
engaging as surgeons mate on board q man-ofwar,
which gave him opportunity Of witnessing the siege
Of CaIhagens which nc bas minutely described IN
his Roderiek Random. lie sane out to MusSeiburgh
-, "a ,rifh nd nj