The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-06-20 (London, England)

SERMON AT NEWGATE.  Yesterday the unhappy men who were ordered for execution this day, were ushered to the Chapel of Newgate, to attend upon their last act of public devotion, to witness which much publi: curiosity was excited. About half.past.ten they took their seats in the condemned pew, whither they were attend:Nl by Mr. Baker, who evinced that unremitting attention fur which he has long been so conspicuous on those melancholy occasions. The Psalms, Lessons and Collects, Gospels, &c. appointed for the day, were peculiarly appropris:ed to the solemn service, so much so that the Rev. Mr. Cotton (the Or, dinair,chose his text from a passage from the latter, as the motto for his sermon. The unhappy men conducted themselves with mat decorum, and some of them with apparent devotion, during dm time the Liturgy was reading, and their three unhappy companions (Durso, Guff, and Crawley) who are ordered for execution on 31onday next, paid devout attention. At the conclusion of the service, Smith, who is to suffer fur burglary, wee from his seat, and addressed his fellow =deters in an affectionate manner, iticulcatiog the duty of patience under their affliction, and enjoined 'ha Lecessitv to trust in God, who aloce could help them. He also implored those who had been his late companions in the cell, but whose lives were spared, to iaAprove that trove which had b.een extended, in following honest pursuit., and treading in the path of virtue. This address, front a Iran whose tongue wa. to be so soon silenced, apprized to poitlitce a serious effect upon all who heard him. _ •- _ . .  With respect to Probert, we have already stated that he had entertained a sanguine hope of commutation of his awful sentence, from the moment of his conviction. lie frequently listens with ardenrat tendon to the conversation of the Ordinary and Mr. Baker; but at the same dine the strong &sire lie has to lire too often evinced it -if in his devotional exercises, which were thereby interrupted. On the arrival of the death warrant, the convicts (34 in numbee) were placed in lines around the condemned room, in order to be apprised of their fate. After the dreadful message had been delivered. Probert became exceedingly agitated, and a cold sweat flowed from his face. The unhappy man, with his death-like baud, grasped that of Mr. Baker, and said, " Oh, Sir is there no hope ; is it to be thus ?" Sargeant appears to have been long known as connected with horse dealers of a doubtful character ; and he considers, as appears by a letter we have seen, that he is sacrificed as a cate ion to others. There are, he says, several men in great business, whom he calls " Knobs," who are implicated in the nefarious practice. Yesterday 3lr. Ware, budder, in the City-road, the prosecutor in Sergeant's c•se) wrote to the prisoner, and informed him, that if he would give information where his horse could be found, he would make a pecuniary remuneration to his wife. The inalefactor returned fm answer, to the following effect " Sir, if you will bring a horse and cart to the front of Newgate, at nine on Monday morning, and take me with you, I'll give you the required information !" Harper as well as Sergeant, is extremely callous—the former makes • jest of death, and told a friend on Saturday that he should have a precioas drop on Monday morning. The unhappy non (with the exception of Probert, who stopped back to write some letters) attended Service in the Chapel in the afternoon. At the conclusion of which Harper and Sergeant waved their hands, and vociferated, `• Good bye, God bless you," &c. which produced a particular effect on the female prisoner!. some ill Sebum tell into hysterics, and others exclaimed, "Ah ! you are Murdered !" The miserable men were then re•conducted to their cells, , after which the culprits became more composed i but, with the exception of Smith, they by uo means appeared resigned to their tate.