The Sun. — 1820-09-05 (London, England)

AUG. 30.—The sentence against James IVilson was this day carried into execution.  In the course of tire forenoon, parties of the ad Dragoon Guards patroled the streets, and large parties of strangers flocked into the town. About half past one, detachments of the 3d Dragoons, the Rifle Brigade, and 33d Foot, were posted at the place of execution. They were placed in front of the jail, which they completely guarded, as well as the south and north ends of the building. During the night, the drop had been placed, and a platform, wit!. sawdust sprinkled on it, was attached for the purpose of decapitating the body. The Court Hall being filled by people, the Magistrates entered it•, at a few minutes to two o'clock; but before this time, a hurdle with a horse, was plated at the south door of the building. A very few minutes before two o'clock Wilson entered the hall. His arms were pinioned, and he was dressed in white, edged with black. The Reverend Mr. EwING delivered an address. He said that the present example would show that the tranquillity of the country was not to be endangered with impunity. Whatever may he our political opinions, we must all wish that. such au example will not again be necessary. It is our duty to Assist the prisoner with our prayers; and I can assure you of all the cases of a like kind, with which I ever was connected, never was it more necessary.—Mr, ,!;wing then directed the first five verses of the fifty-first Psalm to he sung, which was done with great fervour by 'the audience, and the prisoner appeared to join. Dr. Dewar prayed; and-Airected the Ith to the 12th verses of thesarnePsabn to be sung.  At three o'clock, the prisoner was condt3cted to the south side of the jail. He, along with the 'person who was to decapitate, was placed in the -hurdle, and drawn to the steps leading to the drop. So soon as WiJion ascended the drop, the crowd cheered him, crying " Murder, Murder," and hissed. Not more than three minutes elapsed from the time Wilson entered the hurdle until the drop fell. He died with difficulty; and, after he had hung about twenty minutes, blood was seen on his cap, opposite the ears. At twenty-five minutes past three o'clock, the body was drawn up, and laid on spokes across the eotfin, with the face downwards. It was now lifted to the trough, intended fur receiving the head., Several minutes were spent in adjusting the body, and the officers had retired, when it was found necessary to return to the body. The dress was slated and removed from the naps. An awful pause now ensued ; but at last the person who was to decapitate a-cended the steps. He was low in stature, and apparently.young. - He was masked, had on a hairy cap, and a large black cloak. He carried in his left hand an axe, with a circular edge. He was greeted with hisses and yells. He proceeded in the calmest manner to the body, and felt the neck. He deliberately lifted the instrument, and with one blow separated the head from the body. He instantly lifted the head with bath hands, and held it up to the crowd. The features were pale and ghastly, and the blood fell in streams. The expression of horror from the crowd was so loud that it could nut he known that the decapitator said any thing when he exhibited the head: That part of the sentence which related to quartering was remitted by order of his Majesty's Government. The crowd, which was immensely large, dispersed peaceably.  . _ Wilson was an old man.—He was grey-haired, and Was partly bald. He moved more like a machine than a human being. and appeared to be completely passive. His character was that of a wean-minded man, more' food of shooting gaMe than following his trade—a hosier. On his trial -he was described by one of the witnesses at 'an old reformer; and is said to have been busr.at the tine of the'Friends of the POpie in 1793. Great exertion was Made to obtain the royal clemency, to which Wilson was recom.itended.  T!!e Warw ickshire Ad vertiser' contains the following paragraph, which. was probably comriinicated. by De. ,