found on our arrival many respectable families already housed. One gentleman, who brought out an iron roof, was housed with all his family, in three days and nights, by lodging his roof on stumps of trees, plastering up the sides, and giving it a good white-washing, which had a most comfortable and novel effect. The climate here is so good, that you have four crops a year. By way of experiment we planted some potatoes just after a rain, and they appeared in three days. The road up to the settlement is very good, and excellent pasturage everywhere for your cattle; plenty of water and timber. Tell Tom to be sure to bring out a waggon; as also some vine slips of the best kind, which are scarce. bacco will grow here very well. About 3000 of us have arrived." To 30th.-GLASGOW.-The sentence against James Wilson was this day carried into execution. The Magistrates entered the Court-hall a few minutes before two o'clock. Some minutes after Wilson entered the hall.His arms were pinioned, and he was dressed in white, edged with black. An address was delivered by the Rev. Mr Ewing, and Dr Dewar prayed. At three o'clock, the prisoner was conducted to the south side of the jail. He, along with the person who was to decapitate, was placed in a hurdle, and drawn to the steps leading to the drop. As soon as Wilson ascended the drop, the crowd cheered him, crying "Murder, murder!" 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 the cap, opposite the ears. At twenty-five minutes past three o'clock, the body was placed in a position for having the operation of decapitation performed. An awful pause now ensued; but at length the person who was to decapitate ascended the VOL. XIII. PART II. 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 up the head with both 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 not be 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. He was Wilson was an old man. greyhaired, 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 weak-minded man, more fond of shooting game than following his trade. Great exertion was used to obtain the royal clemency, to which he had been recommended. SEPTEMBER. 7th.-A public meeting was held yesterday, at the Crown and Anchor, for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee appointed to regulate the subscriptions for presenting to her Majesty a service of plate. The room was numerously filled with well-dressed ladies and gentlemen by two o'clock, at which hour Sir G. Noel and the other gentlemen who Z formed the committee, entered it amid the acclamations of the company assembled. Sir G. Noel was in the chair. Mr C. Pearson read the report, which was of considerable length. It stated that the framers of it had assembled on the 23d of August last, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, and had then passed several resolutions, which it recited, for the purpose of opening a subscription to procure for her Majesty a service of plate suited to her rank as Queen of England, and to the generous feelings which the people felt towards her; that they had requested Mr Alderman Wood to act as their treasurer, and Mr C. Pearson as their secretary, which those gentlemen had undertaken to do; that, though their numbers had originally consisted of only 20 members, it now consisted of 80; that the subscription was not to be confined to the inhabitants of England only, but was to be extended to those of Ireland and Scotland. (Cheers.) Well knowing the influence of virtuous women upon society, they invited the ladies to co-operate with them in their designs; that no person was permitted to subscribe more than 1s. in order to give all classes of the community an opportunity of evincing their respect to her Majesty ; and that those who were able to subscribe more were desired to recollect that they had servants and children, who by their liberality might be enabled to add their mite to those of their fellow-countrymen. This report was then approved; after which Messrs Const, Clarke,. Thelwall, Bowie, Wooller, and Flani. gan, then proposed several resolutions, tending to promote the object for which the meeting was called; after which, Mr Murphy proposed that the following noblemen and gentlemen be requested to accept the office of trustees for the purpose of this subscription, and that the committee be empowered to add to their numbers. The names of the gentlemen proposed were as fol low:-Sir G. Noel, M. P.; Duke of Leinster; Earl of Oxford ; M. Wood, Esq. M. P.; Hon. D. Kinnaird; P. Moore, Esq. M. P.; J. Hume, Esq. M. P.; Ald. Thorp; Ald. Waithman; Major J. Williams; Lord W. Fitzgerald, M. P.; Gen. Sir R. Wilson, M. P.; Sir F. Burdett, M. P.; John C. Hobhouse, Esq. M. P.; Ch. Calvert, Esq. M. P; Ed. Ellice, Esq. M. P.; Sir J. Newport, M. P.; Sir H. Parnell, M. P. The motion was put and carried unanimously. Thanks were then moved and carried to Alderman Wood, and also to Mr C. Pearson, the Rev. R. Hayes, and Dr. Gilchrist, for their exertions in behalf of the object of this meeting. 8th. STIRLING.-EXECUTION OF HARDIE AND BAIRD.-During last night the usual apparatus was erected in front of the stair leading to the Townhouse, and in the morning exhibited two decently ornamented coffins on the platform, with a dark-coloured wood. en block. About 12 o'clock two troops of the Dragoon Guards entered the espla nade before the Castle, and formed a wide semicircle in front of the draw. bridge. Within this a party of the 13th foot drew up. The crowd col lected on the esplanade was inconsider able. At a quarter to one o'clock the Sheriff and Magistrates left the Townhall in procession, and walked to the Castle to receive the prisoners. Im mediately on their arrival the gates of the Castle were thrown open, and Baird and Hardie appeared, attended by the authorities of the garrison and the esta blished clergymen of the town. Baird looked pale and thoughtful; countenance did not seem much altered. With astonishing calmness they bade an affectionate farewell to the of ficers of the corps in the Castle, and expressed warmly their gratitude for the indulgence they had experienced during their confinement. They both Hardie's ted violently, turning round in all directions. Hardie, at the commence. ment of it, sat calmly down on the block, and in rising up paid his respects to an acquaintance whom he saw in the crowd. He then spoke with equal freedom, but less distinctness, and seemed less subdued in spirit. His political conduct appeared uppermost in his thoughts; and the crowd could only hear him say, "I die a martyr to the cause of liberty, truth, and justice." This seemed to operate like a charm on the hitherto sad multitude, and was greeted by three vehement cheers. He was interrupted by the cheering and a tap on the shoulder by the sheriff, to whom he turned round, and replied to whatever had been said to him. He then resumed his address, changing the subject to an expression of his religious feelings. The execu tioner having prepared Baird during the address of Hardie, they were soon both ready to be launched. Having both joined in the prayer of a clergyman behind them, Baird spoke something towards the spectators through his cap, and dropped the signal. They died almost without a struggle. surveyed the ignominious preparation for their removal with dignity, and were kindly assisted to their seat on the hurdle by the clergymen. The headsman in the mask, who decapitated Wilson at Glasgow, took his seat on the hurdle opposite the two victims, with his hatchet resting on his thigh. As he entered, a slight expression of contempt marked the features of Hardie. Baird was busy with a Bible, and spoke a few words to the clergyman next him. The cavalcade began to move down the esplanade, and the prisoners united in singing a psalm till they reached the bottom of the scaffold. Hardie stepped out of the hurdle, and looked up to the drop with out the slightest trace of discomposure. They walked into the court-room, each resting on the arm of a clergyman.With great apparent earnestness they joined in the religious devotions, which lasted till twenty-five minutes past two, when their arms were bound, and they walked with a firm step and elevated mien to the drop. They were followed by the civil authorities and the clergymen. Baird advanced to the railing, and bowed gracefully; a smile was on his countenance, and he expressed a After hanging half an hour, Calder, wish to be heard. Silence being ob- the sheriff's officer, came forward and tained, with a loud unfaltering voice, caught the bodies alternately, whilst he recommended to the understandings the hangman cut them down. They and lives of his hearers the doctrines then placed them on the scaffold, and and precepts of Christianity. We Calder having bared the neck to the shoulders, cutting open the coat and vest, the decapitator came forward amid execrations, hisses, and shouts of "Murder!" One blow aimed at the first neck he engaged failed to sever the head; and a second, with mangling, scarcely effected it. He held it up; it seemed to be that of Hardie, swoln and livid, but placid. The blood trinkled down; the usual proclamation was feebly pronounced, having to come through the crape mask of the headsman. The cries of " Butchery! Ruffian!" were general, but seemed to caught, "Oh! I entreat of you, notice your Bibles, and conduct yourselves soberly; mind religion at all times; but be not regardless of justice and reason on every subject." He then maintained his strong attachment to the cause in which he had been merely imprudent, and declared himself pure in his political purposes. He rejoiced in the knowledge he had obtained of a Saviour, who had likewise suffered innocently; and spoke grate fully of the clerical aid he had enjoy ed. During his address he gesticula make no impression on the operator, who advanced to the next, and was equally unfortunate in his odious work. The mangling horrified the spectators; the head was proclaimed; and the decapitator quickly retreated, amid loudly expressed disapprobation. To the credit of the humanity of the inhabitants of this place, very few attended the execution. The crowd seemed almost entirely composed of people from the country, this being the market-day. Females of any respectability there seemed none; and scarcely any spectators occupied the neighbouring windows. 10th.-EDINBURGH.-This afternoon, about four o'clock, a melancholy occurrence took place off Portobello. A party of fifteen persons, including two boys (the one about 15, and the other six years of age) and a girl, about 15, left Portobello on a pleasure sail to Inchkeith. On their return, when about a mile and a half from land, the boat suddenly upset, and the whole of the party were immersed in the dangerous element, and, melancholy to relate, five persons unfortunately perished. Those who did not immediately sink clung to the boat, which as suddenly turned over again, and thus, by a flap of the sail, the strugglers were deprived of their hold, and in a worse situation than before. One person was struck so violently as to be driven to the bottom; on again reaching the surface he looked anxiously for the youngest boy, who was under his care, and seeing his leather cap at a considerable distance, he swam to it and recovered the child, with whom he returned to the boat, and, with the assistance of another person, succeeded in replacing him on it as often as he lost his hold. That other person also endeavoured to assist one of the party who could not swim, (John Haxton,) but who entreated him to save his daughter, in which the humane individual succeeded. A coal sloop was lying nearer to the shore, a boat from which promptly put off, and, with the assistance of others, fortunately picked up the survivors. The cause of the disaster is not precisely known, but the fact we understand to be, that the lee side of the boat was almost gunnel-to, and a light gust of wind causing the sail to dip in the water, it instantly upset. 20th. The following is a list of places from which addresses have already been presented to the Queen, with the numbers (where known) by which they were signed :-Aldersgate; Alston, 200; Aylesbury, 500; Barnard Castle, 600; Bath, two, one by ladies; Bethnal Green, 700; Bolton, 6200; Bridport; Bristol, (ladies) 11050; British seamen in Middlesex, 5000; Camberwell; Castle Donnington, 520; Carlisle; Clippenham ; Clerkenwell, 2050; Cripplegate-without; Derby, 4300; Dover; Edinburgh, (ladies) 8321; Exeter, 11,000, (ladies) 9000; Glocester, 1700; Gospel-church, Portsea, 1000; Haddington, 150; Halifax, 3600, (ladies) 3700; Hammersmith; Hereford, (young men ;) Hexham, 700; High Wycombe, 400; Hampton and Grately, 90; Litchfield; Leicester militia (privates) 300; Liverpool, 30,000; London (married ladies) 8500; Ludlow, 660; Mary-le-bone, 7500, (married ladies) 8700; mechanics of London, 29,500; Morpeth, 264; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 3800; North Shields, 1250; Nottingham, 7100; (ladies) 7800; Poole, 800; Preston, 2300; Reading, 2000; Ross, Sandwich, 480; Shaftsbury, Sheffield, 4600; (ladies) 11,000; Stockport, 3600; St Sidwell, St Stephens, (by Summerston) 400; Sunderland; trades and artificers of Northampton, 1600; Wakefield, 1440; Whitechapel, 4000; Worcester; Bedford (signed by the Mayor ;) Berwickupon-Tweed (Mayor, City, Lord Mayor, and Common Council;) City, (Lord Mayor and Livery ;) Dalkeith, (Hammerman Society ;) Greenwich, (Vestry;) Ilchester, (High Bailiff;) Leeds, (ladies ;) Montrose, (Provost;) Newbury, (Mayor;) Norwich, (Aldermen ;) St Leonard's parish; Shoreditch, (Churchwardens), Westminster Livery, (High Bailiff;) York, (Mayor.) OCTOBER. 7th. A poor illiterate boy, who could not read, was taken to Bowstreet Police-office, London, charged with distributing handbills of a seditious and treasonable tendency, in the neighbourhood of the House of Lords. They had been given him, he said, by a gentleman, who paid him a shilling, and promised to reward him liberally. The bills purported to come from the Queen's Plate Committee.-Mr Pearson attended, and said that he believed what the prisoner had stated was true, and that he had been in pursuit of the said gentleman these three days, and begged that the matter might stand over till next day. On Sunday Mr Pearson, with a Bow-street officer, traced the gentleman (named Franklin or Fletcher) to his residence near London, and brought him a prisoner to the office, from which he was allow ed by the Magistrate, Sir R. Baker, to depart without bail, upon an assurance of another gentleman, Mr Williams, that he was a respectable man, and would attend to answer the charge on Monday. Mr Franklin, however, failed to appear; and upon sending to his house, it appeared that he had fled through the night. Mr Pearson then boldly stated that this gentleman was a man of independent fortune, and had a son an officer in the Guards; that he had gone on in this course of distributing, at great expence and trouble, seditious and treasonable placards gra. tuitously, by hundreds of thousands, for a period of three years, which placards had been imputed to the disaffection of the people; and that he had done all this under the protection, and by the authority of government. Mr Pearson said he had evidence to prove these charges, and obtained a warrant to apprehend Mr Franklin.He afterwards applied to Lord Sidmouth, to exert the authority of his department, to prevent the delinquent from escaping from the country; but his Lordship, after examining into the matter, replied that he saw no reason for his interference. It has since been learned, that Franklin has fled to France; and Mr Pearson, with Vickery, the Bow-street officer, have gone there in pursuit. 9th. This being the day appointed by her Majesty the Queen for the reception of a number of addresses, the road from Hyde-park corner to Hammersmith was at an early hour thronged by vast bodies of persons, who were on their way to Brandenburgh-house to pay their homage to the Queen. At twelve o'clock upwards of 200 carriages, some with six horses, and the greater part with four, the postillions fancifully dressed, had passed Hydepark-corner, filled by ladies and gentlemen, deputed from several parts of the metropolis and the country to present to the Queen addresses of congratulation. The following were the addresses presented by appointment to her Majesty yesterday:-From Ely-place Liberty, Holborn, Croydon, Wandsworth, St Ann's (Limehouse), Farringdon-within, Portsoken Ward, Horsleydown, Christ-church (Surrey), Winchester, Oxford, St Ive's, Hereford, Stockton-on-Tees, Cardiff, Leicester, North Petherton, Taunton, Truro, Sedgeley, Colebrook, Milford, Surrey, Kendal, Ambleside, KirbyLonsdale, Milnthrop, the letter-press |
