ear. The two clergymen afcended. The Roman catho lic priest then read to Macnamara, and the ordinary to the other five. Colonel Defpard ftill declined any religious ceremony, observing, that although he thought the inftitution of religion polite, he had no faith in its efficacy.

The Colonel alfo obferved to Francis, who stood next him-"What an amazing crowd!" Then looking up, " 'Tis very cold; I think we fhall have fome rain!"

The Colonel afcended the fcaffold with great firmness. His countenance underwent not the flight eft change, while the awful ceremony of fastening the rope round his neck, and placing the cap on his head, was performing. He looked at the multitude affembled with perfect calmness. The clergyman who afcended the scaffold after the prifoners were tied up, spoke to him a few words as he paffed. The Colonel bowed, and thanked him.

The ceremony of fastening the prisoners being finished, the Colonel advanced as near as he could to the edge of the fcaffold, and addreffed the multitude as follows:

"Fellow Citizens,

"You here see a man who, having ferved his country faithfully, honourably, and even usefully, for thirty years, and upwards, is now come to fuffer death, for a crime of which he is as perfectly innocent as any indifferent perfon among you-[Huzza! Huzza!].-I know that, from having been inimical to the bloody, cruel, coercive, and unconftitutional measures of Minifters, they have determined to facrifice me under what they are pleased to term a legal pretext. I have ever been the ftrenuous advocate and warm friend of liberty, fuffering humanity, and especially of the poor. I have nothing farther to fay, but that I wish you, my fellow-citizens, health, happiness, and profperity; and though I shall not live to experience the bleffings of the god-like

gód-like change, be affured, citizens, that the period will come, and that speedily, when the glorious caufe of Liberty shall effectually triumph over Tyranny, Cruelty, and Oppreffion."

This energetic, but inflammatory appeal, was followed by fuch enthusiastic plaudits, that the Sheriff hinted to the Clergyman to withdraw, and forbade Colonel Despard to proceed. The cap was then drawn over their eyes, during which the Colonel was obferved again to fix the knot under his left ear, and, at feven minutes before nine o'clock the signal being given, the platform dropped, and they were all launched into eternity.

From the precaution taken by the Colonel, he appeared to fuffer very little, neither did the others ftruggle much, except Broughton, who had been the most indecently profane of the whole. Wood, the foldier, died very hard. The Executioners went under, and kept pulling them by the feet. Several drops of blood fell from the fingers of Macnamara and Wood, during the time they were sus pended.

After hanging thirty-feven minutes, the Colonel's body was cut down, at half an hour paft nine o'clock, and being ftripped of his coat and waistcoat, it was laid upon faw-duft, with the head reclined upon a block. A furgeon then in attempting to fever the head from the body by a common diffecting knife, miffed the particular joint aimed at, when he kept haggling it, till the executioner was obliged to take the head between his hands, and to twist it feveral times round, when it was with difficulty fevered from the body. It was then held up by the executioner, who exclaimed-" Behold the head of EDWARD MARCUS DESPARD, a Traitor!" The fame ceremony followed with the others respectively; and the whole concluded by ten o'clock.

VOL. II. No. 19.

5 Y

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The bodies were then put into their different fhells, and were delivered to their friends for interment.

Colonel Defpard, to the very laft, obftinately refused all clerical assistance, neither would he join in the Lord's prayer, but, at parting, he affectionately fhook hands with Mr. Winckworth.

The Rev. Mr. Winckworth attended the Protestants, and Mr. Griffith, who officiated for Quigley, administered confolation to Macnamara.

The crowd at the entrance of Horfemonger-lane was immenfe as the time of execution drew near, the people from all parts came with fuch force as to bear down all oppofition. Those who had been in dry fituations were pushed into the middle of the road, where they stood almost up to the knees in mud. Several loft their fhoes by the continual pushand jostling. Many fainted, both men and womenof the latter, however, there were but few. While the heads were exhibiting, the populace took off their hats.

There was not the least tendency to riot or disturbance. The precautions, however, taken by government, were certainly proper.

During the whole awful ceremony, Colonel Defpard appeared perfectly calm, and his penetrating eye sparkled with fire and intelligence. :

Col. Defpard repeatedly afferted his own innocence: but how little avails fuch a declaration against convincing proof. But while we admit that he fuffered juftly, we cannot but regret that a man of talents and accomplishments should have fo dreadfully mifemployed his advantages.

The remains of Col. Defpard were interred in the burial ground of St. Paul's cathedral. The remains of the other fix were depofited in one grave, in the vault under the Rev. Mr. Harper's chapel, in the London-road, St. George'sfields. A vaft concourfe of people attended the awful cere

mony.