66 66 elose of this interview, how-["ed that Mr. Keeling would over, M'Innis became some- soon repeat his visit. Ac"what more disposed to listen" 'cordingly at four o'clock in "to the evidences which his the afternoon of the same day, "friend adduced in support of" that gentleman attended him, "the Christian system, and to" when he expressed an earnest "the expostulations, which with" wish to be corrected if he had a feeling solicitude, he ad-" embraced error. On this oc"dressed to him; and finally casion, the unhappy man ap"admitted, that if Mr. K.'s doc-" peared more cordially to enter "trine was correct, he was lost into the spirit of devotion, “for ever. "and wept. When leaving him, "Mr. Keeling obtained a pro 66 66 4. "On Monday morning,) "M'Innis received sentence of" mise, that he would address "death, and was apprized, that himself to God in private "the law would be executed 66 66 prayer; and with this assurance, Mr. Keeling departed. 5. "We do not think it need "upon him on the following" "Saturday. Mr. Keeling again "attended him; he found him ful to make any further ob"neither surprized, nor appa-"servation here, than to remark, rently appalled. During this" that it was in reference to this conversation, M'Innis's con- precise period that the follow"fidence in his infidel princi-ing letter alludes, in the deples seemed to be staggered,"scription it gives of his conwhen Mr. Keeling pressed" flict, after bowing his knee in "home with redoubled energy private. This letter was writ"the truths of Christianity" ten on the following day; and "and with such effect as pro- "addressed to a young woman "duced an acknowledgment," of his acquaintance in Stock"that possibly it might be true." port. We copy it exactly as He now consented that his written, only correcting the "spiritual adviser should pray" orthography: (This letter "with him; he seemed for the" has already appeared in a "first time to join in devotional" Courier.) 6. " "exercise; on rising from his However the infidel or "knees, he evidently appeared" the profane may be disposed "more thoughtful and request-1" to treat the scene described Ff "above, as the visionary frenzy " tenance; and with a cheerful "of fanaticism or delusion, we "submission which could only "dare not deny to it the genuine" be inspired by a well-grounded "marks of a divine interposi-" hope of a better world, he de"tion, vouchsafed in an extra-" voted his few remaining days ordinary manner, upon an ex-" to religious purposes. "traordinary occasion. There 7. "There was one prominent "was nothing in the character" feeling that seemed greatly to or manners of the man to jus- "afflict him, namely, the injury tify an imputation that his he had done to many of his "sensations of horror were pro-" acquaintances, by instilling "duced from previous weak" into their minds his infidel 44 6.6 prepossessions or prejudices;" principles, exclaiming, 'What "for these leaned all in an op- “ multitudes have I been the in"posite direction; nor from the" strument of ruining!-How impulse of fear arising from" shall I make reparation for "his approaching dissolution, as" the injury I have done!' His "neither before nor after this" judicious adviser recommendoccurrence, did he ever betray ed him to state his present "the slightest symptoms of re-" altered views and convictions "luctance to meet his fate. Mr." in writing which he would "Keeling was called in to visit" engage to see published, con"him in his distress of soul, (not" ceiving that the declarations "having left him above an hour" of a dying man would be likely "before) and found him pros-" to have influence with those "trate on the floor of his cell, "whose minds he had contami"weeping, and most bitterly re-nated. To this he consented; "proaching himself for his in-" and the above letter is the first fidelity and wickedness; and" fruits of that design. All the "now beholding in him the" remaining hours of his life, "character of a true penitent. that were not employed in the "directed him to the Lamb of" more immediate acts of reli"God that taketh away the sins" gion, were occupied in pre"of the world. From this hour" paring a memoir of his life, "the rays of hope beamed upon" or rather of the more promi"his heart-the gloom of scep"nent causes and consequences "ticism receded from his coun of his erroneous principles, which is now in the possession 9." In Mr. Keeling's interof Mr. Keeling, and which," course with McInnes, he after its correction and ar- "greatly deplored the influence "rangement by a pious clergy-" of infidel principles upon his "man of the establishment, will" conduct. He said, that he "be given to the world in the " "form of a pamphlet. 66 never connected himself with "the Radicals, that he thought 8. "That we have been so too meanly of their spirit; "minute in the account of this" but he had deeply drank of "unfortunate man, may receive the essence of disaffection, "an apology from the peculi-" and was prepared to go any arity of his circumstances," lengths in resistance to Go"whether in reference to the" vernment. It will be recol"destructive principles he had "lected, that in January last, imbibed, the striking evidence" M'Innes made an attempt to "of his conversion, or the mag- escape out of the Castle: in adverting to this circumstance, 'paper may be thought an im-" he said, that if he had effected proper medium through which" his purpose, it was probable "to introduce moral disserta-" many lives would have been "tions; but who that loves his lost; that his first intention "country, or reverences his was to assassinate Mr. Lloyd Maker, will be offended at our " of Stockport, and then Birch; "deprecating the doctrines of" and he declared the pistol "infidelity, which, while they" actually fired at the latter, "nitude of his crime. A news-" 66 44 deprive men of the hopes of a" was loaded with an intent to "better world, unloose every" kill the former: that he had obligation of morality, and " been looking about for Mr. "give them the unrestrained" Lloyd that evening, but could license of sporting with the "not find him; and afterwards lives and property of their" meeting with Birch, he di"fellow-men. The subject of" rected his vengeance against "this mournful narrative as- him, whom he knew to be an active agent in the suppression of rebellion. "cribed to the adoption of these" 66 principles all those evils he "had been guilty of-and par"ticularly that which brought him to the gallows. 66 10. "M'Innes was an Irishman by birth, and was from 66 death for burglary, who it is understood will suffer next "been in England about three" Saturday, was permitted to "years a very good-looking" join! this scene is represented "young man, of about twenty- as very affecting. Nor ought "five years of age; and was the circumstance we are just "said to be on the point of" going to mention, to be omitmarriage with a young woman" ted. Soon after eleven o'clock, "of Stockport, when he com- a clergyman came to M'Innes, mitted the crime, for which" who stated, that he had been "his life has been forfeited, expressly sent by the Bishop 46 11. On the night before" of Chester to the prisoner, to execution, M'Innes retired to " say, that his Lordship was "rest about ten o'clock, and on" extremely gratified to hear of "Mr. Keeling visit in the" the happy change which had morning at soven, he found him taken place in his mind; that "occupied in writing. He ap-" he had been pleasingly af 44 peared placid and collected, "fected by the information; and "said he had had some refresh-had sent his blessing by the ing, comfortable rest, and that " messenger.' 66 "his meditations had been, de- 12. <<The hour now ap"lightful. At ten o'clock, Mr.proached when the prisoner Keeling accompanied M Innes" had to leave the Castle. One "to the Chapel in the Castle, important affair was yet to be completed. From the time of his trial, he had constantly nion, during which MInnes affirmed, that Bruce had not was observed to weep: and" shared in the criminality of "in explanation of this circum-" his attempt upon Birch's life. "stance, said to Mr. K. after-" Whether upon his own motion, "wards, they were tears of joy." or upon the suggestion of "Returning from the Chapel to others, we know not, but at the cell, prayer was again of this awful period he drew up “fered; and it may be interest-" and signed with his own "ing to observe, that in this act" hand, a declaration, purport"of devotion, Thomas Miller, a ing" That no person what"malefactor under sentence of" ever was connected with, or " knew of his intention, of shoot" with him on the drop a few 13. " "last moment he continued to ex. " I read, without taking any no- gospel. That gentleman as-" he should be guided by his "sisted him in descending from" feelings at the time. All that "the cart, and on asking how" he said, just before the cap "he felt his mind supported," was pulled over his face, was, "he answered, that he found with a firm and audible voice, "himself quite comfortable.-"Gentlemen, farewell. After "About half an hour was oc- his devotions were concluded, cupied in the House of Cor-" he appeared in great haste to "rection before he ascended" be gone; and before the hang"the scaffold, during which he" man had time to lower the "preserved the utmost compo-" drop, he had given the signal sure and firmness. Mr. Keel" by dropping his handkering first ascended the drop," chief." "and was followed by M'nnis, "assisted by another person, In the first paragraph the |