town; and many hours before the time fixed, we saw it
entirely covered by an immense multitude of men, women
and children. At length the hour arrived, the dismal cart
was seen slowly mounting the hill, the noisy throng was
hushed into solemn silence; the wretched criminal mounted
the scaffold, when again the sheriff asked him to sign his
acceptance of the commutation proposed; but he spurned
the paper from him, and cried aloud, "Hang me!"

Mid-day was the moment appointed for cutting the rope;
the sheriff stood, his watch in one hand, and a knife in the
other; the hand was lifted to strike, when the criminal
stoutly exclaimed, "I sign;" and he was conveyed back to
prison, amidst the shouts, laughter, and ribaldry of the
mob.

I am not fond of hanging, but there was something in
all this that did not look like the decent dignity of whole-
some justice.

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