was to be saved; instead of his being brought to cry out, in the name of Christ, "God me merciful to me a sinner." And yet at other times, he would speak in very humiliating language, against his sinful life, and sinful ways; in short, he appeared quite inconsistent with himself; but his pharisaic hope on himself gives me but little reason to believe that his repentance is genuine and sincere.

Hen. Well, I hope that William Frolic is better taught when he heard Edward Sparkish speak in that manner, he cried: "As to myself, how can I dare to trust in any thing that I say or do? As it respects my prayers, I question if ever I should have prayed at all, if I had not the halter nearly about my neck, and these irons on my legs, the just reward of my hateful ways; so in regard to my repentance, even the very devils have that, and are none the better for it; and I fear, lest my repentance should be no better than theirs. And as to my prayers, what right have I to call them prayers, while I never thought of prayer, till after I was cast into prison, and condemned to die?"

Wor. I think if the repentance of either of these two unhappy youths, should prove to be genuine, it will be evidenced on the side of William Frolic.-But can you tell us of any conversation, which further took place?

Hen. Why, Sir, the personal conversation did not last long on that morning, as the gaoler seemed very desirous that Mr. Lovegood should give an exhortation and prayer, to all the wretched objects of his charge: and the ordinary was to be there by twelve o'clock; and after that time it is not the custom to admit strangers to visit the prisoners who are condemned to die. But I must add this, that many of the prisoners seemed very much affected: and one poor youth, who was in prison for debt, came to Mr. Lovegood, begging a

portion of his prayers, in very humble and broken language indeed. And the gaoler's wife seemed very much struck, while she mentioned the formal, uninteresting manner in which the ordinary performed his office, and what a different effect the style and spirit of Mr. Lovegood's exhortations and prayers, had upon the prisoners at large. And before we left the gaol, it is amazing how very earnest all the poor creatures were with us, to repeat our visit to them on the morrow, and especially William Frolic and Edward Sparkish, who begged we would not leave them, till we saw them launched into the eternal world.

Wor. It seems then at that time, you had heard nothing of Mr. Lovely?

Loveg. No, nor for some hours afterwards: we had many apprehensions that somewhat must have happened to have prevented the success of the journey; but before we had dismissed the people in the evening of the day, from the assembly-room, he joined the company, though I did not see him till they were nearly all dismissed. We perceived immediately, by his cheerful looks, that his journey had been attended with the desired effect.

Wor. What could be the cause why he came so late? had he any difficulty with the Judge in procuring a pardon for them?

Loveg. Not the least. The Judge thanked him very kindly, and expressed how glad he was to hear of these favourable circumstances, which did not appear upon the trial, so that he could with any degree of consistency spare the lives of at least, two of the malefactors: and then he told me after he had just been with the Judge, as he had so much time before him, he could not rest contented till he had given a call on his dearest Ann, as it was but five miles round: and then when he set off very early in the morning, he had the misfortune to break

the axletree of his carriage, coming over that terrible rough place, Starvington Forest, a few miles from Grediton, where he was quite at a distance from any help, so that he was afraid he should have been obliged to have walked to us on foot, in order that he might be time enough to bring the pardon, before the fatal moment arrived.

Mrs. Wor. Was Mrs. Sparkish in the room when Mr. Lovely first arrived?

Loveg. O no, madam! she was up in her chamber, with her eyes red with tears and her heart ready to break with grief, being now fully apprehensive that her son would suffer on the morrow.

Mrs. Wor. Poor woman, what she must have felt, when she heard that a message of mercy was arrived at rast! how did you break it to her?

Loveg. Why, madam, when we were consulting the best way of telling her the good news by degrees, we found that Mr. Lovely's servant had been whispering it about the house, that his master had obtained a pardon for two of the prisoners. It seems it was the chambermaid that went and told her of the report, Immediately she flew out of her chamber, came into the room in which we were, and under the greatest extacy of mind, fell down at Mr. Lovely's feet, crying, "O tell me, tell me! is the good news true? Is my dear child to live?" Dear Mr. Lovely was so affected for a while, that he could scarcely speak; after a second attempt, he cried: "Yes, your son is permitted to live; I have his pardon in my possession; and life has been granted to William Frolic also." Immediately the agitation of her mind was so great, that she fell into strong hysterics, and could say nothing for a considerable time. Directly as she began to recover, her cry was, "O let me go this moment to the prison, and tell my dear child that he is yet to live!"

Wor. It would have been very improper to have suffered her to have carried the glad tidings to her son in so abrupt a manner.-How did you manage matters ?

Loveg. Sir, we told her that it was then so late, that her gaining admission might not only be attended with much difficulty, but that the surprise might be too powerful for her son, as it had been for her, unless it were opened to them by degrees, and that there had been instances of sudden joy, being the cause of sudden death. After some further persuasions, that she would be calm and composed, as her son's life would certainly be saved, we entreated her to be at rest, till the next morning and that for the present we would only send a line to the gaoler, informing him that he might give the two prisoners, Spark and Frolic, a distant hint that their lives might yet be saved.

Wor. Certainly this was the best plan, to guard against the too powerful effects of sudden surprise. I suppose you made an early visit on the next morning, to confirm the good news.

Loveg. Why, Sir, we were informed the night before, that we could not well be admitted till after nine o'clock, as the ordinary was to be there before, as they expressed it, to prepare them for death, so that we thought the hint already sent to them, might be quite sufficient, without being followed up by another till we were admitted to see them. But when we came there, we found that the gaoler had concluded, he had not sufficient warrant to give them the hint we had transmitted to him, And oh ! what a distressing scene was immediately presented before us! The halters thrown upon the table, the executioner ready to pinion their arms, and tie their hands; the blacksmith at hand to saw off their irons, three coffins piled on each other to be conveyed with them in the cart, to receive their dead bodies after the execution while the under-sheriff and a heap of

constables, were getting ready below stairs, to receive their charge! and crowds of spectators were beginning to assemble, to see them conducted near a mile out of town, to the fatal tree. However, after we had called the under sheriff and the gaoler aside, and given them the respite, they came with us into the room; though we requested they would leave it with us to tell them the news, by cautious and slow degrees.

Mrs. Wor. What must Mrs. Sparkish have felt!how could she contain herself!

Loveg. Madam, we insisted upon it that she should not be admitted into the room till after we had made known to the young men, that their lives were to be spared: being satisfied, that from the agitated state of her mind, she could have no command over herself; besides, it was my design to try to make some improvement on these events, while I told them of the merciful dispensation of those providential occurrences, whereby their lives were still preserved.

Hen. In all my life I never saw such an affecting scene. Mrs. Wor. [To Mrs. Merryman.] My dear, I perceive you are much affected.-Won't the story be too much

for you

?

Mrs. Mer. O no: I can bear to hear of any thing, but the loss of my dear husband.

Wor. [To Mr. Lovegood.] Let us now hear how you introduced the subject.

Lovey. Sir, as soon as Mr. Lovely, Henry, and I, were conducted into the room, by the gaoler and under sheriff, I gave each of them my hand, called them my fellow sinners, and begged them to pray for mercy; they both of them accepted it, and wept plentifully; while Sam Blood, as usual, retired to a corner of the room with his priest. As to William Frolic, when I gave him my hand, he kissed it, and quite bedewed it with his tears. -Poor fellow! I really hope his heart has received a